Continues with JHR Developments for 2016

19-year-old Jerseyman Jack Butel has signed to continue to drive for JHR Developments for the 2016 MSA Formula Series.

After switching to JHR Developments mid-season last year, Butel has pinned his colours to the mast early by electing to continue the good work with the Derbyshire squad. Acclimatising himself well on his debut for JHR at Croft in Yorkshire in June last year, the St Saviour residents progress then gained momentum as he felt more confident with the car notching up four top-10 finishes in the run to the end of the year, with a solid sixth overall at Silverstone last September.

Jack Butel is looking forward to the new season. With the contract signed early and another major sponsor coming on board in the form of Yuasa Batteries, the 2016 Ford-backed 2016 MSA Formula Championship is set to be a year of progression with everything remaining a constant for the year ahead.

“I’m very pleased that I’m racing with JHR in the MSA Formula in 2016. The team are fantastic to work with and they really help you develop inside and outside of the car," enthused Butel.

"My race pace was good last year and this year with a season under my belt I hope to be qualifying higher up the grid to be consistently running in the top 10. My hopes for this year are to break into the top five and then onto the podium. With the knowledge, data and experience I have, this has to be our target and we have to hit the ground running right from the off. I can't wait to get started!

"I am excited that leading battery firm Yuasa have joined us for the 2016 season. To have such a big brand backing me is a great feeling and I look forward to working with them to achieve our goals in the new season ahead.”

Yuasa are no strangers to the TOCA racing package as it helped power Honda Yuasa Racing to the manufactures trophy as well as Gordon Shedden to a title winning British Touring Car Championship-campaign in 2015.

“We are pleased to be joining Jack Butel as one of his main sponsors for the 2016 MSA Formula Championship,” announced James Douglas, Marketing Executive at Yuasa Battery Sales (UK) Ltd

“Jack is really beginning to make his mark on the championship and we are delighted he will be racing under the Yuasa Motorsport banner this year. After a fantastic run of results at the end of last season he is definitely a driver to watch out for, and we are excited to see what he can achieve.

“Yuasa has a long and proud heritage in motorsport. We have enjoyed a huge amount of success with Honda Yuasa Racing in the British Touring Car Championship and Repsol Honda in MotoGP over the past few years. As the world’s leading battery manufacturer our motorsport sponsorship programme is key to maintaining our brand profile whilst reflecting our own core values of performance, reliability and quality.

“We are confident our partnership with Jack will deliver more on-track success and we can’t wait to see him in action at the Brands Hatch season opener in March.”

Jack’s 2016 JHR machine will be adorned with the Yuasa colours and complimented by a host of other sponsors including FAI Auto Parts, Rockford IT, Draper Tools, First Line, UAN, itgroup, Comma and Express Autoparts.

Butel is planning to start his pre-season testing campaign next month at Thruxton and JHR Developments Team Principal Steven Hunter is delighted to welcome Butel back to his squad for the new year.

“ I am delighted to welcome back Jack into the JHR fold for 2016. When Jack joined us mid-season last year he was extremely committed to his racing and was very clear with where he wanted to be by the end of the season. With a new year we have new expectations for Jack as we want him to break into the top five and eventually the podium and we are fully behind him to make that happen.”

Jack will be announcing his new livery in the coming weeks ahead of the first round of the MSA Formula in April at Brands Hatch.