The Motoring World: team BMR

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Monday, 23 January 2017

Team BMR can today confirm that the team has parted company with Colin Turkington

Team BMR can today confirm that the team has parted company with Colin Turkington after mutually agreeing to end the contract.

Colin has had two successful seasons with Team BMR in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship and in 2015, his maiden year with the team, he played a huge part in putting BMR on the map with his massive contribution in assisting us in claiming our first ever Team's Championship title along with his fifth Independents Championship crown.

2016 saw BMR bringing Subaru to the championship as a new manufacturer outfit and Colin’s commitment along with his input to the team was a huge asset in aiding us to develop our newly built Subaru Levorg’s. Colin also made history by bringing the first Subaru BTCC Pole Position backed up by a maiden win for the Subaru Levorg. His success continued throughout the season claiming further pole positions, race wins and podiums establishing himself in the final three for the overall championship title at Brands Hatch back in October. He ended the season 4^th overall in a battle that nearly saw the Ulsterman claiming his third BTCC title.

Speaking of Colin’s time at Team BMR owner/driver Warren Scott commented; “Colin has been an absolute pleasure to work with over the past two seasons and has brought a tremendous amount of knowledge to the team which has aided BMR in it’s growth and development as a front running BTCC team.

"I wish Colin good luck for the forth coming season and would like to thank him for all his efforts and great achievements that he has brought to BMR.”

Speaking of his time with us here at BMR Colin Turkington stated; “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Team BMR and will savour the success we shared together over the past two seasons; however, the time has come to part company and apply the focus to each of our own individual goals and needs.

I sincerely value the journey we have shared together securing the Teams Championship in 2015, winning my fifth Indy title and of course the thrilling year we have just had with the Subaru Levorg. I have been fortunate to work with some of the best in the business at BMR and it has been a valuable experience and certainly helped me grow and improve.

The BTCC is surely one of the toughest Championships in the world to win and to finish last season with a realistic shot at winning the title in a new car was a tremendous achievement.

I wish Team BMR every success going forward and I hope they are just as proud of our two seasons together as I am.”

All of us at BMR Racing would like to thank Colin for his tremendous input to the team and we wish him continued success in his future career.

Team BMR will announce their confirmed 2017 plans in the coming weeks and we look forward to seeing everyone at Autosport International over the next few days.

Tuesday, 9 August 2016

The New Subaru Levorg is available with three years/30,000 miles of free servicing to boost it's popularity.

Subaru are pleased to announce that the Levorg sport tourer will be available with three years or 30,000 miles free servicing until the 30^th September.

A spiritual successor to Subaru Sports Tourers of the past, the Levorg is making waves and winning races with Team BMR in the British Touring Car Championship.

The Levorg is available as one model; 1.6 GT Lineartronic priced at £27,495. The Levorg is equipped with a 1.6 litre DIT (Direct Injection Turbo) Boxer engine, which is celebrating its 50^th Anniversary in 2016, and produces 170PS and 250Nm of torque. The engine is paired to a Lineartronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission).

Levorg is also fitted with Subaru’s symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system; the only estate car with All-Wheel Drive as a standard feature at under £30,000. Subaru Rear Vehicle Detection’ system (SRVD) also comes as standard which alerts drivers to vehicles which are crossing behind. A comprehensive safety package, SRVD combines three technologies: Blind Spot Detection, which alerts drivers to cars sitting in their blind spot; Lane Change Assist, which warns drivers of fast-approaching vehicles behind when the driver indicates to change lane; and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, which detects vehicles passing behind when reversing out of a parking space.

Other standard features include Subaru Starlink; a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment, connectivity and navigation system, Subaru Intelligent Drive (SI Drive) which allows the driver to choose between Intelligent mode and Sport mode to suit their mood or surroundings. Leather seats and trim, metallic paint, privacy glass and a rear parking camera also feature.

Tuesday, 19 January 2016

Subaru and TEAM BMR announce that the All New Levorg Tourer will take part for three years in the BTCC.

Team BMR will carry the Subaru badge as it enters as a constructor team for the 2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. Team BMR will join the fight for the Constructor’s title this year, while bringing in Subaru as a new manufacturer to go head to head with Honda, MG and BMW.

Speaking of the new partnership, Team Principle Warren Scott enthused “I am extremely delighted that BMR are to become a manufacturer team in only our 4^th year of competing in the BTCC, I have had aspirations of becoming a race winning team with factory support from the very beginning and I am immensely proud of the team for giving Subaru the confidence in partnering BMR.”

