Robb Holland plotting full BTCC assault in 2014

American racer Robb Holland is trying to strike a deal to contest a full BTCC season in 2014, after putting his World Touring Car Championship plans on ice.

The popular American returned to the UK for a one-off meeting at Snetterton, driving one of the Tony Gilham Racing Vauxhall Insignias, and achieving a best result of 14th in the final race of the day.

And he told TouringCarTimes he was trying to convince his Rotek Racing team that the BTCC is the place to be next year.

Holland and Rotek had planned to enter the WTCC later this season, in the ex-Arena Motorsport Ford Focuses campaigned by James Nash and Tom Chilton last year. But the decision taken by the series bosses to bring forward the new 2015 regulations to next year has made him look elsewhere, as the Focus will become obsolete.

Holland said: “We are trying to work a deal to come in and do a full season next year. I’m not sure how it is going to come off, but I’m trying to convince the team, Rotek Racing, that this is the right place to be.

“We have put the World Touring Car programme on hold for now. Unfortunately with the rules homologation for 2015 being bumped up to next year, there was no real place for an independent team.

“For anyone it has to be a good business decision, which I understand. It is a good team and a great bunch of guys, who are very smart. I think they will come up with the right plan that makes sense for the team.”

Looking back on his weekend at Snetterton, Holland said: “I love being here – I love the fans, I love the series, I love the racing. It is such a good series.

“It is just tough coming in and doing a one-off. We got into a car which wasn’t the quickest anyway, and then we worked though the weekend and got better and better as it went on.

“The frustrating thing is this is my only race here this season.”

Looking to next season, Holland said his team could build their own car, or look to continue working with Tony Gilham Racing.

He said: “We have got enough staff that we would like to try and build our own car, and with the NGTC rules it allows teams to come in and be able to build from the ground up.”

“Unfortunately for Tony, they took over the Insignias, which was a bit of a tall ask, as I don’t think those cars were as good.

“The Passat is working better and they have already got it to the front. And they will get it to the front again.

“We would like to work with Tony. He is a good guy. That wouldn’t be a bad option.”

Clearly Holland has been bitten by the BTCC bug. But what was it that got him interested in the series?

“Everyone in the US still has a memory of this series from the Super Touring days. That was the most spectacular racing, the best drivers and the best cars,” said Holland.

“For us, the racing here has always been top notch. There are a lot of US guys who really had an interest in doing it, they just didn’t know how to go about it.

“I’m just fortunate to be connected to Tony, and be over in Germany with Rotek Racing. It made it easy for me.

“I have so much fun here. The racing is great, but the big thing is the fans. They have been absolutely spectacular.

“For a driver that is good – at the end of the day we are entertainers, and to be able to entertain 40,000 people is a good day.”