Kent-based Team HARD. Racing completed the first shakedown of its CUPRA Leons at Brands Hatch earlier this week, with all four drivers enjoying a maiden run in the newly built machines. 

It was a hugely proud moment for Tony Gilham’s squad, having only announced the build programme in September last year, and recently unveiling the cars exclusively via Kwik Fit’s Facebook page. 

Hear what all four of our CUPRA drivers had to say about their first day of testing in the team’s new cars: 

Nicolas Hamilton: “Today was a very big day for the team and a huge day for me getting in my new car for the first time. I would say it was a little bit frustrating today like it has been with every new car that I’ve jumped into. I always have to fiddle with different modifications and the seat. When you do a seat fit and you’re sitting in a car that’s not moving, you feel good and comfortable. Then, when you get out on track and you’re going through all the motions and G-forces, you may notice some changes in comfort and my legs were affected quite a lot. Due to that, we had to make a number of changes to the car such as moving the seat and the peddles further back which was a bit of a pain.  

“I would say from the 15 to 20 laps that I did in the middle of the day that the car was amazing. It felt so different to the VW, it's just a bit of a shame that it always takes time for my legs to feel comfortable. 

“It’s back to the drawing board I would say for a few modifications and my seat fitting, but next time we’re out I should be comfortable and ready to go. From the team’s point of view, they’ve done a fantastic job. The car ran faultlessly with only a minor power steering issue which is going to happen on a shakedown. The car felt great and hopefully we will get to the bottom of this seat issue, which is mainly down to my condition, and we’ll go from there. All in all, I’m very happy with the team and the car!” 

Jack Goff: “It’s the end of my first ever day in the brand new CUPRA Leon and it was really positive. Obviously, it was meant to be a bit of an extended shakedown, but it turned out to be a full testing programme in the afternoon. Testament to the boys and girls at Team HARD., they’ve built a car that was reliable straight out of the back of the truck. It is a huge positive to tick off that reliability factor straight away.  

"There are a few bits I need to change to suit me inside the car, but it ran faultlessly all day so that’s a massive tick. We worked through a few set-up changes in the afternoon and ended the day somewhere near so that’s another positive. It’s looking really good and hopefully we can keep progressing. This team has come a long way since I returned in 2019 and I can’t wait to see what the 2021 season brings.”  

Glynn Geddie: “Today was a good day. We really wanted to just use it to get the cars running and to get used to them and we ended up getting a little bit of testing in there as well which was beneficial. Credit to the guys at Team HARD., the car ran seamlessly. 

“I think the real test will be when there are all four cars on the track, and we can collect the data from everybody and try a lot of different things to maximise performance. The car was responsive to the changes we made which is positive and I’m looking forward to getting out again next time."

Aron Taylor-Smith: “Today was really exciting. Day 1 of testing is always more of a shakedown where we see if the cars run properly. Even to finish with areas to work on around set-up is a very good place to be. To me, we are not a million miles away already. The chassis feels good and there are only one or two easy improvements to make. I know it will be a very quick piece of kit. 

“It feels weird being back in the BTCC but I’ve settled in really quickly. I did think it would take me a few more days and to already be on the pace is good. Just getting back into a touring car is really nice, I love driving them because they’re on the edge everywhere and it just feels good.” 

With initial mileage on the clock, the team will now continue with its test programme ahead of the opening rounds of the 2021 BTCC season at Thruxton on 8/9 May – LIVE on ITV4. 

Ahead of the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, the official website is launching a new and regular 'Ask Alan' feature, whereby fans get to quiz BTCC Chief Executive Alan Gow.  
 
What used to be a popular format on the old BTCC Fan Forum pages will now be moving to the official website and social media channels, as the previous forum platform comes to its conclusion in April. 
 
“The forum has really played its part, particularly in the early days of the BTCC’s presence online, but we’re pleased to be moving this popular feature across,” said Simon Melluish, BTCC Media Manager. “Providing the opportunity for fans to ask questions and get answers from our Chief Executive is a level of access that we look forward to developing further via the BTCC website and social channels.” 
 
Using the form below, fans can send in their 'Ask Alan' questions on all things BTCC-related. Each month those questions and answers will then be published on the Official BTCC website. 

A sunny and mild day greeted MB Motorsport at Brands Hatch in Kent, where team-mates Jake Hill and Ollie Jackson completed over 70 trouble-free laps as part of their preparation for the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

Hill took the wheel of his newly-built Ford Focus ST for the first time on Tuesday, 23 March, undertaking a thorough programme of set-up changes and declaring himself 'hugely impressed' with the design and build of the car.

"After my run shaking the car down I felt really confident in the chassis,” said Hill. “I was down to a really good time within about five laps and have gained a really good understanding of the car and its characteristics so quickly.

