Eurotech Racing will be reduced to a two-car team from the forthcoming Snetterton round of the British Touring Car Championship, with Daniel Lloyd forced to withdraw due to budgetary reasons.
Lloyd joined the BTCC from the Thruxton round onwards, with Eurotech Racing taking the opportunity to expand to a three-car entry for the first time in their history when Team Dynamics withdrew their third entry, originally for Andy Neate.
Lloyd proved to be immediately on the pace, including scoring an impressive front-row grid position in qualifying at Oulton Park. A string of strong points finishes left the Yorkshireman 17th overall in the drivers’ championship heading into the summer break, with 36 points to his name.
A statement from the team read:
“Eurotech Racing are disappointed to announce that unfortunately despite a huge amount of effort from all sides Daniel Lloyd will not be driving the third Eurotech Honda Civic Type R at Snetterton this weekend.
“Due to [the] financial constraints of a major sponsor Daniel has regrettably had to withdraw from the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at this stage.
“The team are all gutted, with everyone having put in so much work behind the scenes to make it happen. Daniel fitted in to the team seamlessly and we were really looking forward to building on the huge potential and capability he has shown in the car.
“Eurotech will continue to work with Daniel to try and secure a drive in the future.”
Lloyd himself admits that having to step down from the drive at such short notice was a ‘bitter pill to swallow’.
“I’m absolutely gutted to be missing the second half of the season,” said Lloyd. “We have been in talks with a large sponsor since the start of the season and all of the plans we were in place for funding for the remaining rounds right up until last week, but then unfortunately it all fell through at the last minute.
“It’s a pretty bitter pill to take especially after the results we’ve had in the three rounds we’ve competed in.
“The guys at Eurotech Racing have been awesome. I’m really grateful to Jeff Smith for giving me the opportunity to race for the team and also to the lads behind the scenes for giving me a mega car capable of qualifying on the front row, not just once, but twice in a row.”
TOCA also confirmed that they have taken back the TOCA BTCC Licence [TBL] which had originally been handed to the team at short notice.
“The Administrator has agreed to the withdrawal from the remainder of the 2016 Championship of Car No. 23 (Daniel Lloyd, Eurotech Racing) and has subsequently recalled the loan TBL associated with that entry.”