SEVEN THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR
Motorbase flying
Motorbase Performance will hit the grid with a new car for this term: the fourth generation Ford Focus. It has also welcomed the return of reigning Independents Trophy holder Rory Butcher, alongside Ollie Jackson and Andy Neate. Butcher has ripped up the Tarmac in pre-seasons tests and is going to be one of the overall title contenders
Cammish’s target
Coming within 14 corners of claiming the championship,
Dan Cammish can rightly have been heartbroken after the 2019 season. But the Team Dynamics Honda Civic Type R driver say he has put it behind him. If he can show the same determination as he did to hang on to the coat tails of the BMWS, then 2020 could offer the biggest prize of all.
Sutton’s new team
Laser Tools Racing took a bold jump to switch from a Mercedes-benz to the Infiniti
Q50 last season, but it reaped rewards with a podium finish at Silverstone. It has added another car, driven by 2017 champion Ash Sutton, and a host of engineering strength. The potential of the car, which is similar in its dynamics to the BMW, should be unearthed this term. Wins are on the cards.
Weighty matters
The levels of success ballast for the best-performing cars has been tweaked slightly this season with the winner carrying 60kg, up six from 2019. That is reflected throughout the top 10, but the use of the soft, medium and hard tyre has been relaxed, which means the path to navigate through the campaign should be easier.
Hyundai makes debut
New on the grid are the two Excelr8 Hyundai i30 N machines of Senna Proctor and Chris Smiley. The team is relatively new to the BTCC but has drafted in technical input from engineering ace and EX-WSR man Kevin Berry. Strong test pace bodes well.
Ciceley at the double
Ciceley Motorsport will run two cars in the same colours for the first time with Adam Morgan and Daniel Rowbottom strengthening the ties between the pair of Mercedes-benz A-class machines. Intensive development has gone in during the closed season, and there is genuine optimism of a proper title assault here.
Blundell on the pitwall
There is a fresh look to the Amdtuning.com team, which has been rebranded as MB Motorsport and will field Jake
Hill and Sam Osborne in the
Mark Blundell-run cars. The package is a proven product, and Hill is a proven race winner. Hill should be able to underline his potential with regular wins.