Team BMR will be switching to the new Subaru Levorg Sports Tourer for the 2016 BTCC season and will be developing the car and engine, supported by the global resources of Subaru and Subaru UK.

Paul Tunnicliffe, Managing Director for Subaru UK & Ireland said “We’re very excited to have teamed up with BMR for the 2016 championship, the first time a Subaru has competed in BTCC.

We were keen to enter our new Levorg Sport Tourer as it offers class leading aerodynamics and handling prowess in standard form. It can be easily developed into rear-wheel drive to comply with the BTCC regulations so we can’t wait to see how it goes against very established competition.”

For Subaru it will be their first step into The British Touring Car Championship with current plans to team with BMR for a three year term. BMR will be entering a 4 driver line-up, including BTCC favourites Jason Plato and Colin Turkington.

Jason Plato said “Part of my role when joining BMR was to help secure a manufacturer deal. The iconic Subaru brand has always been right at the top of my wish list, obviously it goes without saying that I am very excited about our future together and I'm confident that BMR will produce a fantastic package for me to fight for the Championship. This really is exciting times for us all... I can't wait for the season to begin.”

Colin Turkington said “Continuing with Team BMR for the 2016 season was an easy decision for me and represents a great opportunity to build on our strong maiden campaign. I can't wait to get started with the development of the new Subaru Levorg BTCC race car and I'm more motivated than ever to win. This announcement is huge news for the Championship and equally for me.”

Alan Gow, BTCC Series Director commented “We are delighted to welcome another manufacturer to the BTCC and particularly one with such an incredible motor sport heritage. Subaru is an iconic brand with a huge following and its introduction to the BTCC is certain to excite our many fans around the world. I am sure the collaboration with Team BMR and its hugely experienced and talented driver line-up will make for a very successful partnership.”

With the start of the season just two months away the team are working flat out to get the cars built and ready in time for testing to commence in the next few weeks. The official reveal will be during the official BTCC Media Day at Donington Park on Tuesday 22^nd March, ahead of its race debut at Brands Hatch for the first round of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship on the 2^nd and 3^rd April.

Carl Faux, Chief Designer said “It’s an honour to be leading not only the BMR Racing’s first car build but to be able to do this with Subaru’s new Levorg model is a real privilege. Engineering challenges is what the project presents. A new car, new engine and all the new generation TOCA components requires a methodical approach. Establishing a 3 year programme means we can focus on getting the basics right early before developing the package further over the following years.”

The road going Levorg GT uses the renowned Subaru Symmetrical All-wheel drive system and is powered by an all new 1.6T direct injection engine. Prices start at £27,495 on the road.

Wednesday, 12 August 2015

Turkington takes two and Goff takes one win at this weekends BTCC event at Snetterton.

Team BMR star bags huge points haul while Goff grabs maiden win

Reigning champion Colin Turkington fully ignited his Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship defence with a dynamic double win at Snetterton yesterday (9 August).

He became the first driver to take a second pole position of the season after getting the better of his Team BMR stable-mates Aron Smith and Jason Plato on Saturday, as the squad produced the first qualifying 1-2-3 in the BTCC for eight years.

The team backed up its pace in Sunday’s opener with a podium lockout as Turkington led home the same pairing.

Turkington made a steady getaway but immediately had to fend off a passing attempt by the sister VW of Smith, as Plato looked on closely from behind.

The trio settled down over the opening few laps with Smith and the ballast-laden Plato seemingly unable to keep pace with Turkington. While the gap remained fairly slim throughout the contest the Ulsterman would continue unopposed thereafter to take the chequered flag.

MG’s Andrew Jordan, West Surrey Racing’s Andy Priaulx and Honda’s Matt Neal completed the top six while then-championship leader Gordon Shedden endured a challenging encounter down in 14^th.

Things would turn from bad to worse for the Scotsman as he further relinquished his standings advantage with two non-finishes in the following races.

Turkington also won the second bout as he kept away from the drama down the order to secure his third triumph of the 2015 campaign.

The 33-year-old hauled his VW CC off the line and led commandingly into Riches for the first time. Adam Morgan’s Mercedes got the jump by the slow-starting BMW of Sam Tordoff, and Priaulx also nipped by his WSR team-mate before the end of the first tour.

