WSR is excited to today (17 March) reveal the livery that its three Team BMW 330i M Sports will carry in the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

Sporting a revised colour scheme, the trio of black BMWs will be raced by four-time series champion Colin Turkington, and race-winners Tom Oliphant and Stephen Jelley this season.

Bearing the iconic BMW M stripes in Bavarian Blue, violet and red on a menacing matte-black base, the new-look race cars pay homage to some of BMW Motorsport’s greatest successes in GT and touring car racing of the past decade.

In 2020 Team BMW claimed the Teams’ title while BMW equalled the series' all-time record of five consecutive Manufacturers’ crowns, bringing WSR to a total of 14 BTCC championship successes.

The trio of 3 Series will carry the new livery on-track for the first time on 23 March at Brands Hatch as pre-season testing continues over two days.

The BTCC season begins at Thruxton on 8/9 May and comprises ten triple-header events the length and breadth of the country. All 30 races will be screened live on ITV4 in high definition.

Dick Bennetts, Team Principal, said:

“It’s been an intensive winter for WSR and Team BMW, but despite the 2020 season concluding a month later than we’re used to, we’ve still been able to work through a comprehensive development programme for the BMW 330i M Sport. We began our 2021 test programme at Silverstone last week and were pleased to see that most of the upgrades we’ve added to the car have had the desired effect. The new livery, created by Nick Moss Designs, looks fantastic and I can’t wait to see all three cars in formation when we continue our pre-season testing at Brands Hatch next week.”

Ahead of the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, Speedworks Motorsport driver Rory Butcher answered a few questions looking back over his BTCC career, discussing his expectations of his new, manufacturer-backed team, and his preparations for the campaign ahead.

The opening round at Thruxton marks quite a milestone as you celebrate your 100th BTCC race, what’s been your favourite moment so far in the championship?

It's got to be my pole position and race win at Knockhill back in 2019. That was my very first pole, my very first victory and to do it on my home track where there's added pressure and expectation. It really was an incredible feeling.

With Speedworks Motorsport, you’ll be driving with a Manufacturer team for the first time, what differences do you expect to find from your previous experience with Independent teams?

Having an association with a manufacturer like Toyota from a personal standpoint means a lot and I’m excited to see where the relationship goes. I think the differences that I anticipate in a manufacturer team is just having that extra confidence alongside the backing and investment from Toyota to put towards developments in the car. They know what's coming around the corner, we're about to go into the hybrid era in a years’ time and I think it's important for Toyota and the team to be at the front of the field. Knowing that Toyota is backing the team just gives you that added confidence that the developments are going to be put in place and I'm excited to be part of that process.

Can you tell us about your plans for pre-season testing?

Testing for the season will be starting soon, so we're going to be trying to get as many test days in as possible. It's a brand new chassis that I'm driving, which had been built by custom cages and we begin testing at Donington. Then we get a couple of days at Snetterton, we’re going to do Croft, Knockhill and we'll also be at Silverstone for Season Launch. We're getting most of the tracks in, in just a short space of time and I'll be getting to know the Toyota pretty well.

In 2020 you equalled your 2019 overall finish of fifth place but secured 20 more points in three less rounds. Obviously it was a hugely competitive year, how would you in your experience as a driver compare the two years? Were you conscious of the higher level of competition?

2020 was extremely competitive, I gave it my best shot in fighting for the title but fell short in the last few rounds. I think I would say last year I was conscious of there being a kind of divide between maybe the top five and the rest of the field. The ones who were consistently qualifying in the top five and finishing on the podium, I was very aware of who those drivers were. I've been in the top five two years on the trot and it's only my fourth full season coming up. I think every year I’m building confidence and have higher expectations for myself. I’m always trying to find areas to improve in my performance and each season I’ve returned stronger, so I’m eager to build on 2020 and piece together the best 30 races I possibly can, as one thing I’ve learned is that consistency is key. If I do my job right then I’ll be in with a shout of the championship come Brands Hatch in October.

During the first lockdown you had a sim racing set-up as part of your pre-season preparation, have you continued to use this for the 2021 season?

I still use my sim, I'm on it on a daily basis, putting in the practice ahead of the first event. I find it very good training and have partnered up with a company which runs structured simulator sessions. We can simulate qualifying runs, races and do pressure runs where they basically structure a session where I might be on an oversteer setup or understeer. So that’s iZone Performance, based at Silverstone. They're running like a remote training programme for drivers like myself and it's quite interesting how that's helping me ahead of this year.

