Motorsport News 11/03/21

Three-time title winner Gordon Shedden will make a return to the British Touring Car Championship grid this season at the wheel of a Team Dynamics Honda Civic Type R. The Scotsman, who lifted the crown in 2012, 2015 and 2016, will return to the squad that has given him all of his title successes. In a busy week for the Droitwich team, it also confirmed that Dan Cammish, who has raced for the crew for the last three seasons, was being axed from the squad for 2021. Although there has been no official confirmation, it seems likely that team boss and driver Matt Neal, a three-time title winner himself, will step down from the cockpit ahead of the fresh campaign. Shedden, 42, left the BTCC to drive in the World TCR competition with…

Just as Motorsport News closed for press last week, the British Touring Car Championship rumour mill went into overdrive. The signs were all pointing to major things happening at Team Dynamics, the multiple title-winning squad owned and operated by racer Matt Neal, himself a three-time champion. And so it has come to pass: Dan Cammish has been axed from the line-up despite having signed a two-year deal at the end of 2019, and three-time champion Gordon Shedden is back. There has been no news on the second seat as yet – that’s certainly true as MN was closing for press, but things could well change – but it seems that Neal’s tenure in the cockpit in the BTCC, which stretches back to 1991, is likely to be at an end. That is…

Team Dynamics boss Matt Neal expects new recruit Gordon Shedden to run at the very front of the British Touring Car Championship field as the three-time title winner rejoins the squad he has taken three titles with. Shedden, 42, claimed the BTCC with Dynamics in 2012, 2015 and 2016 before taking a chance to race forAudi in the FIAWTCR championship for two seasons. He was left without a drive when Audi pulled out at the 2019 campaign but kept up his links with Team Dynamics. When owner and racer Neal was injured in a mountain bike accident in early 2020, Shedden stepped in to conduct the early-season testing in the Honda Civic Type R FK8 alongside Dan Cammish, who has now been released by the team (see separate story). Shedden, who has won…

Snag for Williams Williams Racing was forced to switch plans for the reveal of its FW34B grand prix car last week after hackers derailed its hopes to launch the car using augmented reality. The team changed to an online reveal. The car features a revised livery of blue, white and yellow, which echoes the machines of the 1980s and early 1990s. Team chief Jost Capito said: “We have created a fresh new livery for the 2021 car; one that acknowledges our incredible past and retains the spirit, drive and motivation that remains at the core of Williams’ DNA.” Williams’ driving pair is Nicholas Latifi and George Russell. Aitken and Chadwick Brit Jack Aitken, who took part in the Sakhir Grand Prix as a stand-in for George Russell last year, has retained his place…

Dan Cammish says he will pursue options outside the British Touring Car Championship in the immediate future after parting ways with Team Dynamics at the start of last week. Despite being in the second season of a two-year deal, Cammish was told he was out of a drive. The eight-time race winner, who came within a whisker of sealing the 2019 crown, has spoken exclusively to MN about the news in a column on page 26 of this week’s issue. The two-time Porsche Carrera Cup GB winner said: “My main focus is continuing as a professional racing driver.Also, as I am 32 next birthday, I want to look at what is possible both inside and outside of racing over the next few years. I am confident things will work out and sometimes…

The Speedworks Motorsport British Touring Car Championship team has unveiled a new livery for its expanded two-car attack on this year’s category. The two front-wheel-drive Toyota Gazoo Racing Corollas will be handled by Sam Smelt and Rory Butcher, and will feature support from long-time technical partner Motul for the 30-race campaign. Team boss Christian Dick said: “Motul and [its official UK importer and distributor] Witham have been loyal partners on our journey in the BTCC as we have developed from a midfield contender into a multiple race winner and regular title challenger in recent seasons, and the outstanding performance and efficiency of Motul’s products has been a key factor in that progress.” The sales director of Witham Motorsport, Richard Scarbrough, added: “We are immensely proud to have strengthened our ties with Toyota Gazoo…