Colin Turkington and Team BMR have today (13 January) announced that they are parting ways by mutual consent.

Turkington joined Buntingford-based Team BMR in 2015, campaigning a Volkswagen CC to fourth in the overall classification that year – as well as Independents’ honours for the fifth time in his BTCC career – and claiming the same position last season behind the wheel of the new Subaru Levorg GT.

Along the way, the two-time champion made history by claiming Subaru’s first-ever BTCC race victory at Oulton Park, and team owner Warren Scott was quick to pay tribute to the significant role that Turkington played in the squad’s successes and maiden Teams’ championship crown in 2015.

“Colin has been an absolute pleasure to work with over the past two seasons and has brought a tremendous amount of knowledge to the team, which has aided BMR in its growth and development as a front-running BTCC team,” Scott commented. “I wish Colin good luck for the forthcoming season and would like to thank him for all his efforts and great achievements that he has brought to BMR.”

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Team BMR and will savour the success we shared together over the past two seasons,” added Turkington. “However, the time has come to part company and apply the focus to each of our own individual goals and needs.

“I sincerely value the journey we have shared together, securing the Teams’ Championship in 2015, winning my fifth Independents’ title and of course the thrilling year we have just had with the Subaru Levorg. I have been fortunate to work with some of the best in the business at BMR and it has been a valuable experience and certainly helped me grow and improve.

“The BTCC is surely one of the toughest championships in the world to win, and to finish last season with a realistic shot at winning the title in a new car was a tremendous achievement. I wish Team BMR every success going forward and I hope that they are just as proud of our two seasons together as I am.”

The 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship campaign kick-started today as driver and car unveilings took centre-stage on the Dunlop BTCC stand at the NEC’s Autosport International.

A busy schedule of key announcements was finalised in the lead up to the event and duly, from doors-open on Thursday morning, a string of cars and drivers were revealed as teams laid out their 2017 plans. On top of the announcements, Series Director Alan Gow took to the main stage as well as the BTCC stand alongside Dunlop's James Bailey to speak on the season ahead, as did a clutch of drivers – eager to outline their prospects for 2017.

Halfords Yuasa Racing took the wraps off its challenger with triple title-winners Gordon Shedden and team-mate Matt Neal on-hand to do the honours, with a striking and stealthy black livery the direction the Team Dynamics-backed outfit will take for 2017. Simpson Racing, switching to the Team Dynamics stable this season after debuting under Speedworks Motorsport's banner last year, also showed its Honda Civic Type R adorned in new colours.

Rob Austin confirmed his continued deal with Handy Motorsport on Wednesday and took the opportunity on Thursday at ASI to introduce a major new sponsor, Northgate plc. alongside a sharp re-imagining of Handy Motorsport's green-and-white.

AmDTuning.com revealed the man that would be taking the wheel in its second car this coming campaign with reigning Renault UK Clio Cup champion Ant Whorton-Eales also on hand to help pull back the covers on the stunning-looking AmD Audi S3.

“As a rookie driver, the main target has to be the Jack Sears Trophy and it would be nice if we could be pushing towards the top ten in the championship by the end of the year," Whorton-Eales said. 

“Of course that won’t be easy and I’m aware that I have a lot to learn, but I also want to aim high and make the most of the opportunity I now have.”

Motorbase Performance, too, took the opportunity to show just who would be sitting in the other two of its Shredded Wheat Ford Focus', with Mat Jackson already confirmed. Martin Depper joined the line-up with a wealth of experience, having made his BTCC debut in 2010. After a short absence, the Midlands-based driver returned to the series in 2014 with Eurotech and has become a regular points-scorer in the past three seasons.

Another new name on the grid for 2017, following Whorton-Eales announcement, 23-year-old Luke Davenport comes to the series from a successful sportscar background. Having worked his way through the Ginetta ranks, the Cambridge-based driver competed in the British GT last season, piloting the factory-team’s G55 GT3 and will be challenging for the Jack Sears Trophy during his maiden BTCC season.  

