Mat Jackson and Aron Smith will re-join Motorbase Performance for its 2013 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) campaign.

The duo will be competing in a pair of in-house built NGTC Ford Focus ST’s for the Kent based team.

2013 will see David Bartrum’s squad enter its first full season as a constructor following the debut of its race winning NGTC Focus midway through the 2012 season. The Kent-based team is poised for its most ambitious title bid to date with the addition of a second in-house built Mountune-powered NGTC Ford Focus ST.

Team Principal David Bartrum said: “We’re incredibly excited about this season. It’s great to be starting the season with two drivers that know the team so well; consistency is key at such an important time with our own car, and it means we can get straight to work.

“With Mat [Jackson] and Aron [Smith] both back on board, I believe we have one of the strongest driver pairings on the grid. Mat has shown his BTCC pedigree over past few years and with the new NGTC up to speed, I fully expect him to be right up there battling for the 2013 title. It’s also great to have Aron back in the Motorbase family; he had a great debut season last year, finishing on a high; and with a new NGTC under him I’m sure there’s much more to come from the young Irishman!

“The NGTC exceeded everyone’s expectations last year, and with the work and developments we’ve made over the winter I’m confident that we will be serious title contenders in 2013. Roll on Brands Hatch!”

2013 marks Jackson’s fourth season with the Motorbase squad and his seventh competing in the BTCC where he has become one of its most successful and popular drivers; “2012 was a season of two halves for us, with the latter part focussed on developing and testing the new NGTC with the view that 2013 would be a key year for the team and myself” commented Jackson. “The NGTC programme has been an exciting project to be involved with and what we achieved in 2012 was epic; in the space of 80 days we took the car from the drawing board to race wins; and this has given us a great platform to start from.”

Jackson added: “We also knew how much more the NGTC could give and the Motorbase boys have worked incredibly hard over the winter to improve the car further. We will have to wait for the weather to improve so I can further my knowledge of the car, but I believe that together with the passion within the team, we have a car that can challenge for the main title in 2013”

23 year old former Motorsport Ireland Young Driver of the Year, Aron Smith, also makes a welcome return to the Motorbase squad for his second season. The Irishman impressed during the closing rounds the 2012 season in particular, picking up his maiden race win at the season finale at Brands Hatch. “Your first season is always a tricky one because you’re very conscious that you need to prove yourself, so that was an added bit of pressure” said Smith.

“The best part about last season was being with Motorbase, everyone made me feel right at home and helped me to develop into a touring car driver. To return to for a second season with Motorbase is what I always wanted so fingers crossed I can give them the results that they deserve. I don’t think people realise how big a transition it is into the BTCC so it’s nice to know I don’t have as big a learning curve ahead of me this year and that everyone at Motorbase is behind me.

Smith added: “I think this season will be a great one to be part of as all the major teams have converted to the NGTC regulations which can only mean one thing – some great racing! Before Christmas I got my first taster of the NGTC focus and was blown away by it. Since then the team have been flat out developing it even further so I can’t wait to start testing once again.”