Paul O’Neill will race in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship’s season finale at Thruxton this Sunday 14 October in a Motorbase Performance SEAT Toledo in place of
Tom Ferrier.

O’Neill tested the car last Friday at Snetterton (pictured above) and concluded the deal this morning (Tuesday). The Widnes racer, brother of pop star Mel C, is a former race-winner in the BTCC with Vauxhall when he was part of its VX Racing squad from 2002-03. During that time he emerged as a hugely popular figure among fans.

After a lay-off to recover from being diagnosed with diabetes, O’Neill briefly returned to the BTCC in 2006, driving Tech-Speed’s bio-ethanol-fuelled Vauxhall Astra. Thruxton, though, will mark his first BTCC event since last year’s final rounds and the first time he has raced at the high-sped Hampshire track since his time with VXR in 2003.

O’Neill, out walking his Weimaraner puppy, told BTCC.net: “It’s going to be difficult, if I’m honest. But the feedback I’ve had from people I know and even fans at the test at Snetterton has convinced me I should do this.

“I’m a) very determined and b) confident I can make the car go as quickly as it can. I like the way an S2000 cars drives. The gearbox feels better than those in the BTC-spec cars I’ve driven before and I also like way the back end moves around which will be a bonus at Thruxton. The Toledo turns in very well.”

O’Neill hopes a strong showing this weekend will be sufficient to remind teams of his capabilities when considering their driver line-ups for 2008’s BTCC season.

The 27-year-old added: “I’m going to Thruxton to have some kind of top six finish – a top ten at worst. The team and I have not bust our balls putting together this deal to finish 15th.

“The BTCC has given some of the best days of my entire life in and even though I’ve missed another year I feel I’ve still got something to offer. The BTCC is the best and for me I need to do it. I need to put myself on radar for next season. It will always be my first love.”