News

With the final race meeting of the 2007 season still to come in October, Motorbase Performance is already in full flow with planning for the 2008 season and exciting programmes are currently being finalised at the team's Kent base.

Already, the complete fleet of cars from this season are up for sale, along with one of team's trucks, in order to make way for new equipment and cars for next season.

"We're busy clearing the decks," said team boss David Bartrum. "The two BTCC cars, all of the Porsche Carrera Cup cars and one of the trucks are for sale. We've got a lot of new kit coming, so we need to make space!"

Already confirmed is a multi-car assault on the Porsche Carrera Cup GB. With a new fleet of 2008 cars coming into Britain for the championship, Motorbase is planning to be at the forefront once again, with cars in both the pro and pro-am categories. "We're 100% committed to the Carrera Cup GB and we're making a big push to put together the right team. We plan to be back stronger than ever in 2008," said Bartrum. Discussions are well advanced with several drivers and Bartrum is keen to talk to any other drivers who might be considering the Carrera Cup for next year.

In the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Bartrum is keen to build on the experience gained in 2007 and is currently in discussion about new cars. Exact plans will be confirmed shortly, but once again any drivers looking at the BTCC for 2008 are urged to make contact as soon as possible to discuss options.

In the meantime, there is the final weekend of the 2007 season to come at Thruxton on 13/14 October. The team will be back to its usual strength of two BTCC cars and three Porsches for the last weekend of the year. "We'll be back strong and hard in the BTCC at Thruxton. The Toledos were very quick there in the spring and we want Matt Allison and Tom Ferrier to be chasing a place on the podium," said Bartrum. "It will be hugely competitive, but we are determined to wrap up the year with a really strong weekend."

In the Carrera Cup, Steven Kane's hopes of winning the title suffered a major blow at Knockhill, so he is going to Thruxton with nothing to lose. Although Steven will be the outsider in the three-way title showdown, he has superb pace at the high-speed Hampshire track, so anything could happen!

Meanwhile, on the back of a brilliant debut Carrera Cup win at Knockhill, Sam Hancock will head to Thruxton determined to win again to wrap up his season in style. Then, Andy Britnell will make a final bid for the pro-am title. The points' advantage remains with Nigel Rice, but Britnell has been going superbly well in recent races and could yet grab the crown in the final two races.

11 September 2007

Other news reports: