Rob Austin Racing loses title sponsor for 2016

Rob Austin Racing are on the lookout for a new title sponsor for the 2016 BTCC season after FAST Exocet announced it would be withdrawing its backing at the end of the current campaign.

The fuel additive brand first sponsored the team’s Audi A4s in 2013 and became title sponsor of Austin’s car in 2014, before expanding to back both Austin and team-mate Hunter Abbott in 2015.

FAST managing director Neil Ryding said “new opportunities with different priorities” have led to the parting of ways.

He added: “We have been delighted to be a major sponsor of Rob Austin Racing for 2014 and 2015, building upon a successful first season in 2013 as a subsidiary sponsor.

“However as we continue our business development we are moving to new opportunities with different priorities in diverse new markets. Consequently the funds allocated to RAR over the past two years are now required elsewhere and we simply do not have the required headroom to support Rob, Lucy and the team for the 2016 season as we would wish.

“We would like to take this opportunity to inform other potential sponsors that Rob, Lucy and the wider team have been an absolute delight to work alongside and share the experience with.”

Team principal and driver Austin said: “We would like to thank FAST for all their support over the years. They have been an absolute pleasure to work with and in working with such lovely people it has made promoting the Exocet brand all the more satisfying.

“I also feel proud to have had the opportunity over the last three years to share our successes together. We would also like to thank the public and our fans for supporting them with us.

“We have a lot of exciting things in the pipeline for our 2016 BTCC campaign and it is a shame that FAST Exocet are unable to be a part of that but, as they say, all good things must come to an end.”