Alain Menu has been confirmed as the replacement driver for the injured Warren Scott in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) at Brands Hatch this weekend.
Scott alluded to Menu being his replacement driver at Silverstone, where the Team BMR boss lost control of his car in first practice, crashing into the barriers and fracturing two vertebrae in his back.
“I called Alain on Friday on my way back from hospital to invite him to drive as my replacement,” said Scott. “I am absolutely gutted that I’m not going to be in the seat myself as it would have been a great end to an amazing year.
“Alain is the natural choice to replace me and I am very grateful to him for stepping in.”
Menu last raced in the BTCC in the 2014 season, when he raced one of the squads Volkswagen CC cars to 11th overall in the drivers’ championship.
Menu’s announcement gives him a second chance to close the curtain on his BTCC career, should he not return in 2016, having crashed out of race two at the season finale in 2014, forcing him to miss the final race of the season.
“I am grateful to Warren and Team BMR for asking me to make a comeback in the BTCC at Brands Hatch,” said Menu. “The circumstances are unfortunate due to Warren’s injury from Silverstone and it’s going to be a big challenge to be competitive as I haven’t driven for a year, but at the same time I am excited to be back.”
Menu could help the team, which now features three former champions, to take four titles this weekend, with Team BMR still in the running for the drivers’, teams’, independent drivers’ and independent teams’ championships.