Rob Austin topped the times in today’s (27 March) official Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship pre-season test session at Donington Park, as the all-new Alfa Romeo Giulietta made its competitive debut.
 
WIX Racing with Eurotech's Jack Goff led for much of the running, before Austin hit the front during the final hour in his striking DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing car.
 
A later flurry saw the Motorbase Fords occupy second and fourth as Tom Chilton and series returnee Sam Tordoff both showed good pace, whilst BMW machinery claimed third and fifth with Colin Turkington heading stablemate Andrew Jordan.
 
Power Maxed TAG Racing’s Josh Cook was sixth fastest as he made his bow in the Vauxhall Astra, whilst Goff had to settle for seventh at the finish. Goff also brought about a premature end to the session when he spun into the gravel at Redgate in the final ten minutes.
 
Goff wasn’t the only one to suffer, however, as a number of drivers endured wild moments during the four hours of running. Eurotech team-mate Brett Smith had the most notable incident, with his crash at the bottom of the Craner Curves leading to significant damage to his Honda Civic Type R.
 
The Ciceley-run Mercedes of Adam Morgan was eighth, ahead of Speedworks Motorsport’s Tom Ingram, whilst BTC Norlin Racing’s Chris Smiley performed well to claim a 10th spot.
 
Notable absentees from the top ten included the manufacturer-backed Honda squad as Matt Neal and Dan Cammish ran the brand new Halfords Yuasa Racing Honda Civic Type Rs in public for the first time.

Reigning champion Ash Sutton had his maiden run of the year in the Adrian Flux Subaru Racing Levorg and could only manage 20th in the final classification.
 
The competitiveness and calibre of the field was already on show with the top 16 cars separated by less than a second and a huge number laps completed during the day by the full 32-car line-up.

The opening rounds of the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship will take place at Brands Hatch on 7/8 April.

Rob Austin said: "There are a lot of common components in a touring car but I underestimated how different driving the Alfa Romeo would be. It's a lot of work to try and figure out a new car. Trying to get the balance to match up that of the Toyota because we really had that car really nailed down. We are certainly getting there though and we seem to be getting good lap times. I think we are in the ballpark, but we won’t know exactly where we stand until we get to Brands Hatch qualifying – at the moment it's positive and our tails are in the air! I feel like a broken record as I have been a massive fan of the Alfa Romeo since I was a kid and to finally be getting the opportunity to be representing the brand in the BTCC is a dream."

Tom Chilton said: "We did a lot of qualifying runs today to really test what the car is like, as that's what it's all about on days like this. It is fantastic news right now, but I won’t get too excited until I have got to Brands Hatch. The RS is mega! The chassis is a lot better and the aerodynamics are a lot better, which is obviously one of the main difference between the ST and the RS. Last year was a bit of a tester for me having had a five-year break from the championship so this year I would love to be champion! There are 31 other guys that want to be champion though, and everyone knows this is toughest champion in the world."

Colin Turkington said: "I felt it went very well today. We've definitely improved the car from the start of the session to the end. Donington Park for the BMW has never been our strongest circuit. We bring the car here and you always have to work a little bit harder to get it in the sweet spot. This is our only chance to explore some other avenues and maybe take some risks in terms of setup. Once the racing starts, you don't have time to push the car too far away from a good base setting. Where we are pace wise, I'm confident, though you can't read anything into today. Everybody else is in the same position, though."

2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Season Launch – Donington Park

1 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing 1m10.074s
2 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +0.164s
3 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.280s
4 Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Team GardX Racing with Motorbase +0.341s
5 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +0.384s
6 Josh COOK (GBR) Power Maxed TAG Racing +0.397s
7 Jack GOFF (GBR) WIX Racing with Eurotech +0.450s
8 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +0.461s
9 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +0.494s
10 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.568s
11 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +0.712s
12 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed TAG Racing +0.741s
13 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.892s
14 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.907s
15 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) Team HARD with Trade Price Cars +0.917s
16 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +0.933s
17 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmD with Cobra Exhausts +1.028s
18 Jake HILL (GBR) Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing +1.063s
19 James COLE (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +1.137s
20 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +1.150s
21 Mike BUSHELL (GBR) Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing +1.191s
22 Brett SMITH (GBR) WIX Racing with Eurotech +1.239s
23 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +1.247s
24 Tom BOARDMAN (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +1.469s
25 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +1.495s
26 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +1.555s
27 Michael CAINE (GBR) Team HARD with Trade Price Cars +1.671s
28 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +1.691s
29 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +1.725s
30 Josh PRICE (GBR) Autoglym Academy Racing +1.971s
31 Sam SMELT (GBR) AmD with Cobra Exhausts +2.047s
32 James NASH (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +11.053s

Please click here for the full 2018 entry list.

