TOURING

The AmDtuning.com with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing team has confirmed the signing of Scottish driver Rory Butcher for the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.   Rory will embark on his first full season in the series with the West Thurrock-based outfit and will partner series returnee Tom Boardman in the team’s second MG6 GT.   The 31-year-old joins AmDtuning.com having made his debut in the series last season, when he was called up by the Motorbase team for the final four rounds of the year in place of Luke Davenport after his injury in qualifying at Croft.   On his first time in the car, Butcher snared a pair of top ten finishes at Knockhill and showed impressive speed through the remaining rounds, pushing regularly for more points finishes.   Having sampled the MG for the first time during a test at Snetterton, Butcher is set for further pre-season running in the coming weeks ahead of the opening rounds of the season at Brands Hatch on the weekend of 7-8 April.   Rory will be eligible to compete for the Jack Sears Trophy this season, which is now open to those drivers without a podium finish in the series.   “My move into the BTCC last season was all a bit last minute and I was thrown in at the deep end for my debut on home soil at Knockhill,” Butcher said. “So I was determined to try and get a place on the grid this year to build on what I learned from the final four rounds of 2017 and to start building a long-term BTCC career.   “In January, it looked like it wasn’t going to be possible but then I spoke to Shaun (Hollamby) about the MG and with a lot of effort from the team and from my sponsors – who were eager to join me in the BTCC – we’ve been able to pull together a deal – which I’m absolutely delighted about.   “It’s is such a strong series, particularly this season, that it hard to make too many predictions about what we can expect to achieve, but the team has shown what it can do in recent seasons and my goal is to regularly fight inside the points and push for some strong results as the season goes on.   “Twelve months ago, I didn’t imagine I would be racing in the BTCC but there is no better place for me to be in terms of profile. The series is the very pinnacle of British motorsport and I’m really excited about the prospect of a full season on track with AmD in 2018.”   Shaun Hollamby, AmDtuning.com team boss, added: “Rory is a driver who we have been talking to for some time, and we are delighted to have concluded a deal for 2018. His career record speaks for itself, and the way he performed last year when he joined the grid in difficult circumstances was hugely impressive.   “Since announcing the MG programme, a huge amount of work has gone into preparing and updating the cars and bringing in the drivers is the final piece of the jigsaw.   “We have to give thanks to both RCIB Insurance and AutoAid for their support in putting such a strong driver line-up together and I’m confident that in Rory and Tom, we have a pairing is capable of picking up some really strong results on track. We want to challenge towards the front, and I fully expect Rory to be in the mix towards the top of the Jack Sears Trophy standings.”

Continuing our look back at 2017’s record 13 different Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race winners, we switch focus to winner number seven – Team BMW’s Rob Collard.

The 60th Anniversary Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship is almost upon us and testing, which has been in full-swing for some months now throughout busy winter programmes up and down the pit-lane, is now coming to a head with all cars due on track together for the first time at Season Launch, Donington Park on Tuesday 27 March.

Continuing our look back at 2017’s record 13 different Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race winners, we switch focus to winner number six – Halfords Yuasa Racing man Matt Neal.

Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race-winner and BRDC Rising Star Aiden Moffat has announced award-winning technology company EMACS Bodyshop Management Systems as sponsors for the forthcoming season.

We’re reliving the efforts of a record 13 different Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race winners from 2017, and today it’s the turn of Team BMW’s Colin Turkington.

Speedworks Motorsport has just returned from Portugal’s Algarve and Portimao, having spent four days in sunnier climes to evaluate and continue development of its title-winning Toyota as it seeks to go one better with overall honours in 2018.

Following the confirmation of its 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship line up and new Honda machinery for the forthcoming season, BTC Norlin Racing is delighted to announce a sponsorship deal with the world-leading hotel group, Hampton by Hilton, one of 14 Hilton brands.

We’re remembering the efforts of each of 2017’s record 13 different winners in the lead up to the new campaign, and next under the spotlight is young Scot Aiden Moffat’s maiden Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship victory, back at Donington Park last April.

Testing ahead of the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship is in full swing, with teams having already visited Portugal and Spain as well as a host of circuits on home soil as they ramp up preparations for this year’s 60th Anniversary campaign.

With 12 different drivers taking top honours in 2016, who would have predicted that the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship finale at Brands Hatch would yield a record-breaking 13th different race winner?