Excelr8 Motorsport and Trade Price Cars will join forces for the 2021 British Touring Car Championship to field four Hyundai i30 N Fastback cars in the championship.
Trade Price Cars Racing has run two Audi S3 cars in the 2020 championship, with drivers Bobby Thompson and, initially, James Gornall racing the cars.
Now the team will switch to running the BTCC’s latest model for 2021, in what will be the second year of Excelr8-run Hyundais on the grid.
Work on the two new cars is expected to get underway shortly.
“We’re delighted to announce this new partnership with Dan [Kirby, Trade Price Cars Team Principal] and Trade Price Cars for 2021, and the expansion of our programme in the BTCC,” said Excelr8 Team Principal Justina Willliams.
“To be joining forces is a great way for both parties to increase our involvement in the series, and provides us with the chance to build on what we have achieved over the past two seasons.
“Like us, Dan is someone who is very focused on professionalism, presentation and on the commercial side of racing, which has been a key factor in this deal coming together.
“Of course, success on track is an important part of any racing programme, but we also need to deliver value for our partners, and that is an important view that we all share.
“As we said when we first embarked on our BTCC programme, our aim is to fight for championship titles as we have done elsewhere, and we know that that isn’t something that happens overnight.
“We are in it for the long term, and this partnership is the next step as we progress towards our ultimate goal.
“Based on what we have been able to learn about the Hyundai this season, we have a development programme in place for the winter to improve the package we have, and are looking to bring together a driver line-up that will allow us to regularly challenge for the podium places in 2021.
“With a further major step forward in performance to come through the development work planned for the start of the new hybrid era in 2022, these are hugely exciting times as we look to establish ourselves as a major force in the series in the coming seasons.”
Dan Kirby, Trade Price Cars Racing team owner, added that he believes the newer generation of NGTC cars have greater potential than the ageing Audi model which his team currently runs.
“Over the past two seasons, we have enjoyed working together with Shaun Hollamby and the AmD team, and have been able to secure some memorable results – with the win at Knockhill last year being a dream come true for us,” said Kirby.
“The Audi has served us well so far, but we could see that the latest generation of NGTC cars are a step forwards in terms of performance, and we also needed to think about the new hybrid regulations that will be coming into play in the series from 2022.
“We looked at the options that were available for 2021 and beyond, and the Hyundai was a really appealing option.
“The team at EXCELR8 has done a great job to build a car that is capable of running at the front in a highly-competitive field, and it is a car that has been designed with the new hybrid era in mind.
“Having spoken to Justina and the team about doing something next season, it was clear that we share very similar goals for the future.
“I’m delighted to be able to confirm this new partnership, and feel confident that we can enjoy a strong year together on track in 2021.”