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American Robb Holland to join Team HARD. at Snetterton

By MJP Media | 11 July 2012

The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship is set to get its first American driver in almost 40 years after Robb Holland signed for Team HARD.


Holland, from Colorado and a front-runner in North America's SCCA World Challenge touring car series, is expected to contest Snetterton and Knockhill's BTCC rounds in August. Prior to that he will test Team HARD.'s Honda Civic S2000 this Friday (13 July) at Snetterton.

Team boss Tony Gilham, who has raced the Honda in the season's first half, says he expects to contest Snetterton and Knockhill as well, but is remaining tight-lipped beyond that. For the record, he achieved a maiden podium result with the Civic at Donington Park and also led at Thruxton.

The last driver from the USA to have competed in the BTCC is believed to be Bill Gubelmann in a Ford Capri in 1975. Other notables include F1 drivers Richie Ginther and Dan Gurney and, of course, Hollywood star Steve McQueen in the Sixties!

Holland, aged 44 and from Denver, said "The BTCC is very popular in the States, particularly when it's shown on the Speed channel, plus I've followed it for some time, I like Tony and the team's attitude and the opportunity was too good to miss. I just hope I don't have to learn the team dance!" Holland added: "The Snetterton test will help me get used to the parameters of the car and then the race meetings there and at Knockhill will give me a feeling for what the racing is about. This will be a toe-in-the-water exercise, but I've talked to Tony and a few other teams and am planning on being in the championship permanently in 2013."

Dartford-based Gilham added: "We're very happy that Robb has chosen us for his first BTCC races. Coming over to race in the BTCC might be a bit of a culture shock for him - particularly a place like Knockhill! But Robb is massively experienced in touring cars in the States and is a very exciting addition to our team and the BTCC grid."

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