BTCC 2021 Team Preview: EXCELR8 Trade Price Cars

Excelr8 Trade Price Cars come into the 2021 season with a strong four driver line-up,

with Tom Ingram as the spearhead of their push for glory this year.

The team have continuity within their line-up in the form of Chris Smiley, who

had a very strong 2020 campaign, finishing in the points at every meeting and

giving the EXCELR8 squad their first BTCC podium at Donington Park’s season

opener.

Alongside Ingram and Smiley is former British GT champion Rick Parfitt Jr, which

will be music to the ears of his fans, after he sat out the 2020 season of racing due to Crohn’s disease.

I believe the musician and racing driver will be a strong driver in EXCELR8’s 2021

program, especially once he gets up to speed in the Hyundai 30N Fastback.

Completing their line-up is Jack Butel, who moves to the outfit after a good rookie

season in the BTCC with Ciceley Motorsport.

I think we will continue to see the Jersey-based driver develop his talent in the series, and we could see him finish in a strong position come the end of 2021.

Connor Minniss

EXCELR8 TPC look to be in their best form ever coming into the 2021 British Touring Car Championship season.

With white hot talent Tom Ingram behind the wheel of one of their four Hyundai i30N’s for this season, the team are looking positive and ready to challenge at the front of the grid as we turn our attention onto the official pre-season test and onto the first round of the championship.

The forthcoming campaign will mark the team’s third year in the BTCC. As a team, they are walking out of the winter break with confidence and a belief that their star-studded drivers are going to deliver with their impressive new machinery.

The quad line-up of drivers is going to be an undeniably deadly composition with strong, proven talent in many differing formulae, filling the seats.

EXCELR8 aren’t to be ignored this year, despite having to compete with an equally strong midfield grid.

Will they be able to capitalise on their positive winter testing? Can Tom Ingram or any of their drivers score a massive upset in the first round?

Mo Rehman

Chris Smiley impressed me during 2020 as he settled into the new Hyundai package and secured consistent points finishes.

I expect for him to be pushing for at least a few podium spots in his second season at the team, the latter of which is a gift for him to build on his targets from last year. I’m sure he will be unphased with a triple number of teammates.

Butel only debuted into the BTCC last year and secured one points finish. However, that was in the aged Mercedes-Benz A Class which has now been retired so he can stretch his legs and really show his true racing material in the i30N.

Without a shadow of a doubt, Tom Ingram is one of the main talking points as a notable championship protagonist. Just as he was building steam in the Corolla hatchback, he switches team after seven years with his debuting Speedworks squad.

It will only be a matter of how soon he can acclimatise himself with the Hyundai, how long will it take until he does find himself as championship contender again, and what will his performance be like compared to his three new teammates?

BTCC 2021: The driver market simplified – as a timeline