MG Triple Eight Racing have announced an all new driver line up to challenge in the 2017 BTCC.
Aron Taylor-Smith will be joined by Daniel Lloyd in two MG6 racers under the banner of MG RCIB Insurance racing once again.
Taylor-Smith is almost a BTCC veteran already at 27 having competed in over 150 races. He took a win last season racing for Team BKR, who had their debut season in the championship. With BKR not entering again, Taylor-Smith had to find another drive and this has landed him at Triple Eight;
“It’s a real shame in one way to leave BKR who did such an amazing job last year in their first season, but now I am fully focussed on the 2017 season and excited to ensure I deliver the results that MG not only deserve but are capable of,” said Smith. “I am pleased that many of my key team members who made 2016 so enjoyable are coming with me to MG / Triple Eight allowing us all to enjoy further success.”
Lloyd joins Taylor-Smith having done a part season in 2016 at Eurotech Racing. He showed his natural speed in the team’s Honda Civic taking two front row starts. The races didn’t always go so well but in the three race meetings he entered, Lloyd had made a big impression;
“I’m really excited,” commented Lloyd. “The majority of my racing has been rear-wheel drive so really looking forward to continuing to learn in the front-wheel drive car. I loved the BTCC last year during the three rounds I competed in; I was very keen to make a full return and am delighted to have got the opportunity with MG RCIB Insurance Racing.”
Lloyd has come full circle joining Triple Eight in 2017 as he explains;
“I made my BTCC debut as a one off with Triple Eight way back in 2010 when I was obviously very young at Croft; it will be great to be back within the team. I also get on really well with Aron; obviously Aron is very quick so I think we can bounce off each other.”
Triple Eight boss Ian Harrison is very pleased to have once again secured a young and fast driver line up to try and take the MG supported team to victories in 2017;
“I’m happy that these guys will deliver some solid results for the team,” he said. “Aron is a proven race winner, and we know Daniel has the speed. With more BTCC race experience under his belt, he will be running at the front. The championship looks wide open this year with plenty of other changes in the line-up, and we expect to be right in the mix.”
MG’s head of Sales and Marketing is also happy with his new line up;
“First and foremost I am delighted to welcome Aron and Daniel both to the MG RCIB Insurance Racing team and into the wider MG family. As all of our previous drivers have experienced, wearing the octagon on the front of your overalls gives you immediate support from a whole new fan base and we in turn look forward to welcoming those who have historically supported Aron and Daniel into the fold.”
He continues;
“The BTCC is obviously a hugely important part of MG UK’s marketing mix not just in terms of the huge television and trackside audiences but through the additional activations that we bring into our dealer network and events work. Triple Eight are really excited by the pace and potential that these two have on the race track but fully understand the importance of the work the drivers do with the brand off it. With everyone so positive and upbeat about the season ahead, we just can’t wait to get going and look forward to the formal unveilings on Media Day at Donington Park on March 16th.”
He also paid tribute to his 2016 driver line up;
“I should finish by adding a note of thanks to the outgoing driver pairing of Josh Cook and Ashley Sutton. These guys really understood what it meant to represent MG on and off the track and are a real benchmark for Aron and Daniel on what we can deliver through the BTCC programme. We wish them all the best in their future efforts – except in the 2017 BTCC of course!”
Sutton is rumoured to have a drive elsewhere in the championship but sadly it looks like Josh Cook may be out of the BTCC altogether in 2017 with Cook admitting that he’s got no idea what he’ll be doing in Motorsport in 2017. He may find himself heading for British GT.
Just BMR Subaru and WSR are still to confirm their full line ups for 2017 although Stewart Lines participation is still in doubt at Maximum Motorsport as he recovers from a mountain bike crash. By Marc Waller
