Photo: Dave Newsham Racing

Dave Newsham joins Geoff Steel Racing

2010 Renault Clip Cup champion Dave Newsham will join the BTCC grid with Geoff Steel Racing for his debut season this year in a Super 2000 specification BMW 320si.

Newsham was reported earlier on TouringCarTimes as being in talks to drive a second Toyota Avensis run by new to the BTCC team Speedworks Motorsport, but will now race a BMW 320si E90 for returning team Geoff Steel Racing.

Geoff Steel Racing previously competed in 2006-2007 with a BMW 320i E46 for Martyn Bell, who is now on board as the team manager for the Lincolnshire based team. The team hopes to run two cars this season.

43-year-old Dave Newsham won the Elf Renault Clio Cup in his second full season in the BTCC support championship, which was won the previous year by Phil Glew, and will now step us as the first confirmed driver for the team.

“I am delighted to secure this drive, although I don’t think it has fully sunk in yet,” said Newsham.

“We had a fantastic 2010 season winning the Clio Cup Championship, however I am under no illusions, this is a big step up for me, and moving back to rear-wheel drive will take some adjusting to.”

The team plans to test ahead of the BTCC Media Day on March 24th, though as of yesterday had still not taken delivery of the two BMW 320si chassis from Motorbase Performance, who are switching to the Arena Motorsport built Ford Focus ST this season.