Finally, West Surrey Racing-supported Pirtek Racing revealed what the latter's colours would look like wrapped around a BMW 125i M Sport. The now-trademark blue and orange scheme is always a favourite among BTCC fans – particularly followers of long-time Pirtek and new-to-WSR man Andrew Jordan – who were suitably impressed with the results.

Much more is to come over the next three days from the NEC. There will be further interviews with a host of BTCC personalities – drivers, key team personnel, partners and leading figures from the championship including Series Director Alan Gow, Dunlop’s James Bailey as well as ITV Motorsport’s team.

When doors open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, there will be autograph and selfie sessions where fans will get a chance to meet their heroes. On the subject of selfies, we’ll be running a competition throughout the show where fans, using #BTCCSelfie, can send in their best BTCC-related shots from all over the show floor to be in with a chance of winning a money-can’t-buy experience.

The best #BTCCSelfie will receive two tickets, a grid walk, a garage tour plus a photo with your favourite driver at the Donington Park race weekend in April.

Donington Park will also be offering fans an exclusive ticket offer over the course of the event via the Dunlop BTCC stand (Stand 6440 in Hall 6).

Pirtek Racing has today revealed the stunning livery that will adorn the BMW 125i M Sport of Andrew Jordan for the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season.

The unveiling of the West Surrey Racing-run BMW was one of the main draws on the opening day of the annual Autosport International Show at the NEC in Birmingham, with the car taking pride of place on the Dunlop BTCC stand.

The iconic Pirtek Racing colours will once again stand out from the crowd on track after the decision was taken to retain the stunning chrome appearance that proved to be universally popular last year as Andrew secured the Independents’ title for the third time.

Having shown off his news steed in front of a bumper crowd in Birmingham, Jordan will now continue to prepare for the next phase of his winter testing programme, which is due to get underway next month. 

The 27-year-old has already enjoyed three successful days on track in the BMW prior to Christmas.

“I don’t think there is any doubt that the Pirtek Racing BMW will be the best looking car on the BTCC grid this season,” he said. “The chrome blue really stood out on track last year, but I think it looks even better on the 1 Series. The Pirtek Racing colours and the BMW are just a great fit; they complement each other perfectly.

“Since the testing we did prior to Christmas, the team has been hard at work on making improvements to what was already an extremely good car and I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel when we return to the track next month.

“We want to make sure that when we get to Brands Hatch for the season opener, we are challenging for pole position and race wins. If the Pirtek Racing BMW goes even half as well as it looks, then we’ll certainly be firmly in the mix at the front of the pack.”

Jordan’s 2017 campaign gets underway at Brands Hatch on the weekend of 1-2 April.

Motorbase Performance revealed its new look driver line-up for the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season today, 12 January, with Martin Depper and BTCC newcomer Luke Davenport joining Mat Jackson in the Kent-based team’s three-car squad. 

The trio were officially confirmed on the Dunlop BTCC stand during the opening day of the annual Autosport International Show, with Motorbase Performance Team Principal David Bartrum also taking the wraps off the striking new Shredded Wheat livery that will adorn the outfit’s Ford Focus STs for its 2017 championship campaign.

“We're absolutely delighted to announce our new driver line up for the 2017 season,” commented Bartrum. “This season is arguably our biggest yet in the BTCC. Having signed a multi-year deal with household brand, Shredded Wheat, as well as continuing with our key partners from last season - DUO & IKO Enertherm - our focus is very much on the long-term plan.

“After securing our first-ever BTCC titles in 2016, we have one clear aim for 2017 and that’s the overall title,” continued the team boss. “It’s fantastic to have Mat back for his eighth season and his return is key to us mounting a successful championship challenge this year. We now have a formidable trio with Martin and Luke joining him and have three drivers who we would very much like to continue with us beyond the 2017 season.”

Depper joins the line-up with a wealth of experience, having made his BTCC debut in 2010. After a short absence, the Midlands-based driver returned to the series in 2014 with Eurotech and has become a regular points-scorer in the past three seasons.

