AmD Milltek Racing has made the shock announcement that Tom Onslow-Cole will race its VW Golf in 2011’s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.
Onslow-Cole has emerged as one of the BTCC’s top names in recent seasons – last year he emerged as one of four title protagonists in team Aon’s Ford Focus and before that was a race-winner in WSR’s BMW and Triple Eight’s factory Vauxhall Vectra.
His decision to join one of the pit lane’s smallest teams in a car that last year was unable to achieve an outright top ten finish will, therefore, come as a major surprise to many.
However, the 23-year-old believes the Golf has been improved significantly in AmD’s workshops in Essex during the winter break and that he can turn it into a front-running machine. Shaun Hollamby, managing director of AmD Tuning who raced the Golf in its debut last year, will take on the role of team manager.
Notably, for 2011 the Golf will be fitted with same more powerful, torquier turbocharged VW TFSI engine being used in rival outfit Special Tuning Racing’s SEAT Leon – a car Onslow-Cole tested recently at Silverstone.
Onslow-Cole, from New Malden, told btcc.net: “I really liked the feel of the engine in the SEAT and, having followed the Golf a few times on track last year when I was driving the Ford, I know already that it’s a very nimble car around corners with a good change of direction and also very capable over the kerbs.
“With the turbocharged TFSI engine fitted there’s a lot of potential here. Of course we won’t know exactly where we stand until we’re in a properly competitive situation – such as the first qualifying session at Brands Hatch’s opening round in two weeks. But I like the set-up here, Shaun’s got a very enthusiastic, experienced and positive crew working within the team. Knowing the team will be built solely around me is a big draw and I want to work with them and develop the Golf into a regular top ten contender. The additional support from YourRacingCar.com was an added incentive to join the team as the club gives its members a unique opportunity to have a direct involvement with the BTCC grid!
Hollamby added:
“Stepping down from the driving duties this season was an easy decision once I had got Tom to sign on the dotted line. Tom is one of the Top 10 Touring Car drivers in the world and has won races in every car he has driven- our job is to continue this winning streak! I would like to thank all the fans for their huge support in our debut season and rest assured AmD Milltek Racing will continue to be passionate about keeping the fans involvement.” Hollamby said of Onslow-Coles signing, ”I would not have approached a driver of Tom’s standing if I did not genuinely believe our Golf was going to be capable of some serious giant-killing acts in 2011. We’ve hit it off immediately and Tom has been very complimentary about our set-up – everyone involved is really buzzing as a result and we can’t wait to get started with him. A huge amount of preparation and development work has gone into the Golf during the off-season – with a driver of Tom’s technical know-how and natural speed we hope the following we gained in 2010 will become even stronger in 2011.”
Looking for more? Have a look below.
- AmD Milltek Racing / YouRacingCar announce their 2011 BTCC VW Golf
- AmD Milltek BTCC Team are heading to Las Vegas for SEMA 2010
- BTCC: Best weekend yet for the AmD Milltek Racing Golf
- AmD Milltek Racing T-Shirt featuring Shaun Hollamby’s Golf MKV BTCC Racer
- BTCC : AmD Milltek Racing VW Golf hits Brands Hatch for its first test
