Ciceley Motorsport has confirmed that it will switch to running a pair of BMW 330i M Sport cars in the 2021 British Touring Car Championship, after completing a deal with car builders WSR.
Having recently announced it would not be continuing with its venerable Mercedes-Benz A-Class cars for next season, the Lancashire-based team has now announced a switch to rival German marque BMW.
Having run its Mercedes cars since 2014, the team felt it needed to update its package for next season in order to remain competitive.
It has taken the decision to become the first customer team to run the new BMW 3 Series in the championship.
WSR introduced the 330i M Sport for the 2019 season, and since then the car has become one of the most successful in the championship, picking up 17 race wins in just two seasons of racing.
The 330i has also picked up five of the six major titles it has contested during the past two years.
“These are very exciting times for us all at Ciceley Motorsport, and we are delighted to be introducing the BMWs,” said Ciceley Motorsport Team Principal Russell Morgan.
“This has been an incredibly hard decision, made even more difficult by the fantastic job our lead engineer Steve Farrell and Adam [Morgan] have done with the Mercedes this year.
“Our cars have been constantly improved and fastidiously maintained throughout their lifetime, and they are still eligible to run in the BTCC until 2023.”
Adam Morgan has claimed all of Ciceley’s race wins to date, picking up eight BTCC victories since 2014.
Morgan says that one of the reasons for the switch is for the team to be prepared for the incoming hybrid-era of the BTCC.
“We have to look to the future,” said Morgan. “The hybrid era of the BTCC will be upon us before we know it and we must, as a team, be ready for the next challenge.
“Although our philosophy as a team is to enjoy our racing, we definitely enjoy it more when we’re winning!
“Next season will be yet another massive learning curve for us all, but we are still hungry for success.
“We now need to secure the services of a team-mate, who is able to complement the team and clinch the Drivers’ and Teams’ championships.”
WSR will provide two new cars to the team next year, and Team Principal Dick Bennetts is pleased to be working with Ciceley as the outfit’s first 3-Series customer.
“We’re very pleased that Ciceley Motorsport have become our first customer for the BMW 330i M Sport and will run two cars in 2021,” said Bennetts.
“They are a professional team with a strong engineering mindset, so the WSR-designed-and-built cars should give them everything they need to become title challengers.
“Since the 3 Series first turned a wheel in late March last year, we’ve won five titles out of a possible six and scored 48 podiums from 57 races, which shows the quality of the base machinery.”