Rob Austin puts confidence in NGTC Audi

Rob Austin believes that his team is in a very strong position as they prepare to make their BTCC bow with a pair of NGTC Audi A4s. Austin confirmed at the Autosport International show that they were still waiting on decisions regarding drivers and sponsors for 2011, but that that shouldn’t detract from the healthy position they find themselves in.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for us and we’re relishing the chance”, Austin told TouringCarTimes. “I think we’re in an absolutely awesome position. I can’t see that the NGTC cars are going to run at the back and I think that the Audi shell and drive train system that we’ve got will give us an advantage over the other NGTC cars, so I think we’re in a very strong position.

“We’ve had a fantastic reception to it. We’re just talking to people and waiting on decisions for drivers and sponsors and so on.

“We were hoping to have it firmed up by now, but these things do take time and we’re meeting several people and hoping to put something together.”
And Austin is confident that his team won’t be just making up the numbers in touring cars.

“Audi’s got a lot of history with the BTCC, and they won last time they entered and they’ll win this time they enter!

“Maybe that’s a bit optimistic! But we’re genuinely in a very strong position, with the right drivers in there there’s no reason why that can’t happen. But time will tell and I’m sure if it doesn’t happen in the first year it will happen in the second year.”

In addition to confirming that he sees the BTCC entry as a long term commitment, Austin indicated that as much as he would like to, he wasn’t currently considering taking up the driving duties, instead focussing on running the team.

Indications are that the cars will arrive in late February, but the 29-year-old is happy that this shouldn’t pose too many problems.

“It’s all under control. Unfortunately we’re going to be a bit late with the car. But it’s the lateness of our deal that has put us in a strong position so we might be a little bit compromised at the first round but I’m sure we’ll come good.”

Rob’s Father, Richard Austin concurs, saying, “There’s a lot to do before then. The position we find ourselves in, I read on one of the bulletin boards that it was pretty rash to order two cars and not have any drivers or sponsors, but I think it could be considered rash, it probably is, but it also puts us in a very unique position. We’ll have a unique car, to the new regulations and as the season progresses we’ll be in a very strong position.”

Rob Austin Racing have also confirmed that they will enter two cars in the BTCC supporting Ginetta GT Supercup. The team have offered any driving winning the championshp title with them a full tyre budget to supplement the funded 2012 BTCC drive on offer from Ginetta, providing that this drive is with the team.