Obviously the Top Ten Showdown qualifying session at Snetterton didn’t work entirely in your favour, are you looking forward to its return? Do you think you’ll change your approach for the three events which will incorporate it this year?

The Top Ten Showdown qualifying session was really fun at Snetterton. I would say that at one point I felt like I was going to be on pole position, topping the times in the first run, but you know it's just one of those things. I'm not sure if I would do anything differently, we just ended up going quicker in the second session but it just wasn't quite good enough in the end, and we secured P4. I think I'll probably approach it in a similar manner; whoever pulls that lap out of the bag will just be the person who gets it done. I'm looking forward to those three events this year where we're doing the Top Ten Showdown. It definitely brings a little bit extra to the weekend and I'm sure the fans like it as well, I've heard a lot of good feedback myself, so that's great.

Having unveiled the squad’s new-for-2021 CUPRA Leon this evening, find out what drivers Jack Goff, Aron Taylor-Smith and Glynn Geddie, alongside Managing Director Tony Gilham and Team Manager Jamie Warren had to say about the latest machines to join the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship grid.

“Wow, just look at that. I know I’m going to be slightly biased, but I genuinely think this is the best-looking touring car I’ve seen, the guys and girls at Team HARD. have done a mega job and I can’t wait to get started.

“The results over the last two seasons haven’t reflected the hard work that Tony and the team have put in. This new project with the CUPRA Leon will provide us the platform to really stamp our authority on the BTCC as we move our way up the field. We are under no illusions it will be tough, but we are ready and more determined than ever to get the results we deserve out on track.”

Jack Goff

“I think what impresses me the most about the new CUPRA is the attention to detail that Team HARD. has put in. Every single component on the car has been designed with performance in mind, utilising some of the best engineers in the game. I have no doubt in my mind that this car will be a front runner after seeing it in person.

“From the outside, you can see how this car is the perfect fit for the BTCC. The wheelbase, the dimensions and even the bodywork are exactly what is needed for a car to be competitive in the series.

“Yes, getting to see the new CUPRA was brilliant but arguably even better was having the chance to properly meet my new team. Their passion for this new car is infectious and it's the first time in a long time that I have felt 'at home' within a team. It's shaping up to be an incredible year.

"I thought that I was already excited for the season but actually getting to see the car has taken this to a whole new level. It is, in my opinion, the best looking BTCC car on the grid and I can't wait to get out on track as early as next week to see what it is capable of."

Aron Taylor-Smith

“I dipped my toe into the water at the back of the 2020 season with Team HARD. and I was amazed at the commitment levels to winning that this team has yet they are still able to keep their core values of a close-knit, family orientated team. This has clearly shone through into the new car project.

“Credit to everyone who has helped develop and build the new CUPRA Leon, when I joined the team back in September it was just a thought which has very quickly turned into a reality. I can’t wait to get started with our testing programme, the car looks fast, aggressive and a contender for this season.”

Glynn Geddie

“What a special day for the team, it’s probably the biggest in our history. Pre-season is always an exhausting but equally exciting time and this year we’ve reached new heights in both. Huge credit to the team for all of their hard work so far. It’s been an incredibly tough few months with the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic trying it’s best to slow down our build program, but we are now ready to hit the track and put the new CUPRA Leon through its paces.

“To have the first hybrid ready BTCC car is a huge achievement for me and the team and something I am immensely proud of. To be the first puts us in a great position for the 2022 season as the BTCC races into a new era, it’s all incredibly exciting.

“Looking a bit closer to the now, we have the 2021 season to really get to grips with the new car and with a bunch of other teams changing cars but opting to run a satellite car this season is going to prove a great test, but we are up for the challenge.

“The team has come on leaps and bounds over the last few years and I’m immensely proud of everyone involved. If the new car goes as well as it looks, we will be fighting at the sharp end this season.”

Tony Gilham, Managing Director

“Big credit to Tony and the team for pulling through with this. We have spent the last couple of seasons wringing the Volkswagen CC’s neck to extract the most we could from the car unfortunately with limited success.

“Switching to the CUPRA Leon has provided the team with a breath of fresh air which has really helped kick the team into gear. The new car looks great and extreme attention to detail has gone into all elements of the build not to mention that everything on the car is brand new. We have left no stone unturned in our pursuit of performance.  

