Sport   Motorsport   Touring Cars

BTCC grid to showcase 5 former champions for 2014!

By MJP Media | 28 January 2014

In a sensational return to the British Touring Car Championship, Alain Menu will join former champions Andrew Jordan, Gordon Shedden, Jason Plato and Matt Neal in a star studded 2014 season.

Alain Menu in his 2011 WTCC Chevrolet Cruze
Alain Menu in his 2011 WTCC Chevrolet Cruze

Two-time BTCC champion Alain Menu will make a sensational return to Britain's premier motor sport series with Team BMR in a Volkswagen Passat alongside young Irish star Aron Smith who joins from Airwaves Racing. Smith scored four podiums last season for Airwaves Racing and will be in his 3rd year in the BTCC. The 24-year-old race winner will drive the second of the team's VW Passat CCs, meaning team owner Warren Scott will be switching to the Vauxhall Insignia.

For Menu, it will be his first full BTCC season since leaving the series as champion at the end of the 2000 campaign, although he has been competing at the front in the World Touring Car Championship with Chevrolet where he was 3rd in the series in 2011 and 2nd in 2012. The 50 year old Swiss driver is a veteran of over 200 BTCC contests and has scored 86 podiums and 36 wins since his debut way back in 1992.

Alain Menu (far right) with his WTCC team-mates
Alain Menu (far right) with his WTCC team-mates

Team BMR joined the BTCC for the first time in 2013 with Warren Scott in charge and over the season expanded from a one-car operation to four cars, acquiring the remaining three Team HARD. machines following the original purchase of the first Volkswagen Passat CC mid-way through last season. The team has made some significant personnel changes in the off-season to bring in experienced engineers and now its sights are set on challenging for the Independent Teams' and Drivers' championships.

In other BTCC news, Rob Holland's new Audi A3 saloon has been developing further with a unique colour scheme being designed around sponsors Oakley Sunglasses in conjunction with a fans vote, but the artist's impressions look impressive.

Aron Smith is no stranger to the BTCC silverware
Aron Smith is no stranger to the BTCC silverware

Adam Morgan and WIX Racing have confirmed that the new Mercedes A class is slowly coming into shape and will be the first Mercedes to compete in the championship in the new era. Blackburn based Morgan has also found time to do some driver coaching for the BTCC support Ginetta series.

On a final note, Aiden Moffat Racing have confirmed their commitment in the 2014 paddock with the purchase of the fantastic Dynojet hospitality unit formally used by Frank Wrathall's team.

Touring Car content supplied by MJP Media

Olympus Camera

A VIEW FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT

A regular account of life in the British Touring Car Championship from the driver's point of view


Things are shaping up well for our first full season in the BTCC Things are shaping up well for our first full season in the BTCC
As we move into 2014, there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes for Aiden Moffat and the rest of his team ahead of the 2014 British Touring Car Championship season.


Two weeks into owning the car and things are moving on! Two weeks into owning the car and things are moving on!
We catch up with Aiden Moffat as his team start preparing his car for the 2014 BTCC season, including a new livery designed by Aiden himself.


The future looks bright and I can't wait! The future looks bright and I can't wait!
With his first contribution to these pages, we are delighted to welcome Aiden Moffat as our 2014 British Touring Car Championship columnist.


Brands Hatch and the end of the 2013 BTCC season Brands Hatch and the end of the 2013 BTCC season
Dave Newsham looks back at the last meeting of the 2013 BTCC season and his year with Speedworks Motorsport and the Toyota Avensis.


Silverstone, change and progress! Silverstone, change and progress!
Following an exciting weekend at Silverstone, Speedworks Motorsport driver Dave Newsham gives us the inside story of changes to his Toyota Avensis and the events of the penultimate meeting of the year.


We came, we saw, we Rocked! We came, we saw, we Rocked!
Dave Newsham looks back at Rockingham and recalls the fun and drama of the weekend as the leading Toyota driver who topped the time sheet in the free practice sessions.

 


TOURING CARS - LATEST NEWS

Race reports and previews from the British Touring Car Championship plus British interests in other international Touring Car series


BTCC grid to showcase 5 former champions for 2014! BTCC grid to showcase 5 former champions for 2014!
In a sensational return to the British Touring Car Championship, Alain Menu will join former champions Andrew Jordan, Gordon Shedden, Jason Plato and Matt Neal in a star studded 2014 season.


Jack Goff confirmed with RCIB Insurance Racing for 2014 Jack Goff confirmed with RCIB Insurance Racing for 2014
Jack Goff is the latest driver to be confirmed for the 2014 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. He returns with the RCIB Insurance Racing squad to drive the Vauxhall Insignia for a second season.


BTCC at Autosport International 2014 BTCC at Autosport International 2014
The Autosport International show from the NEC in Birmingham this weekend sees the world's top motor sport drivers and cars gather for the public to see everything up close and personal with the BTCC well represented.


New format announced for the 2014 Jack Sears Trophy New format announced for the 2014 Jack Sears Trophy
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship organiser TOCA recently announced the new format for the Jack Sears Trophy for the start of the 2014 BTCC season.


Win tickets to Autosport International 2014! Win tickets to Autosport International 2014!
Autosport International, Europe's largest motorsport show, is taking place at the Birmingham NEC on 11-12 January 2014 and we're giving you the chance to win two pairs of tickets to the show on Saturday 11 January.


WIX Filters to sponsor Ciceley Motorsport for 2014 WIX Filters to sponsor Ciceley Motorsport for 2014
WIX Filters has announced they will be title sponsoring Ciceley Racing and Adam Morgan in the 2014 British Touring Car Championship season.