When it comes to selecting the best option tyre for the ten rounds of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Dunlop engineers are faced with several considerations; track and ambient temperatures, the length of the races, the types of corners, heavy braking and traction, and the track surface.

The temperature variance across the circuits last year, from potentially 3 to 52 degrees, is also a deciding factor, however the wide operating window of the Dunlop Sport Maxx tyres allow temperatures of 60-120 degrees.

Dunlop has a huge database of knowledge spanning 60 years in saloon cars from which to decide which option tyre to allocate at each of the ten rounds. The subsequent choices facing the drivers and teams between those option tyres have the ability to affect race outcomes. For 2018 the choices remain largely similar to last year, with the exception of the Jubilee Celebration weekend at Snetterton which will be confirmed after the mid-season test.

BluResponse Wet

In response to requests from the fans, Dunlop’s ‘BluResponse Wet’ tyre will for 2018 run with a blue sidewall marking to easily identify in conditions where it’s not necessarily obvious when a driver is running dry or wet tyres. This will be particularly useful for television viewers watching ITV’s qualifying live stream on Saturday afternoons.

Tyre Allocation at a glance

Dry tyre allocation	To be used in two races	To be used in one race
Brands Hatch Indy	Sport Maxx Prime	Sport Maxx Option Soft
Donington	Sport Maxx Prime	Sport Maxx Option Hard
Thruxton	Sport Maxx Option Hard to be used in all races
Oulton Park	Sport Maxx Prime	Sport Maxx Option Soft
Croft	Sport Maxx Prime	Sport Maxx Option Hard
Snetterton	To be confirmed	To be confirmed
Rockingham	Sport Maxx Prime	Sport Maxx Option Hard
Knockhill	Sport Maxx Prime	Sport Maxx Option Soft
Silverstone	Sport Maxx Prime	Sport Maxx Option Hard
Brands Hatch	Sport Maxx Prime	Sport Maxx Option Soft

How Dunlop decides which option BTCC Sport Maxx tyre to use

• For the opening round at Brands Hatch, Dunlop’s softer tyre has a wide operating range that suits the cooler conditions usually seen at the season-opener. On the face of it Donington doesn’t appear to be a circuit that would suit the harder tyres, as it has a couple of long straights, it’s the track surface that suits the hard tyre better.
• Thruxton has always been one of the most challenging circuits as a result of the combination of its abrasive surface and kerbs and the fact that the circuit is constantly turning. There are no straights to allow the tyres to cool down. The new specification hard tyre introduced last season performed well over the race distance for all cars and will be used again in 2018.
• At Oulton Park the premium is very much on braking. Where you’ve got heavy braking, it’s usually followed by the need for traction particularly on the uphill exit of the hairpin and Knickerbrook, where the soft tyre, highly regarded for stability and feel under braking, is the best option tyre.
• Croft is another track that’s difficult to decide on the best option, as both the soft and hard options work well. The section from Tower Bend to the Jim Clark Esses requires very fast directional changes, and this is where the durability of the hard tyre give consistency.
• Rockingham is also challenging on tyres, where the high-speed banking and turn one, the fastest corner on the calendar, are major considerations to Dunlop choosing the harder option tyre.
• The short, sharp circuit Knockhill circuit with its undulations and often cooler weather is well suited to the Dunlop soft option tyre which works well for the traction and acceleration required at the section out of the hairpin up to the pit lane entry.
• Silverstone is being completely resurfaced ahead of the BTCC race, and Dunlop doesn’t believe that will have any great effect on the tyres for the penultimate round. The stretch from Woodcote through Copse is extremely fast, and here the hard option tyre offers the best durability.
• Brands Hatch again hosts the final round, but this time we’re on the GP circuit. Like the season-opener the final race is often held in cooler temperatures and once again Dunlop engineers know the track suits the soft option tyre.

Britain’s biggest motor sport series set to celebrate 60^th anniversary year in style

Series organiser, TOCA, has announced a capacity 32-car entry for the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at its annual Season Launch event at Donington Park earlier today (27 March).

