Race-winning Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship team Ciceley Motorsport unveiled its new sponsor and livery ahead of the 2017 campaign at Silverstone on Saturday.
The Accrington-based squad has secured a three-year deal with Mac Tools to be the headline sponsor of its Mercedes-Benz A-Class, which will be driven by tin-top star Adam Morgan.
Mac Tools has been a subsidiary sponsor of the Cicely Motorsport Mercedes for the last three seasons, but this marks the start of a new era as the company increases its involvement as title sponsor.
Liam Kettlewell, Mac Tools Sales Director, said: “We are thrilled to step up our involvement in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship with Ciceley Motorsport. We have seen the team go from strength-to-strength during the past three years and now is the time to maximise our relationship with them by becoming title sponsor. Ciceley is a fast growing, family-run, highly skilled and professional team who no doubt will continue to succeed.
"In many ways this reflects our Mac Tools Franchisees throughout the UK. The BTCC is a great platform for us: great racing, excellent television coverage, a total geographical spread across the UK and an ideal platform to strengthen end-user awareness of our Mac Tools brand, products and franchisees across the UK. We can’t wait for the season to begin.”
The team's race-winning driver, Adam Morgan, is equally enthusiastic about the news: “We have worked really closely with the guys at Mac Tools over the last three years and are delighted to have them as our new title sponsor. The relationship we've built and this three-year deal illustrates the commitment the company has to the team and the championship. I can’t wait to stand on the top step of the podium in my Mac Tools overalls for the first time and repay the company’s faith in us.”
Ciceley Motorsport’s Commercial Director, Norman Burgess, said: “This is a fantastic deal for us. We started off as a little family team after Adam won the Ginetta Supercup title and have grown from a garage at Adam’s home to purpose-built facilities with a BTCC and Renault Clio team. To have a company of the standing of Mac Tools come on board as our title sponsor really puts us on the map and cements our future. We want to become a manufacturer team and having a sponsor at this level on board for three years gives us that platform from which to work.
“This moves the whole team to another level and along with Mac Tools we have grown together – our mechanics are the ideal people to launch new Mac Tools products and showcase them during the season. We have the best mechanics in the championship, as proven by completing the most racing miles without a mechanical failure in the current regulations, so what better team for Mac Tools to be associated with.
“Our mechanics love using their products, our Mac toolboxes are without doubt the best in the world and they enjoy using the Bruiser Battery Impact Wrench for changing the new 50mm wheels. These have to be tightened to 400 Newton Metres, so it’s a phenomenal piece of kit. It’s over 1400Nm on full power!”
WIX Filters, the team’s long-standing sponsor, will stay on board as a subsidiary sponsor and maintains a relationship with the team that has included race wins at Brands Hatch and Thruxton.
“I’m very happy that we have been able to maintain WIX Filters as a sponsor," continued Burgess. "The company has played a key part in the growth and success of Ciceley Motorsport in the BTCC and its familiar logo will be proudly displayed in our new colour scheme."
The new-look car was unveiled at Silverstone on Saturday 4 March to an appreciative audience of Mac Tools franchises and guests. It will be on track at the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship Season Launch at Donington Park on 16 March with the opening rounds of the championship taking place at Brands Hatch 1-2 April.