“A big credit has to go to our two leading engineers, Adam Tanner and Phil Overall who have been instrumental in developing the aero and overall balance of the car. Its time to hit the track and put our new challenger to the test. It’s an exciting time to be part of the team.”

Jamie Warren, Team Manager

TOCA, organiser of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, has today (15 March) confirmed minor revisions to the previously issued 2021 BTCC calendar as a result of the government recently issuing its roadmap for the easing of restrictions.

While the opening race weekend – at Thruxton on 8/9 May – remains unchanged and will unfortunately take place behind closed doors, amendments have been made to the scheduling of the next two events in order to further maximise the opportunity for spectators to attend.

The revised calendar sees the Snetterton event now scheduled for 12/13 June. The Brands Hatch Indy circuit event will be two weeks later, on 26/27 June, as all substantial spectator restrictions are expected to have been lifted by then.

No further changes have been made to the previously issued calendar, so the series will then head north to Oulton Park and Knockhill in late July/early August, before Thruxton’s second event of the year.

Back-to-back weekends at Croft and Silverstone in September precede the penultimate race weekend of the season, at Donington Park.

Brands Hatch’s legendary Grand Prix configuration will hold the Season Finale on 23/24 October.

2021 British Touring Car Championship Calendar (as issued on 15 March)

Rounds        Date                                 Venue/Circuit

1,2,3             8/9 May                            Thruxton

4,5,6             12/13 June                        Snetterton (300)

7,8,9             26/27 June                        Brands Hatch (Indy)

10,11,12       31 July/1 August               Oulton Park (Island)

13,14,15       14/15 August                     Knockhill

16,17,18       28/29 August                     Thruxton

19,20,21       18/19 September               Croft

22,23,24       25/26 September              Silverstone (National)

25,26,27       9/10 October                     Donington Park (National)

28,29,30       23/24 October                   Brands Hatch (Grand Prix)

Everyone involved in the British Touring Car Championship is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Murray Walker OBE.

Well known as the commentator on the network television coverage of Formula 1, Murray’s impact and effect on the growth of the British Touring Car Championship can’t be underestimated. 

National TV’s sporadic coverage of UK racing meant that Walker’s voice dipped in and out of the BTCC (then the British Saloon Car Championship) since the early 1980s.

When the British Touring Car Championship earned regular mainstream coverage on the BBC in 1988, Walker was an essential ingredient in what was and still remains as the greatest show in town.

Walker took his new role to heart and immersed himself in the category and its heroes. In his distinctive way, he wasn’t just there to talk about the races: he got to know the top drivers, their cars and their back story. This was Murray’s skill. 

As well as the ground-breaking broadcasts and the on-board camera coverage, the highlights packages that were shown to the public on BBC TV were also covered by the Voice of Motorsport, Murray Walker. It opened up tin-top racing to an audience it might not have been listening before.

For him, the BTCC was not a side-line to his F1 work: far from it. Walker loved to tell the story of the races and the human stories underneath those, whilst the multiple camera angles helped him show the viewer how exciting the racing was. 

Walker always had the perfect line for the perfect time. Famous lines like his – of which there are many – will be remembered forever, and they are the comments that help secure the BTCC, and Walker too, in legend…

Even after Murray had given up the microphone, he was a regular visitor to BTCC meetings. The BTCC will miss him. 

British Touring Car Championship Chief Executive Alan Gow has paid tribute…

“I’m just so incredibly sad to learn of Murray's passing,” he said.

“Not only was Murray such an important part of the success and history of the BTCC, he was also a person whom I hugely admired and thoroughly enjoyed spending my time with. Without doubt the whole BTCC community share in the great sorrow at the passing of 'Muzza'.

“Words will never be enough. But from the bottom of my heart... thank you and farewell Murray.”

Tom Ingram got a feel for his new ‘office’ at Snetterton Circuit this week, as he climbed behind the wheel of the EXCELR8 Trade Price Cars Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance that he hopes will carry him to the top step of the rostrum in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship this season.

Ingram joined EXCELR8 Trade Price Cars – by some margin the most-improved team on the high-calibre BTCC grid last year – back in January, but the 27-year-old’s trip to Norfolk marked his first opportunity to put the Hyundai through its paces. He was immediately impressed.

