Trade Price Cars will enter the British Touring Car Championship in 2018 after purchasing two TOCA BTCC Licences [TBLs] and Audi S3 cars from the AmD team, which will continue to run the cars under a two-year deal.

Trade Price Cars has previously been involved in the BTCC as a sponsor with the Tema HARD outfit, but will now step up to enter its own team with the new deal.

Drivers will be announced in the coming months, during which time the cars will go through a rebuild process.

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“We dipped our toe in the water in 2018 as a sponsor, but we feel the time is right to take our involvement in the BTCC to the next level,” said Managing Director Dan Kirby.

“The deal with AmD is one that is extremely attractive and gives us greater control over the programme to really maximise our investment.

“It also provides us with more flexibility to boost our corporate identity, and to promote the Trade Price Cars name to a hugely captive audience.

“In terms of the car, the Audi is a package that works for us from a business perspective and the AmD team have done a great job in developing it in recent seasons.

“I’m confident that we can all work together to unlock more of the potential that is in the Audi during 2019, and are in discussions with drivers who can help move the cars forwards up the grid next year.”

AmD Tuning developed the Audi S3 for the 2015 season and has been responsible for running the car ever since, with a first podium picked up for the chassis at Brands Hatch in the 2018 season opener.

AmD Team Principal Shaun Hollamby is pleased to be able to work with a local business on the new venture.

“This new partnership with Trade Price Cars is a very exciting one for us at AmD,” said Hollamby. “To have the opportunity to work alongside another successful local business is a one that makes perfect sense for us.

“I feel that it gives us a fantastic opportunity to build on the progress we have made with the Audis in recent years to move forwards up the grid.

“We are looking forward to working with Dan and Trade Price Cars for the next two years and making a success of our new partnership both on and off track.”

Hollamby will share the Team Principal duties for the new team with former BTCC racer Andy Wilmot, who moves across from Matrix Motorsport.

“I’m delighted to have been given the opportunity to form the team from the beginning,” added Wilmot. “Working for Trade Price Cars during the week as a buyer, I understand the brand and corporate goals that the business is trying to achieve.

“We can now adopt that identity and let it breed into the race team. It’s a very exciting prospect.”