Wrotham based Motorbase performance have welcomed Alex Martin to the family for the 2015 British Touring Car Championship.

Martin will race an NGTC Ford Focus ST prepared by Motorbase under the Dextra Racing banner in the upcoming campaign, and Martin has been on the teams radar for a while.

Dorset-based Martin makes the move into tin-top racing following three successful years competing in the Ferrari Challenge Europe championship, which culminated in him securing two race wins and five podiums during the 2014 season. Martin is relishing a return to the BTCC paddock and his debut in the UK’s premier race series having previously raced on the TOCA support package in the Porsche Carrera Cup.

The 27 year-old has been evaluated by the race winning constructor team during recent test sessions at Snetterton and Silverstone, and the team were impressed with his initial pace and ability to adapt to the front wheel drive Focus. Martin is set to partake in a number of further test runs with the Kent-based squad with the all-new, eye-catching Dextra livery set to be unveiled yesterday at London ExCeL’s Lux Live exhibition.

Speaking about making the move into the BTCC, Martin said: “I’m delighted to be joining the British Touring Car Championship line up for 2015. I’ve wanted to do the BTCC for a while now, it’s something that I’ve been looking at for the last few years and it’s great that it’s finally become a reality.

“The BTCC continues to go from strength to strength and the competition on the grid is second to none so I know I have a big job on my hands.  Testing has gone very well so far, I have a lot of experience but I’m well aware that I have a huge challenge ahead of me both in terms of learning the style of the BTCC and also getting to grips with a front wheel drive car. I can’t wait for the season to get started – roll on 2015!”

David Bartrum, Motorbase Performance BTCC Team Principal said: “We’ve spoken to Alex many times over the past few years and know him from his Porsche Carrera Cup days with Team Parker so it’s great to finally see him in the BTCC.

“We’ve been evaluating Alex alongside other drivers, and he did a great job in the Focus. He knows that he has a lot to learn but I’m confident that as a very competent GT racer, Alex will get his head around the Focus in no time at all.”

Photos supplied by Jakob Ebery