Paul O’Neill is to join Martyn Bell racing a pair of ex-Team Eurotech Honda Integras in 2009. Motorsport News reports this week that the cars will be run by Tech-Speed Motorsport, who have run the Arkas Racing operation this year.
With backing from sunshine.co.uk the team hope that the switch of machinery will bring them improved fortunes for next season. The BTC-spec cars recently received another weight reduction of 25 kilos compared to their rival Super 2000 spec cars, meaning that the 2006 championship-winning Integra’s can remain competitive and in the thick of the mid-field scrap. Team manager Marvin Humphries said: “Andrew Jordan has shown that the Integra is still a strong car and with the reversed grid races and ballast, we think it will still be right in the mix.”
O’Neill raced in the BTCC in 2001 with the Tech-Speed team, and raced in the works Vauxhall team in 2003. However he has only raced sporadically in the series since being diagnosed with diabetes in 2004. His last race was at Thruxton in 2007, when he replaced Tom Ferrier in the second of the Motorbase Performance SEAT Toledo’s. “It’s a great chance and thanks to Martyn for helping me get the seat,” said O’Neill to Motorsport News. “I have always felt I belonged in the BTCC so having a sustained opportunity is the chance I was longing for.”
The change of machines will mark the third time in three years that Bell has begun the season with a new car. The Barrow-upon-Humber driver has been in the BTCC since 2006 and began by racing a rear-wheel drive BMW 320i. This season he moved to Tech-Speed to race the front-wheel drive Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch with limited success.
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