Marc Hynes out of 2015 BTCC to focus on Manor Formula 1 team

The 1999 British Formula 3 champion made his BTCC debut last year and finished 18th in the points in a Triple Eight-run, privately-owned MG.

Hynes worked as head of driver development for the Marussia F1 team before its financial troubles and says his involvement in the management of the outfit as it returns under the Manor name is his immediate priority.

"F1 takes over your life," he told AUTOSPORT. "I really enjoyed the BTCC last year and would definitely want to be back in it.

"Right now, though, F1 is the focus and we just need to get the team back up and running.

"I think we're doing a reasonable job of getting it back in shape, so for me I've just got to focus on that and do one thing properly."

The 37-year-old had a difficult first full year in touring cars, earning a best qualifying position of seventh and race result of eighth in the second half of the season.

AUTOSPORT understands that talks to run another driver in the third MG6 have failed and the car has not been entered for the 2015 season.

"It's definitely something I want to [come] back to," Hynes added. "That car's not on the list at the minute but I definitely want to be back in the BTCC soon.

"To be honest, it will probably be 2016 but I don't know yet. I definitely want to be back, I really enjoyed the whole experience last year.

"I wasn't good enough at front-wheel drive, but I've been a long time out of racing and I was starting to get the hang of it at the end of the season.

"If I had gone straight back in again this year it would have been an improvement but I'm just going to have to postpone that for a year and I'm fortunate enough to have some backers who are willing to roll that over for a year."

Despite Hynes' absence the BTCC has again attracted a capacity 31-car entry, although Motorbase's funding issues mean 28 cars are set to start the season opener at Brands Hatch.