WTCC: Rotek puts Ford WTCC plans on hold

By Kevin Turner

Tuesday, July 9th 2013, 13:07 GMT

Rotek Racing has put plans to enter the World Touring Car Championship with the ex-Arena Motorsport Ford Focuses on hold.

The VLN squad bought the ex-Arena machines earlier this year and had planned to race them later in the season ahead of a full campaign in 2014.

But with the WTCC confirming it will run to new regulations in 2014, Rotek is now considering its options

American tin-top racer Robb Holland, who is the only driver confirmed for the programme so far, is concerned that factory efforts such as Citroen's could push costs up.

"We're trying to figure it out and we've done a bunch of testing," he said.

"The issue is the new rules package being [introduced] for 2014. It's a struggle to find new investment with the focus more on the manufacturers than independents.

"The big question is, with the manufacturers coming in, what happens to budgets? At the moment they are very reasonable."

Holland believes the key will be how much help the older cars, such as the Focus, are given to be able to compete with the new machines.

"I don't think the WTCC knows exactly which way to go," he added. "If they don't performance balance the cars I don't think the team will have any interest in competing.

"I still think it's the right championship to be in, but it's got to make sense for independents."

BTCC OUTINGS

Holland also confirmed he is hoping to appear in the British Touring Car Championship this year, driving one of Tony Gilham's Team Hard Vauxhall Insignias.

The American, who raced at the Snetterton and Croft rounds last season, is one of four drivers set to test the ex-James Cole machine this week.

He hopes to race at Snetterton next month and take in one further round, if his VLN endurance commitments allow.

"Tony and I agreed at the beginning of the year we'd do at least a couple of races," said the 45-year-old.

"Snetterton is likely and I'd like to do another round; it depends on the schedule."

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Source: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/108692

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