An unprecedented 17 race-winners headlines one of the strongest line-ups in the series’ illustrious 60-year history, as the best tin-top drivers in the country battle it out for the most coveted crown in UK motor sport.

Four manufacturer-backed teams are joined by a host of independent entries, with the strength-in-depth again proving testament to the quality and appeal of the BTCC.

BMW will look to retain its Manufacturers’ crown, with Honda, Subaru and Vauxhall taking on the Bavarian marque. Team BMW also clinched the Teams’ title in 2017 and will this year have to take on a field consisting of 11 marques and a total of 12 models of car.

The race for the 2017 Drivers’ title proved to be another classic as a new champion was crowned in the shape of Adrian Flux Subaru Racing star Ashley Sutton. The 24-year-old tops an ever-growing number of young emerging stars in the BTCC, with its stellar cast of driving talent set to wow the crowds again this year.

Tom Ingram and Speedworks Motorsport will bid to defend their Independents’ laurels, whilst 13 drivers will challenge for the Jack Sears Trophy – with new rules further spicing up that particular contest.

Long-term television partner ITV will again broadcast the action live, free-to-air and in high-definition on ITV4, as well as producing additional extensive highlights programmes.

The BTCC prides itself on strong and close relationships with its long-term partners, with title sponsor and official tyre supplier Dunlop epitomising that ethos.

Dunlop’s sponsorship, which began in 2005, and the official tyre supplier partnership, which began in 2003, will soon head into a third decade – making it one of the most enduring major sponsorships in top-level motor racing.

This year’s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship will again comprise 30 races across ten events at nine venues around the UK, with the season commencing at Brands Hatch on 7/8 April and concluding on the legendary Grand Prix circuit at the same venue on 29/30 September.

A host of diamond jubilee celebrations are also planned throughout the year, with the BTCC’s event at Snetterton set to be a particular highlight (see later in release).

A new BTCC 60th anniversary logo has also been produced to celebrate this memorable year, incorporating a wreath as per previous celebratory BTCC seasons, plus a 60th diamond detail. Furthermore, specially TOCA-commissioned artwork by Guy Allen has been released, which takes in a number of the iconic cars and stars from the first 60 years of the BTCC.

Under starter’s orders

More than half of the drivers in the 32-strong 2018 field are BTCC race-winners, with the remaining 15 runners and riders looking to add their names to that particular roll of honour.

Ashley Sutton was crowned the new Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Champion in 2017 and the talented young gun will look to defend his title in the #1 Adrian Flux Subaru Racing Levorg GT. Sutton will be joined in the Subaru squad by BTCC legend Jason Plato – the series’ most successful driver of all time – and the returning Josh Price.

Colin Turkington will spearhead BMW’s challenge, having just missed out on a third BTCC title last season, whilst Rob Collard and Andrew Jordan complete the impressive WSR-run team.

Matt Neal is joined by BTCC debutant Dan Cammish at Halfords Yuasa Racing, with the Japanese marque looking to bounce back from a challenging campaign last time out. The multiple champion Team Dynamics outfit has a new arsenal at its disposal, however, with the latest Honda Civic Type R its weapon of choice for 2018.

The manufacturer-backed Vauxhall Astras enter their sophomore season having scored some impressive results last year, which also saw Senna Proctor scoop the Jack Sears Trophy. Proctor remains with the squad for 2018, and is joined by Josh Cook, making for a young talented pairing at Power Maxed TAG Racing.

Tom Ingram has enjoyed impressive results in recent seasons – culminating in his first Independents’ Drivers title last year – and the Speedworks star is now chasing the main prize in 2018.

Arguably the surprise package of 2017 was Eurotech Racing, as Jack Goff stormed to the runners-up spot in the Independents’ standings, with Brett Smith also making his mark after entering midway through the campaign. Both drivers return for the team in 2018 as Eurotech also-welcomes WIX as title sponsor.

Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher also boasts a potential title-chasing line-up with Tom Chilton and James Cole behind the wheel of its Ford Focus RS models, whilst Sam Tordoff returns to the BTCC as part of the Motorbase Performance stable – the Yorkshireman will run under the Team GardX Racing with Motorbase banner.

One of the most hotly-anticipated cars on the grid this season is the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, as the much-loved Italian marque returns to the BTCC. Fans’ favourite Rob Austin will pilot the striking-looking car for DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing.

