Toyota and Speedworks Motorsport joined forces for 2019 BTCC season

The reigning two-time British Touring Car Championship Independent champions Speedworks Motorsport will become the Manufacturer’s entry in the 2019 BTCC season after joining forces with Toyota GB and rebranding as Team Toyota GB with Speedworks Motorsport.

The team will run the brand new #80 Toyota Corolla for Tom Ingram, who scored nine BTCC wins in previous five seasons in a Toyota Avensis. Speedworks was running Toyota Avensis ever since debuting in the BTCC in 2011.

Both the Corolla and Team Toyota GB have a proud heritage in the BTCC. Chris Hodgetts claimed back-to-back championship titles in a Corolla GT Coupe in 1986 and 1987. The brand was a front-running force in the series through to the 1990s Super Touring era.

Tom Ingram will drive Toyota for the sixth season in a row, switching from Avensis to Corolla

Christian Dick, Team Principal, Team Toyota GB with Speedworks Motorsport, said: “We have been speaking to Toyota GB on-and-off for the past couple of years, establishing an ever-closer relationship and nurturing that bond through our common passion for motorsport, engineering excellence and, ultimately, success. To now have them officially on-board is fantastic news and will enable us to take that final step to really push for the overall BTCC title. The intention is to develop the new Corolla in 2019 before building up to a two-car assault in 2020. We feel we have proved what we are capable of on the Independent scene and we are well aware that the BTCC Manufacturers’ battle is another level higher again, but as a team, we are ready to pitch ourselves against the very best in Britain and – with Toyota GB’s backing – we are confident of doing just that.”

Tom Ingram added: “Having dreamt about racing in the BTCC since I was a little boy, the past five years have been something of a whirlwind for me, if I’m totally honest. What we have accomplished as a small Independent outfit – particularly over the last two seasons – has been nothing short of mind-blowing, and demonstrates just what this little team is made of. To attract the support of a major manufacturer is a phenomenal achievement and huge credit must go to Christian and Amy [Dick – Team Manager], who have worked their absolute socks off to pull this deal together. For Team Toyota GB with Speedworks Motorsport, 2019 starts now – and I cannot wait to see how it all unfolds!”