British Touring Car squad Triple Eight Race Engineering with Collins Contractors have confirmed that driver Tony Gilham has left the team, citing “commercial reasons”.
Gilham stepped into the BTCC with the team this season, having previously competed in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB – one of the regular support series for the headlining Touring Car series. In the opening six rounds of the championship he gained 12 points, his best weekend coming on his series debut at Brands Hatch when he scored top ten finishes in all three races in early April.
However, following the withdrawal of a major sponsor, the driver has struggled for funding to continue his season and now looks set to play no further part in the campaign.
“I'm absolutely gutted that I haven't got the budget to carry on,” Gilham told btcc.net, the series' official website. “But I will be back in the BTCC, hopefully sooner rather than later. It's where I want to be and I definitely haven't given up. I will keep working to see what I can pull together and I'll be back as soon as possible.”
“I'm sorry that the relationship with Tony hasn't worked out as both parties had hoped,” said Triple Eight chairman Ian Harrison. “He has driven well in what was always going to be a difficult first season for him in the BTCC. On behalf of Triple Eight I'd like to thank him for his contribution to the team and wish him well”.
“Obviously we are now looking to fill the seat for the remainder of the season and will announce our plans in due course.”
