Support Our Paras Racing, the team run by Pro Motorsport, have confirmed that they have withdrawn from the British Touring Car Championship and will not compete in the series in 2016.
Paras Racing had a tumultuous season in 2015, with numerous setbacks and changes. The team started the season with just one of their planned two cars, leaving Derek Palmer Jr as the sole entry at Brands Hatch due to the second car not being complete.
Although the second car arrived in time for the second meeting at Donington Park, it was to be the only time that Richard Hawken racer, after he was unceremoniously dropped by the team for Thruxton, where Martin Donnelly took over for one meeting.
The team then lost backing from car manufacturer Infiniti, and competed for the following two meetings with only one car. Hopes to field a second car for the rest of the season were dashed after Croft, where Max Coates briefly took the wheel, before the team had one of their two TOCA BTCC Licences (TBLs) withdrawn.
The team have now confirmed that they will not race in the BTCC in 2016, citing budgetary problems.
“Naturally it’s a huge disappointment to the team, and the injured guys from the Parachute Regiment who prepared the race car,” explained Team Principal Derek Palmer Sr. “We appreciate these are tough times financially for companies across the country, but that doesn’t make our disappointment any less.
“Naturally I would like to thank our principal sponsor of last year, TENA Men, for all their support.
“We will now focus on returning to motorsport in a different series.”