A trio of Mercedes’ will be entered with race-winning duo Aiden Moffat and Adam Moffat staying with Laser Tools Racing and Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport respectively, with debutant Tom Oliphant also joining the latter mentioned squad.

MG machinery changed hands over the winter months, with the Essex-based AmD now running the popular models – the capable pairing of Rory Butcher and Tom Boardman will be carrying out driving duties in the MG6s. AmD will also continue to run its two Audi S3 Saloons, with Ollie Jackson and debutant Sam Smelt behind the wheel.

The fledgling BTC Norlin Racing squad continues its progression in Britain’s toughest motor racing championship, and will do so with the proven Honda Civic Type R package. The team performed well in its maiden BTCC campaign, with series returnee James Nash and Chris Smiley carrying its hopes for 2018.

Impressively, Team HARD will run four Volkswagen CCs in this year’s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, with Jake Hill, Mike Bushell, Michael Caine and Bobby Thompson driving for the Kent-based operation.

The Simpson Racing Honda Civic Type R will be run by Eurotech in 2018, having switched from Team Dynamics, with Matt Simpson looking to build on the progress he has made in his first two BTCC seasons.

These are exciting times at Team Parker Racing too, with two-time race-winner Stephen Jelley getting his hands on the hugely successful BMW 125i M Sport, as the Leicestershire-based outfit look to move further up the BTCC order.

In total, there will be a full grid of 32 drivers with Alfa Romeo (DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing), Audi (AmD with Cobra Exhausts), BMW (Team BMW, BMW Pirtek Racing), Ford (Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher, Team GardX Racing with Motorbase), Honda (Halfords Yuasa Racing, WIX Racing with Eurotech, BTC Norlin Racing, Simpson Racing), Mercedes (Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport, Laser Tools Racing), MG (AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing), Subaru (Adrian Flux Subaru Racing, Autoglym Academy Racing), Toyota (Speedworks Motorsport), Vauxhall (Power Maxed Racing) and Volkswagen (Team HARD. with Trade Price Cars, Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing) all represented.

Diamond Double

A special ‘Diamond Double’ race at Snetterton (28/29 July) will headline the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship’s 60th anniversary diamond jubilee celebrations in 2018.

The third race at Snetterton will be an extended 60-mile contest, with all cars competing without any success ballast and with double championship points on offer.

Furthermore, there will be a separate qualifying session for this showpiece race, with all cars qualifying at their base weights.

Snetterton – also well-known for the BTCC Night Race in the 1990s and 2000s – has long been a staple of the summer calendar for race fans and this exciting addition is set to add yet further fever to the festival atmosphere.

Further special celebrations at the Silverstone Classic, Goodwood Festival of Speed and other events around the country are set to mark this memorable milestone for the UK’s most popular motor sport series.

Rules are rules

A number of rule changes have already been ratified by TOCA that will take effect from the opening round of the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

An Increase in driving standards penalties were announced last December, whilst the race three partial reverse-grid draw will now extend to 12… i.e. the reverse-grid draw will be from positions 6-12 (rather than 6-10).

Eligible drivers for the Jack Sears Trophy will be those that have never scored an outright podium position, and teams are now permitted a maximum of two driver changes per season (previously one).

A number of other minor changes took place, which can all be found in the 2018 Sporting and Technical Regulations.

BTCC Series Director, Alan Gow, said: “Our capacity line-up for the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, with a remarkable record 17 race-winners, yet again underlines the championship’s strength and depth.

“Last year saw the incredible rise-and-rise of eventual champion Ash Sutton, and he is just one of an ever-growing number of emerging talents in the BTCC. The mix of young guns taking on the established stars has been one of the fascinating stories in recent years, and that looks set to continue in 2018.

“Once again, we expect to see battles throughout the field with the Manufacturers’, Independents’ and Jack Sears Trophy providing as much entertainment as the fight for the overall Drivers’ title.

“Whilst firmly focussing on the future we are also immensely proud of the BTCC’s illustrious 60-year history, which we will be celebrating throughout 2018. We are delighted to have confirmed the ‘Diamond Double’ race at Snetterton as part of these diamond jubilee celebrations, and look forward to a number of other 60^th anniversary activities during the year.

“This is a truly phenomenal period for the BTCC. The continued and unrivalled support from Dunlop, ITV, IHG and our host of loyal partners remains the envy of comparable motor sport series’ around the world. Add to this our incredible fanbase, the media interest that you see here today and of course the unparalleled excitement provided on-track… the BTCC remains the greatest show in British motorsport.”

