Nic Hamilton makes Team HARD move

Nic Hamilton will complete the Team HARD line-up for the 2020 British Touring Car Championship season after signing a deal to drive a ROKiT Phones and ABK Beer-backed Volkswagen CC.

Hamilton makes the move to Tony Gilham’s team after contesting seven events with Motorbase last year, and will join forces with Jack Goff and Mike Bushell in three of the CCs. Carl Boardley will also continue with the team in 2020, but at the wheel of his own BMW 125i M Sport.

“I’m super excited to be with Team HARD. Racing for the 2020 season,” Hamilton said. “Last year was so challenging for me. Coming close to facing a reality where my career might be over was really tough, but people stuck by me, kept me focused and upbeat and I’m now in a great place to start a new chapter behind the wheel. Team HARD. Racing is the most professional outfit I’ve worked with. The squad’s tenacity, motivation and belief inspire me. The team deserves a great season from me and I’m going to give it my all.

“The way these guys go about things in preparing the car and energising the team is inspiring; it cultivates such a great atmosphere from the factory to the pit lane. They help give me such enthusiasm for the season ahead and having ROKiT Phones and ABK Beer as partners, once again, is tremendous as they are brands with a passion to be the best in their industry, something that really resonates with me. Last year they stuck by me and acted with such integrity. I’m proud to represent them and be a part of their success, and more than anything I’m grateful for their continued support.”

Team boss Gilham was delighted to welcome Hamilton into the fold.

“I’m delighted that Nic has chosen to join the team for the 2020 season,” he said. “His determination and drive to succeed has really lifted the whole team as we prepare three brand new Volkswagen CCs. Nic showed really encouraging signs in the series last season and his performance in the early laps of the opening round at Brands Hatch really caught my eye.

“This is the first year in the team’s history that we are going to Spain for testing and I couldn’t be more excited. A solid stint in the new Volkswagen CC will really benefit Nic both on and off-track as he settles into a new and very different team. I’m expecting Nic to learn a lot from our returning drivers as we look to move further up the grid in 2020.”

Entry List – 21 February:

No – Driver – Nat – Team – Car

1 – Colin Turkington – GBR – West Surrey Racing – BMW 330i M Sport
3 – Tom Chilton – GBR – BTC Racing – Honda Civic Type R
4 – Sam Osborne – GBR – Mark Blundell Motorsport – Honda Civic Type R
6 – Rory Butcher – GBR – Motorbase Performance – Ford Focus ST
11 – Jason Plato – GBR – Power Maxed Racing – Vauxhall Astra
15 – Tom Oliphant – GBR – West Surrey Racing – BMW 330i M Sport
16 – Aiden Moffat – GBR – Laser Tools Racing – Infiniti Q50
18 – Senna Proctor – GBR – EXCELR8 Motorsport – Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance
19 – Bobby Thompson – GBR – Trade Price Cars Racing – Audi S3
21 – Mike Bushell – GBR – Team HARD – Volkswagen CC
22 – Chris Smiley – GBR – EXCELR8 Motorsport – Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance
24 – Jake Hill – GBR – Mark Blundell Motorsport – Honda Civic Type R
25 – Matt Neal – GBR – Team Dynamics – Honda Civic Type R
27 – Dan Cammish – GBR – Team Dynamics – Honda Civic Type R
28 – Nic Hamilton – GBR – Team HARD – Volkswagen CC
31 – Jack Goff – GBR – Team HARD – Volkswagen CC
32 – Daniel Rowbottom – GBR – Ciceley Motorsport – Mercedes A Class
33 – Adam Morgan – GBR – Ciceley Motorsport – Mercedes A Class
41 – Carl Boardley – GBR – Team HARD – BMW 125i M Sport
48 – Ollie Jackson – GBR – Motorbase Performance – Ford Focus ST
66 – Josh Cook – GBR – BTC Racing – Honda Civic Type R
77 – Andrew Jordan – GBR – West Surrey Racing – BMW 330i M Sport
80 – Tom Ingram – GBR – Speedworks Motorsport – Toyota Corolla
116 – Ashley Sutton – GBR – Laser Tools Racing – Infiniti Q50
180 – James Gornall – GBR – Trade Price Cars Racing – Audi S3
777 – Michael Crees – GBR – BTC Racing – Honda Civic Type R
TBC – Mat Jackson – GBR – Power Maxed Racing – Vauxhall Astra

Race numbers subject to confirmation when official entry list is revealed