The announcement of our new TCR project in early 2017 represented another exciting development for our Customer Racing department.

Started towards the end of 2015, in the space of just 18 months we established our credentials to an increasing number of clients around the world.

The work of the sales team has been integral to our success. Without them, we wouldn’t have built up such an impressive list of high-level contacts.

In the early days, it was down to just a handful of individuals to be present on rallies, spreading the word initially about our R5 programme. They were tasked with identifying potential customers and outlining our plans.

Our sales colleagues had to show that our cars would be quick and reliable on all surfaces. To help bring our vision to life, prospects were invited to our Alzenau factory to see our ambition first-hand.

Working in sales is not always an easy task. It requires persistence, preparation and utmost professionalism. The time pressure at the start of any project often requires a quick turnaround. The sales team is responsible for all elements of the contract with our customers from start to finish, as well as car registration and handover.

The process is not over, even when a car has been sold. Word of mouth is important in the motorsport world, so we put our focus on excellent service.

The sales team are always on hand to help, whether at the factory or on-site. They are also responsible for spare parts. It is important to co-ordinate with colleagues to make sure any request is followed up and fulfilled in a timely and efficient manner.

As our Customer Racing department has grown, our focus has also added TCR to the existing R5 programme. The one thing that will never change from the perspective of the sales team, though, is customer service. It all comes down to maintaining a strong, professional relationship – something on which our sales team excels!