Volkswagen Racing Cup driver Aaron Mason will make his British Touring Car Championship début at Oulton Park this weekend for AmD Tuning.com, as regular James Kaye is unavailable for the meeting.
Mason, 33, has been competing in the VW series at the wheel of a Scirocco R where he is one of the series’ most successful participants, having notched up 15 wins. Having been supported by AmD in that series, he now steps up to the BTCC to race the team’s turbo-powered Golf.
“I’m really excited about the chance to get behind the wheel of a touring car this weekend,” said Mason. “I already have a relationship with AmDTuning.com from the VW Cup, and when the chance to race the Golf came along, I wasn’t going to turn it down. Getting to the BTCC is the kind of thing I could only dream of when I started racing five years ago, so I’m glad to have the opportunity to give it a go.
“I think I can be competitive despite it being my first time in the car, although I’m not going to go into the weekend expecting too much as I know it is a big step up. Ultimately, the first aim has to be to secure three finishes from the weekend, but if I could finish in the top three in the Jack Sears Trophy, then it would be fantastic.
“My main focus this season is to win the Volkswagen Racing Cup but it’ll be interesting to see how I get on this weekend, and who knows where it might lead for 2014.”
Regular driver and BTCC veteran Kaye is unable to race at the picturesque Cheshire venue this weekend due to other business commitments. With the Jack Sears Trophy (JST) being decided on race wins, Kaye’s title challenge will suffer a significant dent this weekend. The 49-year-old is currently third, having scored two wins to leader Wood’s three.
However Team Principal Shaun Hollamby admitted that it created the ideal opportunity to give a new driver an opportunity – even if he is unable to challenge for outright honours in the Jack Sears Trophy.
“Unfortunately, James has a last minute business commitment he couldn’t reschedule which means that he isn’t able to race at Oulton Park, but at the same time, it’s fantastic that we’re able to give Aaron the opportunity to make his BTCC debut,” said Hollamby. “We know him well from the Volkswagen Racing Cup, where he has really shown himself to be one of the stand out drivers over the last few years. He was keen to see what touring cars was all about, so this is the ideal opportunity for him to get in the car and give it a go.
“The key thing for Aaron is to get three finishes and we don’t expect fireworks given it will be his first time in the car with no prior testing. I have no doubt that if he was in the car longer term, he would be a contender for the Jack Sears Trophy, but this weekend is all experience and if we are able to come away from the weekend with some silverware, then it will be a huge bonus.”