Arena confident in Focus performance

BTCC organiser TOCA has imposed restrictions on cars powered by LPG engines, such as the Focus, insisting that their turbo inlets are fitted with 37mm air restrictors.

While team principal Mike Earle admitted that the measure will affect the engine performance of the cars driven by Tom Chilton and Tom Onslow-Cole, he is confident that an intensive chassis development programme will keep the squad at the front.

"I said after Brands Hatch that I felt we were at about 75 per cent of the car's potential, and most of our expected gains will come from work on the chassis," he said.

"A car is presently undergoing some suspension development at Ford's testing facility at Lommel in Belgium and this is part of our ongoing plans. I believe we will still be competitive and look forward to another strong performance at Oulton Park in three weeks time."

Earle said that it was important for the team, which has won two of the last three BTCC races and been on pole via Chilton at both Rockingham and Brands Hatch, not to dwell on the decision.

"Obviously we do not welcome the reduction in restrictor size, but it is quite within the BTCC regulations for TOCA to do this, so we have to take it on the chin and deal with it," he added.

"While any change to our engines specification, and the resulting reduction in power will surely hurt us, I also feel that the engine is only one part of our overall package and we have worked incredibly hard to make all aspects of the package as strong as possible and will continue to do so."