Ex-Formula 1 driver, CART race winner and 1992 Le Mans winner Mark Blundell returns to racing by joining British Touring Car Championship for 2019 with Trade Price Cars Racing.
It will be the first time that the British driver will drive a Touring Car, alongside teammate Jake Hill in Audi S3.
Blundell in his Formula 1 career caught the attention of various successful teams including McLaren, Brabham, Ligier and Tyrrell, scoring 3 podiums in his 4-year F1 career.
He is also a Le Mans winner, winning the race in 1992 with Peugeot alongside Yannick Dalmas and Derek Warwick. He also won multiple races during his time in CART Championship.
“Once the opportunity arose to get back behind the wheel, it was something I was very keen to make happen,” said Blundell.
“The British Touring Car Championship is a fantastic series that I have always wanted to race in but it has never been possible until now.
“I have been lucky enough to have had a fantastic motor racing career to date and to have been a part of British motorsport for many years. The sport is in a fantastic place across the UK at this current time and the BTCC and the overall TOCA package is a major part of that, providing an excellent platform for top-level professional drivers and many bright talents behind the wheel.
“The strength of the series is shown by the thousands of fans that join trackside up and down the country and the millions more that tune in from home on ITV.
“It is going to be a new challenge for me but one I am really excited by. Alan Gow and I have been chatting for a number of years about taking part in the BTCC and I’m delighted that the time is right to finally make this step. At my age, I want to make sure that I am taking on such a prestigious championship while I am still geared up to do so competitively.”
Managing Director of Trade Price Cars Racing Dan Kirby said:
“We’re absolutely delighted to be able to announce Mark, completing the driver line-up for our debut season in the BTCC. It’s a signing that reflects all the work that has been going on behind the scenes, and shows how serious we are about this programme. “There is no doubt that this is a big deal for us, and we are massively excited to have Mark onboard for the season ahead.”
Team Manager Shaun Hollamby also agreed to Kirby:
“Having concluded a deal early to sign Jake Hill, we’ve been working hard to secure the right driver to complete our driver line-up, and are pleased to have now agreed a deal with Mark Blundell. “To attract a driver who has been on the podium in F1, and who has won at Le Mans and in IndyCar, is a big coup for us as a team, and we are delighted to bring him on-board.
“With the testing programme we have in place, we’re confident that Mark will be up to speed by the time we get to Brands Hatch, and that he will work well with Jake to give us an exciting driver pairing in the Audis for the year ahead.”
Blundell also commentated for ITV Formula 1 Coverage from 2002 to 2008, leaving when BBC took over the rights in Great Britain.
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