BTCC
BTCC: Ford to switch teams in 1996
Ford in 1996 BTCC team switch FORD has confirmed the long-circulating rumours that it is to abandon Andy Rouse Engineering, its British Touring Car Championship partner of the last three seasons, in favour of the West Surrey racing team. The ...
Edited: Apr 10, 2006, 6:41 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Ford in 1996 BTCC team switch
FORD has confirmed the long-circulating rumours that it is to abandon Andy Rouse Engineering, its British Touring Car Championship partner of the last three seasons, in favour of the West Surrey racing team.
The move comes after a dismal 1995 season which saw the Rouse-run works Mondeos regularly outpaced by rivals from Vauxhall, Renault and Volvo and - on occasion - by the privately run Ford of Team Dynamics.
Double Touring Car World Cup Champion Paul Radisich will be staying with Ford for '96, but there is no word yet on his driving partner. His '95 team-mate, Kelvin Burt, has signed with Volvo.
West Surrey - run from an Ashford, Middlesex, base by Kiwi Dick Bennetts - has no touring car experience, nor indeed any saloon car pedigree. But West Surrey has dominated Formula 3 since the early 1980s, winning championships with Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen, Rubens Barrichello and Jonathan Palmer. Ford director of European Motorsport, Peter Gillitzer, said of the move: "We are delighted that West Surrey Racing will be running Ford's programme in the fiercely competitive British Touring Car Championship. Dick Bennetts has a reputation for total dedication to whatever he is involved with and West Surrey's results in single-seeracing provide ample proof of that.
"We are also pleased to have retained the services of two times World Touring Car Champion Paul Radisich for 1996. Paul has a terrific depth of experience with the Mondeo and also brings continuity to the team."
There is no official word of the intentions of Andy Rouse Engineering, but it seems certain that the four-time BTCC Champion - and director of championship organiser TOCA - will continue to remain involved. He was spotted testing a 'hack' development Mondeo equipped with a transverse-mounted four-cylinder - rather than the V6 of the current Mondeo racer - in the week prior to Ford's announcement. There is speculation that Rouse will mount a privateer bid on the championship, possibly with Rouse himself returning to the wheel after a season away.
-- Max Communications The official BTCC website: http://www.demon.co.uk/racing/index.html
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article BTCC: 1995 entry list
Next article FNIPPON: Suzuka results
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Palmer
Analysis: Could Palmer yet save his F1 career?
Formula 1
Formula 1
Analysis: Could Palmer yet save his F1 career?
Palmer no longer interested in Silverstone takeover
Formula 1
Formula 1
Palmer no longer interested in Silverstone takeover
Snetterton names corner after Justin Wilson
IndyCar
IndyCar
Snetterton names corner after Justin Wilson
Latest news
MotoGP teams told Qatar Grand Prix expected to go ahead
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
20 min
MotoGP teams told Qatar Grand Prix expected to go ahead
Honda confirms Diogo Moreira for factory team in 2027; David Alonso heads to LCR
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP 1 h
Honda confirms Diogo Moreira for factory team in 2027; David Alonso heads to LCR
Vincent Biard: “The Maserati GT2 was thrilling in 2026; next year we want continuity and progress”
Sponsored
Sponsored
Portimão
1 h
Vincent Biard: “The Maserati GT2 was thrilling in 2026; next year we want continuity and progress”
Barcelona set to host IndyCar race in 2027 under multi-year deal
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 14 h
Barcelona set to host IndyCar race in 2027 under multi-year deal
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe