Ciceley Motorsport is delighted to announce BTCC stalwart Tom Chilton will be manning one of the squad’s BMW 330i M Sports for an assault on the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.  

Surrey-driver Chilton brings a wealth of experience and technical ability to the team, having debuted in the BTCC back in 2002. Despite a four-year foray into the World Touring Car Championship from 2012-2016, Chilton returned to the BTCC in 2016, and has gone on to enjoy much success since. 

“I’m really looking forward to joining Ciceley Motorsport in their new era,” said Chilton. “They are a great team, and the BMW will be ultra-competitive.  Adam [Morgan] and I get along really well and we will work as hard as required with team engineer Steve Farrell to ensure we’re at the front of the pack straight away. I’ve made no secret of my desire to change my lucky racing number 3 into the coveted number 1 and truly believe that the team and will provide me with the platform required to achieve my aim.” 

“We have genuinely never been so excited going into a race season,” said Team owner Russell Morgan. “I have only ever been racing because I enjoy it, it’s something that I have always done, but we have made massive investment into the team this year and need results. Therefore, it was of the utmost importance that we secured a driver who brings experience, technical ability and is able to move us forward as a team. Tom is the perfect fit for Ciceley Motorsport, both he and Adam should be fighting at the front from the get-go”  

“Tom Chilton is a great addition to the team and I’m excited to see Tom and Adam working together this season,” concluded Peter Schofield Chairman of Ciceley Motorsports title sponsors Tetrosyl Ltd. “This is our second year as team title sponsors alongside Ciceley Motorsport and with the experience and quality of both drivers and the introduction of our new BMWs we have everything we need for success.” 

The team has a hectic testing schedule arranged, both Adam and Tom will be ready to begin their assault on the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, when the action kicks off on the 3/4 April at Brands Hatch. As always, all race weekends will be televised, live and free on ITV4 during the season.        

In addition to fighting for Drivers’ glory, Toyota Gazoo Racing UK will unleash its first genuine assault on the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship Manufacturers’ and Teams’ crowns in 2021, following the acquisition of a second TOCA BTCC Licence (TBL) by Speedworks Motorsport from another team.
 
Having made its BTCC debut in 2011, Cheshire-based Speedworks has run as a single-car entry in the UK’s premier motor racing series since 2014, going on a giant-killing spree with its trusty Toyota Avensis – a stellar effort that yielded nine victories, 17 rostrum finishes and back-to-back Independent Teams’ titles in 2017 and 2018 – prior to gaining official Manufacturer status.
 
That paved the way to a further seven race wins, 15 podiums, two pole positions and five fastest laps with the potent new Toyota Corolla in 2019 and 2020 – on each occasion, entering the final weekend of the season still in contention for overall Drivers’ honours.
 
Now, for the first time, Toyota Gazoo Racing UK is primed to do battle for all three trophies – Drivers’, Teams’ and Manufacturers’ – in what is commonly regarded as the world’s toughest and most fiercely-disputed tin-top series, with two Corollas set to join the grid for the forthcoming campaign.
 
Both will sport the instantly recognisable Toyota Gazoo Racing corporate colours – in-line with the Japanese carmaker’s global motorsport activities – with the driver line-up to be announced in due course. The 2021 BTCC campaign will get underway at Brands Hatch in Kent on 3/4 April.
 
“It’s fantastic to be able to confirm our expansion to two cars this year," said Team Principal Christian Dick. "It’s a step we have been targeting for a while, and something we knew needed to happen if we were to have a real shot at winning the Manufacturers’ and Teams’ championships in a series as ultra-competitive as the BTCC. It’s tremendously motivating for everybody involved.
 
“I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved as a single-car entrant over the past seven years – outperforming and outscoring many teams running two or more cars, which is quite a feat – and I cannot wait to see what we can now accomplish with a second Corolla in the garage. We had arguably the fastest car in the field towards the end of last season, and we are confident of unlocking even more pace from it between now and Brands Hatch.
 
“Whilst we’re under no illusions about the size of the challenge ahead, we’ve proved we are more than capable of running two cars before, the Speedworks guys and girls are the best in the pit-lane and we have a dynamic new driver line-up that will be unveiled soon, representing an exciting blend of youth and experience. We are immensely grateful to Toyota UK for their ongoing support, and we fully intend to repay that through our on-track performance and results over the coming months.”
 
“Speedworks has long proved to be amongst the best BTCC  teams, but has been fighting with one hand tied behind its back," added Scott Brownlee, General Manager, Press Relations & Social Media for Toyota in the UK. "The step-up to a full, two-car team will allow them to take the battle to the other Manufacturer teams with both hands. 
 
“Speedworks is a very good fit with Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, as evidenced by the team’s British GT programme with the GR Supra GT4. We look forward to the 2021 season taking both Speedworks and Toyota Gazoo Racing UK to the next level.”

