AMD Essex’s Shaun Hollamby is aiming to give his S2000 Volkswagen Golf a strong send-off in the British Touring Car Championship finale this weekend, as the team go full circle with car and driver.
Hollamby and AmD Essex first entered the BTCC in 2010 when the team entered the Golf for the entire season with Hollamby at the wheel. During their initial campaign the team scored a best result of 13th at Knockhill, in a trying season for the team.
During 2011 experienced touring car racer Tom Onslow-Cole joined the team for the first half of the season, before departing after the fourth round. Despite this, the team’s best result came with Onslow-Cole at the wheel, scoring seventh places at Donington Park and Thruxton.
Since then a number of drivers have driven the car, including Martin Byford, Ollie Jackson and most recently James Kaye and Aaron Mason in 2013. The Golf’s most recent appearance came at Croft with Kaye, before the team switched to an ex-Team Dynamics Honda Civic for the second half of the season.
Hollamby is aiming to send the car out on a high this weekend, with the car having had a handful of upgrades since its last outing in the series.
“I’ve had the chance to do a shakedown in the car ahead of the weekend, and it’s great to be able to get back behind the wheel one last time,” said Hollamby. “It’s had a full rebuild since it last raced at Croft before the summer break and has been fitted with new suspension, and we want to try and send it out on a high.
“This is the end of a four year journey with the Golf and it’s kind of appropriate that we go full circle with me back behind the wheel on its final weekend. I’ve not been racing this season so will be a little rusty when practice gets underway, but I don’t think it will take me long to get back up to speed and I’m really looking forward to it.
Hollamby added that the team are keen to stay in the BTCC for 2014, citing support from series bosses alongside fans as a significant motivating factor.
“This year has been a rollercoaster one for us and hasn’t really gone as we planned, but there is no doubt that the BTCC remains the place to be – and we want to be part of going forwards,” added Hollamby. “From the moment we joined the grid back in 2010, the support we have had from [series organisers] TOCA as well as from the fans has been absolutely fantastic. In my eyes, this is the best touring car championship there is, and we’re keen to stay involved in the series in 2014.”