Race-winning Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship team Ciceley Motorsport unveiled its new sponsor and livery ahead of the 2017 campaign at Silverstone on Saturday.

The Accrington-based squad has secured a three-year deal with Mac Tools to be the headline sponsor of its Mercedes-Benz A-Class, which will be driven by tin-top star Adam Morgan.

Mac Tools has been a subsidiary sponsor of the Cicely Motorsport Mercedes for the last three seasons, but this marks the start of a new era as the company increases its involvement as title sponsor.

Liam Kettlewell, Mac Tools Sales Director, said: “We are thrilled to step up our involvement in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship with Ciceley Motorsport. We have seen the team go from strength-to-strength during the past three years and now is the time to maximise our relationship with them by becoming title sponsor. Ciceley is a fast growing, family-run, highly skilled and professional team who no doubt will continue to succeed. 

"In many ways this reflects our Mac Tools Franchisees throughout the UK.  The BTCC is a great platform for us: great racing, excellent television coverage, a total geographical spread across the UK and an ideal platform to strengthen end-user awareness of our Mac Tools brand, products and franchisees across the UK. We can’t wait for the season to begin.”

The team's race-winning driver, Adam Morgan, is equally enthusiastic about the news: “We have worked really closely with the guys at Mac Tools over the last three years and are delighted to have them as our new title sponsor. The relationship we've built and this three-year deal illustrates the commitment the company has to the team and the championship. I can’t wait to stand on the top step of the podium in my Mac Tools overalls for the first time and repay the company’s faith in us.”

Ciceley Motorsport’s Commercial Director, Norman Burgess, said: “This is a fantastic deal for us. We started off as a little family team after Adam won the Ginetta Supercup title and have grown from a garage at Adam’s home to purpose-built facilities with a BTCC and Renault Clio team. To have a company of the standing of Mac Tools come on board as our title sponsor really puts us on the map and cements our future. We want to become a manufacturer team and having a sponsor at this level on board for three years gives us that platform from which to work.

“This moves the whole team to another level and along with Mac Tools we have grown together – our mechanics are the ideal people to launch new Mac Tools products and showcase them during the season. We have the best mechanics in the championship, as proven by completing the most racing miles without a mechanical failure in the current regulations, so what better team for Mac Tools to be associated with.

“Our mechanics love using their products, our Mac toolboxes are without doubt the best in the world and they enjoy using the Bruiser Battery Impact Wrench for changing the new 50mm wheels. These have to be tightened to 400 Newton Metres, so it’s a phenomenal piece of kit. It’s over 1400Nm on full power!”

WIX Filters, the team’s long-standing sponsor, will stay on board as a subsidiary sponsor and maintains a relationship with the team that has included race wins at Brands Hatch and Thruxton. 

“I’m very happy that we have been able to maintain WIX Filters as a sponsor," continued Burgess. "The company has played a key part in the growth and success of Ciceley Motorsport in the BTCC and its familiar logo will be proudly displayed in our new colour scheme."

The new-look car was unveiled at Silverstone on Saturday 4 March to an appreciative audience of Mac Tools franchises and guests. It will be on track at the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship Season Launch at Donington Park on 16 March with the opening rounds of the championship taking place at Brands Hatch 1-2 April.

A new chapter was written today, on Vauxhall's return to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, as the Power Maxed Racing Astra was seen publicly for the first time.

The covers are off and the car has hit the track for an initial shakedown at Donington Park, with further testing planned over the coming weeks.

It has been a monumental effort on Power Maxed Racing's behalf to prepare these cars over the winter, with their build managed by respected Team Manager Martin Broadhurst, and today marks a fulfilling milestone for the outfit and particularly boss Adam Weaver.

“It is a very proud moment for our car to take to the circuit for the first time,” said Weaver. “We started building the Astra just before Christmas and to see it turning a wheel is a special feeling for the team. There has been a lot of hard work put into this programme already and these are still our first steps.

“The initial mileage isn’t really a test for us, it is an extended shakedown and a systems check. We have work to do, but there is no pressure with this first test.”

The announcement of Vauxhall's return to the BTCC back in November proved to be one of the biggest stories in the off-season. News soon followed that series returnee Tom Chilton and rookie Senna Proctor would be leading the charge for PMR in the 2017 campaign, with the latter taking the reins during today's run.

Both drivers are due to garner further mileage in the Astra next week ahead of the full livery unveil, which will take place at the BTCC Season Launch on 16 March. A further outing for the Vauxhall will take place during that afternoon's test session.

Photo © Jakob Ebrey.

Pre-season preparation ahead of the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship is in full swing, with several teams heading out to warmer climes this week for the first major group test of the year.

