Alan Gow delighted by BMW return

Series director Alan Gow admitted he was delighted by news that BMW is to return to the BTCC as a full manufacturer for the 2017 season.

After a decade as an independent BMW team, West Surrey Racing will now compete under the Team BMW banner as a fully-fledged factory team; the first time that such a programme has run in the series since 1996.

Team BMW will be one of five manufacturer teams on the grid this season alongside Honda, Subaru, MG and Vauxhall – marking the greatest number of ‘works’ teams since the penultimate year of Super Touring.

“On behalf of the BTCC, I want to say welcome back to BMW,” he said. “They haven’t featured in the series since 1996 as a manufacturer team no matter how much I’ve tried to coax them back, and I’m delighted that they’ve seen the light!

“It is testament to the strength of the BTCC that they have decided to return, but also shows the strength of the relationship that they have with Dick and West Surrey Racing.

“It is fantastic for WSR that their loyalty has been rewarded as they are a great team with three great drivers. For them to be bringing BMW back is a great endorsement of that and of the series.”