The United Autosports team will embark on its latest motor racing venture when James Cole and Glynn Geddie line up at Brands Hatch on Sunday for the opening round of the 2014 British Touring Car Championship.
The Anglo-American team, who are based in Leeds, have been in competition for less than five years but have quickly established themselves as a well-run and competitive outfit, having competed in championships including the American Le Mans series and the British GT Championship.
The squad has now turned its attention to Britain’s premier motorsport series, and having acquired two ex-Dynojet Toyota Avensis’, the team has set to work to ensure they are ready for the season opener.
And Cole, who withdrew from the BTCC midway through the 2013 season, insisted that his focus was firmly on being competitive.
“Testing has been really good and the team has quickly become accustomed to the Toyota,” said Cole, who gave an in-depth interview to TouringCars.Net last week. “I guess our ‘true’ pace compared to the opposition will only be revealed in qualifying on Saturday but I’m heading to Brands to compete and not just make up the numbers.
“I voluntarily ended my maiden BTCC campaign mid-season last year so 2014 really feels like a ‘rookie’ year for me in touring cars. BTCC continues to gain in popularity and it was always my intention to switch to touring cars after my single-seater career.
“The BTCC has a fantastic future and I’m looking forward to being a part of it for many years to come.”
Meanwhile, the 2014 campaign marks his teammate Geddie’s debut in the series, although the Scot has racing pedigree, most recently competing for United Autosports in the 2013 British GT Championship.
“The timing to make my BTCC debut is spot on while racing with United Autosports after winning the Supercar Challenge with them last year is a perfect scenario,” said Geddie. “I last raced a front-wheel-drive car back in 2006 when I began my motorsport career in a Mini championship and adapting back again after racing Porsche, McLaren and Audi GT cars has taken some readjustment.
“I’m also excited to be contesting ‘sprint’ races again after recent years in longer distance, two-driver GT races.”
For Managing Director Richard Dean, who co-founded the team, the effort the squad have put in over the winter shows just how seriously they consider their entry.
“Heading into the 2014 season we are definitely a lot busier from the mechanical side of things and the logistical planning of events,” said Dean. “Joining the BTCC is a big deal for us and we are keen to make a good first impression, which hopefully we have already managed to achieve in pre-season testing.
“We spent the winter re-building James’ Toyota while also building a brand new Toyota for Glynn. The guys at our workshop have done a great job getting everything ready for the Brands opener. We have covered more than 1,500km during testing, in both wet and dry conditions, so we are putting the time in to prepare ourselves as best we can.
“We feel positive heading for Brands as we ran well there during testing. We are a new team with a new car and new staff gelling together but finishing in the top-10 is our realistic aim this season.”