Motorbase to run Ford EcoBoost engines in 2015 BTCC

Motorbase Performance will run Ford EcoBoost engines for the 2015 BTCC season, team principal David Bartrum has announced.

The engines are based on the standard Ford 2-litre EcoBoost unit, and have been developed to NGTC specifications with the Kent team’s long-term engine partners Mountune.

The team says it has completed the first engine build and preliminary tests, and now plans to embark on a “significant pre-season testing programme” ahead of the opening round at Brands Hatch in April.

The engines replace the old Duratec-based units used in recent seasons.

Bartrum said: “It’s been a busy winter for us behind the scenes, but I’m delighted to be in a position to finally go public with this very exciting development for Motorbase. The Ford EcoBoost engine has been a long time in the planning and it’s only really come together in recent months thanks to the great teamwork and input from Mountune and our technical partners.

“It’s early days yet and we’ve obviously still got a long way to go in terms of testing and development but it’s great news for Motorbase, Ford and the BTCC and I’m confident that we’ll be back in the thick of it once more when the flag drops in April.”

Mountune technical director David Mountain said: “There’s still more development to do before the start of the season. Having said that, we’re confident that by the first round we’ll have a strong package available, from which we can build on during the course of the season.”

The team has already confirmed former Porsche competitor Alex Martin in one of its three Ford Focus STs, and says it will confirm its full driver line up and new team sponsors in the coming weeks. The new sponsors will replace long-term title backer Airwaves, which ended its six-year association with the team at the end of last season.