AmD Essex are the latest team to announce their intentions for 2010 by entering the BTCC. AmD Essex have chosen to run a Volkswagen Golf, a car that hasn’t been seen in the BTCC in over 20 years.

Speaking on their website, Shaun Hollamby said “We are really proud to be bringing the Volkswagen name back into top-line touring cars. We have been working on a plan to move up to the BTCC arena after winning the Dunlop Sportmaxx Cup in 2009 and a BTCC VW Golf is a perfect fit. The VW Golf is one of the UK’s most popular cars and it would be great to see hordes of VW Golf owners cheering us on throughout the year!”

Shaun Hollamby will be driving for them all season but the team are looking at trying to raise enough funding to run a second car at selected rounds of the championship driven by Simon Shaw. Unlike Pirtek Motorsports and Pinkney Motorsport, AmD will be adhering to the S2000 regulations and have opted out of developing a NGTC-spec car at this stage.

“Starting with a new car package, we expect 2010 to be a gradual development season but I am confident I can get a few competitive results. Winning races is not a realistic target at this stage but, having won races in every series in which I have competed, I would like to think I can hold my own at this level,” said Hollamby.

AmD will also be showcasing their car at the Autosport International show which starts next weekend.

Photo Credit: AmD Essex

James Mappin is the editor-in-chief covering the British Touring Car Championship. You can contact him at james@btcccrazy.co.uk, on twitter @BTCCCrazy or on his personal twitter account @jamesmappin.