Power Maxed Racing has today (19 April) revealed it has been working on a high-profile documentary series, which is due to be shown on a number of streaming services – including Amazon Prime – as well as free-to-air channels later in the year.

The multi-episode series, which is already in production with long-term partner FastR, will see cameras follow almost every aspect of life for the team, giving fans unprecedented access to activities both away from the track and during race weekends.

Camera crews will also be spending time with drivers Jason Plato and Dan Lloyd, following Plato as he approaches that elusive 100th race win, and Lloyd’s first full season in the BTCC, as well as Development Driver Jac Constable’s journey to the BTCC throughout the year.

Amazon Prime will show the documentary alongside Samsung TV, Freesports TV and Motorvision, meaning a potential visibility of more than 250 million people worldwide.

“This has been a project that we have been working on and discussing since the tail end of last season, and it’s been amazing to see it all come together,” said Team Principal Adam Weaver. “Luke and his team at FastR have been amazing to work with. The experience each of them has is pretty awe-inspiring, and I’m hugely confident that this is going to be a ground-breaking piece of television.”

Earlier this week, BTC Racing took to Brands Hatch for a day of pre-season testing, as the Brackley-based squad hit the track for the first time in 2021 in preparation for the upcoming Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

As returning drivers Josh Cook and Michael Crees reacquainted themselves with the Honda Civic Type R FK8 that the former drove to race wins and the latter the Jack Sears Trophy in 2020, team-mate Jade Edwards enjoyed her first time out in the #99 machine, having made her BTCC debut in a Vauxhall Astra last year.

Following a shakedown at Bicester Heritage, the team headed to the Kent circuit to kick off its testing programme, with next week’s official Season Launch test at Silverstone on the horizon.

“We had a really productive day of testing,” said Edwards. “It was great to get behind the wheel and get to grips with the Honda. We still have work to do, but overall, I am happy with what we achieved during testing. I loved it and cannot wait for the season to get underway.”

“We can be pleased with our day’s work at Brands Hatch,” added Team Manager, Mick Sergeant. “The cars ran reliably throughout, and we were able to complete some valuable running without any interruptions.”

No sooner had he pulled the covers off his new Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance than Tom Ingram was on-track and putting it through its paces this week, as the Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com star ramps up his preparations for the forthcoming Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship campaign.
 
Ingram is entering his eighth season in the UK’s premier motor racing series in 2021, having solidly established himself over the past seven years as one of the championship’s biggest draws, with 16 race wins, 41 podium finishes and a brace of Independent Drivers’ crowns to his name.
 
After proudly unveiling his new challenger at Bristol Street Motors Hyundai in Nottingham, the talented young Bucks-born ace travelled to Croft in North Yorkshire to shake it down for the first time, having previously sampled one of the team’s 2020 cars at Snetterton last month.
 
On a busy circuit alongside a number of his BTCC rivals, Ingram swiftly got down to business. He was soon posting consistently quick lap times as he evaluated the upgrades brought to the Hyundai since his initial run in Norfolk, with the car additionally now bearing the logos of new commercial partners GKR Scaffolding Ltd and Third Millennium Systems. The 27-year-old will return to the track at Silverstone for the official ‘Season Launch’ event on 22 April.
 
The competitive action will then get underway on 8/9 May at super-fast Thruxton in Hampshire – where Ingram won twice last year and has reached the BTCC rostrum on a further three occasions – with all of the races to be broadcast live and in high-definition on ITV4.
 
Tom Ingram, Driver, Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com, said:
 
“It was good to go back to Croft; it’s a circuit where we don’t tend to do an enormous amount of running and it’s a real all-round test for a car since the lap has a little bit of everything. It was also useful to get a proper full day’s uninterrupted track time, because the two days at Snetterton had been split into a series of sessions that made it difficult to settle into much of a rhythm.
 
“I’ve got to say, all the guys and girls at Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com have put in a truly phenomenal effort over the winter – building two completely new cars while simultaneously re-prepping the existing two Hyundais was a monumental task, but it was one to which the entire team responded magnificently.
 
“To then rock up to the first test with my car and not encounter any issues at all was incredible. The i30N ran faultlessly – so much so that I almost forgot it was a brand new car. We managed to complete a lot of laps and it felt fantastic, really strong. The upgrades have had a positive impact in a lot of areas, and there’s still room for improvement, too – we’ve definitely got more performance up our sleeve, which is really encouraging.
 
“It’s been great to welcome GKR Scaffolding and Third Millennium on-board, and I’m already feeling very comfortable both in the car and in the team. Even though we didn’t throw new tyres at it or go for any ‘hero’ runs at Croft, we were bang on the money pace-wise, so I see no reason at all why we shouldn’t be right in the mix come Thruxton next month – and that’s immensely exciting.”
 