Motorbase Performance has migrated to Portugal's Algarve International circuit as it ramps up development and fine-tuning of its newly-liveried Ford Focus ST. New signing Luke Davenport took the reigns yesterday and will continue alongside Mat Jackson and Martin Depper for the remainder.

Joining them for the three-day test at the 2.9-mile FIA-homologated circuit was Speedworks Motorsport and driver Tom Ingram, which showed off its face-lifted Toyota Avensis in interim camouflage colours ahead of a full livery unveiling at Season Launch, 16 March.

A further four outfits made the trip to Spain's Parcmotor Castellolí for a week-long test, with Eurotech Racing among them – both Jeff Smith and Eurotech new-boy Jack Goff are in attendance. The squad completed solid programmes at both Oulton Park and Snetterton last week as it opened its pre-season account, with positive feedback emanating from the camp in the aftermath. 

Also in Catalonia for warm-weather running; Team Dynamics' Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal embarked on their longest run out in the championship-winning Honda Civic Type R so far this pre-season. Both cars were on track on Tuesday morning as the outfit sets about building on what has been an ultra-successful platform in its hands.

Furthermore Team BMW, with its trio of 125i M Sports run by West Surrey Racing, hit the tarmac yesterday in the Spanish sun with Rob Collard and Andrew Jordan at the wheel. Colin Turkington joined Jordan on Tuesday as running continued.

BTC Norlin Racing's Chevrolets are also on-site, with Chris Smiley heading things up on Tuesday morning.

Each outfit is working feverishly through peak pre-season as sights are set on completing their respective programmes with just two weeks to go ahead of the official Season Launch on 16 March.

Next week, the schedule is set to be a busy one again as teams return from group testing and reconvene at various domestic venues to gain more crucial development time on track as the season approaches.

Photo © Matt Sayle.

Speedworks Motorsport has taken the wraps off its 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) challenger, with high hopes that the facelifted Toyota Avensis will help to propel the Northwich, Cheshire-based outfit to Independents’ glory in what is widely regarded as the world’s premier and most fiercely-disputed tin-top series.
 
Speedworks enjoyed its most successful BTCC campaign to-date in 2016, as three-time Ginetta Champion and former British Karting Champion Tom Ingram stunned with both his and the team’s maiden pole position and race victory in the Brands Hatch curtain-raiser. He added to that with a second triumph at Silverstone and was a consistent podium threat at every circuit on the calendar.
 
Not only that, but the talented young Bucks ace proved to be the fastest average qualifier in the field – no mean feat in a series uniting some of the very best touring car protagonists on the planet. His results earned him fourth place amongst the 24 high-calibre contenders in the final Independents’ Trophy standings, with Speedworks snaring a best-yet third spot in the Independent Teams’ Trophy classification.
 
With even loftier ambitions in its sights for 2017, the plucky giant-killing squad has substantially updated its #80 entry, with a primary focus on aerodynamics, cooling and damping, revised bodywork from bumper to boot lid and a distinctive new front grille in a concerted bid to enhance efficiency.
 
It will be the only facelifted Avensis on the 32-strong grid, and Team Principal Christian Dick can scarcely contain his anticipation as Speedworks revs up towards its seventh season in the immensely popular, ITV4 live-televised, all-action BTCC.
 
“This is the biggest single overhaul the Avensis has ever had, and we are confident that we have taken significant strides in every respect,” he affirmed. “We decided towards the end of 2016 which direction we wanted to pursue and that gave us a head start on a lot of the groundwork. The boys have put in an immense effort over the winter, and what they have produced is a real testament to the strength-in-depth and design expertise inside this team. The car looks quite different from every angle, and we’re all extremely excited to see how it performs when it hits the track.
 
“The Avensis still has plenty of untapped potential, and our objective was to keep it fresh by bringing it right up-to-date. We carefully evaluated every aspect and identified quite a few areas in which we could make gains. The BTCC is so tight and intensely competitive that you have to carry on continuously developing because if you stand still, you will go backwards very quickly.
 
“2016 was by far our best season to-date in the championship, but we are certainly not going to rest on our laurels and we are all eager to take another step forward in 2017. By the time we get to Brands Hatch for the first round, we intend to be every bit as strong if not stronger than we were 12 months ago. As a team, it is imperative that we are absolutely on top of our game throughout. We have to be gunning for the Independents’ crown this year – and if we can do that, there is no reason why we can’t also be in with a shot at the overall title going into the final weekend...”
 
Ingram will put the redesigned Avensis through its paces for the first time at Portimão in southern Portugal this week as Speedworks aims to make the most of some milder weather. The 23-year-old KX Akademy graduate and MSA Academy member echoes Dick’s palpable enthusiasm about the team’s prospects for the forthcoming campaign.
 
