Ollie Jackson signs for AMD Tuning for the 2016 BTCC season

The Audi on display at the autosport show (Photo by Marc Waller)

The Audi on display at the autosport show (Photo by Marc Waller)AmDTuning.com have announced that they have signed Ollie Jackson to drive their Audi S3 in the 2016 BTCC.

It’s a second stint at the team for the 31-year-old, originally from Reigate but now based in Tamworth, as he previously raced with the Essex based team in his first full BTCC season in 2012 when he took three top ten finishes driving the team’s S2000 Spec Volkswagen Golf. He had driven in the final two rounds of 2011 in a Tripe Eight Vauxhall.

He then went onto to a couple of difficult seasons with first Speedworks in a Toyota Avensis and then Welch Motorsport in one of their Protons. He switched to the Ginetta GT4 supercup last season but now returns to the BTCC Ollie then went on to spend a further two seasons in the series with rival teams, before moving into the supporting Ginetta GT4 Supercup last year after a tough season on track in 2014. He now returns to the BTCC, Jackson explains;

“If I’m being honest, I didn’t really think a BTCC return was on the cards this year and I was expecting to return to Ginettas again for a second season, however, I had a chat with Shaun and before you know it, we’d agreed a deal for me to race the Audi this year.”

He goes on to explain that he wants to reestablish his reputation in the championship after his difficult 2014;

“I’m absolutely delighted to be back on the touring car grid, especially with the guys at AmDTuning.com as my best season in the BTCC came with them back in 2012 with the Golf.

“My last season in the championship didn’t go to plan and is one I would rather forget, but I feel I’m coming back into the series in good shape and view this deal as a fresh start and an opportunity to show what I can do.”

The Audi in action at the end of 2015 (Photo by Marc Waller)He’ll be driving the Audi S3, last raced at the end of the season by Jake Hill and before that by Nicholas Hamilton. Jackson outlines his aims for the season;

“There is no doubt that the Audi has a lot of potential, but we also have to be realistic in what is going to be a very strong field. I see no reason why we can’t challenge for points on a regular basis during the season and if we can also break into the top ten as we go along then I think we can be happy.”

Ollie will get his first drive in the car at the annual BTCC launch and Media day event at Donington Park on the 22nd March. The team are also hopeful of getting in some further testing before the start of the season on the first weekend in April

AMD Tuning.com boss Shaun Hollamby has said he is pleased to see Ollie return to the team as the team embarks on it’s first full season of running the Audi.

They also ran a Ford Focus last season for Mike Bushell but this has been sold to Stewart Lines new team with Bushell returning to the Clio Cup with Pyro Motorsport.

AMD Tuning are also running a BMW Z4 GT3 in British GT for Lee Mowle and Joe Osbourne with the possibility of a second BMW. By Marc Waller

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