The Maximum Networks Volkswagen Racing Cup and Goodyear Touring Car Trophy incorporating TCR UK will embark on an exciting new era Sunday (25th April), when the 2021 season kicks off with rounds one and two at Silverstone.
A number of significant changes following the end of the 2020 season saw the championship switch its organising arm to Club Time Attack, in a move that brought with it a range of benefits for competitors including higher profile meetings, increased publicity and extended track time. Consequently, this year’s Goodyear Touring Car Trophy sees more entries than ever, backed up – as it was in 2020 – by the Volkswagen Racing Cup, which enters its 21st consecutive season.
“The atmosphere surrounding our campaigns feels very different this year”, explains Championship Manager Stewart Lines. “It’s great to see so many of our 2020 competitors return and to be welcoming new drivers onto the grid. We see this weekend as the start of a landmark season in our aim to position the Goodyear Touring Car Trophy where it deserves to be, in-line with other TCR campaigns all over the world.”
“We are also pleased to welcome our VW Racing Cup competitors, who will be sharing the grid for the second season running. Their presence adds to the spectacle and brings another dimension to the competition.”
Goodyear Touring Car Trophy / TCR UK
Making his return to the Goodyear Touring Car Trophy grid is 2020 TCR UK Champion Lewis Kent, who will again be driving one of the two Hyundai i30 TCRs ran by family operation Essex & Kent Motorsport. This Lewis is joined by his younger brother Bradley who, after finishing an impressive second overall and top rookie in last year’s VW Cup, steps up to drive the team’s second Hyundai this season.
Also running a pair of Hyundai i30 TCRs will be Maximum Motorsport, in conjunction with Motus One. Supported by Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing and running in official factory colours, the cars will be driven by last year’s final round winner and one to watch, 19 year-old Max Hart.
The Irish teenager will be joined by Will Powell, owner of Motus One, who’s team will also run a Cupra TCR driven by Championship newcomer Danny Krywyj. Maximum Motorsport is set to run an additional car too, with Tim Docker in the Volkswagen Golf TCR re-establishing the partnership that led them to the teams’ title last season.
Another two-car entry comes from BTCC regulars, Team HARD who will field two NGTC A Class Mercedes led by Touring Car Trophy returnee Darron Lewis together with Toby Bearne, who previously raced for the team in endurance events.
Completing the list of multi-car entries is another familiar BTCC name, PowerMaxed Car Care Racing, who will run a trio of Cupra TCRs. Whereas William Butler will embark on his first full season of circuit racing with the team, Dan Kirby will return to the grid looking to replicate the performances of previous outings.
The PowerMaxed challenge will be strengthened by former-Ginetta GT4 Supercup Am Champion Jac Constable. Now a BTCC-development driver for the team, the 23-year-old will be looking to shine during his first season in a front-wheel-drive saloon car.
The 2021 Goodyear Touring Car Trophy also welcomes multiple Milltek Sport Civic Cup victors Area Motorsport to the paddock. With 2020 Time Attack Pro Extreme Class and Civic Cup Champion Bruce Winfield driving their Cupra TCR, this winning combination is expected to deliver impressive performances over the course of the season.
DW Racing will again feature on the grid with their Vauxhall Astra TCR. However, instead of former Championship podium finisher and polesitter Darrelle Wilson behind the wheel, the car will be driven on this occasion by 2020 VW Racing Cup Champion Andy Wilmot.
Another welcome addition and a driver to watch will be Hugo Cook. Definitely the youngest driver on the grid at just 16 years old, Hugo will drive the Simpson Motorsport Audi RS3 TCR and in doing so bring the number of manufacturers represented in the Championship to seven.
Maximum Networks Volkswagen Racing Cup
This year sees a mixture of fresh and familiar faces return. First to sign up was 2019 Fiesta Junior Champion Olly Turner. Already regarded as a contender for the 2021 title, the 18-year-old is hoping to join the ranks of young talent boosted by the VW Racing Cup.
Driving for the experienced JM Racing team, Olly will be expecting tough competition from series regulars such as Jack Depper, who heads into Silverstone as one of the pre-season favourites driving his Maximum Motorsport run VW Scirocco. Winning three races back-to-back at the end of 2020, Jack has the momentum behind him, as will teammate Jeff Alden in his Matrix-backed Golf, who was another to show impressive form in 2020.
In keep with their Touring Car Trophy campaign, PowerMaxed Racing will run multiple entries, as Russell Joyce returns in his revitalised VW Golf Mk7 for his sixth VW Racing Cup season. In contract, he is joined at PMR by Chris Wallis, who steps across from the Focus Cup for his first season in a Volkswagen.
About the event
With teams based in the Grand Prix paddock and Wing pit complex, the new-look Maximum Networks Volkswagen Racing Cup and Goodyear Touring Car Trophy and TCR UK season is set for a spectacular start.
The action gets underway with 15 minutes of qualifying at 09.30, before the first of the two 25-minute races at 13.20 and the second at 15.30. Both will be live streamed on Facebook:
@GoodyearTouringCarTrophy
@volkswagenracingcup
Sunday’s meeting is administered by the BARC and utilises Silverstone’s 1.851-mile International circuit configuration.
For further championship details visit:
