With the announcement that Rob Collard will again be driving for the West Surrey Racing Team for 2017, we look at all the major changes and new additions to the BTCC 2017 championship. What a busy winter it's been for the world of British Touring Cars. With many changes for the upcoming season here is a look at the changes: MotorbaseIt was announced early on that the 2013 BTCC Champion, Andrew Jordan, would not be continuing with Motorbase for another year. Since winning his championship, Jordan has found it difficult to settle down to a team and produce the same results he did in 2013. Replacing him, is not one but two drivers for the new season. BTCC regular Martin Depper moves from Eurotech to the Ford Focus this year and will hope that a move to the top independent team in the field should give him some promising results. New to BTCC is Luke Davenport, who previously raced in the Ginetta Supercup as well as the British GT and it will be interesting to see how he develops over the season. Mat Jackson will once again continue with Motorbase and will be easily identifiable with his new Shredded Wheat livery. Jackson must surely be looking towards not just the independents title, but also the main championship for this year. We know the car is quick but which will depend on luck. West Surrey RacingWith the 2016 runner-up Sam Tordoff leaving to the British GT for this year, it left a gap in the team for Motorbase departing driver Jordan, to step across and try his hand at a BMW. The car looks fantastic in Jordan's familiar Pirtek livery - only time will tell if the move is the right one. Colin Turkington will also move to WSR and not for the first time, taking Jack Goff's seat. He previously won both of his titles with this team and will be looking to win the title again this year. He will have stiff competition from both Jordan and recently resigned Collard who will be staying for his ninth year with the team. This team will be quick and with possibly with the best lineup on the grid - will be strong contenders for both the Driver's and Team titles. Halfords YUASA Racing (Team Dynamics)Well, this will be short. Halfords YUASA Racing have retained there solid lineup of Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden. With six titles between them, it makes them the strongest lineup on paper. Also joining the team for this year is Matt Simpson, who previously ran in his own team. Simpson is a quick driver and will compete for podiums and possibly wins during the season. BMRThe controversial Subaru is back for another year. At the helm is double champion Jason Plato who will be surely looking to win the title this year after some promising races last year. James Cole is also staying at the team for another year. As Turkington has left the team, it left space for MG departing Ashley Sutton to join the team. Sutton is a quick driver and will be surely putting pressure on Plato. For now the fourth seat is yet to be filled as team owner Warren Scott is unsure on whether he will compete and as of now, it is looking unlikely to filled. Triple Eight EngineeringAfter a disappointing 2016, with neither driver making the top 10 in the final standings and finishing fourth by some margin in the manufacturers championship, both Sutton and Josh Cook were dismissed. Looking forward to 2017, the team have signed BKR driver and ex-BMR driver Aron Smith. After a great win at Rockingham last year - joining MG should see Smith back at the front end of the grid. Sometime Eurotech driver Daniel Lloyd will fill the second seat. Although competing in just three events last year, Lloyd made an impact and finished ahead of season long driver Martin Depper and not far behind Jeff Smith. He will be one to watch for this year and should be regularly in the top ten. Power Maxed RacingProbably the most exciting news of the winter, is the return of Vauxhall. Having been the team to beat in the mid-2000s they return with Power Maxed Racing. The team ran Chevrolet Cruze's last year with Hunter Abbott and Kelvin Fletcher. Both drivers have been replaced by Clio Cup driver Sennan Fielding and ex-BTCC driver and WTCC star, Tom Chilton. Fielding is a quick young talent and should be quick. Chilton is a proven race winner and although he may be lacking in experience in the new NGTC cars - he will be surely quick. The main factor for the new manufacturer team, will be the speed that they can develop their car at. Like BMR last year, it make take a few races before we start to see the potential of the new