New focus for MB Motorsport in 2021
MB Motorsport will field a pair of fourth-generation Ford Focus STs as the squad enters its sophomore season in the BTCC.
Continuing Mark Blundell’s successful collaboration with Shaun Hollamby and Pete Osborne, the switch comes following news of the recent acquisition of Motorbase Performance by the pair, as the team jumps into race-winning machinery for 2021. Hollamby and Blundell will continue to spearhead the team’s efforts remaining in their roles of team principal and sporting director respectively.
The team made an early move last year to re-sign BRDC SuperStar Jake Hill, who cannot wait to get behind the wheel of front-running machinery as he looks to continue his progression within the BTCC. The 25-year-old will be joined by a new teammate for the 2021 season as the team give their all to make a fully-fledged assault on the Championship.
Today’s announcement also means that is the end of the road for the Honda Civic Type R FK2, after a long-running and successful involvement in the championship. Fittingly, the much-loved car was taken to the podium in its final outing as Hill secured a third-place finish back at Brands Hatch Indy last November.
“This news marks another exciting point in the team’s journey,” said the squad’s sporting director, Mark Blundell.
“We all loved our debut campaign in the series last year and are united in wanting to achieve much more in the coming year. We have a fantastic relationship with Shaun and Pete and are delighted to be working with Motorbase Performance in the next step of our journey. The Honda Civic was a fantastic car and we all loved it fondly, but everything has a lifespan in motorsport, and we are firm in our belief that the Ford Focus ST is a huge step forward both in terms of outright pace but also with the introduction of Hybrid engines in 2022.
“It’s been really difficult to keep a lid on these plans as I’ve been pretty excited about letting the cat out of the bag,” admitted Hill. “I was delighted when I heard everything had been brought together and I’d be behind the wheel of a Ford Focus this coming season. The Honda Civic was a big step forward for me and I loved every race in it, but today’s announcement sees us as a team go to another level again and takes my ambitions for the season ahead to a new level as well."