Lots of teams are down at Brands Hatch today taking part in the testing session but notably there is one driver that sticks out above the rest. Paul O’Neill, along with John George and the Tech-Speed team are testing the title-winning Chevrolet Cruze today despite no official announcement that they’ll be on the grid this season.

This could mean that there are as many as four Chevrolet Cruze’s on the grid this season with the announcement of Jason Plato and Alex MacDowall also using the Cruze for their second successive season in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

Speaking to btcc.net O’Neill said, “It’s very exciting to be spending a day testing not just a race-winning but the title-winning car from last year, particularly for myself and Tech-Speed – we’ve been together for many years and have always run a small but very efficient set-up that has produced some terrific results with competitive but older-spec cars.

“But here, finally, we’re getting a chance to see what we can do with not just the very latest type of car but arguably the best there is with the Cruze. So many people are trying to ensure this all goes ahead and the sponsors including sunshine.co.uk are being massively supportive – fingers crossed things all come together as it’s got all the makings of a magical season for us.”

Paul O’Neill finished last season in 9th position taking 3 podiums at Thruxton, Rockingham and Silverstone in the dated BTC-spec Honda Integra.

Photo Credit: Pete Mainey (www.psmmotorsportimages.co.uk)

James Mappin is the editor-in-chief covering the British Touring Car Championship. You can contact him at james@btcccrazy.co.uk, on twitter @BTCCCrazy or on his personal twitter account @jamesmappin.