Following the entry approval deadline, Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship organiser TOCA has today (12 January) advised that all 29 entries – the maximum number of TOCA BTCC Licences (TBLs) held by teams – are confirmed for the 2021 season.

Teams must hold a TBL for each car entered – there are 29 TBLs held by teams, with three retained by TOCA. In keeping with its previously stated policy of wishing to gradually reduce the size of the BTCC grid, TOCA has again chosen not to allocate any of its TBLs to either existing teams or new entrants.

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “Although we are all going through this most incredibly gruelling period, it’s enormous testament to the strength and popularity of the BTCC that we have a full entry. Even more remarkable is the fact that a third of the grid will be new-build cars that have been constructed in the off-season. All of which means that we have yet another fabulous, and even more unpredictable, season in store.”

Teams will announce full details regarding their respective entries (drivers, team names and sponsors) over the coming weeks, prior to the release of the finalised entry list, which will be published by TOCA in March.
                   
Confirmed entries for the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship are as follows:

TEAM	TBLs
BMR Racing	1
Boardley Motorsport	2
BTC Racing	3
Ciceley Motorsport	2
Excelr8 Motorsport	2
Aiden Moffat Racing	1
Motorbase Performance	4
Power Maxed Racing	2
Speedworks Motorsport	2
Team Dynamics	2
Team HARD	3
Trade Price Cars Racing	2
West Surrey Racing	3

Supporters of the UK’s biggest motorsport series – the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – are being given the opportunity to take part in its most comprehensive fan survey ever.

The survey can be accessed below, and will also be promoted via BTCC official media channels as well as a number of stakeholders, sponsors, teams and drivers media platforms, with supporters able to have their say on subjects such as:

• Race weekend experience
• Television broadcasts
• Media platforms
• Sponsorship
• Road cars
• Environment and sustainability
• Computer games/Esports
• Leisure and lifestyle
• Sports interests
• Many more

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “The BTCC’s relationship with its fanbase is unrivalled throughout motorsport and much of the sporting world, which is something we are not only extremely proud of, but remains a core principle of the series moving forward.

“So, today we are launching our most significant and wide-ranging survey ever, ensuring that our fans continue to play an integral role in the future of the championship.”

Click here to take part in the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship survey. Those who take time to complete the survey will also have the chance to enter a prize draw to win one of 10x pairs of tickets to your favourite BTCC event.

AP Racing, the world-renowned brake and clutch supplier, has been chosen by TOCA and the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) to supply critical performance components for a further six years. Through to 2026, all racecars on the BTCC grid will feature an AP Racing Radi-CAL brake package, pedal box, air jacks and high-performance carbon clutch.

One of the oldest established motor racing series in the world, the BTCC’s legacy is eclipsed only by Formula One and NASCAR. A beloved icon of UK motorsport and motorsport culture, the BTCC has continued to thrill fans since its inception in 1958. The series is going from strength to strength, as it makes history with its transition to the use of hybrid power, with the new system due to come into effect in 2022.

Now operating under the Next Generation Touring Car (NGTC) regulations introduced in 2011, AP Racing’s performance products are more important than ever before. With 2.0-litre turbocharged engines outputting more than 350 brake horsepower, the blistering pace of modern BTCC cars means that high-performance brakes and clutches are critical for safe and successful racing.

The new AP Racing contract extension includes the supply of brake calipers, brake discs, carbon clutches, pedal boxes, master cylinders, slave cylinders and air jacks to all BTCC racecars. It is the continuation of a relationship that stretches back to 2002 when AP Racing was first chosen to be the BTCC’s single source of brake and clutch components.

David Hamblin, Managing Director at AP Racing, commented: “We are thrilled that TOCA and the BTCC have chosen to continue working with AP Racing as the official brake and clutch supplier for another six years. The BTCC is a cornerstone of British motorsport and to be such an integral part of each and every car means a lot to our business, but also to us as individuals. We are proud of what we have achieved together over the last 18 years and are excited to see where the relationship takes us.”

TOCA, the organisation behind the BTCC, has been a long-time supporter of British motorsport businesses. Peter Riches, Technical Director at TOCA, added: “The BTCC is an important part of UK motorsport and, as best we can, we like to support British engineering, innovation and manufacturing. Conveniently for us, AP Racing is also at the international forefront of brake and clutch design and production. Covering everything from Formula One to high-performance road cars, its systems are trusted by everyone.

“With a well-deserved reputation that has been earned at the pinnacle of motorsport on tracks across the globe, we are extremely pleased that AP Racing will continue to equip our BTCC teams. With incredible stopping power and robust race clutches, we know that our drivers have what they need for the next six years of wheel-to-wheel action.”

