The Motorbase Performance team demonstrated their 2020 potential with an impressive test run at Snetterton.

A total of 27 cars took part in the official two-day Goodyear tyre test and it was the Kent-based Motorbase team who topped the timings.

Scottish driver Rory Butcher impressed in both wet and dry conditions and set the fastest lap in the Ford Focus of the Wrotham-based outfit.

Team manager Oly Collins was thrilled with last week's performance, saying: “The test was brilliant. We’ve done a few days testing since lockdown began but we’ve been on our own, so you don’t fully know your pace.

“Rory was happy with the car straight out of the box, so while it was dry we decided to see what kind of time we could put in and it was good. We don’t know what our competitors were doing with weight and boost, but we were happy with what we did across the three cars.

“It’s good to test in all conditions. We all prefer the stability of dry running but this is the British Touring Car Championship. We have to be prepared for wet running. We learnt a couple of valuable things about the car in the wet conditions and all three drivers enjoyed the car in the wet as well as the dry.

The opening round of the championship takes place at Donington Park on August 1.

“There is no reason at all why we shouldn’t be confident to win,” he said.

“It’s a hugely competitive series with some great teams and drivers, so its tough. We’re up against Manufacturers in Toyota, Honda and BMW.

“Motorbase as a team has put a lot of time, money and hard work into designing, building and developing the new car. Pre-season testing has gone very well and the pace looks good. We’ve got some very good people throughout our team and we’re confident that 2020 can be the year we get to prove that.”

Butcher added: “Both the team’s and my own aspirations are to pose a real challenge this year and we have real intent going into round one.

“We face a gruelling compact season with many challenges ahead, so we first need to keep focussed on doing our jobs the very best we can and give our pest performance.”

Kent racer Jake Hill was also in action and he claimed a top-six place for the MB Motorsport team.

Esmee Hawkey, from Chislehurst, became the first female driver to take part in an official BTCC session for 13 years, when she took over driving duties from Hill on the final day. She chalked up more than 40 laps of experience in BTCC machinery.

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