“I’ve spent a lot of time up at the Speedworks factory over the winter, closely following the changes to the Avensis, and I cannot tell you how much of a buzz there is about the package we now have underneath us,” he revealed. “On paper, we have improved the car pretty much across the board and if it goes even half as quick as it looks, we will be in good shape. I can’t wait to get out there!”

Image Credits: Matt Sayle Photography

• Returning as a Manufacturer Team after 21 years
• Marking ten years relationship with West Surrey Racing
• Welcoming back 2014 BTCC Champion, Colin Turkington
• Celebrating signing of multiple BTCC Independent Drivers Champion, Andrew Jordan
• Renewing seven year WSR signing with Series favourite, Rob Collard

A further chapter in BMW’s illustrious history in touring car racing unfolds today as BMW UK, in partnership with West Surrey Racing (WSR), announced a three-car team that will again bid for victory in the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

The announcement of TEAM BMW was a landmark occasion, marking BMW’s return to the country’s best-watched motor race series as a Manufacturer Team. It’s 21 years since the marque last contested the series in this manner, when BMW Team Schnitzer fielded a trio of BMW 320i cars.

Graeme Grieve, Managing Director of BMW UK, commented: “The BTCC is undeniably the most significant race series in the UK with a huge and enthusiastic following. With a legendary record behind us in the Series’ history books, and partnering continuously with WSR for a decade, we are delighted to step up as a Manufacturer Team again after 21 years. BMW UK’s significant financial investment includes the funding of technical developments on all fronts, focused on the very latest BMW engine derivative.”

At the launch at BMW Park Lane, London, Graeme Grieve joined WSR boss, Dick Bennetts, to remove the wraps from one of the three BMW 125i M Sport team cars that will contest the 2017 BTCC. With the cars freshly-developed, prepared and run again by WSR, BMW’s return to the Series as a Manufacturer coincides with a further landmark, marking a decade since WSR first contested the BTCC with BMW, which has endured to this day.

The BMW relationship with Dick Bennetts’ Sunbury-based operation in the BTCC has been stellar, with the pair enjoying a memorable honeymoon year in 2007, claiming both the Independent Drivers and Teams Championships. Proving it was far from a short-term affair, they repeated the feat in 2008 and, in 2009 and 2014, took Overall BTCC Driver and Team Championships.

Dick Bennetts remarked: “I reckon that working together successfully as motorsport partners for ten years is the equivalent of a lifelong marriage. It’s a tribute to BMW’s product and commitment, and we are delighted to once again represent the marque as they return with increased commitment as a Manufacturer in the BTCC.”

Significantly, the driver roll of honour for each of the three BTCC Independent, Overall and Teams Championship victories fell to Northern Ireland’s Colin Turkington.

Turkington has spent nine of his 12 BTCC seasons with the WSR-BMW team, during which he scored 26 wins over five seasons. Now, two years after claiming the outright Drivers Championship at the wheel of a previous-generation BMW 125i M Sport, he returns to the rear-wheel drive TEAM BMW with renewed vigour.

And driver talent runs deep in BMW’s 2017 BTCC campaign. Joining Turkington is Andrew Jordan, 2013 BTCC Overall Drivers Champion and three times Independent Drivers Champion - who brings with him long- term personal sponsor, Pirtek. And completing the trio is Rob Collard, a BTCC followers’ favourite and the Series’ legendary overtaker who, after his most competitive season to date in 2016, marks the tenth consecutive year he has driven a BMW in the BTCC, the last seven with WSR.

Last year, the trio of WSR-prepared BMW 125i M Sport cars contributed to a nail-biting finale that went down to the wire at the final round. Team driver Sam Tordoff was pipped at the post for the overall drivers' title, just two points shy of victory. Nevertheless, the WSR BMW team claimed a double title success at the conclusion of the series, taking the BTCC Constructors' crown and the Teams’ Championship once again.

Entering the 2017 season of the super-competitive BTCC, TEAM BMW has heavyweight success behind it, increased financial and technical investment from BMW UK, the skills, consistency and superb track record of West Surrey Racing, and a driver trio that collectively represents the most powerful line-up in this year’s BTCC series.

The Series commences at the opening rounds at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit on April 1^st and 2^nd .

Oulton Park and Snetterton were the venues for the start of Jack Goff's 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship testing programme – his first meaningful foray on track for Eurotech Racing.

Goff sampled the Honda Civic Type R for the first time – after making the switch from West Surrey Racing's BMW 125i M Sport – with two days in Cheshire and Norfolk and tallied more than 750 kilometres of run-time.

