Rob Austin Racing will return to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship this season, running a two-car team under the WIX Racing banner.
The deal with WIX Filters was initially a one-off for the 2012 season finale at Brands Hatch and has now been extended to a full campaign.
Team owner Rob Austin will again lead the team, with former single-seater racer Will Bratt alongside him for a full season having taken part in five events last year.
“The partnership with WIX is fantastic for us and will provide the stability we need to be able to concentrate on winning races,” Austin said. “It also allows us to take big steps forward in the development of the car.
“I have always maintained that the potential is there to win races and this year we will show it. Certainly, 2013 promises to be an exciting year.
“Having Will back for a full season is fantastic news. He is a great driver and is going to surprise a lot of people this season. He was unlucky not to get some better results last year, but he did show how quick he can be. Mark my words, he is a quality driver.”
Bratt himself said he was delighted to have the chance to compete in a full BTCC season for the first time.
“I can’t wait to get started, I really enjoyed the racing last year and the prospect of a full season is tremendous. The development of the car will allow us to compete at the sharp end.”
Wayne Stevens, Sales & Marketing Director for WIX Filter, said the deal was a no-brainer for the company following the success of the Brands Hatch event last year.
“We dipped our toe in the water with RAR at the final BTCC round last season and the response we had from it was just amazing,” he said. “After hearing feedback from our customers and in particular our race-weekend guests, the decision to team up with RAR and Rob was an easy one.
“The heritage of WIX Filters in the US lies in NASCAR which has provided a fantastic platform to underline the pedigree of the WIX brand. Becoming involved in top level motor sport in the UK will help to provide the same continuity here.”
