Tom Chilton switches to BTC squad in latest Honda in BTCC
Tom Chilton will partner Josh Cook at the BTC Racing British Touring Car Championship team in 2020 at the wheel of a latest-specification Honda Civic Type R FK8
Chilton, who began his BTCC career when he was 17-years-old in 2002, spent 10 seasons in the BTCC and drove for a number of teams including Barwell Motorsport, Arena International (pictured below), Triple Eight Race Engineering and Team Dymanics.
He then drove in the World Touring Car Championship between 2012 and 2017, but made his return to the BTCC in a twin campaign 2017, driving for the Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall squad. Since then, he has focused on the UK's tin-top series.
The 34-year-old switched to Motorbase Performance in 2018 and won two races with the Ford Focus team during his two-year spell. He was third in the overall championship in his first season with the team, before finishing 10th in 2019.
"The team did a sterling job last year," said Chilton.
"To have ended the season fourth overall and as Independent runners-up in their first season running the FK8 chassis was an outstanding achievement.
"I can't wait to get testing underway.
"I have a great history with Honda [as a former Arena International and Team Dynamics driver], and I'm really looking forward to getting back into one again, and behind the wheel of the FK8.
"Josh [Cook] is a great driver, and I like having good team-mates to push me.
"I'd like to think that with my years of experience I can bring something new to the team and help to push them on at the sharp end of the grid.
"BTC Racing is a relatively young team, but their attitude and performance caught my eye last year.
"I like their approach and professionalism.
"I'm optimistic about the future that we can build together, not just for this season, but hopefully for many years moving forward."
Joint team Principal Bert Taylor, who owns the operation alongside racer and businessman Steve Dudman, said: "Personally I couldn't be happier to have captured Tom.
"You only have to look back over his racing career to see what a true talent he is.
"Tom's signing is another part of our plan to push forward and challenge for the BTCC title in 2020.
"He brings a wealth of experience and talent to the team, and I have no doubt that his knowledge will help to develop the Civic further this season."
2020 BTCC grid so far
| Team Dynamics Honda Civic Type R FK8 | Matt Neal, Dan Cammish |
| WSR BMW 330i M Sport | Colin Turkington, Andrew Jordan, Tom Oliphant |
| AmD Tuning Honda Civic Type R FK2 | Jake Hill, Sam Osborne |
| BTC Racing Honda Civic Type R FK8 | Tom Chilton, Josh Cook |
| Laser Tools Racing Infiniti Q50 | Ash Sutton, Aiden Moffat |
| Trade Price Cars Racing | Bobby Thompson, James Gornall |
| Team Hard VW CC | Mike Bushell, Jack Goff |
| Team Hard BMW 125i M Sport | Carl Boardley |
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