The inaugural Jack Sears Trophy introduced for the British Touring Car Championship’s S2000 machinery has been boosted by the addition of two series rookies.
Joe Girling will race a Finesse Motorsport/Tech-Speed Chevrolet Cruze run under the M247 Racing banner while the Seat Leon returns to the grid in the hands of Warren Scott and BMR Restart.
They will join confirmed entries James Kaye, Liam Griffin and David Nye in the race for the Trophy, which is awarded to the best S2000 performer over the season.
Both Girling and Scott recognise the tough graduation they will face in competing in the BTCC. The former, 22, will step up from the Production Touring Car Trophy while the latter, whose history lies in motorbike racing, moves from the Lotus Cup UK series.
Despite his relative inexperience on four wheels, Warren knows all the major British circuits very well, and had a successful season last year in the Lotus Cup UK series. btcc.net spoke to him in the lead up to the crucial official test at Donington Park this Thursday (21 March) – here’s what he had to say…
“I’m under no illusions about the scale of the task ahead,” Scott told btcc.net. “I’m not expecting to go out there and immediately be at the sharp end. What I do want to achieve is a steady progression so that I’m challenging the best of the S2000 cars by the end of the season.”
“Pretty much the whole team have come across from racing the bikes, so we all know what we’re doing and we’re all well prepared.”
Having purchased the popular Leon from a Belgian team, Scott says title sponsor Restart’s commitment means there will be an NGTC in build at some point during 2013.
“We’re in a very fortunate position having our main sponsor Restart on board for a multi-year deal,” he explained. “If all goes to plan we may even field two cars next season, but we’ll definitely have one to NGTC specifications. The BTCC is a fantastic series – it’s well organised, has a great following and we want to be in it for the long term.”
Meanwhile the combination of former Renault Clio Cup team Finesse with experienced touring car outfit Tech-Speed Motorsport means Girling is in a well-balanced environment to make his touring car bow.
“It’s quite daunting to be honest but it’s obviously very exciting too,” he said. “To be racing in the same events as the likes of Matt Neal and Jason Plato is a little surreal, but I’ll be aiming to keep my head down and produce some decent results.
“I am not one to make bold claims and I’m sure it will take me a little while to acclimatise to it all, but I am confident in my own ability and the Cruze is also a very capable car.”
