Eurotech Racing will campaign Honda Civic Type-Rs in the 2016 British Touring Car Championship season, as it eyes an expansion to a three-car operation.
The outfit, which currently runs a pair of standard NGTC Civics, will switch to the marque’s latest model after reaching an agreement with Honda’s manufacturer-back squad, Team Dynamics.
Drivers Martin Depper and Jeff Smith currently sit 18th and 19th respectively in the drivers’ standings.
“We have been impressed with the performance of the new Type-R this season run by Team Dynamics and feel it is the logical way to progress forwards,” said Eurotech owner and driver Smith. “We have negotiated a deal with them to enable us to run the latest car, along with re-establishing the data sharing agreement Eurotech had with them back in the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
“To facilitate the third car we are moving to much larger premises later this year. This will allow us to expand the BTCC operation and give us considerable scope to develop into other series should the right opportunity arise.”
Any expansion would require Eurotech to acquire a third TOCA TBL licence – although with both Support Our Paras Racing and Welch Motorsport being stripped of one each of theirs earlier this year, two are available for the 2016 season.
“We are here for the long term and see this as the natural progression to move the team to the next level,” continued Smith. “It’s a huge investment but one that will give us a package that will enable us to be at the sharp end of the grid for 2016. We are already talking to potential candidates for the third seat and would like to be in a position to announce the driver line up by the end of October.”
Smith’s comments suggest that second driver Depper will continue alongside him for what would be a third season with Eurotech, although that has not yet been confirmed.