“Martin has been in the championship for a while now, so he knows exactly what to expect,” added Bartrum. “He tested the Focus at the end of last season and quickly got up to a strong pace in the car. We were equally reassured with his pace and ability both driving, and tuning the car to his liking. I'm sure we'll see him fulfilling his potential as a BTCC driver this year and providing a few surprises along the way.”

“I’m over the moon to be joining the Motorbase team for the 2017 campaign,” said Depper. “When I tested the Focus back in November, I quickly found pace in tricky conditions, so I’m really looking forward to carrying that forward and making my fourth season in the BTCC my best yet. I’m also really excited to be partnering Mat and Luke as I’m sure we will work well together and show real strength in our team work.”

A new name on the grid for 2017, 23-year-old Davenport comes to the series from a successful sportscar background. Having worked his way through the Ginetta ranks, the Cambridge-based driver competed in the British GT last season, piloting the factory-team’s G55 GT3 and will be challenging for the Jack Sears Trophy during his maiden BTCC season.  

“Luke is a really exciting young driver who is ready to rise to the new challenge,” Bartrum explained. “His pace is without question and I'm sure he will be making waves as soon as the flag drops at Brands Hatch. His approach during his initial test impressed us from the start and his driving ability and detail both in and out of the car was the best we've seen for a long time, so we're really looking forward to his showing.”

The rookie added: “It’s great to be back on the TOCA package after racing GTs for the past couple of seasons. I have fond memories from racing in the Ginetta Supercup in 2014 when we won the Teams’ Championship with United Autosports and there’s really nothing quite like the buzz of the BTCC. If you’re involved in British Motorsport you can’t help but keep an eye on the BTCC and the incredible reach and impact it has. I feel incredibly privileged to get the opportunity not only to race in the UK’s leading series but to also be joining a front-running team in my rookie year. There’s a great atmosphere within the Motorbase team and their results speak for themselves.

“I have to say a big thank you to Alex at DUO for helping to put this deal together;” continued Davenport. “DUO has supported me since 2014 and they’ve been essential to my development as a driver and helped me to reach the stomping ground of the BTCC. I hope to repay that support with some great results this year.”

An extensive winter testing programme is next on the agenda for Motorbase with the team making final preparations before heading to Portimao next month ahead of the official BTCC Season Launch at Donington Park on 16 March. The 2017 Dunlop British Touring Car Championship gets underway at the Wrotham-based squad’s local circuit, Brands Hatch, 1-2 April.

The covers came off Simpson Racing's Honda Civic Type R this morning, 12 January, at the Autosport International Show inside Birmingham's NEC.

Driver Matt Simpson returns to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship for 2017, having switched from Speedworks Motorsport to Team Dynamics backing in Britain’s premier motor sport series.

Simpson entered the BTCC in 2016 off the back of multiple title successes in the European Hot Rod Championship and Quaife Intermarque Championship. He got off to a good start by tallying a point on his debut weekend at Brands Hatch Indy behind the wheel of his Honda Civic Type R, adding to that with a brace of 13th placed finishes a month later at Thruxton.

Those results earned Simpson 15th spot in the Independents’ Trophy standings and third in the chase for the Jack Sears Trophy, with a victory in the latter in the Brands Hatch GP season finale underscoring his progress.

Rob Austin and Handy Motorsport Team Principal Simon Belcher unveiled the squad’s stunning new livery for the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Autosport International this morning, 12 January, confirming new commercial partner Northgate plc.

Taking the covers off the team’s Toyota Avensis on the official Dunlop BTCC stand during the first morning of the annual motorsport extravaganza at Birmingham’s NEC, the reveal highlighted the exciting multi-year partnership Northgate is embarking on with the Evesham racer.

“I’ve been really looking forward to revealing the car and showing the world the results of all the hard work we have put in since the 2016 season ended”, commented Austin, “The car is, as usual, immaculately prepared and ahead of schedule. The striking new livery looks fantastic I think and, most importantly, it is fantastically supported!

