Will Burns has been unveiled as the first of Team.HARD’s three challengers for the 2017 British Touring Car Championship, piloting one of three newly-acquired Volkswagen CC machines.
Burns was crowned vice-champion of last season’s Ginetta GT4 Supercup after five seasons of competition in one-make Ginetta series’. Seventeen podium finishes, including three race victories, saw him take the championship fight down to the final round at Brands Hatch, before he sampled Mike Epps’ Toyota Avensis in a test with Tony Gilham’s team at Snetterton last month [October].
The Volkswagen CC itself is a proven race-winning car in recent seasons, including last campaign in the hands of Aron Smith at Rockingham, and so Burns graduates in arguably Team.HARD’s strongest challenger yet.
The 26-year old from Weston Super-Mare was elated at making the graduation into the highest rung on the TOCA ladder, and is hopeful of beating the development curve in terms of getting to grips with NGTC machinery equipped with the latest RML control components.
“I am absolutely delighted to be stepping up to the British Touring Car Championship.” commented Burns.
“I’ve watched the championship since I was a child, and when I started racing back in 2011 I could have never imagined I’d be on the grid.
“I’m under no illusions as to the size of the challenge ahead, the BTCC is the pinnacle of British motorsport and it’s going to be a steep learning curve for me, but I really can’t wait to get the season started at Brands Hatch in April.
“I’m looking forward to being a part of Team HARD’s exciting plans for the 2017 season. I really enjoyed my first test with them last month, they are a talented, professional team and it’s going to be great to work with them next season.
“The Volkswagen CC is a proven race-winning car in the series and I’m confident that we will have a very competitive package heading into next season. I’m looking forward to getting to grips with the new car as soon as possible.
“Thank you to all my sponsors for their continued support, to Tony Gilham and Team HARD for the opportunity, and also to Douglas Motorsport and Ginetta for giving me the platform to show what I could do this year, which helped me get to this exciting next stage of my career.”
Team Principal Tony Gilham is also looking forward to forging a positive working relationship with Burns, having recently re-acquired the cars his Kent-based outfit originally introduced to the BTCC back in 2013.
Team.HARD have introduced a number of talented youngsters into the championship in recent years, most recently Jake Hill, Mike Epps, James Cole and race-winner Jack Goff. Gilham is confident that Burns will not buck the trend.
“We have been talking to Will and his family for a few months now and have already formed a great relationship. We share the same drive and ambition, as well as Will being an amazing up and coming talent.
“We are genuinely excited about 2017 for a number of reasons and that includes the potential that Will has shown in the last few years, as well as in his first ever taste of front wheel drive machinery at the recent Snetterton test.
“We have known the capabilities of the Passat CC for a few years now having originally introduced them to the grid in 2013, and seeing its progress and success over the years proving it as a race-winning car.
“We are very confident that we have a very competitive package for the year ahead and look forward to working with Will on and off track to continue his development and help him rise to the very top.”