WSR are delighted to announce that, following Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ title successes in the British Touring Car Championship, Carl Mitchell has been appointed Sporting and Operations Director.
Carl, who has been Sporting and Operations Manager for the past two years, will continue to work with the leadership group of Dick Bennetts (Team Principal and Managing Director), Mike Ewan (Finance Director) and David Eggleton (Commercial Director), but with increased responsibilities.
Joining WSR on work experience while studying at college under the tutelage of Chief Mechanic Steve Buckell, Carl spent his first full season with WSR in 2013 as a mechanic and later moved into the role of Purchasing and Logistics Manager.
Following a spell as Assistant Team Manager, Carl was appointed Team Manager in 2020 – the youngest in the British Touring Car Championship at the time – and later to Sporting and Operations Manager.
He will continue to perform the Team Manager role on race weekends while taking on increased responsibilities on a day-to-day basis at WSR’s Sunbury-on-Thames base.
The new structure is designed to give WSR increased flexibility in moving forwards as the team aims to consolidate its BTCC programme – which has achieved 18 overall and nine Independents’ titles – while also seeking new opportunities in other forms of racing as well as technical consultancy plus vehicle design and manufacturing.
Carl Mitchell, Sporting and Operations Manager, said: “I’m excited with the new role, which allows me to take everything I’ve learnt in more than a decade at WSR and help identify the long-term direction of the team. It shows not just a commitment from me to this fantastic organisation, but also their commitment to me and my own development. This a very exciting time for WSR and while we will continue to compete in the BTCC as our flagship racing programme, we are also keen to explore opportunities in other series, whether that’s in racing, manufacturing or a technical consultancy basis, for many years to come.”
Dick Bennetts, Managing Director & Team Principal, said: “We’re delighted that Carl has started his new role as WSR’s Sporting and Operations Director. We have a long history of spotting young people with potential and of nurturing their talent to allow them to grow and really show what they can do. We’ve done it with many drivers and plenty of staff members too, who have achieved here and then gone on to Formula 1, Le Mans or even the Indy 500. Carl’s new role strengthens our company structure on a long-term basis and helps us seek out new opportunities for the future both inside and outside the BTCC in a variety of racing, technical and commercial areas.”
