Hello everybody,
Well, we did it!! Our aim with a brand new car at the start of the season was to finish the British Touring Car Championship in the top 10 and grab a podium which was a big ask but something for us to work towards. We did finish in the top ten and were lucky enough not only to get a podium but the first outright win ever for Mercedes-Benz.
I really can’t explain how grateful I am to the Ciceley Motorsport team and our title sponsors WIX Filtration. The association with WIX came to us really late but as soon as it did things began to change for the better and at a rapid rate. The team began building the new car, at least 700 hours go into just the body of the car fitting the roll cage etc, then there is the aerodynamic package, electronics, design it’s never ending!! Probably the biggest challenge we faced was moving the team from a small but professional family run outfit into a full on title sponsored squad with race and championship winning aspirations.
We moved into our own purpose built workshops with three car bays, a machine and welding room, offices which also houses the trucks. Building, electrics and painting took up the majority of the winter while the car was in build and then we had to design and kit out the hospitality unit and the pit garage, buy race trailers and stock/kit them out. The Ciceley Motorsport team not only all pulled together to achieve all of the above, we had fun while doing it, there are no slackers on our team, just a bunch of dedicated, hardworking grafters.
Everybody in the team has really enjoyed themselves this year I have had a brilliant time. We get on so well with everybody at WIX, we really work well together. After the last round at Brands Hatch it was absolutely chucking it down and we had arranged to go for an Indian then for a few drinks to thank the team and the sponsors for such a good year. Wayne Stevens the MD of WIX Filtration, stayed behind and helped the lads dismantle the awning and pack away the truck…… It was like a scene from the “Deadliest Catch” fishing in the Bearing Sea!! Now that is a sign of a great team, from top to bottom, no difference!
Next year, well things are still pretty much up in the air. There is only good news so far though, WIX Racing are remaining as our title sponsors, Fuchs, MAC Tools, Finch Signs and Ciceley Commercial Vehicles have already committed to continue supporting the team. We have been looking after Aiden Moffat and are building him a Mercedes A Class to compete in next year. Whether we run a second car is still to be decided, it depends on us being able to secure a licence and available drivers.
I am racing at the Race of Remembrance in November and the full team is going down to support the Mission Motorsport Charity that helps badly injured soldiers returning from Afghanistan and other conflicts. Davie Birrell, one of the lads, is a legend that races a car with no legs and spends quite a bit of time with our team. It’s a brilliant cause and I am really looking forward to it.
Thanks for your support throughout this year and reading my blogs, I will keep you updated with any significant changes throughout the off season.
All the very best
Adam