Currently reading: Mark Blundell to compete in 2019 BTCC

Ex-Formula 1, IndyCar and Le Mans racer has signed a deal to compete in touring cars for the first time

Mark Blundell will make a return to frontline motorsport this year having signed to compete in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

Blundell was a winner at the Le Mans 24 Hours and in IndyCar, and has 61 Formula 1 grands prix on his CV. Now he will drive an Audi S3 saloon for the Trade Price Cars team alongside team-mate Jake Hill.

This will be the first time in Blundell’s 32-year racing career that he will have raced in a touring car series. He has signed to compete for the whole season.

“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.

“It is going to be a new challenge for me but one I am really excited by. [BTCC boss] 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.”

Fifty-two-year-old Blundell claimed three podium finishes in his F1 career, along with an overall victory for Peugeot at Le Mans in 1992.  

“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,” said Trade Price Cars team manager Shaun Hollamby. “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.”

The BTCC season starts at Brands Hatch on the weekend of 6-7 April.

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Mark Tisshaw

mark-tisshaw-autocar
Title: Editor

Mark is a journalist with more than a decade of top-level experience in the automotive industry. He first joined Autocar in 2009, having previously worked in local newspapers. He has held several roles at Autocar, including news editor, deputy editor, digital editor and his current position of editor, one he has held since 2017.

From this position he oversees all of Autocar’s content across the print magazine, autocar.co.uk website, social media, video, and podcast channels, as well as our recent launch, Autocar Business. Mark regularly interviews the very top global executives in the automotive industry, telling their stories and holding them to account, meeting them at shows and events around the world.

Mark is a Car of the Year juror, a prestigious annual award that Autocar is one of the main sponsors of. He has made media appearances on the likes of the BBC, and contributed to titles including What Car?Move Electric and Pistonheads, and has written a column for The Sun.

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blogsgeek 25 June 2019

Amazing Driver

I like the way how he performs in the race and I can bet he will win surely.

 

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blogsgeek 25 June 2019
Waltersmith 14 February 2019

Best Driver

I like Mark Blundell because they was a great ability on how to race in a speedway. This is another great driver to drive in the best competition series there is. unbelievable!

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