Tony Gilham will make his return to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship as it takes to the Rockhingham Motor Speedway for round eight of the season.

Gilham, who competed in the first six rounds of the season at the wheel of the Triple Eight Vauxhall Vectra, sat out the latest round of the season at Knochkhill due to commercial reasons but will now contest the final three rounds of the season at Rockhingham, Brands Hatch and Silverstone with Geoff Steel Racing.

This will also mark the return to the BTCC for Geoff Steel Racing who’s last race came during the third round of the season at Donington Park when the current Special Tuning Racing driver, Dave Newsham, raced for them.

The Dartford racer will be making the switch to rear wheel drive as he takes to the wheel of the normally aspirated BMW 320si but this isn’t something that’s going to phase him.

“I’m delighted I’m coming back. Once you’ve done the BTCC you don’t want to do anything else really. I’m just opening my own garage under the Tony Gilham brand in Kent and that has led to some great new sponsors who want to build their image as well – the BTCC is the right place to do that.”

“I’m comfortable with rear-wheel-drive, plus the timing is right with my business plans away from the track. Sure, I’m going from one of the big teams to one of the smaller teams and we know it will be hard work, but we’re not in it just to make up the numbers.”

“I must also say if it wasn’t for the fans’ support I wouldn’t be here so we really want to make ourselves one of the most approachable teams in the pit lane for the public.”

Ex-BTCC driver, Martyn Bell, who is the team manager at the Geoff Steel Racing team is also equally as excited to get back on the grid this season. “The BTCC is very addictive and Geoff and I feel there is some unfinished business. It’s very important for us to be out there having invested in Motorbase’s 2010 BMWs for this season.”

The GSR team have two BMW’s at their disposal this season and will be making full use of them in the final three rounds of the season. Bell went on to say, “Tony’s car at Rockingham will remain normally-aspirated but will then switch to the Next Generation Touring Car turbo engine for Brands Hatch and Silverstone – turbo-charging is the way forward and we’d actually very much like to run both cars with turbo engines at the last two rounds to showcase them for 2012.”

The next round of the season will take place at Rockhingham Motor Speedway on September 17th and 18th September.

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.