Halfords Yuasa Racing’s new-shape Honda Civic Type R showed off its true colours for the first time at Donington Park today (27 March), as its distinctive livery stole the show at the traditional Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) Season Launch.

In a fiercely competitive series in which nobody stands still, Halfords Yuasa Racing’s 2018 challenger has been one of the most eagerly-anticipated new arrivals in years. Already spied testing at Parcmotor Castellolí in Spain and back on home soil at Rockingham and Brands Hatch, the Civic Type R (FK8) had only been spotted in stealth mode – until today.

Sporting the same striking black-and-orange combo as it has since 2016, Honda’s title hope will be piloted by three-time champion Matt Neal – the most experienced driver on the current BTCC grid – and series newcomer Dan Cammish, who comes with a glittering résumé having won back-to-back Porsche Carrera Cup GB titles on the TOCA support package in 2015 and 2016.

Both Neal and Cammish will take to the track alongside their 30 rivals at Donington Park this afternoon, as the first shots are fired in the quest to clinch the most coveted crown in British motorsport.

Matt Neal:

“I’ve had the pleasure over the years of driving some truly special cars for Honda in the BTCC, but I have to say, I’ve genuinely never felt as excited heading into a new season as I do right now. We’ve had a solid testing programme with the new Civic Type R and put a number of miles on the clock, and now we’ve finally been able to show this little beauty off to the watching world! To my mind, it’s the best-looking car on the BTCC grid, and you know what they say about a car that looks fast...”

Dan Cammish:

“I must say, I’ve been a bit blown away by the level of interest and excitement surrounding the official unveil of our new Honda Civic Type R – but then when you look at it, you can clearly see why. Honda is one of the most successful manufacturers in BTCC history, and Team Dynamics has a proven record of producing race-winning cars – so I can’t wait to get out there and show just what we’re capable of this year. I’ve got a lot to learn, but I’m confident of hitting the ground running at Brands Hatch next month.”

Dunlop has partnered with contemporary British automotive artist Ian Cook of Popbangcolour to produce a special series of BTCC paintings, celebrating the 60 years of touring cars, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

Since 2008, Popbangcolour has combined his passion for cars into a career as an artist, creating artwork by painting with radio-controlled cars, toy car wheels and Dunlop tyres - instead of traditional paintbrushes. This has resulted in over 400 artworks being created over 10 years including breaking a Guinness World Record whilst painting with a full-sized car. His artwork has also appeared across numerous television shows including Top Gear’s art special.

Popbangcolour will be creating artwork with Dunlop tyres within the trade area at six rounds of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. A special 60th anniversary painting will then be produced to coincide with the BTCC’s official Diamond Jubilee celebrations in Norfolk at Snetterton.

The 60th anniversary artwork will be signed by 2018 BTCC drivers and those past and present, and auctioned with monies raised going to Dunlop’s corporate charity, Macmillan Cancer Support.

Prior to each round, BTCC images will be selected to be created as an artwork, via voting across Dunlop social media platforms. Popbangcolour will then create the most popular image, as an artwork at the circuit.

Andy Marfleet, Marketing Director at Dunlop explained “We are delighted to be partnering with Popbangcolour in 2018 to bring a collection of special paintings celebrating 60 years of BTCC. In a year in which Dunlop celebrates 130 years, and 15 years as title sponsor, it’s great to use our BTCC platform to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support, which is a very worthy charity and one close to our hearts.”

Cook said “I’m really excited to be partnering with Dunlop tyres to create contemporary and classic BTCC themed artworks in the series’ 60th anniversary year. It will also be great to create artwork with the Dunlop BTCC tyres, that have been used to put a fast lap around the circuit too.”

Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship Series Organiser, TOCA, has unveiled its all-new state-of-the-art ‘TOCA Safety Team’ truck ahead of the 2018 season.

The brand new Ford F250, specially imported from the USA for sole use at TOCA events, is equipped with the very latest and best in rescue and cutting equipment.

The truck will be deployed to any incident where needed, across all BTCC sessions and those of its supporting series’, and is the only one of its type in Europe.

Following similar concepts to those used in IndyCar and NASCAR in the United States, the truck will be manned with a dedicated and fully trained TOCA safety crew and paramedic.

Martin Hunt is the permanent Safety Team Crew Chief of the vehicle, whilst TOCA Medical Director, Dr Paul Trafford, will oversee all operations.