A new addition to the field in 2020, the i30 was a podium-finisher in only its third start and rapidly established itself as a bona fide front-runner. In 2021, Ingram – twice Independents’ Champion and 16 times an outright race-winner in the UK’s premier motorsport series – is aiming to help propel both the car and team to the next level, by turning EXCELR8 Trade Price Cars into a true title contender.

That process began at Snetterton, and despite a wet and windy start to his pre-season testing with the Hyundai, Ingram was left waxing lyrical about the potential of his new challenger and excited about what lies ahead. The forthcoming campaign – the gifted young Bucks ace’s eighth in the BTCC – will rev into life at super-fast Thruxton in Hampshire on 8/9 May, with all of the action season-long to be broadcast live and in high-definition on ITV4.

Tom Ingram, Driver, EXCELR8 Trade Price Cars, said:

“It felt awesome to get back into a race car! It had been ages since I’d been on-track in a touring car and the conditions were really wet, cold and greasy on the first day, but the Hyundai ran faultlessly and gave me a positive feeling straight out-of-the-box.

“The main objective was to make sure everything was working as expected, and we treated the test a little bit like a shakedown, putting into action a lot of our new development parts for 2021. We were running the 2020-spec car because mine is still in-build at the moment, but it was really good to gauge the i30’s performance and I was genuinely very impressed. It felt quick and very stable with it.

“Obviously it’s a completely new car for me with an entirely different philosophy to what I’ve driven before – the seat, the steering wheel, the gear lever...everything was in a different place to what I’m used to – but it fit like a glove and within just a handful of laps, I already felt very much at home.

“Given the weather, it was difficult to properly baseline ourselves against anybody else there, but everything felt very easy, if I’m honest – like it was what we had always done. I’ve got a great team of guys and girls around me here at EXCELR8 Trade Price Cars – everybody was absolutely brilliant – and my engineer ‘Spenny’ slotted in seamlessly, which was great to see.

“The second day was even better. We finally got some dry running and wound up setting a lap time that would have put us on the front row of the grid during the race weekend at Snetterton last October – and on old tyres, too! We were fast in all conditions, which was immensely encouraging, and with all the winter upgrades yet to be applied, we will improve the Hyundai considerably between now and the start of the season. We’re only just scratching the surface.

“There’s no question that the i30 has all the ingredients to be a cracking race car, and I think we’re in a really good place – I see no reason at all why we won’t be right up at the sharp end from the outset, which is very exciting. My goal come Thruxton in May is to pick up from where I left off at the end of last year. Ultimately, I want to win the championship.”

Justina Williams, Team Owner, EXCELR8 Trade Price Cars, added:

“It’s fair to say we’d all been looking forward to this test since signing Tom earlier in the year – and it certainly didn’t disappoint. He has settled into the team here at EXCELR8 Trade Price Cars so well, and it really doesn’t feel like building a new relationship. He immediately established an excellent rapport with our engineers and technicians, and the feedback he delivered during the course of just these initial two days is already allowing us to pursue exciting new avenues with the Hyundai i30.

“Tom is very much in my view the best BTCC driver on the grid, both on and off-track. I have no doubt that with his experience, skillset and raw pace behind the wheel, EXCELR8 Trade Price Cars will progress to become not only a regular podium-finisher and race-winner, but indeed a genuine championship challenger. He is also a perfect team player, and together with his talented team-mates Chris Smiley, Jack Butel and Rick Parfitt Jr, he will be a major factor in driving the whole team forward during what promises to be a fantastic season ahead.”

Power Maxed Car Care Racing has today (11 March) announced its second driver for the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, with Dan Lloyd completing the two-car line-up for the Warwickshire-based team, alongside double champion Jason Plato. 

Lloyd is no stranger to the TOCA paddock, bagging a race win during his 21-round campaign in 2018, as well as taking the overall title in the 2009 Renault Clio UK Winter Cup. Despite contesting a number of BTCC rounds over various years, 2021 will be Lloyd’s first full assault on the UK’s most competitive series. 

Lloyd has earned a reputation as a force to be reckoned with in the world of touring cars, having taken the TCR-UK title in 2018, winning eight of 14 races, scoring podiums at all but two. In 2019 & 2020, he took on the European TCR Championship, winning races during both seasons, before making the decision to return to the BTCC. 

