Preparations for the 2019 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship got underway in earnest earlier this week, right off the back of the 2018 season finale at Brands Hatch, with the championship’s official tyre supplier, Dunlop, carrying out a bevvy of wet tyre tests.

West Surrey Racing/BMW and Team Dynamics/Honda were the two manufacturer outfits requested to attend the event at Rockingham Motor Speedway by Dunlop, who had bowsers on-site to artificially soak the track surface as it sought to evaluate 2019’s Dunlop BluResponse wet tyres well in advance of the forthcoming campaign.

Colin Turkington was on hand, fresh from his 2018 Drivers’ title triumph, driving the Team BMW 125i M Sport, while Andrew Jordan doubled up the BMW contingent in the BMW Pirtek Racing-liveried 1 Series. Halfords Yuasa Racing regulars Matt Neal and Dan Cammish piloted their current generation FK8 Honda Civic Type Rs to double up the data gathered.

Mickey Butler, Manager, UK and One Brand Motorsport Events, was pleased with proceedings, and more will follow on Dunlop’s off-season programme in due course.

After the Brands Hatch finale, Butler spoke on a positive 2018 campaign for the tyre manufacturer and the championship at large.

“It’s been a fantastic end to a superb season. Brands Hatch GP is one of those circuits that is kind on tyres and I knew the Option tyre would be the better one which it proved to be, it does give you the edge and the drivers love it,” said Butler.

“I think looking at every race this season, whether it’s been the Hard or Soft-Option tyres, it really mixed the races up. It makes drivers and teams think about the different strategies they’ve got to bring in to it. Overall I’m very pleased, but wait for the surprises to come in 2019!”