In a ground-breaking deal with TOCA, Holmatro is supplying their latest state-of-the-art rescue set, including the Inclined Cutter, which is a unique design to Holmatro. The set will be continually updated as further new tool innovations and technologies are developed.

Holmatro is the world leader in producing advanced rescue equipment, including the hydraulic Cutters and other tools in widespread use across top-level motorsport including the INDYCAR Series in the United States.

Older cutting equipment fails to produce enough force to cut through modern cars, with race cars presenting yet further challenges. Carbon fibre shells, coupled with roll cages and other safety features, make cutting race cars more complex, which is why Holmatro’s all-new equipment set the standards across the industry.

MacTools and its sister company DeWalt, global leaders in their own fields, are also providing a full range of battery-powered equipment and other essential tools.

The vehicle has been specially wrapped in a striking red and black livery by BossDog of Redhill, Surrey.

The new ‘TOCA Safety Team’ truck has already undergone a number of tests and will make its operational debut during the BTCC’s official Season Launch event at Donington Park on 27 March. It will then become a permanent fixture in TOCA’s fleet from the opening round of the season at Brands Hatch on 7/8 April and at all official events thereafter.

TOCA would like to pass on its thanks to Holmatro (www.holmatro.com), Mac Tools (www.mactools.co.uk), RDT (www.rdtltd.com) and BossDog (www.bossdog.co.uk) for their support.

BTCC Series Director, Alan Gow, said: “I’m incredibly proud of the new ‘TOCA Safety Team’ truck. It represents an investment of nearly £200,000 by TOCA and its partners, underlining our real and ongoing commitment to the very highest level of safety, rescue and recovery in UK motorsport.

“This state-of-the-art rescue vehicle carries the very latest in cutting and rescue equipment and, most importantly, will be manned by the same dedicated crew at all events. Our team have worked with the BTCC for many years and I consider them to be the ‘best of the best’.

“This introduction provides the BTCC and its supporting series’ with the very latest equipment and expertise available anywhere in the world for when dealing with serious incidents.”

TOCA Medical Director, Dr Paul Trafford, said: “TOCA has always supported the safety initiatives we have made over the years and the ‘TOCA Safety Team’ rescue truck is going to make a huge difference to our ability to respond to any serious incidents in the British Touring Car Championship and its support series’.

“It really is state-of-the-art equipment from Holmatro, MacTools and DeWalt. This will be complimented by the latest medical monitoring equipment supplied by Remote Diagnostic Technologies (RDT), operated by a dedicated crew, making the vehicle very special indeed.”

 

Power Maxed Racing has announced an increased partnership in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship with sales and customer analysis software providers sales-i.

The British-based company, headed up by successful entrepreneur and life-long BTCC fan Paul Black, has increased its presence on both the Warwickshire based team’s Vauxhall Astras, and now takes pride of place as a prominent team sponsor.
 
sales-i, formed in 2008, is one of the world’s best-known cloud-based sales analytics software solutions, and over recent years has played a key role within some of the biggest companies in the USA, UK and worldwide. The first UK based company to pass Microsoft’s now industry standard SaaS Incubation Centre Programme, sales-i quickly earned itself a reputation as a simple and versatile sales support programme within countless industries.
 
With sales-iI Having played a significant role in the expansion of parent company Automotive Brands, manufacturers of Steel Seal head gasket fix and the Power Maxed range of automotive care & maintenance products, PMR’s Team Principal Adam Weaver is quick to point out the benefits he’s experienced first-hand in utilising sales-i to its full potential.
 
“sales-i has definitely been one of the major forces behind our exponential expansion of Automotive Brands," said Weaver. "It has been instrumental in the implementation of several highly successful sales campaigns. It allows us to make sure all our staff are delivering the same message to all customers, and quickly identifies how we can improve areas of the business, all at our fingertips. We now couldn’t be without it. I would recommend it to anyone – apart from our competitors!”
 
CEO of sales-i, Paul Black, is excited for his second year with the Vauxhall supported team: “Our first year with PMR was fantastic, and the marketing awareness we were able to utilise gain from our branding on the car meant increasing our support this year was a no brainer. We’-re looking forward to a hugely exciting season, and with the changes Martin Broadhurst and the team have made to the already successful cars over winter, we’re confident of seeing the sales-i logo right at the front of the grid.”

