As part of an initiative by official BTCC tyre supplier Dunlop Tyres, three young drivers were given the chance to test a Motorbase-prepared NGTC Ford Focus earlier this week as a reward for their success in the supporting series on the TOCA package.
2013 Formula Ford champion Dan Cammish was joined by runner up Harrison Scott as well as this year’s Renault Clio Cup champion Josh Files at Snetterton in Norfolk for a run in the Airwaves Racing car, with BTCC star Tom Onslow-Cole on hand to offer guidance and support. All three young drivers were given a race-simulation run around the challenging 300 circuit configuration, and impressed Motorbase team principal David Bartrum who said, “For me, it was a good test. Having two champions and one runner up we expected a high level of ability based on where they’ve all come from; but to be thrown straight in at the deep end and step into the Focus NGTC showing the speed and ability they did, away from their areas of expertise, just shows where their talents lie. All three drivers did very well and impressed the whole team.
“The day was great testament to Dunlop tyres and another show of the level of support and commitment that they show to the BTCC package as a whole; and Airwaves Racing is very proud to have been a part of it.”
Cammish, who won the Formula Ford championship by a significant margin this year, was buoyed by the dream chance to drive a BTCC car, and enthused, “Today has been brilliant. I felt really comfortable in the car by the end of the run and the speed was there too which was encouraging.
“I enjoyed the whole experience immensely from driving the Focus ST NGTC to working with the Airwaves Racing crew and I’m very grateful to Dunlop for this fantastic opportunity and also to David Bartrum and Airwaves Racing for hosting the day.”
The Renault Clio Cup has produced a number of drivers who have gone on to great success in the BTCC, most recently with Jack Goff who, after winning the Clio Cup in 2012 scored his first BTCC podium in the final race of 2013 season at Brands Hatch. His successor Josh Files also relished the chance to move up to more formidable racing machinery, and commented after getting out of the car, “I think the test went very well and it was great fun. The Airwaves Racing Ford Focus ST was really interesting and, although it felt a lot bigger and faster than the Clio Cup cars I’m used to racing, I had a good feel for the car at the end of the day. The individuals I worked with were all very friendly, helpful and encouraging and I can’t thank them enough. It’s a dream to race in the BTCC and yesterday’s test only served to heighten my determination and desire to race to make a career in motor sport.”
