Ciceley Racing are to field a Mercedes-Benz A-Class in the 2014 British Touring Car Championship for Adam Morgan, it was announced today.
The Manchester-based team, who are currently campaigning a single Toyota Avensis for Morgan, are a Mercedes-Benz Commercial vehicle dealer in the North-West of England and the move is designed to align their interests more closely.
“It’s great to finally announce our plans for 2014, the switch made sense for us in many different ways,” said Ciceley Racing Team Principal Russell Morgan. “With Paul Ridgway at the helm of the project holding high aspirations and Adam continuing to mature as a driver, we think that the A-Class can be a competitive package in the series next year.”
Morgan is currently the best-placed Toyota driver in the championship, lying seventh overall with six races to go. The Lancashire driver has thus far secured a single podium finish at Oulton Park – the only Toyota driver to have done so thus far in 2013.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Toyota for all of their help over the last two seasons, hopefully we can end what has been a brilliant debut season for the team on a high,” added Morgan.
The team have previous history with campaigning Mercedes-Benz vehicles in motorsport. Russell Morgan, father of Adam, previously took class wins on the Manx Rally in 1986 and 1987 at the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz 190.
BTCC Series Director Alan Gow added that he is thrilled to see yet another illustrious brand represented on the BTCC grid, albeit in an Independent capacity.
“This programme by Ciceley Racing is a perfect demonstration of the strength and adaptability of our ‘NGTC’ technical regulations,” said Gow. “The team are able to change from racing a Toyota and onto developing and racing a Mercedes-Benz, whilst utilising the vast majority of the NGTC components they already possess.
“It will be great to see a Mercedes-Benz on the grid, to add to the already huge roll-call of other great brands competing in the BTCC.”