22/6/03

Team Varta’s Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship Production class squad is expected to double in size to four cars from the series’ next round at Croft.

Jim Edwards, their highest-placed Production driver, will switch from his Honda Accord to a new Peugeot 307 with which his team-mate Tom Boardman has already won three times this season.

Porsche racer Richard Marsh will take over the Accord, while Jay Wheals, a front-runner in the one-make Proton series, will drive a Peugeot 306.

“This means another two cars out there on the BTCC’s Production class grid, but there are plenty of reasons we have to do this,” said team boss John Batchelor.

“Four cars also give us a much stronger chance to pick up extra points in the Production class teams’ championship.

“Jim, meanwhile, has worked wonders in the Accord, which is not the most competitive car out there, to stay in the hunt for the Production class drivers’ title. Tom’s wins clearly demonstrated the potential of the 307 and, with them both now in Peugeots, they can work together as a team to close on the leaders.

Batchelor also said his team will soon announce a new sponsor in addition to battery giant Varta.