Marchand Ambassador Oliphant Secures Dream Drive With Reigning Champions West Surrey Racing

Marchand Ambassador and rising star Tom Oliphant has secured one of the most coveted seats on the British Touring Car Championship grid for 2019 after signing with reigning champions West Surrey Racing for his second season in the biggest race series in the UK.

Following a fantastic debut campaign in the championship this year, the Cheshire born driver is over the moon to have been given the opportunity to race with the most successful team in recent BTCC history, having won ten overall titles in the past ten seasons.

Taking both the Teams’ and Manufacturers’ titles in each of the last three seasons, the Sunbury-On-Thames based squad completed a clean sweep of championship glory in 2018 as Colin Turkington secured his third Drivers’ crown.

Oliphant entered the BTCC with four years’ experience on its support package, being crowned the 2015 champion in the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup before taking four podium finishes across two campaigns in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB.

The 28 year old from Leamington Spa made a great impression during his debut BTCC campaign in 2018, qualifying in the top ten on five occasions, securing twelve points scoring finishes and recording his first fastest lap in the championship during the final race of the year.

Oliphant will once again be eligible to compete in the Jack Sears Trophy in 2019, which is a class open to all drivers who start the season without an overall podium in the series, as well as aiding West Surrey Racing in their quest for Teams’ and Manufacturers’ glory.

Tom Oliphant: “It’s truly a dream come true to become a West Surrey Racing driver in the British Touring Car Championship in 2019. Ever since I started looking at the BTCC as an option in my career, I knew that WSR and BMW were the package I wanted to be part of.

“WSR are for me the best team on the BTCC grid. With ten overall titles in the past ten seasons and with over 600 races under their belt, it was clear to me that they have the experience and expertise I need to help me progress into a front-runner in this championship.

“I raced front-wheel drive machinery in my first year in the BTCC and I’ve won titles in rear-wheel drive cars, so I’m comfortable in both and feel I can build on everything I learnt in my debut BTCC season and really push for the front of the grid in 2019.