Motorbase Performance will enter into 2021 with a change in management, after Shaun Hollamby and Pete Osborne completed their acquisition of the team from founder David Bartrum.
Motorbase Performance was founded in 2004 by Bartrum and joined the British Touring Car Championship in 2006 when it fielded a single Honda Integra for David Pinkney.
Since then, the team has gone on to become one of the most successful in the series’ history, picking up 109 podium finishes and 34 outright wins since 2006 in the BTCC.
Long-time Team Principal Bartrum will step aside, handing over to Hollamby who assumes the role, whilst Pete Osborne will act as the company’s Managing Director.
Motorbase has also competed in the British GT Championship and Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain.
The outfit will continue to compete under the Motorbase Performance banner along with its core operational staff, including Team Manager Oly Collins and AmD Tuning’s Technical Director Rob Tickner.
Hollamby returns to the role of Team Principal, after a year of working with the Trade Price Cars outfit which has also undergone a recent restructure.
Hollamby joined the BTCC with AmD Tuning in 2010 as a driver and team owner, before stepping back from driving duties to focus on running the outfit.
AmD enjoyed increased success in recent years, culminating in a trio of victories for Rory Butcher in 2019 as the team emerged as a genuine title contender.
In 2020, AmD entered into a partnership with Mark Blundell’s MB Motorsport, and for 2021 the team will field two new Ford Focus cars for Blundell under the MB Motorsport banner.
It means that the hugely successful FK2 model of the Honda Civic Type-R is unlikely to feature on the BTCC grid this year.
Businessman Osborne will act as the Managing Director for the team, having overseen son Sam Osborne’s graduation to the BTCC in 2019, before he moved to MB Motorsport for 2020.
“For me personally, this is closing one chapter in my involvement with the BTCC as well as starting a new one,” explained Hollamby.
“We had some great times as AmD Tuning in this amazing Championship and I want to thank everybody involved along all those years.
“Every year, we have grown in stature and that has led us to what we are able to do today.
“Motorbase Performance is synonymous with everything that is great about British Touring Cars and a huge deal of credit must go to David and his team for what they have achieved.
“Their work gives us a great foundation to build on as we hope to go from strength to strength in the coming years.
“With myself and Pete coming together, I feel we have a really unique offering that can help us push on and set a new standard both on and off the track.”
Osborne is passionate about getting involved with the team and taking Motorbase to a ‘new level’.
“Motorsport has been a huge passion throughout my life and my involvement with the TOCA package and the British Touring Car Championship has increased in recent years through Sam’s participation,” explained Pete Osborne.
“The opportunity to build on David’s fantastic work at Motorbase Performance in partnership with Shaun is something I am motivated by.
“Last year, we forged a very successful partnership in the most difficult season British Motorsport has arguably ever faced.
“To be able to take that work to a new level, combining the incredible amount of expertise that Motorbase and AmD already have operationally is a really exciting opportunity.”
For Bartrum, he admitted that the time had come to relinquish control of his team after almost two decades.
“It is a massive compliment to the entire team that AmD’s Shaun Hollamby and Pete Osborne wish to purchase the team and add to it, to push Motorbase to the next level,” said Bartrum.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed building this team from the ground up over the years that has seen Motorbase achieve tremendous success both on and off the track.
“I have to thank everyone associated with Motorbase over the years, including staff, drivers and our many partners, who have helped this team grow to become one of the top outfits in the BTCC paddock.
“I have a big birthday coming up next year and with that in mind, I think the time is right for Shaun and Pete to take over the reins and guide the team into a bright future.
“I wish the team all the best and good luck for the future. I won’t be too far away and will be watching Motorbase march on from the sidelines.”