TOYOTA BACK IN BTCC

For the first time since the early ’ 90s, there will be a manufacturer-backed Toyota entry in the British Touring Car Championship ( BTCC). Reigning two-time Independents champion Speedworks Motorsport is set to join the series’ Manufacturers ranks in 2019 with backing from Toyota Great Britain, and will rebrand as ‘Team Toyota GB with Speedworks Motorsport’. The target for both is an all-out title assault, making use of an extensively reworked version of the latest Corolla.

The humble Corolla has a proud history in the series, with Chris Hodgetts most notably claiming back-to-back championship titles in an AE86 in 1986 and 1987, and Team Toyota GB remained a front-running force in the series through to the popular 1990s Super Touring era.

Speedworks Motorsport driver Tom Ingram has driven Toyota’s Avensis since 2014 and has

nine race wins and consecutive Independents Teams’ and Drivers’ trophies (2017 and 2018) to his name — coming within just 12 points of claiming Drivers’ Championship bragging rights this year.

The 2019 BTCC season will begin at Brands Hatch (Indy Circuit) on 6–7 April 2019.