“New for this year, we are very proud to announce a major sponsorship deal with Northgate plc. The BTCC serves as the perfect platform for a national marketing campaign for the growing van hire company. We also have continued support from Close Brothers, Kerax, Rocwood, Webb, Cobra Seats, Alsa and many others.”

Northgate plc is the leading light commercial vehicle (LCV) rental business by fleet size in the UK, providing a complete LCV rental service with predictable weekly costs, saving customers money on the total cost of ownership. Northgate’s UK national branch network hosts 73 locations, 50 wholly-owned workshops and local dedicated account teams, all committed to delivering the full range of services to keep customers on the road.

Northgate’s Managing Director, Eddie Aston, said: “We are looking forward to 2017 and the Northgate plc sponsorship of Rob Austin and the Handy Motorsport team. This is an important partnership for Northgate that enables us to share the excitement of motorsport with our customers and employees, many of whom are already enthusiasts. The close proximity of the races to our branch network is helpful for our local customers as is the ability to experience vehicle performance and safety management of the highest standards.”

With everything in place for Austin’s second BTCC campaign with Swindon-based Handy Motorsport, driver and team are looking forward to mounting a consistent front-running challenge this year having climbed the outright podium on three occasions in 2016.

“It’s been a very long time since I have been so excited for a season’s racing and I’m determined to get back on the top step of the podium this year”, said Austin, “I’ve been doing this for a while now, this will be my seventh season in the BTCC – but until now there’s always been a compromise or something has been missing from the package.

“I have never been anywhere near this confident that I have the right package to do the job! I’ve won races before and I’m very well placed to do some more of it this season – that’s the target we’re all setting ourselves.”

“I’ve got to say a huge thank you to Simon [Belcher], not only for keeping faith in us but for giving me all the tools and support we need – not just to run a front-running BTCC car but to also ensure our partners see maximum return on their investment and our VIP guests receive the absolute best ‘money-can’t-buy’ experience in the team’s pristine Hospitality suite.”

Halfords Yuasa Racing took the wraps off its 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship challenger during the traditional pre-season Autosport International Show at Birmingham’s NEC today, 12 January, as defending champion Gordon Shedden and fellow triple title-winner Matt Neal unveiled their strikingly-liveried Honda Civic Type R to widespread acclaim.

Honda is the most successful marque in the modern era of the BTCC – commonly regarded as the world’s toughest tin-top series – having sped to no fewer than six Drivers’, five Manufacturers’ and six Teams’ titles since 2005.

Last year, Shedden battled his way to back-to-back crowns behind the wheel of the potent Civic Type R, with Halfords Yuasa Racing team-mate Neal only ruled out of title contention on the final day of the season.

With no reason to change a winning combination, the two men will head into their eighth consecutive campaign together in 2017 chasing sustained success for Halfords Yuasa Racing.

Shedden will be bidding to become the first driver since Andy Rouse more than 30 years ago to triumph three times in swift succession, whilst Neal proved last year that even as he prepares to enter a record-extending 27^th BTCC season, he remains every inch a force to be reckoned with.

Gordon Shedden said: “I always feel like we’re a little in the lap of the gods at this stage of the year, waiting to see what weird and wonderful things the engineers have come up with over the winter. The Civic Type R was already an excellent all-round package last year, so we’ve adopted an approach of evolution rather than revolution because there’s no point in trying to reinvent the wheel – although there are definitely some developments in the pipeline.

“There have been a few subtle rule changes over the off-season and it will be interesting to see how the new Dunlop tyre performs – Matt did the majority of the running on it from our side last summer – because everybody will need to get their head around it as quickly as possible.

“As far as I’m concerned, going into a new season as the defending champion is the best position to be in and I’m hopeful that we will be there or thereabouts from the outset – even if we fully expect the competition to be tougher than ever this year. It never ceases to amaze me how people constantly raise their game in this championship, which is reflected in the quality entry list that the BTCC invariably attracts – and that’s what makes it so unpredictable and exciting. With the variables of success ballast and reversed grids, you’re not going to win every race so it’s all about playing the long game.

“It would be fantastic to mirror Andy Rouse’s achievements – he is a true legend of touring car racing – but there’s a long way to go yet and ultimately, we need to just focus on ourselves. I can’t wait to get started!”

Matt Neal said: “I think our new livery looks really striking and aggressive – we’re going for a ‘stealth-like’ approach this year! I’m feeling strong, I’m feeling fit and I’m excited about the season ahead. We always try to re-evaluate every area over the winter. Development is very restrictive in the BTCC on both the chassis and engine side, but we have been pushing hard in all departments and making good progress. As we proved in 2016, the Civic Type R is a superb all-rounder, and we are optimistic of being on the pace at every circuit again – plus, consistency has always been one of my strong suits.

“One of the biggest question marks heading into the new season will be over who adapts best to the new Dunlop tyre and in that respect, I think the inter-team rivalry with ‘Flash’ will be fascinating. Notwithstanding the final outcome, I felt I had the edge over him last year after several seasons where he had generally been quicker than me, but you can be more aggressive on the 2017-spec tyre which might swing the balance back in his favour as that will likely suit his driving style slightly better than mine – so I’ve got a bit of homework to do in that respect!

“I’m not underestimating any of our opposition, and I’m under no illusions about the challenge we are facing. It’s going to be another extremely tough fight and I’m not discounting anybody from the equation. I’m always wary of being over-confident because confidence breeds complacency, but I’m happy with our preparations so far and I think we’re in a good place.”

Dave Hodgetts, Honda UK Managing Director said: “The Honda works team, Halfords Yuasa Racing, has had a successful couple of years and we are back in the 2017 season once more with our championship-winning Civic Type R. With this new livery unveiled at the Autosport International Show, the team is prepared well in advance for the start of the season in April and we will be gunning for glory!”

AmDTuning.com can today confirm that reigning Renault UK Clio Cup champion Ant Whorton-Eales will complete its driver line-up for the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season.

The West Thurrock-based team has agreed terms with the youngster on a deal that will see him become the latest winner of the popular one-make series to graduate to the BTCC grid.

In fact, the 22-year-old from Litchfield become the fifth Clio Cup champion to race in AmDTuning.com colours, following in the footsteps of Tom Onslow-Cole, Martin Byford, Dave Newsham and Mike Bushell; the latter being the man who he beat to the Clio title after a dramatic championship fight that went to the final rounds of the year at Brands Hatch.

A member of the BRDC’s Rising Star programme, Whorton-Eales has already shown his talents behind the wheel of a BTCC car in two previous tests and will sample AmDTuning.com’s Audi S3 for the first time when pre-season testing gets underway.

As a rookie to the series, Whorton-Eales will be eligible for the Jack Sears Trophy, and will hope to follow in the footsteps of the 2015 Clio Cup champion Ash Sutton, who secured the crown last year.

He will team up with Ollie Jackson for the season ahead, with Ollie having re-signed with the team for a second successive year prior to Christmas.

“It’s no secret that I wanted to move into the BTCC this season and we’ve spent a lot of time looking at the various options that were available,” he said. “Once we spoke to Shaun about his plans with the second Audi, the deal was a very easy one to do and it was all wrapped up within a day.

“I’m delighted to be able to confirm my place on the touring car grid, and I think that I’ve made a good choice in AmDTuning.com for my first season. The team has plenty of experience and there is a lot of potential in the Audi that I aim to benefit from.

“As a rookie driver, the main target has to be the Jack Sears Trophy and it would be nice if we could be pushing towards the top ten in the championship by the end of the year. 

“Of course that won’t be easy and I’m aware that I have a lot to learn, but I also want to aim high and make the most of the opportunity I now have.”

Team boss Shaun Hollamby revealed his delight at bringing the reigning Clio champion onboard, and said he felt confident that his driver line-up would impress during the year ahead.

