MB Motorsport has confirmed that it will switch to running two new Motorbase Performance-built Ford Focus ST cars in the 2021 British Touring Car Championship.
The team is effectively a Motorbase satellite team, following the confirmation earlier this month that Shaun Hollamby and Pete Osborne had completed the acquisition of the Kent team from David Bartrum.
Motorbase holds four TOCA BTCC Licences (TBLs) as revealed in the allocation published earlier this month, two of which will be used by Mark Blundell Motorsport for its second season in the BTCC.
Hollamby and Blundell will continue to act as Team Principal and Sporting Director respectively.
Jake Hill was already confirmed as remaining with the team for 2021, with the 25-year-old to be joined by a new yet-to-be-confirmed team-mate this year.
The news finally confirms that the Honda Civic Type-R FK2, the team’s outgoing car, will no longer feature on the BTCC grid, after nine seasons in the championship.
“This news marks another exciting point in the team’s journey,” said Blundell. “We all loved our début campaign in the series last year and are united in wanting to achieve much more in the coming year.
“We have a fantastic relationship with Shaun and Pete and are delighted to be working with Motorbase Performance in the next step of our journey.
“The Honda Civic was a fantastic car and we all loved it fondly, but everything has a lifespan in motorsport, and we are firm in our belief that the Ford Focus ST is a huge step forward both in terms of outright pace but also with the introduction of Hybrid engines in 2022.
“Continuing our relationship with Blue Square as our title partners is another huge coup. Like ourselves at MB Motorsport, they are a hugely proactive and dynamic agency who deliver at the very highest level for their blue-chip clients.
“The sectors in which we both work are very complementary to each other and we look forward to strengthening that collaboration, opening up new opportunities and winning some races together in 2021!”
Hill, who finished seventh overall in last year’s drivers’ standings, is looking forward to getting behind the wheel of much more contemporary machinery.
“It’s been really difficult to keep a lid on these plans as I’ve been pretty excited about letting the cat out of the bag,” said Hill.
“I was delighted when I heard everything had been brought together and I’d be behind the wheel of a Ford Focus this coming season.
“The Honda Civic was a big step forward for me and I loved every race in it, but today’s announcement sees us as a team go to another level again and takes my ambitions for the season ahead to a new level as well.
“I’m also really delighted to be continuing our work with the Blue Square team too. Right at the start of 2020, I really enjoyed being a part of their kick-off event with their team and together we brought together some really cool virtual and digital activities last season. No doubt, we will be just as innovative and creative this year alongside their clients and friends.”