Works MG BTCC team Triple Eight racing have signed 2012 Clio cup champion and BTCC podium finisher, Jack Goff to drive their second MG6 for the 2015 season.
The deal is currently just for one year.
Since winning the Clio cup in 2012, Goff graduated to the BTCC with Team hard which then last year became BMR. Racing firstly with the Insignia and then for the second half of last year the VW CC, Goff has had flashes of success, including his only podium so far at the 2013 finale, but he’s also had a lot of bad luck. He clearly sees this as a massive step forward and a chance to race regularly at the front of the field;
“It’s a thrill to start the season in the quickest front-wheel drive car on the grid, obviously as a kid growing up, driving for a works team is the pinnacle. I’m chuffed that we’re working with Triple Eight and MG, over the course of the past three years they’ve shown that the MG is a race winner and a championship contender.”
Goff continues;
“This is an important step in my career and I have come here expecting to win races. I know what it takes to do that, I’ve shown my ability in the Clio Cup, and now I have a BTCC car and team that will give me a platform to challenge from. There’s a really good buzz at Triple Eight; you walk around the factory and there are so many trophies and references to winning in the BTCC. Add that to having a former BTCC champion in Andrew (Jordan) in the team, it really gives me a lot of confidence for the year ahead.”
At Autosport he had said sponsor issues were stopping him from signing a BTCC deal for 2015, but he now seems to have plenty of support;
“This is an unforgettable moment that I owe to all of those who have supported me – my family, my friends, and of course my partners 5 Star Cases, AC Entertainment Technologies, The HSL Group & RCIB Insurance, who without their help, I wouldn’t be on the grid this year.”
Triple eight racing boss Ian Harrison is expecting great things from Goff and the team in 2015;
“Jack is a young guy on a journey to become a top BTCC driver. It’s great that he is with us; he fits with what we’re trying to do. We spoke to several drivers over the off-season, but when we found out Jack was available it was clear he was the best option for us. Everybody remembers the 2013 last round at Brands with (Gordon) Shedden and we need him to try to replicate that, albeit on a regular basis.
“We’ll aim to get him working in a methodical way, aid his development as a driver and give him a car that will allow him to show what he can really do behind the wheel in a BTCC car. We need Jack to be running in the top eight all the time and becoming a regular front-runner as the season progresses to enable us to defend the manufacturers title for MG.”
Harrison explains the reasoning behind signing Goff;
“We said early on that what we want is someone who fits the demographic for MG; Jack ticks the box for MG, but also for us. We want to continue to win races, take podiums and lock out front-rows in qualifying, so for us Jack is the perfect compliment to Andy. It’s a nice story for MG too; he started his racing in one of its cars, and now things have gone full circle and he is in a works MG BTCC car.”
Goff started his car racing career in the MG trophy and he explains how he has always been a big fan of the brand;
“I started my track driving with MGs in the MG Trophy Championship in the ZR and having had lots of MGs in my lifetime, I have a real soft spot for them. I spent a lot of hours working on my MG racecars in the garage! The MG brand is huge and it has one of the most devoted and passionate sets of supporters of any car manufacturer. To hopefully have the weight of that support is going to be a real bonus this season.”
MG head of marketing, Mathew Cheyne is also full of praise for Goff;
“Jack is a likeable young racer who has yet to realise his full potential. We’ve seen Triple Eight aid the development of drivers of all ages, and look forward to Jack achieving new levels of track success with MG, the brand he began his career with.”
Goff now joins Triple eight’s testing program for four weeks before his car is launched in it’s new colours at the BTCC launch and media day at Donington Park.
Goff is clearly looking forward to the season ahead as well as getting a full testing program in;
“This year we’ve got four days of testing planned before the first race, and it will actually be the first time I’ve properly run at the media day; we’ve never really got on track at it before. I just can’t wait for my first run in the MG6; I got a taste of what to expect when I had my seat fitting recently and I’ve spoken to Andy (Jordan) too. Bring on 2015!” By Marc Waller
