Simon Belcher will return to the British Touring Car Championship grid for this weekend’s rounds at Oulton Park after his Toyota Avensis was successfully repaired following his huge shunt last time out at Thruxton.
Just four weeks after his huge crash at Church corner at Thruxton, which saw Belcher hurtle into the trees on the exit of the circuit, the Handy Motorsport driver has confirmed his return for this weekend.
Belcher’s Toyota had to be repaired by partner team Speedworks Motorsport, with Belcher himself receiving huge support from fans of the touring car series.
“There’s been a bit of waiting around the last week or so with some parts not being available, but since Thruxton the Speedworks guys have been pretty much flat-out,” said Belcher.
“The engine had to go back to Swindon [Engines] and the gearbox had to go away as well, it’s been a massive job. We’re just glad we’ve had one of the biggest gaps in the calendar to work in – if we’d only had a couple of weeks between races it wouldn’t have been possible. We’re trying to arrange a run in the car next Thursday [5th May] but that all depends on availability at the circuits we can use.”
Belcher praised the support of BTCC fans, many of whom purchased T-shirt in order to help the 40-year-old get back onto the grid. This, in addition to auctioning off parts of the wrecked car, helped to raise £5,000 towards the cost of repair.
“The fans have helped us out so much”, added Belcher. “I never quite realised just how incredible they are and how much support is there for the BTCC, I have to say a massive thank you to everyone who has got involved to make sure we’re back for Oulton. We’ve obviously got a budget for damage, just not on the scale of the damage caused at Thruxton – the cost has been huge.”
Belcher, who has not yet scored any points during the 2014 campaign and has a best finish of 18th to his name, admits he is keen to get behind the wheel of his rebuilt car at this weekend’s event in Cheshire.
“I’m raring to get back behind the wheel, when you fall off the horse you need to get straight back on”, said Belcher. “Oulton is very challenging from a driver’s point of view and I am really looking forward to it.”