For more information on AP Racing visit www.apracing.com

Following BTC Racing’s New Years’ Eve announcement that drivers Josh Cook and Michael Crees would be continuing with the squad for the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, the Official BTCC website caught up with the pair to find out their expectations for the upcoming campaign.

Listen to both interviews below...

A new chapter awaits Motorbase Performance in the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, following today’s (7 January) announcement of the formal acquisition of the Kent-based squad by AmD Tuning Managing Director, Shaun Hollamby and Pete Osborne.

The resulting change in management sees long-time Team Principal, David Bartrum, step aside after a tremendously successful period leading the organisation’s on-track operation for nearly two decades.

Founded in 2004, Motorbase has enjoyed widespread success in the BTCC, British GT – taking the championship title in 2012 – and Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain. It has claimed 109 podiums in the BTCC since joining the grid in 2006, clinching the 2016 Independent Teams’ crown and finishing as Independents’ runner-up in 2020.   

The squad will continue to run under the Motorbase Performance banner with its core operational staff, including experienced Team Manager Oly Collins alongside AmD’s Technical Director Rob Tickner, and will still operate out of its workshop in Wrotham, Kent.

Inbound Team Principal, Hollamby and Managing Director, Osborne, are incredibly excited to be building on this success moving forward, having already forged a winning partnership in 2020 within the BTCC at MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square.

Hollamby, who has driven forward the successful AmD Tuning operation within Britain’s elite motorsport series over the past decade, took to the track himself in 2010 and sporadically in 2011 and 2013, and his efforts have since centred on building one of the series’ most respected Independent entries. Enjoying continued growth over the last decade, this success was highlighted by the team securing the Independent Teams’ Championship in 2019 and supporting Rory Butcher in claiming the Independent Drivers’ title and Jack Sears Trophy in the same year.

A racer in his own right, Osborne has been a familiar face within the British motorsport community for a number of years, initiating from his own participation in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB and most recently through his support of his son, Sam, in his transition into the BTCC in 2019.

The new management team will build upon the excellent work of Motorbase Performance in 2020, following the squad’s hugely successful build and introduction of the fourth-generation Ford Focus ST. Taking five race wins, eleven podiums and two pole positions across the latest campaign, hopes are high heading into the forthcoming season.

“For me personally, this is closing one chapter in my involvement with the BTCC as well as starting a new one,” reflected Hollamby. “We had some great times as AmD Tuning in this amazing championship and I want to thank everybody involved through all those years. Every season, we have grown in stature and that has led us to what we are able to do today.

“Motorbase Performance is synonymous with everything that is great about the BTCC and a huge deal of credit must go to David [Bartrum] and his team for what they have achieved. Their work gives us a great foundation to build on, as we hope to go from strength-to-strength over the coming years. With myself and Pete coming together, I feel we have a really unique offering that can help us push on and set a new standard both on and off the track.”

“Motorsport has been a huge passion throughout my life and my involvement with the TOCA package and the BTCC has increased in recent years through Sam’s participation,” added Osborne. “The opportunity to build on David’s fantastic work at Motorbase Performance in partnership with Shaun is something I am motivated by.

“Last year, we forged a very successful partnership in the most difficult season British motorsport has arguably ever faced. To be able to take that work to a new level, combining the incredible expertise that Motorbase and AmD already have operationally is a really exciting opportunity.”

“It is a massive compliment to the entire team that Shaun and Pete wish to purchase the team and add to it, to push Motorbase to the next level,” concluded Bartrum, who founded Motorbase Performance.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed building this team from the ground up over the years and seeing it achieve tremendous success both on and off the track. I have to thank everyone associated with Motorbase over the years, including staff, drivers and our many partners, who have helped this team grow to become one of the top outfits in the BTCC paddock.

“I have a big birthday coming up next year and with that in mind, I think the time is right for Shaun and Pete to take over the reins and guide the team into a bright future.

“I wish the team all the best and good luck for the future. I won’t be too far away and will be watching Motorbase march on from the sidelines.” 

Further announcements regarding the team's driver line-up will be made in due course. 

At the end of a Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship campaign like no other, it’s time to have your say on who was your top driver in 2020!

The Fans’ Driver of the Year, last won by Colin Turkington, will be chosen through a special poll that is now live on the official BTCC App, with users given the opportunity to log their vote when they next visit the app.

The driver who secures the most votes before 1 February 2021 – and consequently bags the coveted title – will then be announced.

Every person registered on the app will be eligible to vote for one of the 36 drivers who appeared on track during the latest campaign.

Simply head over to the BTCC App – available via the App Store and Google Play – and vote when asked.

BTC Racing is ready to mount a major challenge on the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, after announcing that title contender Josh Cook and Jack Sears Trophy winner Michael Crees will remain with the Brackley team for the forthcoming campaign.

