AmDTuning.com has today confirmed that it has been granted one of the new TOCA BTCC Licences (TBL) for the 2014 season, where it will field an all-new car for its fifth year in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.
After a pre-registration process to decide which teams would secure one of the 32 licences available – and required – for 2014, the West Thurrock-based team was amongst those to be granted an entry having finalised a deal on a car built to the BTCC’s Next Generation Touring Car regulations.
“Obviously it is fantastic for us to have been granted a licence for 2014 and beyond,” AmDTuning.com team boss Shaun Hollamby said. “The fact that the series organisers have selected us to receive a TBL is a great compliment, and shows that we have done a good job in recent seasons.
“Knowing we have an entry for the next three seasons has allowed us to make the investment in an NGTC car and we have high hopes for the 2014 campaign and beyond.”
Having evaluated the various options available for next season, which included building and developing its own car in-house, AmDTuning.com has agreed a deal with front-running outfit Motorbase Performance to acquire one of its Ford Focus models.
With the Ford having already shown its potential with race wins and numerous top three finishes over the past 18 months, AmDTuning.com will now seek to not only challenge for regular points throughout the course of the 2014 season, but also aims to push towards the outright podium positions for the first time.
“We looked at the various options that were available to us when it came to running an NGTC car, but it had to be a car that was a fit with our core business,” Hollamby continued. “We do a lot of work on Ford models and [team boss] David Bartrum at Motorbase is someone I have known for more than 25 years, so it made perfect sense for us on all levels to do a deal to run a Focus next year.
“The car is a proven race winner in the series and having served our apprenticeship in the last four years with our little VW Golf, the time has come to make the move up to the next level. To do that, we know we need the right package and that is exactly what we are getting with the Ford.”
AmDTuning.com hopes to take delivery of the Focus before Christmas before starting a testing programme in the New Year prior to the opening rounds of the 2014 season at the team’s home circuit of Brands Hatch in late March.
Terms with a front-running BTCC driver have already been agreed, with a further announcement to be made at next month’s Autosport International Show at the NEC in Birmingham following the conclusion of a number of sponsorship deals.
“Previously, the Golf wasn’t a car that was high on the list for potential drivers but now we have one of the top cars on the grid and a number of people have wanted to talk to us about next year,” Hollamby concluded. “We are very happy with the deal we have agreed, and with the driver we have onboard, there is no reason why we can’t make the push for podium finishes when the new season gets underway.
“We’re looking forward to getting out on track and starting work with the Focus and are ready for the challenge that lies ahead.”
