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WSR becomes the latest team to join the NGTC ranks

By MJP Media | 17 December 2012

Having used the BMW 320si model for six seasons, WSR will contest the 2013 British Touring Car Championship with the brand new BMW 125i M Sport model and the continued support of eBay Motors.

Tom Onslow-Cole at the wheel of the 2012 WSR eBay Motors BMW 320si
Tom Onslow-Cole at the wheel of the 2012 WSR eBay Motors BMW 320si

Former BTCC champions West Surrey Racing (WSR) has announced its continuation with the BMW brand in 2013. In a major departure though, they are switching their attack to a brand new 1-Series car built to the BTCC's increasingly popular Next Generation Touring Car (NGTC) technical regulations.

The move to design and develop an exciting newcomer based on the M Sport version of the diminutive BMW 125i has largely been made possible thanks to ongoing support from eBay Motors. The UK's leading online automotive marketplace has announced it will continue its title sponsorship of the team for the 2013 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

Rob Collard made the most of the S2000 specification car in 2012
Rob Collard made the most of the S2000 specification car in 2012

It will be quite a technical change for the highly-respected WSR outfit which has been campaigning with elderly BMW 320si models for the past six seasons, capturing the Drivers' Championship crown with Colin Turkington in 2009 and finishing runner-up in last season's Teams' Championship.

"We chose the new 1-Series as we felt it was more suitable to the current BTCC regulations." explained Dick Bennetts, WSR Team Principal. "The wheelbase is quite a lot shorter than the new 3-Series car, so it should perform well on the tight twisty circuits that we race on in the UK. With the introduction of the new model BMW 125i M Sport, we are confident of being very competitive throughout the 2013 season."

eBay Motors will continue its title sponsorship of the WSR team in 2013
eBay Motors will continue its title sponsorship of the WSR team in 2013

As part of the change, WSR with eBay Motors will announce a new livery as well as the driver line-up for the 2013 BTCC season in the near future and we will have the news as soon as it is available.

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