"From the moment we confirmed that we would have a second car on the grid, we’ve spoken to a number of drivers who were keen to join us for 2017, and we’re delighted to have been able to do a deal with Ant to fill the seat,” he said. “Even before winning the Clio title last year, he had shown his potential on track and we’re confident that he will be a strong addition to the grid this year.

“Having already won the Jack Sears Trophy once a few years ago, it would be great if we could secure it again this year and there is no doubt we have a fantastic chance with Ant. 

“Alongside Ollie Jackson, he gives us a strong partnership for our first full season as a two-car BTCC team and we go into 2017 with our focus firmly on fighting for regular points and on pushing towards the top ten.

“With everything now in place for the new season, we also want to thank Cobra Sport Performance Exhausts for their continued support, as without that help, we wouldn’t have been able to expand to a two car BTCC team.”

Handy Motorsport will retain the services of Rob Austin for the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season, as the podium-finishing partnership targets race wins and a sustained front-running challenge.

Austin’s confirmation behind the wheel of the squad’s Toyota Avensis for a second consecutive campaign in the UK’s biggest and best motor racing championship brings continuity for the team, off the back of its best-ever season in the BTCC last year.

The Evesham driver took Handy Motorsport to its maiden podium finish last year, adding two more rostrum results and a brace of Independents' Trophy wins during the second half of the season.

Furthermore, the Wiltshire squad has moved its entire operation under one roof, to its main headquarters in Swindon. For the past three years, Handy has worked in partnership with Speedworks Motorsport but for 2017 it will be a true standalone entity.

“Firstly, I’m obviously very happy to be part of Handy Motorsport again for the new season”, said Austin, “We always knew there would be a learning curve relating to all aspects in 2016, driving, engineering, management and personnel. The BTCC is so competitive, all of these aspects have to be perfect to get to the front and I will admit it took longer than I expected.

“Our continuous improvement each time out through the second half of last season, though, capped off with a front row qualifying and a great podium at one of my weakest tracks to round the year off, shows that we just about got there in the end. There is no reason that form won’t continue, so it’s exciting to be going into the 2017 season with a car that can win and is so well supported.”

He added: “We have some exciting new partnerships in place and have retained the fantastic support from our existing partners, I can’t wait to show them off together with our exciting new livery at Autosport International.”

Hot on the heels of the fantastic news of Austin’s continuation in Handy colours, the fan-favourite will be appearing with team principal Simon Belcher at this week’s annual Autosport International Show at Birmingham's NEC.

Regarded as the true start of the motor racing year, on the opening morning of the show on Thursday, 12th January, a stunning new livery for the squad’s Toyota will be revealed on the Dunlop BTCC stand (6440, Hall 6). Additionally, a brand new high-profile commercial partner will be announced on the first day, with confirmation of the team’s full portfolio of key backers.

Austin will appear across all four days of Autosport International and will take part in autograph sessions for fans fans as well as ‘Meet and Greet’ opportunities on the Legends Cars stand, which will be adjacent to the Dunlop BTCC stage.

“Autosport International is always the true start of the motor racing year and it’s a hugely important date on the calendar for Handy Motorsport”, commented Belcher, “We’re obviously delighted to be a key part of the Dunlop BTCC stand once again, and we’re looking forward to giving everyone the first glimpse of our stunning new livery – we think it’ll be pretty popular!

“It goes without saying, we’re absolutely elated Rob is staying with the team for a second season and we’re all aiming to build on the foundations we laid last year. The team got stronger and more competitive as the season progressed, Rob proved the car was quick and helped make history with our first podiums and Independents wins. We’re aiming higher still for 2017.”

Speedworks Motorsport has re-signed Tom Ingram for a fourth consecutive Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship campaign in 2017, with the plucky Independent outfit and its highly-rated young charge both bullish about their prospects in the world’s premier and most fiercely-disputed tin-top series.
 
Having broken through with their maiden podium finishes in 2015, Ingram and Speedworks took another step forward last year by coming out-of-the-blocks in dazzling form to win the first race of the season as the talented Bucks ace converted pole position into both his and the Northwich, Cheshire-based squad’s maiden BTCC victory.
 
