After nine years working as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship’s Media Officer, Carl McKellar is to stand down and hand over the role to Simon Melluish.Carl is today moving onto new adventures in motor sport, among them serving Red Bull in the FIA World Rally Championship. Since joining the BTCC’s appointed PR agency MPA Creative in 2004 to take on the job he has been part of the organising TOCA team that has revitalised the championship – not only are huge numbers of people flocking through the gates once more at events but millions more are also gripped by the action with unprecedented levels of live television coverage on ITV.Meanwhile Simon takes over as the BTCC’s Media Officer – one of the most respected media roles in UK motor sport – after several years with MotorSport Vision. There he acted as an FIA Media Delegate as MSV reintroduced the Formula 2 category and also handled media aspects of the group’s other major events at its circuits. Prior to that he was a freelance journalist covering many high-profile racing categories including the BTCC, NASCAR and Le Mans 24 Hours. He is already known to many media in the BTCC paddock after several seasons handling press and PR matters for a number of teams and drivers.BTCC Series Director Alan Gow commented: “Carl has been an integral member of the BTCC team for more than a decade and it goes without saying that we will all miss his loyal dedication and, of course, his unquenchable thirst for statistical information. We wish him the very best for the future and, at the same time, welcome Simon to the BTCC Media Office. While Carl's boots will be hard to fill, I'm sure Simon will bring with him new ideas and new enthusiasm thus building on Carl's long-running achievements.”Simon Melluish said: “I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to work in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – a series I grew up watching and have followed very closely over the years. The chance to work in the biggest championship in the country, and with some truly talented and fantastic people, doesn’t come around too often, so I am honoured to be taking up this role. Carl McKellar has done a fantastic job as Media Officer over the last decade and I can’t wait to get started and hopefully continue the good work over the coming weeks, months and years.Carl McKellar added: “For someone who counts Gordon Spice and Andy Rouse among his boyhood heroes it has in many ways been like getting paid to do a hobby so I’ve been very lucky. I’ve made some great friends and there have been so many magic moments as well – if I had to pick one it is Finals Day in 2009 on the superb Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit when Colin Turkington somehow held off Jason Plato and Fabrizio Giovanardi to win his first title. As a sporting event it had everything and the atmosphere in the media centre that day was like no other I have known.“Colin of course will be back in 2013 to make it four Champions on the grid and there are plenty of drivers all eager to get their hands on the trophy for the first time as well, plus the majority of teams have now had at least a season to really get to know about the latest NGTC type of car. This year’s BTCC is probably going to be as close as the one in 2009 and I’m really looking forward to seeing how it all unfolds from a spectator’s point of view… with the odd visit to the paddock I’m sure.”