Arena sign Chilton for BTCC return
Arena Motorsport will return to the British Touring Car Championship next season with Tom Chilton as the lead driver in a team of Ford Focus STs
Contrary to recent speculation, the team will run as an Independent entrant rather than a factory-backed outfit, and look set to run between one and three cars in the series.
Team Principal Mike Earle, who ran Chilton in the Honda works team from 2003-2004 and as an Independent the following season, and has masterminded all but one of his seven BTCC wins, is delighted to have the 23-year-old driver back on board.
"We have selected Tom as the driver to lead this programme due to his suitability from both an on-track and off-track perspective," said Earle.
"As a driver he has a proven track record and we are very excited to be re-united with him after the successes we enjoyed together in 2004 and 2005. Out of the car Tom has a unique appeal to our commercial partners and provides excellent PR opportunities for the programme.
"Everyone at Arena is looking forward to the challenges ahead and we are aiming to return to the winning ways we enjoyed in the BTCC in the past."
Chilton finished 10th in this year's BTCC standings with Team Dynamics and broke a three-year win-less streak with victory in the final race of the season at Brands Hatch.
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