That was bolstered by a second success at Silverstone later on in the campaign, in addition to ten further top six finishes – four of them on the rostrum. Those results secured KX Akademy graduate and MSA Academy member Ingram tenth spot amongst the 35 high-calibre protagonists in the final Drivers’ standings and fourth in the Independents’ Trophy, with Speedworks snaring seventh in the Teams’ table and third-best Independent entry, marking an improvement in every area at the end of a season that was widely regarded as one of the toughest in living memory.
 
Indeed, only head gasket failure in the penultimate outing at Silverstone ruled Ingram out of overall title contention entering the Brands Hatch GP finale, and in evidence of his outstanding raw speed, the 23-year-old British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) Rising Star wound up as the fastest average qualifier in the field in 2016, annexing a brace of pole positions and two further front row starts behind the wheel of the #80 Toyota Avensis as he missed the top ten just once.
 
Following the mantra that if it ain’t broke, there is no reason to fix it, Speedworks Team Principal Christian Dick is in optimistic mood as he outlines his objectives for the forthcoming campaign.
 
“Last year was beyond doubt our best yet in the BTCC by a country mile,” he reflected. “Winning our first race was a massively significant milestone, and to then back that promise up by fighting towards the sharp end season-long represented a huge step forward. That said, it was far from perfect and there are many aspects that we have focussed on refining over the winter to enhance our performance for 2017 because the championship never stands still.
 
“Keeping Tom on-board is a major coup. He was unquestionably one of the BTCC’s standout stars last year and with a competitive car underneath him, he consummately proved his potential with both his pace and racecraft, all underpinned by a mature and intelligent approach that belies his age. He is at the forefront of the series’ next generation and a champion of the future, I am sure.
 
“There are clearly areas in which both we as a team and he as a driver still need to improve, but we have been working tirelessly on all fronts since last season ended and I think the benefits of that effort and remaining together for a fourth year will shine through when we hit the track. There has been a raft of updates to the Avensis that we are all very excited about, and we believe we can be genuine contenders for the Independents’ crown in 2017. Brands Hatch cannot come round soon enough!”
 
“It was a very easy decision to stay with Speedworks,” concurred three-time Ginetta Champion and former British Karting Champion Ingram. “In a championship as ultra-competitive and unpredictable as the BTCC, the importance of continuity can never be overstated.
 
“We made tremendous progress last season, and to win our first race together in the very first round was an incredible achievement. Our qualifying pace was superb and our race pace was equally strong. Quite frankly, I don’t see anybody else in our position and with our level of resources doing a better job out there.
 
“Last year was both mine and Speedworks’ first experience of competing regularly up at the front in the BTCC; yes, I’ve won races and championships in lower categories and Christian has done likewise in other series as a team owner, but the BTCC is a whole different ballgame and that meant there was a lot of learning to be done in the full glare of 20 million people!
 
“It’s vital in the BTCC to make hay on the good days and make the most of the bad days – but last year, our bad days were very, very bad. In races two and three at Brands Hatch Indy, Donington Park and Thruxton early in the season, we scored a grand total of two points and then Rockingham was quite literally a pointless weekend.
 
“In nine of the 30 races, we didn’t score at all and in two more we picked up just a single point. If we’d been more consistent and averaged just eighth place in each of those races, we’d have won the championship – I think that’s a measure of how much potential there is inside this team, which is hugely exciting heading into 2017.
 
“The benefit of all the experience we have gained will galvanise us and we now have a much stronger package all-round and a completely different mindset and approach. Having broken our duck, that box has been ticked and we can focus on the bigger picture. We have proved we deserve to be here and will go into the new season with a lot more confidence – whereas last year we were simply hoping to be in the mix, this year we will be aiming to win.
 
“The key will be to finish races, stay out of trouble and keep scoring points – and ultimately, I want to be going to Brands Hatch in October in with a shot at the overall title.”