Alan Gow delighted by Hyundai BTCC programme

Series chief executive Alan Gow admits he is delighted by the news that Excelr8 will bring the Hyundai name into the British Touring Car Championship for the 2020 season.

Excelr8 is currently hard at work with the build of a pair of i30 Fastback N Performances that will replace the venerable MG6 GT for the teams second season in the series, taking the number of marques to be represented in the NGTC era to 15.

With the cars being built independently and without full manufacturer support, Gow insisted it was a further indication of the success of the current regulations and said he was looking forward to seeing how the i30 performs on track.

“It’s fantastic to see another new marque join the BTCC, this time with Excelr8 Motorsport,” he said. “When we set the NGTC regulations it was for precisely this purpose, to allow this sort of diversity between teams and drivers. Hyundai is a globally recognised brand, which has made a big impact in other forms of motor sport already. This new project from Excelr8 should make a great addition to the grid.

“It’s been fascinating to see how the team has grown across its maiden season in the BTCC, and the attitude and work ethic the team has shown while it gets up to speed. It’s no secret that the MGs were one of the oldest chassis on the grid, and the job the team had done to refresh them was very impressive. I look forward to seeing how much of a step forward Excelr8 Motorsport can make with the new-generation Hyundais.”

The Hyundai brand has become increasingly successful in global motorsport across the past decade, winning the World Rally Championship Manufacturers’ title this season and developing the i30 N TCR that has gone on to be one of the most successful cars in the TCR arena.