Runaway TCR UK series leader Dan Lloyd will make a shock return to the British Touring Car Championship from this weekend’s event at Oulton Park, replacing James Nash at BTC Norlin Racing.
Lloyd has enjoyed a perfect start to the inaugural season of TCR UK, taking three out of three pole positions and six out of six race wins so far.
He previously raced in the BTCC in 2010, 2016 and 2017, but has yet to complete a full season in the championship. Lloyd’s last BTCC outing was in 2017 when he took part in the first four events with the MG team before switching to the TCR International Series for the remainder of the year.
James Nash switched from TCR to the BTCC but has struggled for form on his return to the championship which he last raced in in 2011, securing a best finish of 12th in race three at Donington Park and only two points finishes so far.
With no calendar clashes between the TCR UK series and the BTCC in 2018, it remains unclear as to whether Lloyd’s participation in the BTCC will affect his continued racing in TCR, although he previously told TouringCars.Net that he is working ‘harder than ever’ to continue in TCR.
Nash is leaving the BTCC due to ‘personal reasons’ with Lloyd being drafted in as a last-minute replacement.
“We are disappointed as James is a world-class driver, but we accept the reasons given and we wish James well in his future racing career and also as he enters a very busy personal schedule off the track,” said BTC Norlin Racing boss Bert Taylor.
Nash himself added that even a return to racing closer to home had not been enough to manage his commitments off the track.
“I made a return to BTCC and UK racing due to some exciting events happening in my business and personal life,” said Nash. “I believed racing in the UK would allow me more time to commit to my work, personal and race life.
“I have enjoyed a lot of success in international racing and have been very disappointed with my current level of results. It is because of all these factors I have decided to pull out of BTCC until the timing is once again right for me.
“I wish BTC Norlin Racing and Chris Smiley a lot of success for the rest of the season.”