NGTC Ford engine gets first test

The NGTC Ford engine built by Mountune which will be used by Arena Motorsport in the 2011 BTCC season had it’s first run today at Brands Hatch.

The team, run as Team Aon, ran today in the hands of 2010 independents’ champion Tom Chilton.

Speaking to BTCC.net, Arena’s team principal Mike Earle said:
“It means we are right back to stage one and having to learn again, but for a kick-off it was quite encouraging – closer to a satisfactory performance on its first run in this guise than when we first tried LPG.”

Arena ran an S2000 specification petrol engine on their return to the BTCC in 2009 with the Focus ST, but struggled for results.

The team switched to the controversial turbo-charged LPG engine this season, and the team was in the running until the end for the drivers championship, thanks to a strong run all season by Tom Onslow-Cole.

The team also clinched the drivers and teams championships in the independents’ class for the first time.

Arena Motorsport have three Ford Focus ST’s ready to race, and Mike Earle previously confirmed to TouringCarTimes he’d like to run all three in 2011, dependent upon drivers and sponsorship.

At present, the team haven’t formally confirmed any of their drivers for 2011, but Tom Chilton is likely to remain with the team.