Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Champions WSR have enjoyed an excellent three days of testing this week with new signing Andrew Jordan completing over 450 miles of important winter running.

Andrew, who will race for WSR in the BTCC for the next two seasons, got behind the wheel of his BMW 125i M Sport for the first time at Brands Hatch on Tuesday and the 2013 series champion completed further running at Donington Park on Thursday and at Silverstone on Friday.

With the BMW running in an interim livery this week, Andrew – who has never raced a rear-wheel-drive touring car – gained valuable experience of the machine that guided WSR to the BTCC teams’ and constructors’ titles in 2016.

After completing 119 laps in tricky and changeable track conditions at Brands Hatch – the venue for the opening round of the 2017 BTCC – on Tuesday, WSR then chalked up a further 86 laps at Donington and 93 at Silverstone as a variety of set-up options were evaluated.

The 2013 BTCC champion driver sampled Dunlop’s new-specification tyres, which will become mandatory in next year’s series.

Andrew Jordan said: “I’m really pleased with how it’s gone this week with WSR and the BMW. From day one at Brands Hatch it felt very user-friendly and it didn’t take me very long to feel at home – despite some changeable weather. You can really feel the level of engineering that’s gone into the 125i M Sport and that’s made things much easier to adapt to – especially as I’m also learning a rear-wheel-drive touring car after spending my entire BTCC race career with front-wheel-drive. It’s also been great to start working with the engineers and mechanics and start building relationships with everybody in the team.”

Dick Bennetts, Team Principal, said: “It will hopefully pay off when you can start your winter testing programme before Christmas, so to have three days of solid running this week and give Andrew some experience at three different circuits with the BMW is definitely going to benefit him and the team. The car is still in 2016 trim, as we still have to convert it to use all of the mandatory components for next season, but we’re not far off and this week has helped us to see where we are and given us lots of very useful data to analyse.”

We caught up with BTCC Series Director, Alan Gow, to get his thoughts on Vauxhall's return to the BTCC with Power Maxed Racing:

 

AmDTuning.com has re-signed Ollie Jackson to spearhead its assault on the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

Jackson rejoined the West Thurrock-based team this year - having earlier raced in AmDTuning.com colours back in 2012 - and enjoyed a solid campaign at the wheel of an Audi S3, ending the year as a regular contender for points scoring finishes in an ultra-competitive field.

The new deal with Jackson marks the first time that AmDTuning.com has entered into a second successive season with a driver, providing vital continuity ahead of a busy off-season that will see the Audi undergo extensive work back at base.

Having been one of a handful of cars to run older-specification control parts this year, the Audi will be fully updated to run new RML spec parts, with delivery of those parts expected in the coming weeks.

The team will then embark on a pre-season testing programme to ensure it is ready to hit the ground running when the new season begins at Brands Hatch in early April.

“I really enjoyed this season with the team so I’m delighted that we’ve been able to get the deal done to early to allow us to start working on 2017,” Jackson said. "I’m really excited about what next year could hold for us, and I have no doubt that this deal gives me the best chance I’ve ever had in the BTCC.

“This year we showed that we had a competitive package with the Audi, even though the fact we didn’t have the upgraded suspension worked against us at some circuits. With the upgrades that will now be carried out, and the knowledge and experience we have, I’m hopeful that we can be in a strong position when the season starts and be able to challenge for points from round one, with the ultimate goal being to push for the top ten. That won’t be easy as everyone is working on developments and improvements, but there is a huge amount of potential in the Audi that we were unlocking throughout 2016.

“The fact we’ll be able to do some proper pre-season testing is going to be key, and is something I haven’t been able to do before as my deals have always been quite last minute. Now the deal is done, I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel and get started.”

Team boss Shaun Hollamby was also pleased to be able to confirm the new agreement with Ollie for 2017, with the team hopeful of one of its strongest seasons since joining the series back in 2010.