Both Power Maxed Car Care Racing and Lloyd are gearing up to mount a strong championship attack from the off, as well as voicing their intentions to develop a multi-year partnership. 

“I’m really excited to have Dan joining us for the upcoming season,” said Team Principal Adam Weaver. “He’s a driver that’s always been on our radar and has always impressed when he’s been on the grid in the past. I don’t think anyone can argue that, with the right equipment underneath him, he’s a genuine championship contender and with the championship’s most successful driver ever alongside him, we certainly think we have one of the strongest pairings on the grid this season.” 

“I have known Dan since his first venture into BTCC in 2010 in the Vectra,” added Team Manager Martin Broadhurst. “From that moment on he has impressed with great results and performances in every touring car championship he’s competed in, including his race win in the BTCC. I think he’ll be a great asset to the team. With Dan and Jason [Plato] in the cars this year, I believe we have one of the strongest pairings on the grid and, coupled with the development work we’ve done over the winter, I’m looking forward to this season more than ever!” 

“I’m mega excited to be racing back in the UK,” concluded Lloyd. “This will be the first time I’ll be heading into the championship with some pre-season testing under my belt. I’ve always been thrown in at the deep end a little bit, so I can’t wait to get stuck into the programme. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity, and really look forward to not only working with the team, but also learning from Jason with his vast experience. I’m really looking to build on this as a long-term partnership and launch a multi-year attack on the championship heavyweights.” 

Fresh off the back of his most successful BTCC campaign to date, MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square driver Ollie Jackson is heading into the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship feeling more confident than ever before, as the two-time race-winner aims to build on last year’s success. 

Having confirmed his switch to the squad in early February, Jackson expressed that his main goal for the coming season is to be a consistent front-runner in the #48 machine, as the 36-year-old clarifies, “the key to it is going to be qualifying, so I’m focusing on my single lap pace for improvement”. 

Describing the minor change as “ultimately a no brainer”, Jackson will partner Jake Hill in the second MB Motorsport-run Ford Focus ST: 

“I think the Focus is the best front-wheel-drive car on the grid and I get to keep the exact same superb team of guys I had around me last year,” explained Jackson. “I think we’re all sad about the fact that it’s the end of an era with [David Bartrum] taking a step back, but he’s leaving behind a strong foundation which we can all build on.  

“In terms of the new era, there’s a lot to be positive about too. Obviously, I have a great relationship with Shaun [Hollamby] having spent the early part of my BTCC career with AmD in the Golf as well as more recent seasons with the Audi, plus Mark [Blundell] and the MB crew are bringing a really fresh perspective in terms of the commercial approach, which I think will work well with my partners and sponsors.” 

The Surrey-racer will largely stick with the same team of personnel, including race engineer James Mundy. The pair have worked together for a number of years, with Jackson revealing the most important relationship for a driver, in his opinion, is with their race engineer. 

“To get the most out of the car [they] need to be able to trust you and understand the language of your feedback as a driver. On top of that you have to trust and have faith in what [they] want to achieve with the direction of the car. 

“In the BTCC you’re looking for the tiniest fractions to get ahead and it doesn’t take much of a miscommunication to put you in the wrong direction and spoil a weekend.” 

Heading into the Ford Focus ST’s sophomore BTCC campaign and having driven the #48 car to a pair of wins in its maiden season, Jackson is looking forward to a second year of assisting in the development of the cars even further. 

“Last year we proved the Focus is a force to be reckoned with right out of the box, but I think we left the season still with plenty to learn from her. With the circumstances around the season, we didn’t have a great deal of time to really dig deep into the setup and more or less carried on with a redevelopment of what we knew from the old RS. Ultimately, we got superb pace out of her at times, but it wasn’t always sustainable or consistent.  

“This year that’s different. We’ve gone back to basics, got a load of info that’s come across with the Honda [Civic Type R (FK2s) which MB Motorsport ran in 2020] and a great testing plan lined up at a range of tracks. I think we will hit the start of the season not just with one of the strongest cars on the grid but also with a much better understanding of what we have than any NGTC Ford has before.  

“Obviously, this is the BTCC: everyone is hard to beat. I’m not getting carried away with my expectations and predictions on where that will actually land us on the track, but I’ve got more faith in the car going into this year than I’ve ever had before.” 

As teams’ testing schedules begin to get underway, and with the squad having hit the track already in 2021, Jackson and Hill will be aiming to gather as much data as they can ahead of the forthcoming campaign, whilst also getting used to one another as team-mates, having not raced under the same banner before. 