"The team has done a fantastic job over the winter and there's a really positive feeling throughout the squad. I am delighted to be working with Ollie as a team-mate too – he's a great guy and we've really hit it off on the right foot."

Working through several set-up changes, the 27-year-old and his engineer, Craig Porley, made back-to-back comparisons with the 2020 Focus and Hill's 2020 Civic Type R, allowing them to draw several clear conclusions as they progressed through the day.

"We knew in theory what should work, and were really fortunate to have a mild, dry day and relatively little traffic on track, so we were able to get plenty of work done,” said Porley. “It means when we head to Croft in a couple of weeks, we can maximise the time there, at a very different type of circuit. Overall we are really satisfied with the day, and Jake was flying from the outset which of course was hugely pleasing.”

Joining Hill and Jackson was Hill's 2020 team-mate, Sam Osborne, who continued to impress with a number of very strong runs, meaning all three Ford Focus ST drivers concluded the day within a few hundredths of a second of each other.

"Massive thanks to all the guys at MB Motorsport and Motorbase for doing such an incredible job on the car,” concluded Hill. “My lead mechanic Ben [Tyler] has led the build of the car from the ground-up, and I’ve had no issues, which highlights how good the job is. I absolutely love the car and feel very confident already we will have a very potent machine.

"We're so looking forward to getting started, especially as we should have fans and guests at events from Snetterton in June, so it will be amazing to see – and hear – the incredible BTCC 'Tifosi' back with us again. And hopefully, more podiums for them to cheer about!”

Hill and the team will now be concentrating on more track-time at Croft in April, with further outings planned ahead of the 2021 BTCC Season Launch at Silverstone on 22 April and the opening race weekend at Thruxton, Hampshire, on 8/9 May.

Daniel Lloyd clocked up his first kilometres of 2021 on Leicestershire’s historic Donington Park circuit yesterday (23 March) as the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship driver kicked off his pre-season test programme with Power Maxed Car Care Racing.

Taking to the tarmac in the Vauxhall Astra for the first time since announcing a campaign with the Warwickshire-based squad, the 29-year-old joined team-mate, Jason Plato, for a full day of running in preparation for the series’ opening round at Thruxton on 8/9 May.

“It was great to get back on track and to meet the team,” commented Lloyd. “Being an open test day, the circuit was incredibly busy and we had to work around quite a few reds flags, but we managed to get some decent mileage under our belts.

“This is the first time that I’ve managed to have a full pre-season testing programme in place ahead of starting a full season. It’s a real bonus to have the time and opportunity to get to grips with the car before we go racing.

“The day was really beneficial. It was busy as we had a lot of ground to cover, experimenting with different set-ups and components on the Astra. Although I’ve come from a front-wheel-drive car, the NGTC Astra is a very different animal compared to the TCR machines. It’s much more of a handful.”

Reflecting on the day, the Huddersfield-racer concluded, “overall, it was a very successful day. We found some promising pace. The team made me feel welcome. Jason was really positive and open with his feedback and I left the track feeling comfortable and dialled into the car.”

Lloyd and the Power Maxed Car Care Racing team head to North Yorkshire in April, with Croft circuit playing host to the outfit’s next pre-season test day. The 2021 season gets underway at Thruxton on 8-9 May, just over two weeks after Silverstone hosts the Season Launch official pre-season test.

With just over six weeks remaining before the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship roars into action at Hampshire’s Thruxton circuit, teams are well in the throes of testing, with myriad cars hitting the track over the next seven days.

Brands Hatch is playing host to a number of teams today and tomorrow (Tuesday/Wednesday), with the BMWs of Ciceley Motorsport and West Surrey Racing hitting the track alongside Motorbase Performance, MB Motorsport and Team HARD.

"I’m looking forward to getting back out on track. It’s always surprising how fast and challenging the car can feel on the first morning back, but you soon get back in the groove after some decent seat time!

"We have a detailed test schedule in place to hopefully find some gains with the car, so I’m looking forward to getting back in my happy place."

Colin Turkington, Team BMW

Speedworks Motorsport and Power Maxed Racing are also out today, as the Toyota Corollas and Vauxhall Astras undertake pre-season testing at Donington Park.

“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.”

Dan Lloyd, Power Maxed Car Care Racing

Continuing an extensive week of testing, Cheshire-based squad Speedworks Motorsport will be at Norfolk’s Snetterton circuit later this week for a further two days before heading to Brands Hatch next Monday.

"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.”

Rory Butcher, Toyota Gazoo Racing UK

As the countdown reaches less than one month until the official pre-season test at Silverstone, teams will be ensuring no stone remains unturned to make sure they’re at the sharp end come the season opener on 8/9 May.

