TITLE THREATS CONFIRM BTCC RETURN FOR 2023 SEASON
Three leading drivers have confirmed deals to return to the British Touring Car Championship for 2023.
Jake Hill, who finished third in the points this year with an MB Motorsport-branded WSR BMW 330e M Sport, will return for another assault on the tin-top crown. He will be joined in the team by
Adam Morgan, who switches over from his familyrun Ciceley Motorsport operation that will now focus on historic racing instead.
The third signing is the 2022 Jack Sears Trophy victor Bobby Thompson, who will remain with
Team Hard to handle its Cupra R. The Essex racer has set his sights on claiming the Independents Trophy.
Thompson said: “I’m under no illusions as to the work needed to take the next step, but I believe that both myself and the team are ready.”
Race-wining British Touring Car Championship team Ciceley Motorsport will not return to the series in 2023 and its driver Adam Morgan will race for WSR.
The team, which joined the BTCC in 2013, is owned and operated by Russell Morgan, Adam’s father. The team has now decided to switch its focus to historic motorsport programmes instead. Ciceley won 12 BTCC races with 11 victories for Morgan and one for his 2022 team-mate George Gamble.
Adam Morgan, who was ninth in the points this season in the WSR-built BMW 330e M Sport, said: “I’m very happy, yet sad at the same time. Most of the team has been with us since the beginning of my career in 2010. We have definitely had many more ups than downs and shared some amazing experiences, but the time has come for a change. It’s not the end though. The Ciceley name will live on in historic racing.”
One of the team’s TOCA BTCC Licences has been handed over to WSR, which will take its attack to four cars, while the other has gone to Speedworks Motorsport (see story below).
Morgan’s move to WSR was confirmed late last week. “He’s an excellent driver who’s proved himself capable of winning races in a variety of cars and of acting as the team leader,” said WSR boss Dick Bennetts. “With Adam onboard as the first of what will be a strong line-up, I’m confident of our ability to challenge for the Drivers’, Teams’and Manufacturers’Constructors’ Championships in 2023.”