Support Our Paras Infiniti team pulls out of British Touring Cars
British Touring Car Championship team Support Our Paras Racing has withdrawn from the series with immediate effect
The team, operated by Derek Palmer Sr, began last season with two factory-supported rear-wheel-drive Infiniti Q50 machines, but lost its works backing after only three rounds of the 2015 campaign. The project was staffed by injured servicemen.
The decision to withdraw was made by team principal Palmer Sr and came after the targeted budget for 2016 was not forthcoming.
"Naturally it's a huge disappointment to the team, and the injured guys from the Parachute Regiment who prepared and operated the car," he said.
"We appreciate these are tough times financially for companies across the country, but that doesn't make our disappointment any less.
"We will now focus on returning to motorsport in a different series."
Derek Palmer Jr and Richard Hawken began the season driving the cars.
Hawken split with the team after only two rounds. The second car was then driven by ex-Formula 1 driver Martin Donnelly and Max Coates before the team lost its second licence following the fifth meeting of the year at Croft when it was unable to field a team-mate for Palmer.
It finished 17th of the 19 outfits that contested the 2015 season.
2016 BTCC LINE-UP SO FAR
Team Dynamics Honda Civic Type R: Gordon Shedden, Matt Neal, Andy Neate
Team BMR Subaru Levorg: Jason Plato, Colin Turkington, Warren Scott, James Cole
WSR BMW 125i Sport: Jack Goff, Sam Tordoff, Rob Collard
Motorbase Performance Ford Focus ST: Andy Jordan, Mat Jackson
Triple Eight Racing MG6: TBA, TBA
Eurotech Racing Honda Civic Type R: Jeff Smith, Martin Depper, TBA
Speedworks Motorsport: Tom Ingram (Toyota), Matt Simpson (Honda)
Power Maxed Racing Chevrolet Cruze: Hunter Abbott, TBA
Handy Motorsport Toyota Avensis: Rob Austin
Ciceley Racing Mercedes A-Class: Adam Morgan
Laser Tools Racing Mercedes A-Class: Aiden Moffat
Welch Motorsport Proton Gen-2: Dan Welch
Team Parker Racing Ford Focus ST: Alex Martin
Team Hard Toyota Avensis: Chris Smiley
Maximum Motorsport Ford Focus ST: Stewart Lines
AmD Tuning Audi S3: TBA
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