Jack Goff will drive Triple Eight Racing’s second manufacturer-backed MG6 in the British Touring Car Championship, partnering former champion Andrew Jordan for the 2015 campaign.
The Buckinghamshire-based driver, who started his racing career in an MG ZR in the MG Trophy Championship, graduated to the BTCC two years ago having won the Renault Clio Cup in 2012.
Making his debut in a Team HARD. Vauxhall Insignia, Goff scored a maiden series podium in the final race of the 2013 season and retained his seat last season as the operation morphed into Team BMR, although the announcement last week that 2014 series champion Colin Turkington and runner-up Jason Plato would join Warren Scott’s team meant that the 23-year-old would move on to pastures new for 2015.
Having signed a one-year deal to race for the current constructor/manufacturer champions, Goff was delighted to be joining one of the most distinguished teams in the championship.
“It’s a thrill to start the season in the quickest front-wheel drive car on the grid,” he said. “Obviously as a kid growing up, driving for a works team is the pinnacle. I’m chuffed that we’re working with Triple Eight and MG, over the course of the past three years they’ve shown that the MG is a race winner and a championship contender.
“This is an important step in my career and I have come here expecting to win races. I know what it takes to do that, I’ve shown my ability in the Clio Cup, and now I have a BTCC car and team that will give me a platform to challenge from,” he continued. “There’s a really good buzz at Triple Eight; you walk around the factory and there are so many trophies and references to winning in the BTCC. Add that to having a former BTCC champion in Andrew [Jordan] in the team, it really gives me a lot of confidence for the year ahead.
“This is an unforgettable moment that I owe to all of those who have supported me – my family, my friends, and of course my partners 5 Star Cases, AC Entertainment Technologies, The HSL Group & RCIB Insurance, who without their help, I wouldn’t be on the grid this year.
“This year we’ve got four days of testing planned before the first race, and it will actually be the first time I’ve properly run at the media day; we’ve never really got on track at it before. I just can’t wait for my first run in the MG6; I got a taste of what to expect when I had my seat fitting recently and I’ve spoken to Andy [Jordan] too. Bring on 2015!”
Ian Harrison, Founder and Managing Director of Triple Eight Racing, believed that the signing completed a strong line-up, but insisted that the team had high expectations of Goff from the get-go as they look to retain their manufacturers crown.
“Jack is a young guy on a journey to become a top BTCC driver,” said Harrison. “It’s great that he is with us; he fits with what we’re trying to do. We spoke to several drivers over the off-season, but when we found out Jack was available it was clear he was the best option for us. Everybody remembers the 2013 last round at Brands with [Gordon] Shedden and we need him to try to replicate that, albeit on a regular basis.
“We’ll aim to get him working in a methodical way, aid his development as a driver and give him a car that will allow him to show what he can really do behind the wheel in a BTCC car. We need Jack to be running in the top eight all the time and becoming a regular front-runner as the season progresses to enable us to defend the manufacturers title for MG.
“We said early on that what we want is someone who fits the demographic for MG; Jack ticks the box for MG, but also for us. We want to continue to win races, take podiums and lock out front-rows in qualifying, so for us Jack is the perfect compliment to Andy. It’s a nice story for MG too; he started his racing in one of its cars, and now things have gone full circle and he is in a works MG BTCC car.”
The livery for Goff’s MG will be revealed at the BTCC’s media day at Donington Park on Tuesday 24 March.