Motorbase Performance set for 300th BTCC race

Kent-based touring car stalwarts Motorbase Performance will qualify for their 300th BTCC race at Snetterton this afternoon, albeit without their founder and team boss David Bartrum in attendance.

Andrew Jordan sits fourth in the standings ahead of the team’s milestone, which comes in the first of Sunday’s three encounters in Norfolk, with double race winner Mat Jackson eighth.

But Bartrum will not be around to celebrate, as he is with the GT arm of the team in Belgium as it competes in the Total 24 Hours of Spa.

Minding the ship in his absence is team manager Oly Collins, who believes a top six finish is achievable during qualifying.

Speaking to TouringCarTimes, Collins said: “I think we’ll be struggling to challenge for pole with the weight we’ve got on. The rear-wheel drive cars look strong again, but free practice is a difficult guideline to get a proper judgement on.

“We’re not unhappy, we’re there or thereabouts and aiming for the top six. We’ll see if we can carry the weight and get a result out of it.”

Commenting on the absent Bartrum, Collins added: “We miss his character – the biggest thing he brings to the team is his character and positivity. He’s very uplifting when things aren’t going well, he has a natural ability to turn the attitude around and leads by example.

“And we’ll definitely miss him for morning briefing! But it runs without him for a short period of time. He can’t be in two places at once, so that’s why he employs me!”