Josh Cook Planning To Graduate To BTCC With Newly-Formed #RacingforHeroes

A new motorsport initiative titled #RacingforHeroes has been launched today which potentially could see Josh Cook graduate to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship for 2015.

Created to raise awareness of and funds for Help for Heroes and the many wounded, sick and injured military veterans the charity supports, the newly formed team will run drivers in five of the six series on the TOCA package next year – with the Ginetta Junior Championship not being ventured into.

Believed to be taking over a TOCA BTCC Licence from an existing team, it is yet to be confirmed what car the 23-year-old will pilot in the championship although BTCC Crazy believes they are in talks with three teams.

Having finished as this year’s Courier Connections Renault UK Clio Cup Vice-Champion, Cook could become the second driver to graduate to the BTCC from the one-make series in the past few weeks after champion Mike Bushell was announced as an AMD Tuning.com driver.

Peter Thorpe, founder of the initiative, said: “We, as a group, are so proud to launch such an exciting team into British motorsport in support of Help for Heroes.

“It’s a unique idea, forging relationships between drivers and sponsors and offering our partners what is the biggest PR and marketing platform in UK racing.”

Clio Cup series manager William Fewes added: “The other incredible news, of course, is to learn Josh [Cook] will be the second driver in quick succession to step-up into the BTCC from Renault Clios.

“To have our champion, Mike Bushell, and now our Vice-Champion as well in touring cars next year is total confirmation of the Clio Cup’s strength and position. We wish Josh and his #RacingforHeroes programme every success.”

Despite budget still said to be sought after, Stirling Motorsport Management’s Thorpe is confident that a lot can be achieved across all championships entered.

Like another new BTCC team, Infiniti Support Our Paras Racing, the long-term aim is to run a team entirely of injured veterans in the future.

For more information on the team, head to www.racingforheroes.co.uk