BMR Racing has announced the re-signing of Josh Price for the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, piloting the all-new Autoglym Academy Racing Subaru Levorg GT.

Autoglym has been involved as a sponsor and technical partner with BMR Racing in the BTCC for a number of years. Having witnessed Ash Sutton win the title last year, Autoglym were keen to be a part of Price’s story as he embarks on a similar journey to that of Sutton.

Price first joined the BMR Academy in 2016 and enjoyed a strong season in the Renault UK Clio Cup before taking the leap to the BTCC where he finished his maiden campaign third in the Jack Sears Trophy standings.

“We're over the moon to be able to further our commitment to the BTCC and our relationship with Subaru and Team BMR in particular,” explains Autoglym CEO Paul Caller. “We have been watching Josh’s journey and we are proud to be playing such a key role in his and the team's campaign and we can't wait for the championship to get underway.”

Price added: “It’s great to be back in the BTCC with Team BMR and Autoglym. After a test at Snetterton a couple of weeks back we came away with a clear vision that this was the right path to go down for 2018.  There is definitely unfinished business for me in the championship, so we’ve got a lot to prove this season.”

Paul Tunnicliffe, Automotive Development Director, Subaru UK said: “Josh started to come into his own late in the 2017 season, and I sense he will be a real force alongside Ash and Jason this year.  With such a formidable line-up, we predict great things for the team in 2018”.

BMR Racing owner Warren Scott commented: “We are thrilled to have Josh in the team for another season in the Subaru Levorg.  2017 was a big learning curve for him with it being his maiden season in which he made impressive progress. We are really looking forward to watching him battle for the Jack Sears Trophy title once again this year and can’t wait to get started. Josh and his family are great to be around and it’s a pleasure to have them on-board”.

Power Maxed Racing has announced its newest partnership agreement with internationally renowned oil manufacturer, Motul.

The world-class French company specialise in the formulation, production and distribution of the highest-tech engine lubricants for cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles, as well as lubricants for industry via its MotulTech activity.

For more than 160 years, Motul have been renowned worldwide for the quality of its products, capacity for innovation and involvement at the forefront of motorsport competition, alongside being recognised as the specialist in synthetic lubricants. As early as 1971, Motul was the first lubricant manufacturer to pioneer the formulation of a 100% synthetic lubricant for automotive engines, the 300V lubricant, utilising technology drawn from the aeronautical industry.

Throughout the years, Motul has gained invaluable experience as partner to leading racing teams and manufacturers, and for 2018 will be working closely with PMR in their British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) campaign.

Whilst the instantly recognisable Motul logo has long been synonymous with high-level motorsport and will be displayed prominently by PMR throughout the entirety of the 2018 season, the sponsorship is also reflective of Motul’s ambition to penetrate the automotive aftermarket in the UK. Accordingly, the BTCC programme will act as a marketing platform upon which PMR’s sister company, Automotive Brands, will distribute Motul’s range of high quality products into its extensive network of automotive factors and the automotive aftermarket sector.

Team Principal Adam Weaver said: “We have worked hard throughout the off-season to develop the right deal with Motul and are immensely proud to be wearing their red and white logos on the cars. Motul has long been seen as the ultimate oil brand within motorsport and knowing the powerplants of our Vauxhall Astras will be running on the best performing fluids on the market is a great feeling. With Automotive Brands now distributing Motul, we are also proud to showcase another great example of how to use the high profile and prestige of BTCC sponsorship for tangible business benefit.”

Gunter Steven, Head of BU Sales Export, Motul said: “Motul is a recognised leader in high performance lubricants and has a passion for racing across the globe in many different forms, with the British Touring Car Championship being the UK's leading motorsport series.

"For us to extend our sponsorship within the BTCC was a natural step in growing our brand awareness in the UK, and Power Maxed Racing is a team that shares our desire for technical excellence in everything that they do. To create a partnership between us was a great fit!

"The opportunity to work with Automotive Brands to expand our presence in the UK aftermarket sector was an equally exciting opportunity for us both. We are delighted to work together for the coming season and look forward to some excitement along the way!”

Weaver added: “We are so excited about the opportunities that come with being associated with the Motul brand, now both on and off the track. The brand sits so well with us, and our stockists won’t hesitate to be part of the programme; it’s one of heritage and great integrity, that inspires trust from the end user, and that’s something that sits perfectly with our idealogies.”