Justina Williams, Team Owner, Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com, said:
 
“It was fantastic to see Tom take to the track in his Hyundai for the first time, and for the whole day to run so smoothly was testament to the first-class team we have assembled here at Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com, and the stellar work that everybody has put in behind-the-scenes over the winter to get us to this stage. To be going into only our third season in the BTCC with four potentially race-winning cars is an extraordinary achievement.
 
“As somebody who clearly knows how to win in the BTCC and put together a committed title bid, I have no doubt that Tom will help to drive us to even greater heights. We are also proud to add GKR Scaffolding and Third Millennium to our growing roster of high-profile partners – they are joining us at such an exciting time and will both add tremendous value to the team. All of us at Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com are feeling hugely energised and motivated for the challenge ahead. We can’t wait to go racing!”

Power Maxed Car Care Racing headed to Croft earlier this week (12 April), amongst other Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship teams, as drivers Jason Plato and Dan Lloyd continued their pre-season testing programme ahead of next week’s official Season Launch event at Silverstone.

Back behind the wheel of the pair of Vauxhall Astras, the squad worked through a number of set-up changes, race and qualifying runs, with Plato and Lloyd posting the third and fourth-fastest laps of the day, respectively.

The team will now be using the positive developments and data gathered for final preparation ahead of the aforementioned official pre-season test at Silverstone on 22 April, ensuring the Warwickshire-based outfit is on form for the opening rounds of the campaign at Thruxton next month (8/9 May).

“Another positive day under our belts,” said Lloyd. “Both Jason and I were giving the same feedback on the car from the last test day, which is great from an engineer’s point of view. Yesterday was more of the same. Jason tried four different things, as did I, and by the end of the day we were both saying that we wanted the same changes. That shows that we’re both heading in the same direction with the car.

“It’s great as we both have two very similar set-ups, so if I try something and it’s better, Jason’s going to improve and vice versa. It’s a good solid foundation to have our engineers working at the same goal instead of going off in different directions; that’s a huge positive from a team perspective. It’s really encouraging that we’re working together so well at the moment.”

“The test went really well for both Dan and myself,” added Plato. “We went through a number of different set-ups throughout the day and tried a few new things as part of our development programme, and the encouraging lap times and improved balance in the cars were really positive. The work put in over the winter by the team is pretty obvious, and it’s great that we’ve managed to get some more data under our belts so that we’re ready to push for podiums from the off.”

“After what has been a difficult year for all of us, the limited running we’ve had this year so far has been really positive,” concluded Team Manager Martin Broadhurst. “Monday showed that we are very much still in the mix, despite being unable to learn a huge amount about the car last season.

"We’ve done a lot of development work with the cars over the winter, which was verified by the performance on track, and with Dan getting to grips with the car and Jason getting his mojo back after a year off, we’re looking forward to Thruxton in a few weeks’ time.”

Kwik Fit is delighted to announce On the Limit, the hit docu-series lifting the lid on the British Touring Car Championship, will return for a second series covering the 2021 season.

With spectators unable to attend the 2020 campaign due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Kwik Fit – title sponsors of the UK’s premier motorsport series – lifted the lid on several stories of the season, putting the fans in the thick of the action from the comfort of their own homes.

The nine-episode first series, which followed three teams – Motorbase Performance, EXCELR8 Motorsport and Trade Price Cars Racing – and their star drivers, proved to be an instant hit with the series’ loyal fanbase, with 152,800 views on YouTube and a reach of over 345,000 people.

The line-up set to feature in the second season will be unveiled in due course, before filming commences across the ten-event, 30-race season, which begins at the high-speed Thruxton Circuit in Hampshire on 8/9 May.

“We’re so excited to be producing On the Limit – Season 2,” said Kwik Fit’s Marketing Director, Andy Lane.

“The series is aimed at giving fans behind the scenes insights into teams, drivers and key moments of this year’s BTCC throughout the season. We hope you enjoy it.”

“So many enjoyed watching the first series and I’ve no doubt many more will enjoy the second,” added BTCC Chief Executive, Alan Gow.

“With its focus on teams and drivers, it’s a great way to see and hear the stories unfold from behind-the-scenes.”

The second season of On the Limit will be filmed across the 2021 season and released in the Autumn.

The official BTCC website caught up with the final driver to be confirmed for the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, Nic Hamilton, before the 29-year-old headed north for testing this week at Croft and Knockhill.

Hamilton, who confirmed his return to Britain's elite motorsport series in March, hit the track at Brands Hatch in his new-for-2021 CUPRA Leon for the first time just three weeks ago and is raring to go for a third campaign.

Listen to the full interview below...