"It was great to get back into a BTCC car again," Goff said. "I felt instantly at home switching back to the front-wheel drive layout of the Type R.

"After the two days we completed last week, I am looking forward to really starting to fine tune myself and the car in Spain next week.

"The Eurotech squad have been working flat out over recent months to make sure we start the season in the strongest possible way and they have produced a brilliant car. Its clear to see why the Civic Type R has been so successful over recent campaigns.”

The team headed to Snetterton for the second day of its test last week where Goff was joined by team-mate Jeff Smith.

“It was my first chance to get back into the car since the end of the 2016 season," said Smith. "The day went really well with around 300 kilometres being completed and gave me a good chance to get dialled back into the car.

"Our new signing Jack Goff continues to impress and the team are all really confident of a strong 2017 season.”

Spain is the next destination for the pair as several outfits migrate to warmer climes to rack up the testing miles with development on cars ahead of the season-opener at Brands Hatch in April.

Goff will be announcing a new partner later today and will also be producing a series of behind-the-scenes videos from testing to give fans the inside line on his preparations.

Maximum Motorsport has announced Josh Cook as the driver of its Ford Focus ST for the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

Team Principal, Stewart Lines, sustained injuries after falling from a mountain bike in January, leaving him immobile with muscle and ligament damage. On review of his situation, Lines seized the opportunity to sign Cook for the coming campaign.

The 25-year-old had become available having recently announced his departure from MG Racing RCIB Insurance and Lines, confident in the Bath racer's ability in the championship, made the decision to vacate his seat, giving the young gun the opportunity to further his BTCC career.

"I’m elated to be back on the grid for 2017 – it all turned around in the space of 24 hours," said Cook. "The support that I received when I announced my departure from MG was incredible. I’m immensely grateful to Stewart for enabling my return this coming season. It’s taken a lot of effort with multiple new sponsors but thank you to everyone involved. I can’t wait to get stuck into pre-season testing.

“I think we’ve got a great package with Maximum Motorsport, the Focus has been upgraded over the off-season and with Team Parker Racing looking after the operation of the car throughout the year, we should be pushing for strong finishes from the off.”

“After my accident, we started analysing our options forthcoming campaign to allow myself enough time for recovery," added Lines. "When Josh announced he was without a drive, we grasped the opportunity to sign a very capable young talent.

“I’m disappointed that I won’t be lining up on the 2017 grid, as the car has undergone a significant programme of upgrades over the winter period and is now down to a much lighter weight. Despite this, I am delighted we’re running Josh this season and believe we’ve got the complete package to produce some strong finishes."

The team is set for an extensive test schedule, with its new livery to be revealed at the official Season Launch on 16 March, Donington Park.

West Surrey Racing has announced that Rob Collard will remain with the team for the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

Collard, who played a key role in WSR’s Constructors’ and Teams’ Championship titles last year with two race wins and six podiums, joins Andrew Jordan and Colin Turkington in the three-car line-up of BMW 125i M Sports.

The Hampshireman enjoyed his most competitive BTCC campaign to date in 2016 as he led the points table during the second half of the season and finished fifth overall; narrowly missing out on the title at the Brands Hatch season finale.

His total of four fastest laps was a figure unbeaten by any other driver in the series, and with over 140 places made up from his starting positions across the season, he was awarded the Dunlop #ForeverForward Trophy at the end-of-year BTCC Night of Champions.

The 2017 campaign will be his 10th with WSR; Collard taking his maiden BTCC victory and podium during a two-year stint with the Sunbury-on-Thames team in 2005-06 and then returning in 2010.

He will drive the latest version of the WSR-designed-and-built BMW 125i M Sport for the first time during a week-long test in Spain, starting on February 27.

“It’s fantastic to be staying with WSR," said Collard. "They have a pedigree like no other team in the BTCC and the level of professionalism and preparation that has been key to their success is clear to see in everything they do.

"This will be my 10th season with the team and I plan to use that continuity to my advantage. I took my first BTCC win and my first podium with WSR and now my aim is to take my first title with them too. With Colin and Andrew as my team-mates, I think we have the strongest line-up in the championship and I can't wait to start testing the latest development of the BMW later this month."

Dick Bennetts, Team Principal, said: “We’re very pleased to continue our partnership with Rob, who has raced with WSR for the past seven seasons – including the entire BMW 125i M Sport programme.

"He’s very much part of the family here, is one of the best drivers in the BTCC for pure racing ability and played a pivotal role in WSR’s constructors’ and teams’ title successes in 2016. I don’t see any reason why he can’t be a title contender again.”

