The 50-year-old’s late call-up to the Motorbase Performance squad for the penultimate BTCC meeting of the year was rewarded with a strong showing for the Pro-Alloy-backed Focus – with Caine securing P12 in Sunday’s second contest.

The Newmarket-based racer showed consistently strong pace in the #44 Focus RS. Despite only getting behind the wheel of the Ford for the first time during Saturday morning’s free practice sessions, and carrying 45kg of late entry ballast on-board, Caine went on to claim 16^th place in qualifying – an impressive mid-way spot on the capacity 30-car grid.

Up against the much lighter pack, Caine put up a sterling resistance in tricky racing conditions to take P20 at the flag in the opening race of the weekend.

Free of the weight, and running on the more favourable soft-compound tyre in race two, the former British GT champion was finally able to showcase his race-craft with a superb drive from 20^th to P12 – opening his points tally and securing the highest finish of the season for the third Motorbase-run Focus.

Just missing out on the reversed grid draw for race three, Caine made an excellent start off the line on the greasy track and quickly made his way into the top-ten before an early safety car appearance. As the rain descended once more, the grid was split evenly with the front-runners opting to stick with slicks, whilst most of the back half of the grid pitted to switch over to wets.

Following the restart on lap 7, slicks initially looked to be the right choice, with the #44 Focus running as high as 7^th before the threatened heavy downpour arrived. With the wet-tyre runners coming into play as the rain fell, Caine did well to stay on track in very tricky conditions and brought the Ford home unscathed in P18.

#44 Michael Caine

“It has certainly been a baptism of fire, but I loved every minute of it. I can’t thank David and everyone at Motorbase enough. Last year was emotional, but in the wrong way, so to just come back and have such a great weekend has re-ignited my desire to come back and do it again!

“The weekend felt like a homecoming. Motorbase is just where I want to be. The guys have done a brilliant job on the car. They had to do a lot of work to get it ready for me this weekend. I’m glad to have been able to pick up some points for them with all the hard work they’ve put in, not just his week, but all year. I’m really looking forward to Brands, and seeing if we can go even better.”

Caine returns to the BTCC grid in two weeks’ time when the Motorbase Performance squad heads to its home circuit, Brands Hatch, for the 2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season finale on October 12/13.

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The Newmarket-based racer has been a regular pilot for the Wrotham-based team over the past decade, donning Motorbase overalls numerous times over the years for campaigns in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, British GT, and Blancpain Endurance Series.

Caine also made his BTCC debut in a Motorbase-run Ford Focus ST at Croft circuit back in 2013 and most recently competed in the tin-top series last season.

The former British GT Champion has replaced Nicolas Hamilton, who announced his early departure from the series earlier this week. Caine will race under his customary #44, in a Pro Alloy-backed Ford Focus RS.

The last-minute deal to participate in the final six rounds of the season came courtesy of additional backing from long-term Motorbase partners, Pro Alloy Motorsport, and Caine’s personal backers, Stace, and Sustain Services.

As per championship regulations, the #44 Focus RS will carry 45kg of ballast into qualifying and round 25 at Silverstone this coming weekend.

“It’s well known that Michael Caine is Motorbase through and through;” said Team Principal David Bartrum. “We have an obligation to run the third car for the rest of the season or risk losing our TBL. He’s a safe pair of hands and knows the team inside out so was the obvious choice to jump in at the final hour.

“I’m incredibly grateful to Pro Alloy and Michael’s sponsors for stepping up with support to make this happen.”

“Pro Alloy and Stace have saved the day;” added Caine. “When there was a seat come up with Motorbase to drive a touring car I was always going to be throwing my name in the hat. I didn’t get to finish the season last year, so it’s good to have this chance to come back and finish the job with Motorbase.

“I don’t have any expectations heading into this weekend. I’ll just take everything as it comes.”

“Pro Alloy and Motorbase have had a long standing relationship for many years and we’re pleased to have been able to escalate our support of the team for the last two rounds of the BTCC season;” commented Managing Director Alex Osborn. “It’ll be a proud moment for us all to see our logo adorned across the side of Michael’s car this weekend.”

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The 2012 British GT Champion and 2010 Carrera Cup GB runner-up will pilot the Kent-based outfit’s 2nd911 GT3 Cup Car for the final two races of the season. Running under the #300, Caine’s car will showcase a specially commissioned livery to celebrate the 300th Porsche Carrera Cup GB race, featuring the names and number of victories of every race winner since the series’ inception in 2003.

Motorbase and Caine have a long-standing relationship with the German marque. After initially joining the Carrera Cup GB grid in 2004, Motorbase competed at the very top of the Championship for seven seasons, notching up an impressive 26 race wins in that time – the third highest of any team in the championship’s history.

Having driven for David Bartrum’s squad from 2009-2014, 49-year-old Caine amassed a total of 14 Carrera Cup GB race wins, ending the 2010 season as Vice-Champion before going on to claim the 2012 British GT Championship title with Motorbase in the Porsche 911 GT3R.

“I remember the Carrera Cup GB from the beginning;” commented Team Principal David Bartrum. “Obviously we weren’t there from the very start. We joined in 2004 in the 2nd year as a team and had a great run through to 2011 with many successes along the way.

“It’s a fantastic series and to think it’s got to 300 races so quickly and we’ve been a part of quite a few of those is quite something. With it falling at our home circuit, we felt obliged to do something a little bit special to mark the occasion. It felt right to bring one of our old Carrera Cup drivers Michael Caine back for the occasion.

“It’s great to look at all of the race winner’s names on the roof of the car, and to see just how many past and present Motorbase drivers are on there. It’s been a big piece of our team’s history and it’ll be nice to be able to celebrate with them.”

Newmarket-based Caine added; “It’s a fantastic opportunity for me to be able to jump in the Motorbase car this weekend. We’ve always joked about me retiring in a pair of Motorbase overalls and this meeting is the last race of the season so who knows!

“I have a great affinity with the team and also the Carrera Cup. I love the racing in the TOCA paddock and it’s great to be able to stay a part of that. The #shredded livery really comes to life on the Porsche and it looks like the best car on the grid. It’s a great tribute to the history of the series and I’m very proud to be a part of the 300th race celebrations.”

The Wrotham-based team arrives at the iconic GP circuit in a fighting second place position in the Pro-Am Championship standings.  22-year-old rookie Dan Vaughan has made an impressive showing on his debut season, collecting 5 race wins and 8 podiums from 14 appearances and heads into the final two races of the year just 7 points adrift of current leader, Seb Perez.

“We’re in with a chance of the Pro-Am title with Dan Vaughan. He’s done a really good job this year;” added the Team Boss. “Despite what some have been saying, Michael is not there to interfere with the championship in any way. I’m wishing Dan a good weekend. If he keeps his head down and keeps doing what he’s been doing all year so should come out of it well. Dan’s done a sterling job this year to be in the title fight in his first year in the Porsche and in my mind it’s a job well done, whatever the result this weekend.”

The final two rounds of the 2018 Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship take place on the world-famous Brands Hatch GP Circuit on September 29/30. Qualifying for round 15 – the 300th Carrera Cup GB race – takes place at 13.05-13.35 on Saturday 29th September, with Sunday 30th September hosting the final title-deciding races of the season at 10.40 and 16.40.

Live timing for all sessions is available via: https://www.tsl-timing.com/event/183903 with live race-day coverage on ITV4, ITV4HD and via itv.com/hub/itv4 from 10.30 – 18.30.

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