Bristol Street Motors Nottingham Hyundai sponsors BTTC racer Tom Ingram

Vertu Motors has doubled-up its 2021 season support for British Touring Cars Championship (BTCC) racer Tom Ingram with sponsorship from its Bristol Street Motors Hyundai Nottingham dealership.

Vertu’s Newport-based online commercial vehicle retailer, Vansdirect, announced last week that it had put its support behind Ingram and EXCELR8 Trade Price Cars teammate Chris Smiley for the coming season.

Now the AM100 PLC operation has revealed that its Nottingham Hyundai dealership will also benefit from branding in Ingram’s Hyundai i30 N racing car.

The Bristol Street Motors Hyundai logo will feature on the race car, demo car, race overalls and trucks.

Justin Iliffe, branch manager at Bristol Street Motors Nottingham Hyundai, said: “We are proud and delighted to be sponsoring Tom. He is a talented driver, in a very exciting car who is expected to have a really good season.”

The EXCELR8 Trade Price Cars team’s car is based on the i30 N Fastback which is part of a growing line-up of ‘N’ performance cars from Hyundai.

The line-up, which already includes the i30 N, recently welcomed a new 204PS i20 N htachback and will soon feature a 280PS Kona N also – the brand’s first performance SUV.

Iliffe said: “I know that Tom recently tested the Hyundai i30N Fastback and was really impressed with its performance. 

“Feedback from our customers is overwhelmingly positive across the whole range. 

“Although very few are actually racing drivers, the design and innovative specification are very well-received and we expect that working with Tom will further raise the profile of the brand, and our dealership.”

Bristol Street Motors’ sponsorship runs for the full British Touring Car Championships season, which gets underway at Thruxton this weekend and runs until October.

Ingram and his team recently showcased its new i30 N racing car at Hyundai Nottingham, ahead of its media reveal and he will visit Bristol Street Motors Hyundai sites close to race locations throughout the season.

Ingram joins his new team with 16 race wins, 41 podium finishes, four pole positions and 13 fastest laps to his name after eight seasons in the BTCC.

Vertu's BTCC sponsorship follows marketing deals with Yorkshire and Durham cricket clubs, Formula One coverage on Channel 4, the Virtual Grand National and the naming rights to Newcastle's Eagles Community Arena.

Justina Williams, team owner at ExcelR8 Motorsport said: "We are delighted to continue with Bristol Street Motors as an EXCELR8 Team Partner for our 3rd season in the BTCC.

“Bristol Street Motors has been incredibly helpful to us, sourcing cars and parts for our Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance BTCC car and we are looking forward to repaying this assistance with plenty of trophies in 2021.”

Ingram said:  "Being able to reveal my new Hyundai i30N race car at the Nottingham dealership was a real treat and the perfect backdrop for the occasion.

“I’m really looking forward to driving the Hyundai i30N as well as seeing that model on the road with brand association which is important. I have a good feeling it’s going to be a great year for us both”.