Airwaves Racing out in force at the Rock!

Airwaves Racing have officially confirmed that they will be fielding a third Mountune-powered Ford Focus ST for round 8 of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Rockingham this coming weekend.

Rumours have been rife surrounding the possible appearance of the third car since the start of the 2011 season, with many names past and present being linked to the seat. Following a series of negotiations within the team and its sponsors, David Bartrum, Team Principal of the Kent-based Motorbase run team has confirmed that the team have put the woes of Knockhill behind them and will out in full force at Rockingham with the addition of the highly anticipated third Airwaves Racing ‘red devil’ Ford Focus driven by Motorbase driver, Michael Caine.

Newmarket based Caine, who will be racing under the number 6, had previously raced in British GT and at Le Mans before joining the Motorbase squad in 2006 to compete in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, where he has consistently challenged at the top of the leader board finishing twice as runner up in both 2008 and again in 2010.

Independent Championship leaders Airwaves Racing are now making the last preparations before heading to Northamptonshire for the eighth meeting of the season at Rockingham with a renewed focus and strengthened team as they set their sights on closing the gap on the Championship lead as the 2011 season enters its final stages.

Airwaves Racing Team Principal David Bartrum said: “Michael Caine is the longest serving Motorbase Performance driver so we know him as good as we will ever know any other driver. Michael does everything he can for the team; he’s a Motorbase team player through and through and is the perfect team-mate to drive alongside Mat [Jackson] and Liam [Griffin].”

“The team and Michael are under no illusions that he’s taking on a particularly tough task at the hardest point of the season but with his personality he will be a great addition to the BTCC. I know a lot of people want to see him have this chance so I hope that all the fans will give him the support he rightly deserves.”

Airwaves Racing Team Manager Oly Collins said: “It’s good to finally have the third Airwaves car out and absolutely fantastic to have Michael [Caine] in the seat. He’s very much part of the Motorbase team and has been for some time. After a demo run in the car at Snetterton, he got the BTCC bug as did some of the sponsors and it’s great that he’s finally getting the chance to run in the BTCC and to help the Airwaves Racing team with our Championship challenge.”

Airwaves Racing driver Michael Caine said: “It’s an opportunity that I thought would never ever arise and I’m delighted. I just hope that I can wear the Airwaves brand with pride and represent Motorbase and the sponsors in the correct manner to deliver the results that the team deserve and support Mat and Liam with their challenge for the Championship, and in my little way, hopefully enjoy it!”

ENDS

Airwaves Racing - for more information call 01732 822266 or email nickihickman@motorbaseperformance.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

Hi-res images are available upon request.

Please credit all images PSP Images.

About Airwaves Racing

Airwaves Racing are operated by Kent-based outfit Motorbase Performance which formed in 2004. Running under the Airwaves Racing title sponsor name, the team are challenging for the 2011 BTCC title with their ‘little red devil’ Ford Focus ST NGTC powered cars, driven by Mat Jackson, Liam Griffin and Michael Caine.

About Airwaves

Airwaves is a unique mentholated chewing gum product that comes in four refreshing flavours- menthol & eucalyptus, cherry menthol, green mint and black mint. Because of its not-so-secret ingredient- menthol- Airwaves delivers a uniquely cooling gum experience. Airwaves is the UK’s second biggest gum brand, enjoyed by as many as 5 million people across the country. Produced by Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co, Airwaves is still manufactured in Plymouth, England.

Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company is a recognized leader in confections with a wide range of product offerings including not just gum, but mints and hard and chewy sweets. The company has operations in more than 40 countries and distributes to over 180 countries. They are world famous for making Wrigley’s Extra®, and much loved by fans of Starburst®, Skittles®, Juicy Fruit®, Doublemint® and many more. Wrigley celebrates 100 years in 2011, and retains its private, family-owned status now operating as a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated.

About the BTCC

The British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) was formed in 1958 and is Britain's most popular motor racing spectacle. Its race season comprises ten events at top circuits across the UK. It is contested by professional racing drivers in competition versions of every day road cars, giving it tremendous public appeal. Some 325,000 watch the BTCC trackside each year. It is also receives widespread UK TV exposure on the ITV network with all ten race events broadcast live on ITV4, ITV4 HD and www.itv.com

Dunlop is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high and ultra-high performance tyres with an impressive track record of motor sport successes. Dunlop’s extensive racing experience has led to innovative technologies for tyres designed for everyday motoring. Always looking to maximize driving pleasure, Dunlop offers all types of motorists the performance and durability of the latest tyre technologies, including tyres with RunOnFlat technology, which is fitted to award winning vehicles such as the Mini, BMW One, Three, Five Series and X5. Many of the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers including Alfa Romeo, AMG, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Jaguar, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche fit Dunlop as standard. Official Dunlop website www.dunloptyres.co.uk