Front-runner Cook will enter his third season driving for BTC and, with the continuity of remaining with the championship-challenging squad allied to the proven Honda Civic Type R FK8, he will head into 2021 as a real threat for the outright BTCC and Independents’ Trophy crowns.

The 29-year-old ended last season ninth in the overall standings with three race victories, despite early misfortune masking the true story of his pace and competitiveness, while placing sixth in the Independents’ Trophy with a hat-trick of class wins.

Crees returns alongside Cook, and the reigning Jack Sears Trophy title-holder is determined to become a regular top ten challenger in his second year with BTC Racing – his third season in total in the UK’s elite motor racing championship.

Claiming a dozen JST wins in 2020, the 37-year-old was also 12th in the Independents’ Trophy battle and raced to 13 outright points finishes.

“It really is fantastic to be able to announce that Josh and Michael are remaining with BTC Racing for the 2021 season in the BTCC,” said Team Owner and Team Principal, Steve Dudman. “Everyone knows Josh’s credentials as a multiple race-winner in touring cars, and we are all confident he will be able to mount a genuine challenge for the outright BTCC crown, as well as the Independents’ Trophy title.

“Michael really did come of age as a driver last year in his first season with us at BTC Racing and, when you consider he only started racing cars in 2017, his progress has been outstanding. Winning the Jack Sears Trophy was a great achievement and the target next year will certainly be for him to score regular overall points finishes and challenge for the outright top ten.”

“I am very happy to be part of BTC Racing again for 2021,” added Cook. “This will be my third season with the team and I’ve known a number of the crew since I joined, so I’m looking forward to working with them all again. I am equally delighted to be working with Michael again – he is a great team-mate. We work really well together and plan to push even harder in 2021.

“We had a difficult start to 2020 but we hit the second half of the year with three wins, multiple fastest laps and a pole position – we were back where we should have been. With the new management structure recently announced at BTC Racing, we are all even more determined to keep pushing forwards. Finally, a huge thank you to Steve Dudman for his continued support. I cannot wait to get back out in the car and get started.”

“I’m super excited to be staying with BTC Racing and competing in the BTCC again next season,” echoed Crees. “I would like to start by saying a huge thank you to my partners for coming together and making the deal happen and, of course, Team Principal Steve Dudman for his on-going support. It makes absolute sense for us to continue to work together to develop the team.

“At this point, I would like to also say a big thank you to my team-mate Josh Cook, who really brought me on this year; I have learnt so much from him, which massively developed me as a driver. I am buzzing and really looking forward to racing the same car for a second season, for the first time in my career. I would also like to say thank you to all of my sponsors and fans who have supported me along the way.”

Brands Hatch’s Indy circuit in Kent is scheduled to host the opening three rounds of the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship over the weekend of 3/4 April.

Tom Ingram and Speedworks Motorsport will both embark upon new challenges in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship next year, after announcing that they are to part ways following seven successful seasons together.

Ingram made his BTCC debut with Speedworks in 2014, since when, the team has progressed from being a mid-grid outfit into a consistent front-runner, race-winner and title contender. Together, the combination has claimed 16 race wins, 41 podium finishes, four pole positions and 13 fastest laps – as well as back-to-back Independent Driver and Team crowns in 2017 and 2018.

Despite earnest efforts, conflicting commercial considerations have made it impossible to extend the partnership into an eighth consecutive campaign, and both Ingram and Speedworks plan to reveal more details regarding their respective 2021 BTCC programmes in the coming weeks.

“Speedworks was obviously my first team in the BTCC, and they quickly became like a family,” Ingram reflected. “I have a lot of very special memories from our time together. We’ve been on an amazing journey and have both done ourselves proud. It’s been such a fairytale story in a lot of respects, with so many milestones simultaneously achieved along the way – first podium, first pole position, first race win, first fastest lap, first title.
  
“I’m sad to be leaving, of course, but there’s no ill-feeling and I owe everybody at Speedworks a massive ‘thank you’ for our seven years together. We’ll still be good friends moving forward; we’ll just be wearing different team jackets.
 
“I can 100 per cent assure you that I will still be in the BTCC next year, and I have an exciting new project that I will be able to announce soon – so stay tuned!”

“Looking back over the past seven years, it’s been quite the ride, hasn’t it?” echoed Speedworks Team Principal, Christian Dick. “There’s a great deal of pride in what we’ve accomplished, with a lot of mutual goals reached together. In the early years, we consistently punched above our weight as an Independent team, and that of course secured us Manufacturer backing which has enabled us to take the next step and truly fight for the overall championship.

“Seven years is a long partnership by BTCC standards, and we grew together. It was an excellent relationship – Tom swiftly became part of the Speedworks family – and I look back now with nothing but very fond memories. We had a lot of great times together both on and off-track and Tom will remain a lifelong friend. We all wish him the very best in his new challenge, and I have absolutely no doubt that he will do a superb job wherever he ends up.”