Kent-based Team HARD will expand to a three-car operation in the 2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship after securing a third TOCA BTCC Licence (TBL) in recent days.

The news follows last week’s announcement that Jake Hill will contest a full campaign with the squad, alongside the previously signed rookie Chris Smiley, but now the ambitious outfit is committed to building a third Toyota Avensis ahead of the new BTCC season.

It has been an extremely busy winter for Team HARD and this latest development is another signal of intent in its bid to move further up the grid in the UK’s premier motor sport series.

Team Principal Tony Gilham and his loyal staff have worked tirelessly over the last 12 months to reinvent the team and piece together what they believe to be a ‘dream team’, with the third driver being confirmed later this week.

“With Jake Hill joining Chris Smiley, we already have one of the most exciting pairings of young talent in the series,” said Gilham. “As soon as it became apparent that we were in a position to run a third car, we decided to again look to young talent to fill the seat. I really couldn’t have asked for a better line-up and to be in a position to be able to support these young drivers in the BTCC thanks to our amazing sponsors is unbelievable.”

The team faces a huge task ahead as it continues building its second and third cars, with the intention of running all three at the BTCC Season Launch at Donington Park on 22 March. The trio of Toyotas, which will all run the TOCA engine, will then test further before the season opener at Brands Hatch.

The latest driver to join the RCIB Insurance Racing squad will be announced this Wednesday at 8am. This signing will join Hill in a pair of RCIB-backed cars, whilst Chris Smiley will move across to race under a new team name that will be announced in due course.