Having been hit out of race one Rob Collard’s disastrous day continued as he was fired off into the barrier in race two, and there were several other incidents that saw the likes of Shedden, Aron Smith and Matt Neal all forced into retirement.

The other main title contenders made the most of the opportunity as Turkington led home Morgan and Priaulx, with new championship leader Plato taking fourth.

MG Triple Eight Racing’s impressive young talent Jack Goff won the final reverse-grid race after producing a dominant performance.

Goff made a great getaway from pole position and immediately set about extending a gap to the chasing pack. Running the Dunlop SportMaxx soft tyre, Goff was able to string a series of strong laps together until mid-distance. Although the performance in his rubber naturally tailed off towards the finish he was able to fend off Plato’s challenge and take the win.

Plato's VW initially had a win-lose battle with Tordoff and Priaulx’s pair of WSR BMWs, as the Team BMR star passed the former off the line before being taken by the latter on the first tour.

Fifth place was held by Morgan’s WIX Racing Mercedes in the opening moments but double race-winner Turkington was soon ahead on lap two. Almost simultaneously Plato made arguably the move of the day ahead as he went late on the brakes into Brundle. Priaulx had no answer and Plato was through into second.

Morgan ran wide and onto the grass at Riches as Turkington too fell into the clutches of the chasing Jordan and Mat Jackson. Carrying maximum success ballast due to his earlier victory, Turkington’s VW first had to yield position to Jordan’s Triple Eight MG before Jackson’s Motorbase Ford sneaked through shortly after.

The top seven was then set until the finish, with the race undoubtedly being remembered for Goff’s first ever victory in the BTCC.

As the sun set over Snetterton it is Jason Plato now leading the standings by 16 points from team-mate Colin Turkington. Honda’s Gordon Shedden has slipped to third after his difficult weekend in Norfolk, whilst West Surrey Racing’s Sam Tordoff remains fourth.

Honda heads the manufacturer table but MG has reduced the deficit to just five points. WSR remain in contention in third.

Team BMR top the teams’ and independent teams’ order while Turkington holds the advantage in the independent drivers’ classification.

The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship now moves on to Knockhill in two weeks' time (22/23 August) for Rounds 19, 20 and 21.

Colin Turkington said: “It’s been a super weekend – two wins and a solid points finish in race three have really brought me into the hunt. I needed a performance like that as I was beginning to feel a little left out!

There's been a lot of rivalry between me and Jason [Plato] since day one, and he’s had a little bit of an advantage until now, but I’ve pretty much cracked it. There are a lot of strong drivers in this series, so competition comes from all angles. Snetterton plays to our strengths, but Knockhill might be a bit more of a workout. We’ll keep pushing though and the results will come.”

Jack Goff said: “I made my best start of the year, and what a time to do it! That’s the strongest the car has felt all season, and it was a great race. I could see Jason [Plato] in my mirrors and was thinking ‘of all the people to have behind me, it would be him!’

It’s finally happened though – I had a little wobble on the last lap where I just switched off for a split second but I managed to hold it together. It’s so good to get the first win for the team this year. Andy [Jordan] and I have both been working really hard, and I’m happy to finally make it to the top step. Hopefully the results will come like London busses now!”

Jason Plato said: “It’s been a great weekend – we were ten points behind coming into the weekend and now we’re leaving 16 ahead. An engineer would say that’s a delta of 26 – which means it’s been a very good weekend! I can’t remember a time when a team has scored a 1-2-3 in qualifying and then backed it up with a 1-2-3 in the race too.

It’s nice to be at the top of the standings, I think we can be stronger than people might think at Knockhill. It’s definitely a BMW circuit, which is good because it will take points off some of our championship rivals. We’ll definitely be in the mix.”

Andy Priaulx said: “It’s been a brilliant weekend – to score two podiums at a track that we know isn’t one of our best is really positive. Let’s keep this momentum going now and start focusing on that championship. If we can put together three races like that when the car isn’t best suited to the track then we should be right up there at Knockhill where it’s been quick in the past. WSR has done a great job for us to be this strong – the racing at the front this weekend has been really hard and fair, it’s been great fun.”

Gordon Shedden said: “I don’t really know what to say. I don’t think I’ve ever had a weekend where I’ve had so much bad luck. It is what it is, we’ve got to move on and make the best of the next one now. These kind of weekends happen every now and then, but the team has worked so hard and while luck wasn’t on our side the car was still great. We’re going to put this one behind us and come out fighting at Knockhill.”

