Jack Clarke joins BTCC with Ford Focus
Jack Clarke will contest the 2014 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, driving a Motorbase Performance-prepared NGTC Ford Focus under the Crabbie’s Racing banner.
Clarke, who is the stepson of former Formula One and BTCC driver Julian Bailey, previously enjoyed a successful single-seater career, which culminated in a victory and several podiums in the FIA Formula Two Championship.
He will be familiar to ITV viewers having raced for two seasons in the Formula BMW championship, as well as a guest appearance in the Porsche Carrera Cup at Snetterton in 2008.
Surrey-based Clarke has been evaluated alongside Giovanardi in recent tests at both Brands Hatch and Snetterton, where the team were hugely impressed with his speed and ability to adapt to a car that was completely new to him. He will now carry out a number of further test runs, including the only official BTCC pre-season test at Donington Park on 18 March, where the all-new Crabbie’s Racing livery will be unveiled.
Clarke said: “I’m delighted to be joining the BTCC and I’m thankful to both Crabbie’s and Motorbase for the opportunity. The BTCC continues to go from strength-to-strength, and I’m excited to be racing in Britain’s premier championship.
“The calibre and quality of the field is very high and it’ll be my first year in touring cars, so I’m under no illusions as to how tough it’s going to be. Testing has gone very well and I obviously have confidence in my own ability, so I cannot wait to take on this exciting challenge with Crabbie’s Racing.”
Clarke has already been welcomed to the championship by some of the other drivers:
Watch every round of the 2014 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship live on ITV4 and itv player.