“The continuity of sticking with Ollie is something we felt was key after a strong second half of the year, and it’s great to have the deal done,” he said. "Given the way this season ended, we are keen to make sure we hit the ground running when the 2017 campaign comes around and try to build on what we achieved together this year.

"Making the move to the RML kit is something we knew we had to do for next season and those upgrades will soon be carried out before we start testing and the real work begins. Of course it wouldn’t be possible without the support of our sponsors, and we’re thankful that that ongoing support has allowed us to commit the resources required to upgrade the Audi and give us the best chance of success on track.

“There is still the possibility that we may be able to run a second car alongside Ollie if certain things fall into place but it is out of our hands at the moment and very much a case of wait and see.”

The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship is delighted to announce their continued media partnership with Haymarket Consumer Media for a further two years.

Automotive Brands, owners of Power Maxed Racing are delighted to announce their commercial partnership with Vauxhall Motors. The agreement will see the return of the Vauxhall Astra to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship from 2017 onwards.

As an integral part of this agreement Power Maxed Racing will run two new Vauxhall Astras – 2016 European Car of the Year ­­­­­­­– in the BTCC as a Manufacturer entry.

Automotive Brands supply products such as Steel Seal – a head gasket fix in a bottle and Power Maxed Car Care Products to over 2,500 UK Motor factors and Motor Stores including Euro Car Parts, Motor Parts Direct, GroupAuto, A1 and Halfords.

This landmark deal will see Automotive Brands run a fleet of Vauxhall vehicles as well as leverage its relationships with commercial partners who operate fleets totalling over 25,000 light commercial vehicles. The deal will enable Vauxhall to increase its share of this highly valued market.

Automotive Brands’ trade customers will have access to FREE use of a Power Maxed branded Vauxhall Combo 1.3 CDTI, returning incredible MPG with low maintenance costs and strong residual values ; all key factors when specifying light commercial vehicles completing up to 200,000 miles over the average 4-year term.

Adam Weaver Managing Director of Automotive Brands, Team Principal of Power Maxed Racing commented “We are incredibly pleased and proud to be working with Vauxhall and to be the team that brings this iconic and highly successful brand back to the BTCC. The all new Astra is a fantastic car and it is no surprise that it was voted 2016 European Car of the Year – it will make a show-stopping BTCC challenger."

Shells have now been supplied and work is well advanced in turning the new Astra into a highly competitive BTCC car. We are aiming to announce a talented and exciting driver line-up in the near future ; which will further motivate and inspire everyone involved in this exciting project.

Power Maxed and Vauxhall brand values are perfectly aligned ;  both partners committed to UK manufacturing, product excellence and sector-leading customer service.

Alan Gow, BTCC Series Director, commented “It is fantastic to be welcoming Vauxhall back to the BTCC as a manufacturer entry. Its history and pedigree is there for all to see and I have no doubt that the highly professional and experienced team at Power Maxed Racing will be great partners.”

More reaction, plus news on the build, testing programme and driver line-up will follow over the coming days and weeks.

Andrew Jordan has completed his first laps in WSR's BMW 125i M Sport this morning (Tuesday) as the former BTCC champion enjoys a full test day at Brands Hatch.

The Pirtek-backed racer's switch to WSR was announced last week and Jordan is immediately getting down to business as he prepares for a renewed title assault in 2017. Jordan will be testing in the JCT600 with GardX livery pre-Christmas before the full 2017 Pirtek Racing car is unveiled in the New Year.

Before the 27-year-old hit the track the official BTCC website caught up with him... Click below to hear our extended interview:

 

WSR has announced an exciting new partnership with Pirtek Racing and Andrew Jordan for the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

The former BTCC title winner will race the latest development of the WSR-designed-and-built BMW 125i M Sport, which won both the teams’ and manufacturers’/constructors’ championships this season, in both 2017 and 2018.

Andrew, 27, brings a wealth of experience and success to WSR. Since making his BTCC debut in 2008, he has scored 16 race wins, 53 podium finishes and six pole positions. The Lichfield racer won the overall BTCC crown in 2013 and has been the champion independent driver three times; including this year.