Vauxhall Astra. Team HARDTeam HARD are also going through a change. A new car and a new lineup marks an exciting time for the Tony Gilham owned team. For this year they will use the VW Passat CC as used by both BMR and BKR with a number of improvements to make it more competitive. Driver wise, both Michael Epps and Jake Hill have be retained with Ginetta Supercup runner up, Will Burns joining the team. A definite midfield team, it will interesting to see if the team can regularly challenge for the points. EurotechThe ex- Mike Jordan ran outfit stays with Honda for the upcoming season. Current team owner Jeff Smith remains with the team but with the departure of Martin Depper, have recruited ex-WSR driver Jack Goff. Goff has been a frequent part of the TOCA package and will be hoping for some strong results this year after a disappointing Rookie year. AmD TuningOllie Jackson remains in the AmD Audi S3 for this year. In addition, the team are running a second car for the first time with Renault Clio champion Ant Wharton-Eales as the driver. Ant will be a definite to look for and may be the top Rookie in the field. He will hopefully bring the Audi some much needed success after a disappointing 2016. WIX/Laser ToolsBoth Mercedes drivers - Aiden Moffat and Adam Morgan will stay will their teams Laser Tools Racing and WIX Racing respectively. Morgan, who is a fan favourite will be hoping to recover some of the glory from 2015. Moffat will be looking to start 2017 the way he finished 2016, with a podium. The young Scotsman will certainly be one to watch in his third year competing in the BTCC. Speedworks MotorsportTom Ingram stays at Speedworks for the 2017 season. Still utilising their trusty Toyota Avensis, Ingram will be hoping to turn his excellent qualifying ability into race wins this year. He will also have to learn to be patient and less hot-headed as it cost him valuable points last year. Ingram will also be looking towards claiming the Independents title. The RestThe last five cars on the grid will be two from BTC Norlin Racing who are returning to the BTCC for this year. They will be running Power Maxed Racing's Cruze's from last year. Driving them will be Chris Smiley and the returning Dave Newsham. Rob Austin returns with Handy Motorsport and like Ingram is using the Toyota. Having finished sixth in the Independents championship last year, Austin will be hoping for at least a top five this year. Returning to the BTCC is Stephen Jelley, driving for Team Parker Racing in a Ford Focus. Jelley who has been out of the BTCC camp for a while, will be a driver to watch and expect good things from him. Maximum Motorsport return with their Ford Focus and driver Stewart Lines. Full Lineup: 1. Andrew Jordan - WSR BMW 2. Aiden Moffat - Laser Tools Mercedes 3. Will Burns - Team HARD VW 4. Michael Epps - Team HARD VW 5. Ollie Jackson - AmD Audi 6. Senna Proctor - PMR Vauxhall 7. Tom Chilton - PMR Vauxhall 8. Mat Jackson - Motorbase Ford 9. Chris Smiley - BTC Norlin Cheverolet 10. Dave Newsham - BTC Norlin Cheverolet 11. Mike Simpson - Team Dynamics Honda 12. Adam Morgan - WIX Racing Mercedes 13. Jeff Smith - Eurotech Honda 14. Rob Austin - Handy Motorsport Toyota 15. Tom Ingram - Speedworks Toyota 16. Ant W - Eales - AmD Audi 17. Matt Neal - Team Dynamics Honda 18. Gordon Shedden - Team Dynamics Honda 19. Luke Davenport - Motorbase Ford 20. Martin Depper - Motorbase Ford 21. Jack Goff - Eurotech Honda 22. Jake Hill - Team HARD VW 23. Stephen Jelley - Team Parker Racing Ford 24. Aron Smith - Triple Eight Engineering MG 25. Daniel Lloyd - Triple Eight Engineering MG 26. Jason Plato - BMR Subaru 27. James Cole - BMR Subaru 28. Ashley Sutton - BMR Subaru 29. Colin Turkington- WSR BMW 30. Rob Collard - WSR BMW 31. Stewart Lines - Maximum Motorsport 32. TBC - BMR Subaru 2017 Calendar Rounds Date Circuit, County 1,2,3 Sat 1/Sun 2 April Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent 4,5,6 Sat 15/Sun 16 April Donington Park, Leics 7,8,9 Sat 6/Sun 7 May Thruxton, Hampshire 10,11,12 Sat 20/Sun 21 May Oulton Park, Cheshire 13,14,15 Sat 10/Sun 11 June Croft, North Yorkshire 16,17,18 Sat 29/Sun 30 July Snetterton, Norfolk 19,20,21 Sat 12/Sun 13 August Knockhill, Fife 22,23,24 Sat 26/Sun 27 August Rockingham, Northants 25,26,27 Sat 16/Sun 17 September Silverstone, Northants 28,29,30 Sat 30 Sept/Sun 1 October Brands Hatch (Grand Prix), Kent Image Sources
Pistonheads.com, BTCC.net, Crash.net, Motorsport.net, Motorsport.com @CD__Photography
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