Daniel Lloyd will realise his long held dream of competing in the country’s biggest motor racing series, the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, just over a week from now after agreeing a race deal with multiple title winning team Triple Eight Race Engineering.
After making a sparkling test debut in one of the Banbury squad’s ‘ex-works’ Vauxhall Vectras at Rockingham two weeks ago, the 18-year-old attended this past weekend’s BTCC event at Oulton Park as a guest of Triple Eight and has now agreed a deal to contest rounds 13, 14 and 15 on 19th/20th June at Croft in North Yorkshire. Notably, he will be the youngest driver on the grid.
Daniel’s graduation to touring cars has been made possible thanks to the support of TNT Post and, in particular, the central involvement of the Managing Director of TNT Post in the North, Andy Goddard. Therefore, the 2009 ELF Renault Clio Winter Cup Champion will proudly carry TNT Post branding on his Vectra during the Croft weekend which will be screened live in the UK on ITV4.
“It’s absolutely amazing to be making my BTCC debut, a real dream come true”, said Daniel, “At the start of the year I never thought I’d have the opportunity to test a touring car, let alone to make my race debut in one – and especially with Triple Eight, as far as I’m concerned it’s the best team on the grid. This has all come together so quickly, I’m over the moon and I intend to make the most of it.
“It’s going to be very tough, we’re under no illusions as to how competitive the BTCC is, but I’m confident we can give a good account of ourselves at Croft. I like the track and it’s worked out really well that we have this opportunity at one of my local circuits, hopefully we’ll have plenty of support.”
Daniel, who also races in aid of his local Kirkwood Hospice Charity, added: “We’ve been working really hard to sort this deal out. I want to say a big thank you to Ian Harrison at Triple Eight, my manager Tim Sugden and Andy Goddard from TNT Post – without them it just wouldn’t have been possible. The deal is only for Croft but we hope to secure more financial support for the subsequent rounds in August.”
TNT Post’s Andy Goddard commented: “We’re pleased to support Daniel’s debut in the BTCC, it’s the UK’s biggest motor racing championship and he’s a true rising star in the motorsport world. TNT Post offers quality delivery and Daniel always delivers on track so it’s a natural partnership. We’re looking forward to a successful weekend at Croft.”
Ian Harrison, highly respected team principal of Triple Eight Race Engineering, said: “At Rockingham Daniel did a very good job in the test and we’re all very excited about getting such a quick young guy in the car at Croft. We’re always looking for fresh, new talent and he proved on his test debut he can adapt to a car he hasn’t driven before.
“His pace at Rockingham was completely genuine, which was impressive, so he needs to get as much mileage under his belt as possible in the two practice sessions at Croft and then build on that through qualifying and the races. It’s going to be tough but hopefully it’ll be a good weekend for all of us.”
The BTCC offers incredible value for sponsors with live TV, the biggest crowds at any national motorsport event in the UK and first-class hospitality at each race meeting. During the build-up to his BTCC race debut, Daniel will continue to work hard to attract additional sponsorship for the Croft weekend with VIP hospitality opportunities and branding space on the race car still available.
Backing is also being sought to enable the talented youngster to carry his involvement in the 2010 BTCC forward into the second half of the season, which gets underway at Snetterton in Norfolk on 7th/8th August.
