AmDMilltekRacing's VW Golf Mk5 BTCC Racing Car's first shakedown at Brands Hatch

Shaun Hollamby has today given the VW Golf he plans to race in this year's Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship its first run at Brands Hatch.

Orpington-based Hollamby has spent the morning shaking down the MK5 Golf at the world-famous Brands venue – his home track.

The Golf, one of the most iconic cars in motor manufacturing history, is sure to attract a tremendous following among enthusiasts. The last time a Golf raced in the BTCC was 1989, the final year the series ran to a 'multi-class' format.

As 44-year-old Hollamby told btcc.net: "The support we've received since we announced the Golf BTCC project has been fantastic. That’s before the season has even begun."

"I really hope we see owners' club members and fans from all the VW magazines, internet forums and so on turning up at race events and supporting us. Every BTCC round attracts 30,000-plus people so there's a great opportunity for them to become noticed in front of a huge audience."

Hollamby has spent the winter building the Golf to the BTCC's Super 2000 technical regulations having brought the car over from the Baltic touring car series.

The former VW Cup front-runner said: "Everything that could be done to it has been done to it. The support we've also received from everyone inside the BTCC has been brilliant – no looking down noses at us, just fantastic advice and encouragement all the way.

"Today is purely a shakedown but the car immediately feels very solid and exceptionally well balanced on all four corners. What else can I say? It goes, it stops, it turns left and right so it's been a good first run."