He joins a WSR team that has taken five outright BTCC titles as well as nine in the independents category and he will compete under the Pirtek Racing banner.

Sunbury-on-Thames-based WSR will begin Andrew’s winter test programme later this month as the Red Bull Athlete acclimatises to the BMW ahead of what will be his first season racing a rear-wheel-drive touring car.

WSR expect to announce additions to the 2017 driver line-up before the end of the year.

Dick Bennetts, Team Principal, said: “It’s great to welcome Andrew Jordan and Pirtek Racing to WSR. Andrew is one of the fastest and most successful drivers in the BTCC and crucially knows how to win a championship. Being able to announce this exciting news in November enables us to make the best possible use of the time available between now and the start of the 2017 season and kick off our winter testing programme with Andrew before the end of the month. The team have been working hard on the development of the BMW to make sure we’re title contenders again next year.”

Andrew Jordan said: “I’m incredibly excited about joining WSR, who have been one of the outstanding teams in the BTCC for the past 20 years and achieved so much success in single-seater racing before that with legends like Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell and Mika Hakkinen. To have signed a multi-year deal is fantastic as it gives myself and Pirtek the continuity to build something really special with WSR over the next two seasons. I’ve been very impressed by what I’ve seen of the way WSR operate and am sure that we can be right at the sharp end throughout the 2017 season. I’ve never raced a rear-wheel-drive car in the BTCC, but the BMW has proven to be one of the best cars on the grid and I’m looking forward to learning plenty over the winter.”

To mark Aiden Moffat's earlier announcement the young Scot has been talking with his long-term partners at Laser Tools.

Such has been the success of Aiden's relatively short but successful BTCC career so far the 20-year-old is delighted to also welcome back Car Shop, Spence Insurance, Brown Brothers, Colin A Renton Transporter Maintenance, Smart Fleet Solutions, EnjoyCarLife, Secure Airparks, AST Signs Ltd and Butler’s Vehicle Solutions as part of his loyal group of backers.

In this video Aiden talks candidly about his 2016 season and speaks in detail about the last three rounds at Brands Hatch in October, which included that memorable podium in the final race. He also explains why he is looking forward to the 2017 season behind the wheel of his Mercedes A-Class.

Click below to watch the video:

Scottish driver Aiden Moffat will contest the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship in a Laser Tools Racing Mercedes A-Class, after an extended partnership with the leading tools brand was confirmed earlier today (15 November).

“The BTCC is where we’re going to stay,” said Moffat. “It’s a fantastic championship and as a team we’re constantly improving.”

Moffat scored a very popular and well deserved podium in the final race of the 2016 campaign at Brands Hatch, which completed an impressive run of three top ten finishes at the famous Kent venue. Second place in the season finale was testament to the growing maturity and speed being shown by the 20-year-old, as the youngest driver in BTCC history now targets regular rostrums in Britain’s toughest championship.

“We developed our Mercedes a lot over the 2016 season and we’ve got further progress planned before the 2017 season starts too. I’ve had a full year now with race engineer Federico Turrata and we have a definite bond — we know how each other thinks — and this has shown in the race results.

“At the closing rounds at Brands the car just felt right, I had great pace and I could place it wherever I wanted. With this confidence and the new TOCA engine, we’re in a great position going into the 2017 season.”

The success of Moffat’s three years in the BTCC has been proven both on-track and off-track, with both the sporting and commercial benefits attracting a number of long-term and loyal partnerships.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time in the BTCC so far and the podium at the end of the year was just reward for everyone involved,” he concluded. “Laser Tools Racing fully appreciates that our partners have committed again for next year, and this puts us in a very strong position. So for their continued support I would personally like to thank Car Shop, Spence Insurance, Brown Brothers, Colin A Renton Transporter Maintenance, Smart Fleet Solutions, EnjoyCarLife, Secure Airparks, AST Signs Ltd and Butler’s Vehicle Solutions.

“What a team!”