DONAGHMORE’S Andrew Watson will make up one half of Toyota Gazoo Racing’s driver line-up after being snapped up for this year’s Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.
Watson enjoyed a stellar debut season in the tin top series with CarStore Power Maxed Racing, securing top-three finishes at Knockhill and Silverstone on his way to lifting the Jack Sears Trophy – the sub-division for drivers who have never scored an overall podium.
A former FIA World Endurance Championship racer with bags of experience in rear-wheel-drive cars, Watson’s early performances in his rookie British Touring Car Championship campaign allied fears he could struggle to be competitive in front-wheel-drive machinery.
At half of the thirty races he started in a Vauxhall Astra, the 29-year-old registered points, took three victories in the Independents’ Championship and ten Jack Sears Trophy wins.
With full manufacturer support behind him for 2024, and his Toyota Corolla GR Sport run by Cheshire-based Speedworks Motorsport, Watson reckons he can keep moving forward.
“I am extremely excited to be joining Toyota Gazoo Racing UK and Speedworks Motorsport for the 2024 season,” said Watson, who is a member of the Mark Blundell-fronted MBP management stable.
“They are proven winners in the British Touring Car Championship with a fantastic track record – and I am hoping to add to that tally.
“With a year under my belt, I can go into the season properly acclimatised to the Championship and hit the ground running.
“To be associated with one of the world’s leading manufacturers is an amazing opportunity for me, and I would like to say a big thank you to everyone at Speedworks Motorsport, Toyota Gazoo Racing UK and MBP for all of their support.
“Having met the team and explored the facilities, there is no doubt that this is one of the most professional organisations I have worked with and that fills me with great confidence that we can achieve something special together this year,” added Watson.
The Team Principal of Toyota Gazoo Racing UK says securing Watson’s signature is a “real coup” and admitted his “performance, pace, and racecraft” during 2023 really stood out.
“We also saw that the skills he acquired earlier in his career enable him to adapt very quickly to any given situation – a key attribute in the unpredictable world of the British Touring Car Championship,” said Christian Dick.
“He is an extremely accomplished racer and clearly a very special talent who looks destined for great things in the championship. We can’t wait to get going!”