Tom Ingram is ready to fight for the biggest prize in national motorsport in 2021, after proudly taking the covers off the new Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance that he will pilot in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

The forthcoming campaign represents the dawn of a new era for Ingram, who has established himself in recent years as one of the undisputed box office stars of the UK’s premier motor racing series, tallying 16 race wins, 41 rostrum finishes and back-to-back Independent Drivers’ crowns in 2017 and 2018.

After seven seasons with the same team, the talented young Bucks-born ace has now joined forces with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com – the biggest improver in the BTCC field in 2020 by a substantial margin, and an outfit that some predict to become a championship contender sooner rather than later.

The Hyundai with which he will head into battle – a podium-finisher on its debut weekend last summer – will carry the colours of Ingram’s loyal partners Ginsters and Hansford Sensors, and its eye-catching livery will be sure to grab attention.

Ginsters has accompanied Ingram on his high-speed odyssey since 2019 and the side of his i30N depicts intricate wood-carved illustrations portraying unmistakeable Cornish scenes. Bucks-based manufacturing company Hansford Sensors, meanwhile, is a global market leader in vibration monitoring systems and is embarking upon its tenth season in support of the 27-year-old, who will enter the new campaign gunning for outright honours.

Following a testing schedule set to include days at Croft, Silverstone and Brands Hatch, the racing will get underway at super-fast Thruxton in Hampshire on 8/9 May, with all of the action to be broadcast live and in high-definition on ITV4.

“It’s brilliant to see my i30N up close ‘in the flesh’ finally,” said Ingram. “I have to say, I think the livery looks absolutely awesome on the Hyundai – really cool. It’s obviously quite a recognisable design now, but it’s on a completely different car and I love the fact that it looks like it’s moving even when it’s standing still.

“I’m hugely fortunate to benefit from the continued support of both Ginsters and Hansford Sensors – particularly in the current climate. They are the most amazing partners who have always fully immersed themselves in this incredible journey we are on, and knowing I have them cheering me on every time I take to the track is tremendous motivation.

“This is a really exciting time for me, and I’ve settled into the team very well. Naturally, I knew quite a few of them already simply through being in the paddock over the years and via the coaching and instructing I have done with some of EXCELR8’s junior drivers. My engineer ‘Spenny’ and I have been welcomed with open arms and made to feel at home straightaway – it honestly feels like we’ve been here for years.

“I’m really enjoying the new environment and relishing the fresh challenge ahead – I’ve got a spring back in my step, and I’m fired-up to repay the faith shown in me by the team and my loyal partners. Our pre-season aim is very simply to make the Hyundai as quick as possible to be able to achieve the results everybody deserves right from the first qualifying session.

“I can see the potential in both the team and the car, and I’m really looking forward to unlocking it. I had a small taste of the i30N at Snetterton last month, where I was able to establish a good baseline and understanding, and now I’m eager to gauge where we are against our competitors. I can’t wait to climb behind the wheel of my car for the first time, evaluate the 2021 upgrades, work closely with my three team-mates – and get properly down to business!”

“We’re delighted to take the covers off Tom’s Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com Hyundai,” added Team Owner Justina Williams. “Our expansion from two cars to four over the off-season has understandably required a monumental effort from every single member of the team, with no shortage of midnight oil burned back at base. Seeing the i30N looking so striking in its new colour scheme is just reward for everybody’s hard work, and we genuinely couldn’t be happier with the way it has turned out.”

“2021 marks our third season supporting Tom in the BTCC, and the beginning of a new era as he joins Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com,” said Sam Mitchell, Ginsters of Cornwall’s Managing Director. “He is unquestionably one of the leading stars of the series and a champion in-waiting, and we are immensely proud to be accompanying him again on his quest for the title. Not only is he a top-drawer racing driver, but he is also a first-rate brand ambassador with an ever-increasing fan following.

“We’re all hugely excited to see the distinctive Ginsters-liveried Hyundai i30N doing battle for glory out on the circuit over the coming months, as we have no doubt it will...”

“Ten years ago, we spotted something special in Tom, as a driver and – more importantly – as a person,” said Hansford Sensors’ Managing Director, Chris Hansford. “As an ambitious, locally-born young driver clearly going places in the sport, he was the perfect fit for our company. Fast forward ten years, and Tom has firmly established himself as a member of the wider Hansford Sensors family.

“Tom is an impeccable brand ambassador and a truly first-class racing driver, but above all else, he has become a close friend and, as he likes to say himself, there’s nothing better than going racing with your mates. We look forward to joining him as he begins the next phase of his career at Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com in 2021 – and to another season of on and off-track success.”

MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square is delighted to finally unveil its 2021 challengers – featuring a striking white base, with the MB Motorsport blue, red and yellow adding a colourful addition to the livery, as the team’s look is once again inspired by Mark Blundell’s 1992 Le Mans winning sportscar.

Following its new alliance with Motorbase Performance, the team will be taking to the track in two Ford Focus STs for the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, piloted by two of the grid’s most talented racers – BRDC SuperStar Jake Hill and two-time BTCC race winner and BRDC member, Ollie Jackson.

With a new line-up, new facilities and new machinery, prospects for the season are high and the team can’t wait to take to the track at the opening rounds at Thruxton next month.

“I’m so pleased that we can finally show our car to the world,” said Hill. “It’s been a real privilege to watch the Ford go through each phase of its build and an even bigger privilege to drive it through pre-season testing. I’ve got a really good feeling about this season and I’m confident we can build on the success we enjoyed last year. Hopefully we’ll be able to see everyone trackside once again too!”

With prior experience of the Focus ST, Jackson is excited to get back behind the wheel and looks forward to a promising season with the team.

“There’s a real buzz in the team about what we can achieve this year,” Jackson commented. “The car looks fantastic so, if it drives as good as it looks, we’re in for a good season.

“Having driven the Focus last year, I’m really keen to help push its development forward as much as I can and grab ourselves some strong results along the way. Jake and I get on really well and we both share the same goal: to take this team to the top step of the podium.”

Looking toward the season ahead, Mark Blundell, Sporting Director of MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square, is quietly confident about the team’s chances.

“This is a big moment for all of the team,” added Mark. “The new Focus enjoyed a stellar opening year last season and the team have been hard at work searching for every improvement possible through the winter and pre-season. We enjoyed a very successful debut season and, with our valued partners alongside, I look forward to seeing what’s possible this year with two proven race winners at the wheel.”

With just one month to go until the season opener at Thruxton on 8/9 May, the team’s attention turns to final preparations as they get set for what’s destined to be a memorable year of racing.

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Croft, Knockhill and Donington Park will be the main focus next week as the BTCC testing circus heads north, with almost every team set to clock up the pre-season mileage.

No fewer than seven squads will travel to North Yorkshire next Tuesday (12 April) as Ciceley Motorsport, Motorbase Performance, MB Motorsport, Team Dynamics, Speedworks Motorsport, Power Maxed Racing and Excelr8 Trade Price Cars all take on the 2.13-mile Croft Circuit.

As many as 14 cars could be on track together at the characteristic Croft, with the likes of Gordon Shedden, Rory Butcher and Tom Ingram all expected to star.

Ciceley, Motorbase, MB, Dynamics and Speedworks plan to pack up at the conclusion of the one-day event and immediately head further afield, as they venture to Knockhill the following day (13 April), which will also see the return of three-time champion Shedden to his home circuit.

Team HARD will continue its development of the new Cupras at Donington Park on the Wednesday (13 April), and will also visit Silverstone at the end of the week (16 April). Laser Tools Racing will join Team HARD at Donington, where Ash Sutton and Aiden Moffat will pilot the title winning Infiniti Q50.

Away from the aforementioned action, BTC Racing will progress its test programme at Brands Hatch on Tuesday (12 April).

With exactly two weeks to go until the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship Season Launch at Silverstone (22 April) – which will include the only official pre-season test day – it’s clear that the preparation and pressure is building ahead of what is sure to be another unforgettable campaign ahead.

The 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship sees Ciceley Motorsport embark upon an exciting new era, with two new BMW 330i M Sports piloted by the highly experienced Tom Chilton and Adam Morgan.

The Lancashire-based squad has today (7 April) unveiled its Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport chargers for the forthcoming campaign, welcoming Car Gods to the fold, alongside parent company Tetrosyl.

“This has got to be our biggest year to date,” said the squad’s Commercial Director, Norman Burgess. “With new title sponsorship, new cars and two top drivers, together with our existing engineers, team members and values, we’re in the best possible position to do well in 2021 and beyond. It gives us great confidence moving towards a new era with the BTCC’s move to hybrid in 2022.”

“Testing has been spot on,” added Morgan. “Both Tom and I have really got to grips with the BMW and its rear-wheel-drive characteristics straight away. We have been on the pace at every test so far and still have another four tests to go before the season starts. We are all very confident that the cars will be ultra-competitive straight out of the box.

“The cars look amazing, I was blown away when I first saw them in the flesh. I, like Norman, am just so grateful that Car Gods have granted us this opportunity and continue to provide much needed support to the Ciceley Motorsport team.”

“We are incredibly excited about the 2021 BTCC season especially with the introduction of the new BMWs and the opportunity to have both cars branded in Car Gods Custom Detailing and Nitrox Fuel Additives livery,” said Tetrosyl Chairman, Peter Schofield. “I truly believe the Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport team will be the talk of the Championship both in terms of look and performance - we wish Adam Morgan and Tom Chilton all the best this season.”