Back to our look through the exploits of 2017’s record 13 different Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race winners, and next on the list is incumbent champ Ash Sutton.

As in 2016, Subaru's Levorg sprang into life in Cheshire at Oulton Park. Andrew Jordan in the Pirtek-backed BMW 125i M Sport had taken the initiative with victory in the opener, and as a result he carried the full complement of success ballast into the second bout of the day. 

Typically, the BMW fired away from the line strongly, with Jordan maintaining that initial advantage but it wasn't long before Sutton's Subaru loomed large in his mirrors. On lap two, the Levorg drew alongside the 1 Series into the Island Hairpin and Sutton managed to get the move done at Hislops. It was cork out of the bottle stuff from there as he scampered away from the chasing pack, leaving Jordan to fend off the rest with maximum weight on-board.

Adrian Flux Subaru Racing's maiden win in 2017 was made to look serene, despite it being at the time only Sutton's second BTCC victory.

“That couldn’t have gone any better!” he said post-race. “After seeing the performance of the soft tyres in race one, I didn’t feel too confident, especially with an extra 57kg having been thrown at me but I got a great start and then the pace was just in the car. I had to get away as quickly as I could because we all know Rob Collard’s a charger and he was going to be coming after me, but I made the break by Andrew [Jordan] just in time.

“It was then a question of managing the race, and it’s phenomenal to score the first win of the year for Adrian Flux Subaru Racing. We had a bit of a difficult start to the season, so this one is for all the boys – they’ve done a mega job to get the car to where it is now.”

After Oulton came Croft, the scene of Sutton's maiden victory in the championship in 2016. He goes well in North Yorkshire, that much is now known. He notched pole position by some half-a-second, following a curtailed qualifying session, and converted to score victory in race one.

It was Sutton's exemplary defensive drive that caught the eye as he and experienced campaigner, and indeed double champion, Colin Turkington duelled for top honours for much of the contest. The duo were rarely separated by more than a couple of tenths of a second and despite the Team BMW racer's best efforts, with several attempts on Sutton's lead, the Subaru man prevailed. Roles were reversed in the final round from Croft, however, providing in two rounds a tantalising little precursor to what we'd see unfold in the battle for the title.

A stunning pair of victories at Snetterton was next on the hit list for Sutton in 2017, bringing his overall tally for the season to four. The two drives were truly imperious, including a fight from third on the grid to top step in the opener and a comprehensive lights-to-flag performance in the second race of the day, despite the 75kgs of ballast bolted to the Subaru.

“We’re in a real rhythm at the minute and I’m really enjoying it," he said at the end of the weekend. "The car is phenomenal. We made some changes between races one and two and if anything, we made the car even better! Considering where we were at the end of the opening race weekend back in April I’ll take where we are at this stage! It’s just about being consistent now as it’ll only get harder from here on in.”

Truer words would not be spoken – consistency is key in the BTCC and Sutton knew that at just beyond the half way stage of the campaign things would only get more difficult from there on in if he was to go on and secure the biggest prize in British motorsport.

A strong weekend followed that win-double, at Knockhill in Scotland with yet another victory, plus one more to add to the tally at Rockingham shortly thereafter.

Controversy and a bump in the road looked to have thrown a spanner in the works for his title tilt at Silverstone, however. The race for the crown took several twists and turns after a sensational penultimate race weekend of the season, leaving a head-to-head between Sutton and Turkington heading into the finale at Brands Hatch.

The drama ensued when, battling for the final podium position, Sutton nosed down the inside of Turkington's BMW at Luffield with just a lap to go. The latter couldn't hang on and the standings leader looked to have sealed the move that would push himself further beyond the grasp of the Ulsterman in the Drivers' running. 

However, after the chequered flag fell, it emerged that the TOCA stewards were analysing the incident for any potential wrongdoing. Subsequently, Sutton was penalised for the move, handing the podium place to Turkington and in a double-whammy, as it was the young star's third penalty strike of the campaign, he was forced into starting the final round in Northamptonshire from the very back of the grid.

Trouble for Turkington in that final round, though, proved something of a reprieve for Sutton – who battled back to 11th with the bit between his teeth. This meant that despite the controversy, Sutton was able to extend his lead in the standings to ten points with 67 still to play for at Brands Hatch, and we all know what happened there by now.

Sutton's six wins and nine further podium finishes saw him over the line in fine style to seal a first Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship crown in just his second campaign – the youngest man to become champion since way back in 1966.