HMS Racing has just enjoyed a successful shakedown test at Donington Park circuit for the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta it will run in this year's British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), the car getting plenty of laps in with driver Rob Austin behind the wheel as a damp early track cleared up during the day.
The team, which was known last year as Handy Motorsport, has swapped to the Giulietta which it says is self-built, after running a Toyota Avensis in BTCC last year and is also receiveing some support from the Alfa Romeo Dealer Council.
“We have been working towards this day for some time,” Team Principal Simon Belcher told the official BTCC website following the test. “This project has been years in the making and the build of the car has been a lengthy process too. There was a chance to make it happen in 2017, but I always said that you can’t start building a car at Christmas and expect to be competitive come the start of the season.
“It was paramount that we started the build in July and we were able to announce the programme at Rockingham last August. To be on track six weeks before the new season is a great achievement, but we obviously still have a lot of work to do.”
HMS Racing's day at the historic north east of England racetrack started out with a damp track in the morning, which limited running time, however the circuit dried out by lunchtime and that left the team able to complete a large amount of laps in the afternoon without any major problems occuring.
“It went really well,” Austin, who won a BTCC race last year with the Toyota, told the series website. “I am really proud of everyone involved; it has been a great day.
"We believe we’ve built an awesome car, but you’re never quite sure until you hit the track. We still have so much to do of course, but we are hugely excited and even more optimistic than we were before.”
On his Facebook fanpage Austin, who will be entering his eighth season competing in BTCC this year and took his first series win back in 2013, additionally commented: "After a morning of installation runs and checks the track dried out for us in the afternoon and allowed us to start to get a feel for the all new car whilst also clocking up some very satisfying lap times.
The team have done an incredible job with the build, it really is a work of art and It was such a proud moment to see all the work finally hitting the track," the driver continued. "These are exciting times and its an honour to be a part of it. I didn't think it was possible but I am now looking forward to the 2018 season even more!"
The team will now continue with the development of the car before returning to the track for further testing, this time at Brands Hatch, in two week's time.
Photos: HMS Racing Alfa Romeo Giulietta - 2018 British Touring Car Championship
