BKR, Welch Motorsport missing as TOCA reveals 2017 BTCC teams

Both Team BKR and Welch Motorsport look set to be missing from the 2017 BTCC grid after TOCA revealed the allocation of TOCA BTCC Licences for next season.

BKR had fielded two cars last season for Aron Smith and Mark Howard but doesn’t feature on the list of TBLs for a second season, with Welch Motorsport electing not to continue with its Proton for what would have been a seventh season.

Dan Welch’s team has at least retained its TBL, which will be loaned to Motorbase Performance for 2017 as the Ford team expands to run a three-car BTCC programme.

With BKR’s licence’s going back to TOCA, there are changes elsewhere on the grid with AmDTuning.com securing a second licence to allow it to expand to a two-car team, and BTC Racing making a return with two licences – now running under the BTC Norlin Racing banner.

Having reportedly sold its cars and licences to BTC Norlin, Power Maxed Racing will make use of the two TBLs that are available on loan from TOCA for its new programme with the Vauxhall Astra.

The remaining allocation of licences is unchanged from last season, with Matt Simpson using his own licence as part of his deal to join Team Dynamics.

The official entry list will be revealed in March.

TOCA BTCC Licences 2017:

AmD Tuning – 2
BMR Racing – 4
BTC Norlin Racing – 2
Ciceley Motorsport – 1
Eurotech Racing – 2
Handy Motorsport – 1
Laser Tools Racing – 1
Maximum Motorsport – 1
Motorbase Performance – 3
Power Maxed Racing – 2
Simpson Racing – 1
Speedworks Motorsport – 1
Team Dynamics Motorsport – 2
Team Hard Racing – 3
Team Parker Racing – 1
Triple Eight Race Engineering – 2
WSR – 3