“I like to think I’ve always had a really good relationship with my team-mates in the past. I like being a team player and helping to move the whole enterprise forward as it makes for a much more enjoyable environment and it benefits everyone.  

“I’ve known Jake for a long time (we’ve both been around the TOCA paddock a good while now after all!) and I’m hoping we can keep a similar dynamic going. Obviously, we will want to beat each other, that’s only natural, but hopefully we can strike the right balance of co-operation and edge!” 

Autoglym Tin Top Tuesday makes its long-awaited return tonight (9 March) – LIVE at 8pm and on catch up via the BTCC App – as fans get their first TTT fix ahead of the 2021 BTCC season. 

After a challenging 2020 for obvious reasons, host Alan Hyde will be broadcasting the Christmas Tinsel Top Tuesday a bit later than planned, with tonight’s show also working as a prelude to the new campaign. 

TTT started this year with the announcement that Autoglym will be continuing its support for a sixth consecutive season, and the BTCC news has also rolled in over the winter, with driver changes, team changes and new cars grabbing the headlines. 

For the third year running you can listen to TTT on the official BTCC website, and the official BTCC app. Search BTCC in your preferred app store or go to http://www.btcc.net/live-audio/ to listen live or listen to the podcast after the broadcast.  

All of the 2021 episodes will be available via the aforementioned platforms – here are the 2021 live broadcast dates for your TTT diaries:  

• 9th March 2021 *Special* 
• 11th May 2021 
• 18th May 2021 
• 15th June 2021 
• 3rd August 2021 
• 17th August 2021 
• 31st August 2021 
• 18th August 2021 
• 21st September 2021 
• 28th September 2021 
• 12th October 2021 
• 26th October 2021 

This March we see the return of David Addison's monthly BTCC blog, as he weighs in on all the latest news ahead of the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship...

I had a flashback the other day. It involved copious quantities of Houblon Chouffe, a most excellent IPA-style Belgian beer, and a cucumber. It still haunts me… 

A better Flash back is the news that Gordon Shedden will be on the BTCC grid once more as the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship draws closer, and whilst one has to feel sympathy for Dan Cammish, there is no arguing that Shedden’s return to the championship is going to add a certain spark. In fact, when you add in the number of new cars and team/driver shuffles, it is a really interesting season that awaits us, albeit one in which continuity may well be key….WSR and Colin Turkington will be hoping so. 

For various reasons I seem to have been closer to discussions this winter about the driver market, but the Cammish news wasn’t one I had heard a whisper of and it certainly sent a shockwave through the paddock. The same was true of the parting of Tom Ingram from Speedworks/Toyota Gazoo Racing UK although the addition of Rory Butcher into the Corolla is an exciting one, while team-mate Sam Smelt is a better driver now than when we last saw him on a BTCC grid.  

The Laser Tools Racing/Team HARD relationship will be an interesting one, as will HARD’s endeavours with the new Cupra, while Motorbase has had a winter of change too, of course, with a change of ownership now falling under Shaun Hollamby’s management. This should be a good move given how well AmD/MB had moved forward in recent seasons, with old machinery, and hopefully this will move Motorbase up a level. We’ve seen the team can win but it has never been a consistent package, I don’t feel. Maybe now it can be a true BTCC force. 

Tom Chilton at Ciceley will be an intriguing one as well. Once Tom has been taught how to speak Norman, a language modelled by the team’s loquacious commercial director Norman Burgess, he should fit in just fine and he and Adam Morgan in the BMWs should be up at the pointy end of the grid. This should be a breakthrough year for the squad…and seeing Tom in a flat cap will be a highlight. Remember, Tom, when they ask what you want for dinner, they mean lunch. Dinner is tea. Tea is a brew. OK? 

We are a bit short of BTCC rookies, though, and it is great to see Rick Parfitt Jr joining the grid after a successful spell in GT racing. Granted, this is a very different discipline and you don’t have a co-driver to help you get a result, but Rick was always one of the best ams in British GT and should go well in a touring car once he gets his head around the ay one has to race. 

So, we are getting closer to a season beginning. The grid is almost all known with only a couple of seats to be announced and a championship that will be a corker. And best of all, by the summer hopefully, you can join us again trackside.  

Keep counting the days…!