Tom Onslow-Cole signs Motorbase Performance deal

Tom Onslow-Cole has signed a deal to race with Motorbase Performance for the rest of the 2013 season, following his recent departure from Tony Gilham Racing.

The 26-year-old from New Malden will drive the team’s third Next Generation Touring Car-specification Ford Focus, a car which has made one appearance already this season, in the hands of Michael Caine at Croft.

The Kent-based Motorbase squad will be the sixth team Onslow-Cole has driven for in his seven-season BTCC career, and he will make his debut at Rockingham this weekend.

The season so far had shown plenty of promise for Onslow-Cole in the new Volkswagen CC, with two podium finishes at Thruxton and another at Croft before the summer break.

But it was announced last Wednesday that Onslow-Cole would be parting with Tony Gilham Racing, as it was felt by both parties that effectively conducting testing during race weekends was not ideal.

Onslow-Cole had signed a “long term” deal with Gilham’s team, but he said this had now been negated.

“We’ve been approached by quite a few people in regards to the third NGTC car, and I wanted to put it out for the right type of driver,” said team principal David Bartrum. “To suddenly find Tom available was both quite a shock and at the same time a nice surprise as he’s the perfect fit with our team. I am over the moon that I’ve been able to put together what could be possibly be the strongest driver line up in the BTCC.”

“Wow, it’s been an emotional week of ups and downs but this news is fantastic,” said Onslow-Cole. “I’m so happy to be back on the grid and I am ever thankful to David [Bartrum] and everyone at Airwaves that made this possible.

“Motorbase are a great team and I’m really looking forward to getting my hands on the Ford Focus NGTC. Unfortunately there isn’t the chance to test before Rockingham but with the help of Mat, Aron and the team I’m sure I’ll get up to speed quickly.”