News 2008: Motorbase to Run BMWs in the BTCC

Motorbase Performance will challenge for race wins in the 2008 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship by fielding a pair of latest specification BMW 320Si E90 models.

The team will shortly take delivery of two completely rebuilt and refurbished BMWs from the Schnitzer World Touring Car Championship team. No drivers have yet been confirmed for the ambitious project, but team boss David Bartrum is currently in discussion with a number of drivers.

"We want to compete at the very front of the BTCC and to do that, we need the best cars that are available," said Bartrum. "The SEATs served us well last season, but the BTCC is hugely competitive and we need the latest equipment to be able to challenge for race wins. The best opportunity for us is to run BMWs."

This is a very serious project for the Kent-based team and will put Motorbase into direct competition with the leading teams in the BTCC. It also marks a switch to rear-wheel drive, but Bartrum is confident that the team will be competitive from the start of the 2008 season following an intensive test programme.

The team will benefit from a strong working relationship with the Schnitzer team in Germany to ensure an on-going development programme.