![Robb Holland, RCIB Insurance Racing [Team HARD], Vauxhall Insignia](https://www.touringcars.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/holland_F2R1266.jpg "Photo: Team HARD")
Robb Holland will make his first appearance in the 2013 British Touring Car Championship at Snetterton this weekend at the wheel of a Team HARD Vauxhall Insignia.
The American racer, who raced for the team in two events during 2012, had previously announced plans to race a Ford Focus in the World Touring Car Championship before the announcement of the new technical regulations for the 2014 campaign.
“I’ve said before that I feel that the BTCC is Europe’s premier National touring car series and deservedly gets a lot of international television coverage,” explains Holland.
“It is no secret that Rotek Racing’s World Championship plans for their Ford Focuses are currently being reviewed in light of the recent new regulations announcement by the FIA, and a big reason for doing the Snetterton meeting is to try out an NGTC car under race conditions.
“Should Rotek’s plans change, a full season next year in the BTCC would be a great alternative and something I would be pushing very hard for them to consider.”
Holland, who has been racing for Rotek Racing in the VLN during 2013, will make his competitive race debut at the wheel of the NGTC Insignia, having had a few test laps in the car at Snetterton and Brands Hatch.
His return to Snetterton marks the return to the circuit where he made his BTCC debut in 2012, racing the Team HARD S2000 Honda Civic and bringing home a best result of 14th in the second race of the weekend.
“I’m really looking forward to returning to the BTCC at Snetterton and particularly so with my friend Tony Gilham’s Team HARD organisation,” added Holland.
“It’s a great track. I raced there last year with Tony in his S2000 regulation car and while I had a bit of an up and down weekend we both enjoyed the experience of working together and agreed that we’d do it again if we could.”
“I tested the Insignia a couple of weeks ago at Snetterton and again last Friday at Brands Hatch. Even though I only got a few laps in on the Thruxton compound tyres, it was enough to get a feel for the car. The Next Generation Oakley Motorsports-RCIB Insurance Racing Vauxhall Insignia is exciting to drive, quite unlike anything I’ve driven before and I loved it!” concluded the Denver based racer.
Team HARD Team Principal Tony Gilham has high hopes for Holland at Snetterton and is looking forward to working with the American racer once again.
“The whole team is absolutely delighted to reacquaint ourselves with Robb once again for Snetterton,” Gilham said. “He is a big character and a favourite with all at Team HARD. We love working with Robb and after a successful brief outing in the newly built Insignia for the recent tyre test we have high hopes going in to the next race weekend.
“Robb knowing the track from last year showed very strong pace in only the short run he had and together we’ll be looking to be fighting for some strong top 10 results.”