Milton Keynes based, fan-funded race team YourRacingCar.com can reveal the exciting news that it will contest the latest rounds of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Silverstone on the weekend of 21/22 August.
YourRacingCar was initially conceived – as all good ideas are – on the back of a beer mat, with the team spending recent years competing in the Ginetta G50 Championship and Renault Clio Cup.
The main idea behind YourRacingCar has always been to allow fans to have a greater involvement in motorsport, with those who sign up as YRC members benefitting from a raft of offers while also getting their picture on the team’s race car.
In order to give those fans greater exposure - and as part of long-term plans to move into the BTCC in 2011 - YourRacingCar has enlisted the support of Northampton based company Talent Works International. It marks the most exciting move yet for one of British motorsport’s most ambitious outfits as it seeks to take the fight to some of the top touring car teams around.
Moving from support series such as the Renault Clio Cup to the headline act of the British Touring Cars is not for the faint hearted and requires considerable extra resource in terms of finance and personnel and it’s Talent Works who’ve stepped up to the plate to make the teams’ dream a reality.
Speaking about the move Hannah James, YRC Team Principal said “We’re a tiny little outfit and moving to the BTCC is a huge deal of everyone involved. We needed help to make it happen and Neil [Purcell, Talent Works International MD] has been incredibly supportive. For Talent Works International to put such faith in us has been amazing really and we’re a really good fit – anyone willing to put their valuable sponsorship budget towards an unknown entity has nerves that are usually only seen in our world!”
The team have proved themselves commercial savvy since day one. Investing in developing a fan club and staging one of the most impressive hospitality set ups in the paddock, they certainly understand that the show is as important as on-track performance and with a no holds barred approach to PR, the fans of racing appreciate their honesty.
“It’s hugely important we maintain our independence because this is the way we can continue to deliver what the fans want. Talent Works International have not tried to change us or pressurize us into a more conventional approach (to PR) as many companies would. They are our dream sponsor” said Hannah.
Speaking of their involvement with their local team Neil said “It's a big commitment to invest in sponsorship of any kind and we're thrilled to be making our own debut in motor racing at Silverstone with YourRacingCar.com. They've shown a staggering amount of determination to get here and we're really pleased to be able to help make their dream a reality. We're really looking forward to the weekend, no doubt meeting some of the YRC fans and hopefully celebrating a podium finish with them!”
Neil’s hope for a podium finish whilst ambitious will come down to the success of the teams’ trump card – a newly developed engine. It’s an enormous risk for the team as with no pre-event testing, the car will have its first run out on Saturday morning in full public view.
The team’s BTCC driver Phil Glew is the reigning Renault Clio Cup Champion and even with touring car experience under his belt, he’s managing his own expectations about the weekend “As a racing driver, I always go out on track to win, but it’s important for us not to be unrealistic in our aims with what is an unproven package. Our main aim for the weekend is obviously to get the highest placed finish we can but also to get good publicity for everyone – fans and sponsors alike – who are involved in the programme.”The reverse grid configuration for the third race of the weekend is designed to add a little spice to proceedings and is the teams’ best chance of a podium. With everything to play for there’s a chance to steal the limelight from the big boys and that’s one thing YourRacingCar are good at. On Sunday 22nd August Silverstone will be staging a David and Goliath contest.
Fans who wish to sign up to support YourRacingCar can do so by visiting yourracingcar.com, where they can benefit from a special BTCC offer.
For £18, fans can get their picture on the YourRacingCar SEAT Leon while also picking up an exclusive YRC t-shirt designed by Unlap.
