News 2010: Motorbase Performance Confirms Airwaves BMW, Leyland Paints

March 19th

Motorbase Performance will once again appear as Airwaves BMW when the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship kicks off at the high-speed Thruxton circuit in Hampshire over the Easter weekend (April 3/4), following renewal of the team's title sponsorship deal with leading chewing gum brand Wrigley's Airwaves.

With a second season of major backing from Leyland Paints, one of the UK's leading business brands, also confirmed this week, team boss David Bartrum is in an upbeat frame of mind . . . and this, despite the pressures of completing his BTCC driver and sponsor line-up coming alongside preparing the team's record turn-out of six cars on the Porsche Carrera Cup GB grid.

Bartrum said: "To be honest, it's been a hard two weeks! March is always a difficult month, trying to tie the last few ends together, but this has been manic! When we introduced Wrigley's Airwaves to the BTCC last year we were ecstatic to have secured such a hugely recognisable brand as our title sponsor.  People see Airwaves as the chewing gum that helps you 'Kick up a gear' and this association, as well as the brands support is of massive benefit to us.  It's great news for the championship that brands like Airwaves and Leyland Paints feel it is the place to be!"

While tight-lipped about his driver line-up, Bartrum said: "Our original plan was to run a BTCC newcomer alongside an experienced driver, in the same way that we brought Steven Kane and Jonny Adam to touring cars over the past couple of years – that's how the BTCC grows and sustains itself. I'm not sure it will quite work out like that now . . . as things stand today, we might even go one better."

And there was further good news for the team at Wednesday's Porsche Carrera Cup GB media and test day at Silverstone, with Motorbase Performance drivers topping the time sheets in two of the three groups: while Michael Caine was fastest overall, Ollie Jackson headed pro-am1, with Steve Parish second in pro-am2.

Bartrum added: "A couple of weeks ago, our workshop in Wrotham seemed to have a permanent cloud hanging over it . . . but things are definitely brightening up."