Matt Neal said: “The weekend hasn’t exactly gone according to plan. It was a bit of a rough weekend for both of us – for racing and results. At stages like this you have to look forward and as I said to ‘Flash’, in this game we’ve got to be able to roll with the punches – you’ve got to have tough races and tough weekends to appreciate the good ones.

Unfortunately this has been a bit of a rough weekend for us but the positives are: we will be a bit lighter going into the next round, we’ve got a great car under us with some great speed and a great team behind us. I’m taking those positives, my glass is half full. It was a bad day at the office but we’ll bounce back.”

2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Snetterton

Race 1

Colin TURKINGTON (Team BMR): 12 Laps
Aron SMITH (Team BMR): +1.706s
Jason PLATO (Team BMR): +2.651s
Andrew JORDAN (MG Triple Eight Racing): +3.442s
Andy PRIAULX (Team IHG Rewards Club): +3.732s
Matt NEAL (Honda Yuasa Racing): +8.340s

Race 2

Colin TURKINGTON (Team BMR): 12 Laps
Adam MORGAN (WIX Racing): +3.140s
Andy PRIAULX (Team IHG Rewards Club): +3.320s
Jason PLATO (Team BMR): +3.502s
Sam TORDOFF (Team JCT600 with GardX): +3.757s
Jack GOFF (MG Triple Eight Racing): +5.280s

Race 3

Jack GOFF (MG Triple Eight Racing): 12 Laps
Jason PLATO (Team BMR): +0.315s
Andy PRIAULX (Team IHG Rewards Club): +2.064s
Sam TORDOFF (Team JCT600 with GardX): +2.476s
Andrew JORDAN (MG Triple Eight Racing): +7.224s
Mat JACKSON (Motorbase Performance): +10.200s

Tuesday, 9 June 2015

Plato Storms to the top of the rankings with a double win at Oulton park in the amazing Volkswagen CC.

Team BMR star takes championship lead while Sam Tordoff wins finale in Cheshire

Team BMR’s Jason Plato took two wins before Sam Tordoff claimed victory in the finale as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship entertained a huge crowd at Oulton Park yesterday (7 June).

The picturesque Cheshire circuit was basked in glorious sunshine throughout race day as Plato picked up from where he had left off in qualifying on Saturday.

Starting from pole position the VW CC driver ripped off the line in race one and rarely looked back despite Matt Neal’s best efforts in the Honda Civic Type R.

It was actually Team IHG Rewards Club’s Andy Priaulx who made the best getaway and looked like he could wrestle the lead away from Plato as the gaggle of cars roared down to Old Hall for the first time. The Guernseyman seemed solely focussed on Plato ahead, however, leaving the door open for Neal’s Honda Yuasa Racing machine to sneak back past the #111 car on the run down to Cascades.

With the rear-wheel drive BMW 125i M Sport slow to generate heat into its tyres it would take Priaulx almost three laps to find the ultimate pace. From that point he pressured Neal, but the triple BTCC champion kept his cool to defend the place perfectly around the 2.2-mile Island Circuit.

After his commanding race one win Plato produced a similar performance in the second contest, this time with the race-long attention coming from the other Honda of Gordon Shedden.

The Type R touched the VW CC on a couple of occasions while tussling for top spot, most notably at the Island Hairpin, but Shedden couldn't quite make a move stick. The Scotsman made one last attempt on the final corner of the final lap, but would eventually fall short by just 0.093s.

Plato’s victory marked the first time this season that a driver has taken top honours with maximum success ballast on board and was also the 199^th podium of his incredible BTCC career.

Jordan’s MG6 continues to rack up the points at an incredibly consistent rate and race two proved no exception. The 2013 BTCC champion kept Plato and Shedden honest throughout to claim another podium for the manufacturer squad, whilst Neal’s Honda followed in the order after seeing off challenges from three BMWs.

West Surrey Racing looked to be staring at three successful results, with the reverse grid race to follow, but the team’s hopes unravelled on the final lap. Rob Collard had initially blasted from eighth on the grid into fourth before the multiple race-winner hounded Neal’s Civic for much of the contest.

His challenge faded late on, however, allowing team-mate Priaulx to drag himself into contention. The triple World Touring Car Champion made an ambitious attempt at the hairpin on the final lap but contact with the rear of Collard’s sister car led to disaster. Broken rear suspension forced out Collard on the spot while Priaulx could only limp home in 15th.

