Trade Price Cars Racing confirm 2019 BTCC programme

Trade Price Cars Racing has announced it will make the move into the BTCC for the 2019 season after entering into a new partnership with the AmD team.

Trade Price Cars has agreed a deal to purchase the two Audis that have been entered by AmD in recent years as well as the two TOCA BTCC Licences required to run them, with Shaun Hollamby’s team continuing to run the cars as part of a two-year deal.

Talks with potential drivers for the programme as ongoing as Trade Price Cars expands its involvement in the series having previously been involved as a title sponsor elsewhere on the grid during 2018.

“We dipped our toe in the water in 2018 as a sponsor, but we feel the time is right to take our involvement in the BTCC to the next level,” Trade Price Cars boss Dan Kirby said. “The deal with AmD is one that is extremely attractive and gives us greater control over the programme to really maximise our investment. It also provides us with more flexibility to boost our corporate identity, and to promote the Trade Price Cars name to a hugely captive audience.

“In terms of the car, the Audi is a package that works for us from a business perspective and the AmD team have done a great job in developing it in recent seasons.

“I’m confident that we can all work together to unlock more of the potential that is in the Audi during 2019, and are in discussions with drivers who can help move the cars forwards up the grid next year.”

AmD first raced the Audi back in 2015, and expanded to run a second S3 last year. In AmD hands, the car – originally built by Rotek Racing – has shown gradual improvement to become a regular contender for points finishes, and took its first podium finish in the hands of Ollie Jackson in the dramatic wet/dry race at Brands Hatch earlier this year.

AmD boss Shaun Hollamby will continue to hold the role of team principal for the Trade Price Cars Racing programme; a role he will share with former BTCC racer Andy Wilmot who makes the move from Clio Cup outfit Matrix Motorsport.

“This new partnership with Trade Price Cars is a very exciting one for us at AmD,” Hollamby said. “To have the opportunity to work alongside another successful local business is a one that makes perfect sense for us, and I feel that it gives us a fantastic opportunity to build on the progress we have made with the Audis in recent years to move forwards up the grid.

“We are looking forward to working with Dan and Trade Price Cars for the next two years and making a success of our new partnership both on and off track.”