The wraps have officially come off Toyota Gazoo Racing UK’s 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship contender, sporting a livery reminiscent of the brand’s ultra-successful, multiple World Championship-winning FIA WEC and WRC models as the Speedworks Motorsport-run squad targets title glory in the country’s premier motor racing series.

After achieving impressive results with a single-car effort since 2014 – recording 16 race wins, 41 podium finishes and back-to-back Independent Drivers’ and Teams’ crowns – the forthcoming campaign marks Speedworks’ expansion to two cars for the first time in eight years.

Former BTCC Independents’ Champion Rory Butcher and series returnee Sam Smelt will pilot the Northwich, Cheshire-based outfit’s brace of Motul-backed Toyota Corollas, which will take to the track to begin Toyota Gazoo Racing UK’s pre-season testing programme later this week, starting at Donington Park before moving on to Snetterton and Brands Hatch.

The action will then get underway in earnest on 8/9 May at super-fast Thruxton – scene of a superb double victory for the British-built Corolla last September. Every race will be televised live and in high-definition on ITV4.

Rory Butcher, Driver, Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, said:

“I think the new livery is amazing! It’s typically Toyota, and it looks so cool with the red and black lines against a white background – it’s unmistakably a member of the Toyota Gazoo Racing family. It will definitely stand out on the BTCC grid, and I’m so excited to be carrying such iconic colours this year.

“I’ve got to say, I’ve settled into the team very well. All the guys and girls have made me feel extremely welcome from the outset, and everybody is so focussed on the objective of fighting for the championship, pushing hard in every single area to ensure we really maximise our performance.

“I’ve been getting to know the mechanics and my new engineer Paul Ridgway, who has been involved in the BTCC for a long time and arrives with an excellent reputation. My brother-in-law Gordon Shedden – who worked with Paul a couple of years ago – gave him a ringing endorsement too, so I’m excited to see what we can accomplish together.

“The whole vibe right now is hugely positive, and I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to the first test at Donington Park. I’ve been counting down the days ever since I signed up, and having raced closely against the Corolla over the past couple of years, I can’t wait to climb behind the wheel for myself and discover what all the buzz is about!”

Sam Smelt, Driver, Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, said:

“I was at the team workshop when they were just starting the wrapping process, so it’s fantastic to now see the Corolla up close in the flesh with my name on the side. I think it looks really striking and reinforces the team’s ties with Toyota Gazoo Racing, a brand that has become synonymous with success in recent years. That’s a really powerful association and great motivation for all of us.

“After testing the Corolla for the first time towards the end of last year on a wet and greasy day at Snetterton, I’m looking forward to hopefully benefitting from some proper running over the next few days and really familiarising myself with the car. I’m excited about getting into the groove and back into ‘touring car mode’ following a couple of years away – it feels a bit more real with every passing day.

“The start of the campaign is now less than seven weeks off and it’s coming around fast. I’ve not been to Thruxton since 2018, but it’s a great place to begin the season and obviously the Corolla was super-strong there last year, so I think it’s fair to say the whole team will return with a great deal of optimism and ready to fight up at the sharp end. ”

Christian Dick, Team Principal, Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, added:

“We’re delighted to show off the Corolla’s ‘new clothes’ for 2021! Since first gaining official BTCC ‘Manufacturer’ status two years ago, we’ve worked hard to foster ever-closer relations with Toyota Gazoo Racing and to now see not just one but two Speedworks-built touring cars in the brand’s signature red, black and white colour scheme is a very special moment indeed. I must also pay tribute to Motul and [official UK importer and distributor] Witham Motorsport for their ongoing support in stepping up to the role of Primary Partner this season.

“I have no doubt that the cars will look even better at speed, and we are all excited to go testing this week to try out everything we’ve been working on back at base over the winter months. We are quietly confident of taking another step forward with the Corolla this year, and once the action gets underway, we look forward to seeing the Toyota Gazoo Racing colours where they belong – right at the front of the pack.”

British racing driver Nic Hamilton has today (19 March) been confirmed as the final driver on the upcoming Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship grid, completing Team HARD. Racing’s new-for-2021 Cupra Leon line-up.

Remaining with the team in which he achieved his best qualifying position and first points paying finish, in a Volkswagen CC in 2020, there’s great excitement for what a second consecutive campaign with the squad will bring, as Hamilton remains at the wheel of a ROKiT Phones and ABK Beer sponsored car this season.

The team has been working hard to build the brand-new quartet of Cupra Leons for the upcoming season, including Hamilton’s adapted machine, which allows him to compete with cerebral palsy. With the newest cars on the BTCC grid, the team will be aiming to move up the order in 2021.

