United Autosprts will add the British Touring Car Championship to their motorsport portfolio in 2014, after completing a deal to a pair of Toyota Avensis NGTC machines for James Cole and Glynn Geddie.
The team were granted a pair of TBL BTCC licences by TOCA to compete in next season’s campaign, where they will combine the premier tin-top championship with their GT programme in 2014.
The team will race two Toyota Avensis cars previously held within the clutches of the Dynojet squad, acquiring a licence over the squad in the process having conducted their maiden pair of test outings at Donington over the previous two weeks.
Team Owner and Managing Director, Richard Dean, said: “We are really excited to be entering the 2014 British Touring Car Championship. It’s a new direction for the team and the BTCC is known across the country as a highly competitive championship so we are looking forward to taking on the new challenge.
Former Formula Ford champion Cole will step back into the BTCC after a brief spell with Team HARD during 2013, where he will be partnered by former Porsche Carrera Cup GB front-runner and this year’s European Supercar Challenge Championship winner, Geddie.
Dean added: “We have a strong driver line up in James and Glynn; James’ BTCC experience and Glynn’s pure driving skill will be invaluable to the team in 2014. We will still be entering the British GT Championship with Mark Patterson and Matt Bell, along with attending other overseas races throughout the year.”
Zak Brown, Fellow United Autosports Team Owner, said: “The British Touring Car Championship is the most popular motor racing series in Great Britain outside of Formula 1.”
Brown added: “It’s seriously competitive, the racing is exciting and it’s commercially viable, as the capacity grids show. I’m thrilled that United Autosports are going to be part of the BTCC as well as continuing our strong presence in the British GT Championship.”
United Autosport will contest GT races alongside the BTCC, appearing in the British GT Championship which they narrowly missed out on winning in 2013 alongside the Spa 24 Hours, Gulf 12 Hours, Macau GT Cup and the Bathurst 12 Hours.
(Photo Credit: United Autosports)
