Speedworks on hunt for second driver
Speedworks Motorsport is getting set for its first BTCC season, releasing concept images of their racing livery for their newly acquired Toyota Avensis, and is now working on their driver programme for 2011.
The team, which won the G4 class in the British GT Championship this year, has been the first to snap up the GPR Motorsport developed Next Generation Touring Car (NGTC) Avensis, which will mean a Toyota model will compete in a full BTCC season for the first time since 1996 next year.
Team Principal Christian Dick, speaking to TouringCarTimes, confirmed the team also hopes to contest the British GT series in 2011 where the series calendars permit, but at the moment their BTCC project is where the team’s attention is at present.
“The focus at the moment is on finding either a quick driver with some budget, and/or some sponsorship towards a second touring car” said Christian.
“Whilst we’ve got the opportunity and the presence in the paddock, it’d be nice to get a second car to try and run right at the front.”
“Tony won’t do too bad a job next year, but he’s in at the deep end, it’s the first time that he’s driven front-wheel drive. We’ve got a winter driver training programme for him for when the car arrives at the end of January.”
Speedworks is the first team to officially confirm it will be running a full NGTC-specification car, purchasing the cars from GPR Motorsport which developed the test prototype which was showcased at Brands Hatch by 2002 & 2004 champion James Thompson.
“The GPR car is a very well put together piece of kit, a very well thought out product. I’ve been very impressed with what I’ve seen of it so far,” said Christian.
“You get a lot for your money when you buy that car, not just in terms of the car itself but there’s a lot of a back-up, but experience and expertise with Roger and Gary from GPR.”
The team will also run with the ‘TOCA Engine’, the Swindon Racing Engines developed 2.0 litre turbo-charged unit used by Pinkney Motorsport and Pirtek Racing this season. The engine powered Pirtek’s Andrew Jordan to his first career victories this year, including the last round at the Brands Hatch finale. Christian Dick believes the engine is the best option for any new team entering the championship at the moment
“You could lose so much money in engine development to try and make sure that you’re on the pace with it (the Swindon Engine). Of course, there’s never any guarantees, but you know with the Swindon Engine being the TOCA engine, it’s always going to be relatively competitive.”
