Team HARD have announced that Ollie Pidgley is to take a Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing seat at Rockingham this weekend in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.
Ollie is to take the seat recently vacated by both Jake Hill and Dan Welch in a deal which will take him to the end of the 2018 season.
Having formally competed in the Renault UK Clio Cup in 2016 and 2017, Pidgley has been driving in the MINI Challenge for 2018 until Team HARD Team Principal Tony Gilham gave him the call.
“The move came about quickly, as these things often do! I spoke to Tony (Gilham) and it’s an opportunity I just had to grasp,” Pidgley told btcc.net about the deal,
“It’s always been a dream of mine and locking in four BTCC race weekends is an unbeatable chance for me. I’m really, really looking forward to it. I’ve got everything in place and I’m ready to go.”
Having tested NGTC machinery in 2016, Pidgley isn’t a stranger to these types of touring car,
“I sampled BTCC machinery back in 2016 when I was awarded a day’s seat-time with Ciceley Motorsport at Silverstone, having been a part of its Renault UK Clio Cup outfit that year.
Purely in terms of that being front-wheel drive machinery, and a sequential box, it was a similar feel to what I’ve been used to.
“Obviously, there’s a step, in terms of performance and with the tyre but I feel physically ready. Procedurally, regarding sessions and the structure of a weekend, things will be different but adjusting to that won’t be a problem.”
Team HARD’s focus on producing new talent continues with Ollie Pidgley and Gilham is confident he will do well in the remainder of 2018,
“It’s a change that’s come about very quickly but we’ve been aware of Ollie for a while.
“Bobby (Thompson) and Ollie are close, and they share a similar profile – they’re both young, hungry and up-and-coming drivers that deserve a chance in Britain’s top-tier championship.
“As an outfit, we’ve always been willing to back young talent and we’ve played a part in developing the careers of several drivers who’ve gone on to prove themselves as very capable racers.
“The likes of Aiden Moffat, James Cole and Jack Goff have all been a part of the Team HARD stable and have gone on to become race winners in the BTCC.”
