Honda also has a presence in the series, but with a Civic that you won’t see on the streets here. Europeans prefer Hatchbacks, so Honda produces a 3 and 5-door Civic in the UK. This forms the basis for Team Dynamics, past champions of the BTCC with Matt Neal. The team being run by his father Steve Neal.

Honda Europe produce a hatchback version of the Civic, GP Winner Johnny Herbert at the wheel. (LAT)



Neal left the family team for 2008 and their title sponsor departed at the end of the year, so Team Dynamics are on a limited budget this year. The ‘lead’ car would have a number of different pilots during the season. Gordon Shedden would start the season before BTCC champion James Thompson took over.



With additional racing commitments in the World Touring Car Championship, James would make way for 2-times Formula One Grand Prix winner, Johnny Herbert.

It may surprise you to hear that Chevrolet are also in the British Series. Chevrolet has been selling cars for a short time in Europe. The Chevrolet Lacetti (Known as the Chevrolet Optra in Canada, Suzuki Forenza in the US) has won a number of races in the WTCC with one of Britain’s top teams, RML.

For 2009, RML announced a one-car entry for Jason Plato shortly before Round One. Plato is a part champion and a crowd love-hate figure and nearly won the championship in 2008 with the works SEAT Leon (a re-bodied VW GTi!). As the season progressed, RML expanded to two and then three cars with additional drivers for Matt Jackson and James Nash.

RML has a great reputation, running a Lola-Mazda coupe in the European-based Le Mans series, a three car Chevrolet Cruze team in the World Touring Car Championship and developed the Mercedes McLaren SLR 722 GT, which raced in SPEED World Challenge.

Arena International returned to BTCC with the Team AON Ford Focus ST. (LAT)

A privateer Chevrolet Lacetti was also entered for Harry Vaulkhard. Vaulkhard was delighted to hear the BTCC is back on SPEED as he has family on this side of the pond.

Arena International, the team behind the Gulf Audi R8 in the ALMS a few years ago, and the Onyx Formula One team in the 80’s, return to the BTCC this year with a Ford Focus ST. This is a very different car to the Focus available in North America. Developed independently of Ford, the team is run under the ‘Team AON’ banner.

I have a personal interest in this project. Not only did they give me my first break many years ago, I also designed the livery and helped with the body kit design of this year’s race-car.

Tom Chilton is the lead driver, while Alan Morrison and later Tom Onslow-Cole would share teammate duties. Due to the late start, it was a baptism of fire for the team, as they had to undertake all their development during racing, but as the season progresses, they make their way up the grid and get some good results.

Paul O’Neill, brother of Spice Girls, Mel C, returns to the BTCC having pulled out of the series a couple of years ago after being diagnosed with Diabetes. He is a crowd favorite despite running an older Acura RSX (known as a Honda Integra in the UK), originally developed by Team Dynamics in 2005.

Download your spotter's guide!



To help you follow the series, I produced a free Spotters Guide for you, which you can Download It Here.

The first race weekend from Brands Hatch, premiers on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 1 pm (EST) on SPEED. Each show will cover all three races. It’s a great season. You’re guaranteed to see close action packed racing and a wide variety of winners. Don’t miss it!


Andy Blackmore is an Automotive Designer, specializing in racecar body kit design and liveries. Andy designed the livery and assisted in body kit design for Team Aon in this year 2009 BTCC as well as providing the car grid graphics for the TV Coverage.



Andy's other clients have included McLaren, Audi, Panoz, Yamaha, Honda, SEAT, Mazda, Panoz and the American Le Mans Series.



Andy is originally from the UK and now lives in British Columbia, Canada, with his wife, Joanne and their 1-year-old daughter.