The BTCC season starts this weekend as Adam and the Ciceley Motorsport Team head to Donington Park. The team have been incredibly busy over the last few weeks preparing for the new season, which sees a big change this year.
Adam Morgan will once again be racing in the BMW 3 Series, and this season is joined by newcomer George Gamble who joined the team back in February. Gamble has previously enjoyed success in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, winning the Rookie crown in 2018 and finishing third in the Pro Class the following year.
“I am delighted to be joining Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport this season,” said Gamble. “Having raced on the support race package for a long time now I have always aspired to be in the main race, but equally felt it was important to be with the right team and in the right car.”
“George’s experience and winning pedigree is clear to see, and I am sure once he has acclimatised to the championship he will be running at the sharp end,” concluded Russell Morgan. “Remaining with Car Gods as title sponsor is also excellent for continuity within the team as we approach the challenges faced by the changes involved with the switch to Hybrid Technology, which will certainly add an interesting element to the racing.”
The Official BTCC website caught up with Ciceley Motorsport’s Adam Morgan and George Gamble ahead of last week’s Season Launch test day, to discuss their expectations for the upcoming Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.
A decade since joining the BTCC grid, Morgan is feeling confident about the campaign ahead, admitting he is ready to ‘hit the ground running from round one’ in his BMW 330e M Sport.
Gamble meanwhile, is set to make his series debut this year, with the 25-year-old professing, “I’m absolutely thrilled, I’ve been watching [the BTCC] for years. It’s always been the pinnacle of British motorsport and to be a part of it, especially with such a fantastic team… I’m thrilled to be here!”
Donington Park will once again host the BTCC season-opener. The sweeping corners and fastback section always produce great racing, as the Leicestershire venue continues to build on its long and illustrious history. With picturesque views and huge spectator areas, Donington is undoubtedly one of the fans’ favourite places to watch the BTCC. Within striking distance from Birmingham, Derby, Leicester, Nottingham and beyond via easy access to the M1, Donington reaches a huge fan base in the heart of England.
First visited by the BTCC back in 1977, Donington has been the scene of a host of memorable touring car moments with Adam Morgan previously securing 3 podiums at Donington.
Last week the season was launched at Thruxton (12/13 April), where guests were entertained and informed about the new hybrid era that is now upon us. The update makes the BTCC the only Touring Car Championship in the world to use this technology. Whilst accommodating the hybrid kit, the Ciceley Motorsports Team along with West Surrey Racing (BMW Factory Team) embarked on a development program to optimise the front aerodynamics of the car whilst having to accommodate the new hybrid cooling, which has effectively meant a completely new front bumper.
The new hybrid era for BTCC is the biggest change to the series in decades. To help people understand the changes a guide has been created outlining the basic details of the system and its deployment during a race weekend – click here to download it. For those wanting a more technical breakdown, the below video produced by BTCC’s Technical Partners at Cosworth gives an in-depth look at the BTCC hybrid system.
