MBR return with Integra team

Team sunshine.co.uk has announced that it will enter a two-car team in the 2009 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship season.
Martyn Bell, who competed for Arkas Racing during the 2008 season with backing from sunshine.co.uk, will return for his fourth season in the BTCC and will be partnered by former race winner Paul O’Neill as he makes a comeback to touring cars.

The pair will compete in BTC-spec Honda Integras purchased from Team Eurotech during the off-season; with the cars being prepared and run by leading Independent team Tech-Speed Motorsport Ltd.

Long-time BMW racer Bell will be racing with front-wheel drive for a second year after competing in a Vauxhall Astra in 2008 and he said he was excited by the switch the Integra, which has been one of the most successful cars of recent years in the BTCC.

“We are pleased to announce that a deal has been done with Mike Jordan to purchase the cars and parts he had up for sale,” the Barrow-upon-Humber racer explained. “We looked at going down the Super 2000 route but it was simply too expensive for us and we have been able to do a good deal with Mike to purchase the Integras and a hell of a lot of spares as well.

“Some people might not view it as a step forward to be staying with a BTC-spec car, but we feel it gives us the chance to make progress in 2009 as the car is still a competitive machine and capable of some strong results.

“Having Paul onboard is fantastic and he will really help push me on as a driver and I’m delighted to continue working with Tech-Speed, as it was fantastic to be able to work alongside them last year with the Astra.”

O’Neill, a race winner with Vauxhall earlier in his career, hasn’t raced a full season in the BTCC since the 2003 campaign after being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in early 2004 – an illness which forced him to spend a long period of time on the sidelines before he was able to reapply for a racing licence.

Since then, he has taken part in selected events in the BTCC as well as in the British GT Championship and remains a firm favourite with fans.

“I really want to get back into the BTCC and Martyn is keen for me to bring my experience into the team to help him – and the team – move forwards,” he said. “We want to progress as much as possible and we just need to get out on track, get our heads down and crack on with the job we have.

“I have to thank Martyn for this chance, as well as Marvin Humphries at Tech-Speed and Chris Brown from sunshine.co.uk. They all really wanted me to be involved and are giving me a fantastic opportunity. Tech-Speed is one of the best Independent teams in the BTCC paddock and has always turned out a fantastic car and I don’t see it being any different with the Integra. It’ll be good to be back!”

The 2009 season will be the second as a major sponsor for sunshine.co.uk, which is currently the fastest growing independent and online travel agent in the UK.

“We are looking forward to increasing awareness of the sunshine.co.uk brand in what is a high profile and hugely exciting championship,” managing director Chris Brown said. “We hope that Martyn can build on the experience he collected last season in his first year with front-wheel drive and are delighted that we have a proven BTCC winner in Paul coming in to join him in the Integras.”