Oulton Park was the venue for the start of Handy Motorsport’s 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship testing programme this week, providing Rob Austin’s first mileage of the year in the team’s newly-built Toyota Avensis.

Following a well-received team launch at last month’s Autosport International Show, this week’s running on Tuesday and Wednesday left the Evesham racer suitably impressed with more than 100 laps completed.

The Swindon-based squad, heading into its fourth year in the championship, has been working over recent weeks and months to ensure it is in the strongest possible shape for the coming campaign and the fruits of that labour borne out at Oulton Park.

The car's ahead-of-schedule build and completion ensured development and fine-tuning could begin early – the Toyota's pace and balance at a cold, greasy Oulton Park was a source of encouragement for Austin.

“The two days at Oulton went very well," he said. “The boys have made a beautiful job of building the car, its ahead of schedule and absolutely immaculate as you would expect from the Handy Motorsport team. 

“The weather hindered our track time a little, but we anticipated that by booking two days rather than just one. Out of the box the car was much more hooked up than when we raced here last year and that served as a great example of the progress we made through the second half of 2016."

As well as marking the maiden run-out for Handy’s new car, the test was also the first opportunity for Austin and the squad to experience the new 2017 Dunlop rubber which has been introduced for the coming season. Dunlop’s new SportMaxx tyres are larger, with a 20mm increase in width, with the new construction also expected to deliver increased grip and traction.

“It’s a really nice tyre, full credit to Dunlop for all of their hard work developing it," added Austin. "We completed a good number of laps, worked through our carefully planned programme and we certainly left Oulton with the feeling we have continued on the steep development curve we were on through the second half of the 2016 season.

“It’s got me very excited for the start of the season, the car feels strong and well balanced and I’m feeling very confident about going up against the rest of the field. Brands can’t come soon enough! Before then we have a very comprehensive test schedule organised and a lot of developments to continue working on.”

With just a month to go until the official Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship Season Launch at Donington Park, 16 March, the teams are out in force and racking up the testing miles.

This past week has been a busy one. After news broke that he had signed for West Surrey Racing on Tuesday, Colin Turkington surfaced in his new mount – the BMW 125i M Sport – at Brands Hatch for an initial shakedown ahead of a trip to Spain at the end of the month.

Joining him and WSR in pre-season running was Laser Tools Racing. Jack Goff found his feet in the front-wheel drive Honda Civic Type R around a greasy Oulton Park circuit on Tuesday. Team-mate and Team Principal Jeff Smith joined him for a day's work at Snetterton on Wednesday.

Back to Cheshire, and Handy Motorsport's Rob Austin took to the track for an first run of the year in the Toyota Avensis – a car he feels is going places in 2017 after overcoming setup issues midway through 2016, ending the year on a high with a podium at Brands Hatch GP.

Austin ran the 2017 specification TOCA power-plant as well as the new Dunlop tyres, both of which left the Evesham ace suitably impressed.

"The engine and tyres feel awesome and the team are doing a fantastic job," said Austin. "We have a very comprehensive schedule organised and a lot of developments to continue working on – we're back on track at Brands Hatch on Tuesday.” 

Laser Tools Racing has also been hard at work, kickstarting its 2017 efforts at Donington Park this week with Aiden Moffat putting in the hours behind the wheel of a stealth-black interim-liveried Mercedes-Benz A Class – a tease as to its new livery, set to be unveiled come Season Launch.

To come, WSR, Team Dynamics, Eurotech Racing and BTC Norlin Racing are set to head overseas for a group test at Castelloli Circuit in Catalonia, Spain, at the end of the month – 27 February to 3 March. Meanwhile, Motorbase Performance and Speedworks Motorsport will travel to the Algarve and Portimao for some warm-weather running from 27 February to 1 March.

In the immediate future, Motorbase are set to travel to Brands Hatch tomorrow; Laser Tools Racing and Ciceley Motorsport head to Snetterton next Wednesday and Thursday along with (provisionally) Handy Motorsport. Team Dynamics will be at Donington Park on Thursday.

In the week leading up to Season Launch, Handy Motorsport will again visit Brands Hatch, as will Ciceley, Motorbase, Team Dynamics and Eurotech – the latter trio all on 13 March. Ciceley will also head to the Midlands and Donington Park on 9 March with Motorbase at Brands Hatch the same day, having completed some hours this week on the dyno.

Furthermore, there will be two sessions of exclusive BTCC testing at Thruxton during the Support Races' annual pre-event test day.

This will be Thursday, April 20. The sessions are 11.30 to 12.15 and 15.30 to 16.15. It is expected that several teams will test at this point.

All appearances mentioned are subject to change.