AmDTuning.com can today announce ambitious plans to expand its Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship programme and launch a three-car assault on the 2016 season.
The West Thurrock-based team made the successful move to become a two-car outfit in 2015 – running a second car in five of the ten events – and will now seek to find further expand its involvement in Britain’s premier racing series during its seventh season in the series.
Work has started on the build of a second Audi S3, which will be fitted with the latest NGTC parts from the BTCC’s new technical partner RML.
Subject to being granted a third TOCA BTCC Licence (TBL) by series bosses, the team plans to then field two Audis in 2016 alongside the Ford Focus it has campaigned for the past two seasons.
Discussions have already started with potential drivers who are interested in racing with the team next year and the team is also actively seeking to strengthen its engineering team as part of the expansion plans.
“The BTCC is currently in as strong a position as it has ever been, and we feel the time is right to expand our programme beyond two cars for next year,” team boss Shaun Hollamby said.
“We have seen the potential in the Audi from the five rounds it did in 2015 and have already prepped the shell of a second car ready to be built up for 2016. Subject to being granted the necessary licence by TOCA, we would then look to run both Audis with the new RML parts alongside the Focus next year.
“Mike Bushell, Jake Hill and Nicolas Hamilton did a fantastic job for us in 2015 and we would be keen to have them onboard again next year. There are also a number of other drivers who have expressed an interest in joining us for 2016, and we are in discussions over the various options that are available.
“The whole team, led by Rob Tickner, did a fantastic job to expand to two cars, and we are keen to expand and strengthen our backroom staff further as we embark on our most ambitious racing programme to date.
“It’s also true that these plans wouldn’t be possible without the fantastic backing of our loyal sponsors, and we need to thank Cobra Performance, Millers Oils, Hendys, Milltek Sport, Motul Oils and Project Mu for their ongoing support.”