Team Dynamics has confirmed that it will not be present on the grid for the 2023 British Touring Car Championship, but it will remain active by providing support to the One Motorsport team.
Dynamics first entered the BTCC in 1991 when it entered a Super Touring BMW for current team owner Matt Neal.
Since then, the team has gone on to become one of the most successful in the sport’s history, lifting the overall drivers’ title in 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2016 – all with Honda machinery.
After the end of the Super Touring era, Dynamics also took a break – missing the 2001 and 2002 seasons, albeit also competing in the European Touring Car Championship in 2001.
It returned to the BTCC with an independent Vauxhall Astra Coupé in 2003, before returning full-time a year later. That season, 2004, was also when it first partnered with both Honda and Halfords. Dynamics has run Hondas every season since then – an unbroken run of 19 years, whilst it has also maintained a relationship with Halfords throughout that time.
Ahead of the 2021 season the team lost its backing from Honda at the same time as long-term backing from Yuasa. It signed Daniel Rowbottom for that season, bringing sponsorship from Cataclean, but Rowbottom has taken that backing to Motorbase Performance for 2023.
“This has been an extremely difficult decision for us to make as a business,” said Neal. “Unfortunately, with the current economic climate, we have not been able to secure the commercial partnerships we required to commit to the forthcoming BTCC season.
“I’ve been in the BTCC all my life and it has presented us with many fantastic opportunities and memories, so I’m extremely disappointed that we will not be directly involved and saddened for our dedicated employees, partners, fans and supporters.
“However, we still want to keep the Honda brand at the forefront of racing and ultimately winning races.
“Under our tenure, the car marque became one of the most successful manufacturers in the championship, second only to Ford in just half as many years.
“So, we aim to put to good use our resources and developments made over the winter by supporting One Motorsport in 2023 and helping them to win races and challenge for the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships.”
Neal will focus on the team’s classic, touring car and GT race car business in 2023, alongside supporting One Motorsport, whilst also running customer cars in other national and international series.
The three-time BTCC champion also confirmed that he plans to return Team Dynamics to the BTCC fold in the future.
“We would like to thank everyone involved in the BTCC, especially Alan Gow, who has supported us over the years,” added Neal.
“We wish all the teams and drivers, particularly One Motorsport with Neil Brown Engineering, the best of luck for the forthcoming season. We hope to actively be back in the BTCC in the future.”