RAC expect steep learning curve.

Team RAC director Mike Ewan has admitted that the team is expecting a steep learning curve in 2007 as it adapts to life running the BMW 320si in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

Having campaigned the MG ZS since the latter stages of 2001, the West Surrey Racing run squad was forced to look for new machinery for the coming season with the switch to Super 2000 regulations in the BTCC - a move that brings the championship into line with various series' elsewhere, including the world championship.

With the car having already clinched a world title in the hands of Andy Priaulx last season, Ewan said he was hopeful that the team will quickly be on the pace with the BMW in the British series, even though it will be the team's first season with a rear-wheel drive machine.

"Initially we were looking at running the MGs again, but once the rules were announced that we couldn't win the overall title with them, we were forced to go down the Super 2000 route," he told Crash.net Radio. "We looked at building our own cars but at the end of last season we decided not to do that and then evaluated all the available options running in the WTCC. From those, we decided that the BMW was the best route.

"It's going to be a steep learning curve for us as obviously the BMW is rear-wheel drive and we have only ever run front-wheel drive cars in the BTCC. But it is already successful, very successful, in the WTCC and we are confident that we will quickly be on the pace."

With a second driver still to be announced, Colin Turkington will again lead the team and Ewan said the team was delighted to retain a driver who has matured into one of the best in the business.

"It's great to have Colin as part of the team," he said. "He has been with us since 2001 although he had a year off with another team in 2005 [with VX Racing]. He is a big part of the team, very popular with everyone in it and produces the results on track.

"[Last year] we gave him the best equipment we could and he did the job with it. He has really matured now, he is right up there with the best of them, and has shown time and time again that he can deal with the pressure."