Their pain became Sam Tordoff’s gain as he got the better of both Adam Morgan and Aron Smith to take fifth. It was a great battle from the three young chargers, which included two impressive moves from the JCT600 with GardX-backed car. With little room to manoeuvre he first slipped by Morgan’s Mercedes on the run down to Cascades on lap eight, but the best was to come three tours later when he out-braked the VW CC of Smith at Lodge.

Morgan also eyed his own opportunity as he immediately followed Tordoff through, relegating Smith to seventh in the process.

It was an expensive move for Smith as the post-race reverse grid draw provided Morgan with pole for the final race. The Lancastrian won race three at Thruxton last time out and was nicely positioned to repeat the trick in front of his home crowd.

Unfortunately there was heartache for the WIX Racing driver this time around, when he was adjudged to have jump started and he was forced to take a drive through penalty.

Neal inherited the race three lead after he had passed Tordoff on the exit of turn one but the Yorkshireman would fight back later in the bout.

Tordoff reeled Neal in and tucked his car down the inside of the Honda at Lodge before making the move stick at Old Hall on lap nine.

One tour later and it was MG Triple Eight’s Jordan who produced a similar move on Neal, although this time the pair touched on a number of occasions before the Honda man eventually succumbed. Neal regained his composure to complete the podium ahead of team-mate Shedden, who had himself fallen into the clutches of Plato.

Colin Turkington collected solid points in sixth in what had been a largely low-key day for the reigning champion. He showed his class in race three with a stellar pass at Lodge, which dropped his Team BMR stablemate Aron Smith down to seventh.

The action at Oulton leaves the championship race tantalisingly poised with Plato leading Shedden by just three points. Neal is a further five points in arrears with Jordan only 13 points off the championship summit. Reigning supremo Turkington dropped to fifth in the standings and will be looking to bounce back at Croft next time out.

Honda Yuasa Racing extended its advantage in the Manufacturer's’ order while Team BMR kept its lead in the Teams’ standings. Plato and Team BMR currently hold the Independents’ honours whilst Power Maxed Racing’s Josh Cook tops the Jack Sears Trophy.

Rounds 13, 14 and 15 of the 2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship will take place at Croft in Yorkshire in three weeks time (27/28 June).

Jason Plato said: “I love this place. We had real confidence after our test here, we've got the car just where we want it and when you're in the groove with both the car and the circuit it makes the job a whole lot easier.

The gamble this weekend for us was to save the tyre until race three and make the absolute most of the first two. We know we’re quick here, and our plan was totally vindicated, it’s been a fantastic day for us. That said I was pleased with the performance on the soft tyre in the third race too. Pole position and two wins – a good weekend by anyone’s standards!”

Sam Tordoff said: “That means a lot – it’s been a difficult year for me up to now, I expected to be up at the front and challenging sooner than this. I set myself high standards and I want to be challenging to win this championship. This weekend has been a real step change though, and the results really reflect that.

We needed an uplift in the team and that one is for them.

Matt [Neal] made a slight mistake – I think there was some oil down – and it was the only chance I needed. I ran my own race and was a little concerned about Jordan’s pace towards the end but we had just enough.”

Gordon Shedden said: “It was close in race two, I just wish it had been close the other way around. It’s been good, but not quite where we need to be. We threw a wild set-up at the car for race three and it didn't quite work out, but that said these points are going to be very valuable as the season goes on.

We're learning all the time and even though the car wasn't absolutely spot on this weekend we still scored some good results. We can move forward to Croft with big smiles on our faces.”

Matt Neal said: “I just love driving this car! In the first race I didn't make the best start which gave Jason a bit of a gap, but it was an intense race to the end. I’m disappointed with race three – there must have been some oil down but it felt a bit like a puncture.

I wasn't sure of the grip the next time around either and that’s what let Andrew [Jordan] through. The strength of the Civic Type R is in the high-speed stuff and that’s where the problem was. I don’t like giving them away and we definitely could have won that race. There are positives though, the podium is still a great result and even with weight on, the car is still performing very well.”

Andrew Jordan said: “I gave it everything in the last race, but Sam [Tordoff] was strong in the key areas and I just couldn't get enough of a run at him. It’s a great result – a bit of a shame not to get the win but I'm going home happy with a really strong weekend under our belts.

A third, fourth and second really gives us the boost we needed and it’s a big step forward, but we mustn't get complacent because we've still got some work to regularly be with the front-runners. We have a quicker package now to go with the great consistency we've already had this year.”

2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Oulton Park