2020 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship runner James Gornall makes his return to BTCC machinery today (6th July), as the former Mini Challenge UK Champion joins the squad in its fourth CUPRA Leon for the two-day Goodyear tyre test at Oulton Park.
Gornall, who made his series debut just last year, scored 18 points and a best finish of seventh during the 18 rounds he contested, before taking the difficult decision to stand down from his seat in Britain’s premier motorsport series.
“I’m excited to try the new CUPRA around Oulton Park this week,” said Gornall. “The car is going from strength to strength and, having spent ten months out of a BTCC car, I can’t wait to jump back in and help the team’s development of the machine.”
Tony Gilham, Managing Director at Team HARD. Racing added “It’s great to have James join us for this seasons Goodyear tyre test at Oulton Park,” added the squad’s Managing Director, Tony Gilham. “He is a reliable and safe yet fast pair of hands. His experience in motorsport is only going to help our development of the new CUPRA Leon.
“He was very impressive last season and held his own against a teammate who was vastly more experienced in this category so I have no doubt that after the morning is spent shaking off a few cobwebs, James will be right there with the rest of the team. We have a very detailed testing programme for James to execute over the next couple of days, so I am looking forward to seeing not only himself but also the car's progression.
“The team is really on a high at the moment after a strong showing at Brands Hatch and we are all excited to continue developing the car. James is a great personality and I know he is going to fit into the team straight away.”
Today marks the first day of the BTCC's annual two-day, mid-season Goodyear tyre test at Oulton Park, which sees all the 2021 entries run through various testing programmes as they look to start the second half of the campaign on the front foot.
Follow all the action from Oulton Park via TSL's live timings available here.