“I am enormously proud to be back on the BTCC grid this year,” proclaimed Hamilton. “A lot of hard work and physical conditioning ensures I can participate in the sport and I am grateful to ROKiT Phones, ABK Beer and my other partners for their continued support and belief in me. Having accomplished some great personal results last year, in what was a difficult car to drive, I cannot wait to get behind the wheel of our new Cupra Leon and start a new chapter with Team HARD.

“Team HARD has made a huge decision to invest in the new car programme and I’m thankful for the decision to welcome me into their fold again. I really believe we can achieve some great results and memorable moments together this season. There’s a lot to look forward to.”

“It’s great that Nic has chosen to remain with the team for 2021,” added the squad’s Managing Director, Tony Gilham. “He was a fantastic asset last season, and his determination was rewarded with this best qualifying position and first BTCC points finish at Brands Hatch. These results only add to our optimism about what we can achieve together this year in our all new Cupra Leons.

“We made the decision to replace our trusted Volkswagen CCs midway through the season in 2020 in favour of the then to be released Cupra Leon. The engineers have done a great job to design the car from the ground up and have been working in cohesion with the mechanics who have built the cars. Team morale is high and the signing of Nic has only raised their spirits higher.

“Nic has a wealth of BTCC experience, and his specially adapted car is well into the build process. I look forward to seeing Nic and the car’s development as he continues to work alongside Jack [Goff], Glynn [Geddie] and Aron [Taylor-Smith]. We have a very strong line-up.”

“We are delighted to continue our support for Nic as he pursues his ambitions in BTCC,” said Jonathan Kendrick, Co-Founder & Chairman of the ROKiT Group of Companies. “He’s a tremendous inspiration for so many people and a great Ambassador for ROKiT and, in his new car, I’m confident that we’ll see his talent really shine through this year.”

With just 50 days remaining until Thruxton’s season opener, Hamilton and his new ROKiT stealth liveried Cupra will be heading out on track next week as his pre-season test programme gets underway.

Team Dynamics has today (18 March) announced Dan Rowbottom as its second driver as part of a multi-year partnership between Halfords and Cataclean. 

Rowbottom made his BTCC debut in 2019 when he contested a full campaign with Ciceley Motorsport, before the Worcestershire driver was forced to take a sabbatical last season. The 32-year-old will team up with Gordon Shedden in the Honda Civic Type Rs following the recent announcement confirming that the triple champion will also be returning the UK’s premier motorsport series. 

Halfords’ history in the sport dates back to sponsoring Team Dynamics in the squad’s championship winning years of 2005 and 2006. After a break from the sport, they returned in 2016 to instantly grab another title.  

Cataclean has been in the BTCC paddock for several years, with Rowbottom as their charger, having started in Clio Cup UK and more recently progressing to the BTCC grid.  

“For me this an absolute dream come true and I’m really looking forward to the season ahead,” said Rowbottom. “This is a great opportunity for me with a topflight team and the continued backing of Cataclean. I can’t wait to get behind the wheel and see what this car can do, I’ve been studying the data and it looks fast on paper and has been proven to be fast on track, so I’m really excited to finally go testing next month.” 

“This is a great partnership for us,” said Team Manager James Rodgers. "In these uncertain times, to get a multi-year deal, means we can continue to invest and develop in our BTCC programme. Both drivers are highly motivated, and we hope for great things in 2021.” 

“This partnership makes sense for Halfords on many levels, particularly as we develop our motoring services platform across our UK-wide retail stores, Autocentres and Halfords Mobile Expert vans,” added Halfords Group Marketing Director, Lisa Bond. “It is also a hugely exciting time for the BTCC and looking ahead to 2022, the Hybrid development aligns very well with our strategy on electrification as we all move towards an electric and hybrid future. I can’t wait to get to see the team in action.” 

“We are delighted to be working with Team Dynamics and Halfords,” reflected Cataclean’s Managing Director, Ross Baigent. “Having been in and around the BTCC paddock for several years now, we know this is the perfect Championship for us to be in to build our brand and educate people on our fantastic range of products. Halfords are our largest high street retail partner, so this relationship provides a great synergy for our business. We wish Daniel and Gordon all the best for the coming season.” 

“Firstly, it is great to welcome Cataclean to the team and continue our long-standing relationship with Halfords,” concluded Team Dynamics’ Director, Matt Neal. “Secondly, I am going to be taking a year out of the sport this season, but I will still be representing Halfords as a Brand Ambassador and acting as a mentor, both on and off track, for both drivers. Honda and Yuasa have both decided to focus on different challenges this year so we have been working hard over the winter to pull a package together that will still see us contending at the sharp end of the grid and ultimately achieve our goals and aspirations, which is winning titles! I’m really excited for the coming season.”  

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.