Andy Neate has today announced that he is to enter the 2013 British Touring Car Championship in an NGTC Specification Chevrolet Cruze for the newly formed IP Tech Race Engineering.
Having spent the first three years of his BTCC career with three different teams, Neate has taken the step to form his own team for his fourth campaign in Britain’s premier racing series.
The NGTC Cruze is already in development and the team hope to get some pre season testing before the opening rounds of the season at Brands Hatch at the end of March.
He is looking forward to the start of the season and seeing some familiar faces on the banks at Brands Hatch: “I’m lucky to have a really loyal bunch of fans and we’re looking forward to showing them what we can do this season. It’ll be good to see some familiar faces trackside come 30th March at Brands Hatch and we’ll be keeping everyone up to date with our progress as we head into the spring”.
IP Tech Race Engineering has enlisted the services of RML, the backbone to Chevrolet’s World Touring Car Championship programme, to help with the initial build of the car while the 2.0l turbocharged engine will be completed by RML themselves. The engine will be based on a GM Motors engine which fits the NGTC regulations.
“What sets this programme apart from others is that this is entirely our car, bolts up. I’m fortunate to have some exceptional equipment at my disposal including the very latest fluid, temperature & airflow simulation software, and clearly the expertise to maximize on the potential it provides,” explains Neate of the task ahead of him and the team.
Put that together with two of the most respected and talented design engineers in the business, Phil Overall and Geoff Kingston and a raft of seasoned professionals in the workshop then you’ve got more than a fighting chance of success. Not forgetting to mention the much sought after Hannah James whom will spearhead the growth of the team commercially”.
Neate is not underestimating the challenge ahead of him but feels that a combination of the experience he has gained during his last three campaigns in the BTCC as well as the global recognition which he has gained through his job.
“Competing successfully in the BTCC is so much more about the people behind the doors and not necessarily the name above it. Experience of the personnel and engineering talent is key,” added the Buckinghamshire based racer.
“I felt the timing was right to take advantage of the experience I’ve gained as a driver and the global recognition I’ve earned as a chief technical officer of engineering. Coupling these attributes with the collective of the best people around me that I could hope for, suggests success cannot be far away,” he concluded.