Team RAC has confirmed that
Tom Onslow-Cole is to partner
Colin Turkington for the 2007 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season.
The 19-year-old, who clinched the Renault Clio Cup in dominant style last season, will make his touring car debut at
Brands Hatch in April after securing the biggest drive still available on the grid in the new BMW 320si that will run in Team RAC colours for the first time this season.
I am absolutely delighted to be joining Team RAC, he said. I feel privileged to be given the opportunity to make my first step into touring car racing and will be doing my best to ensure Team RAC is at the front of the grid.
Onslow-Cole comes into the seat having beaten off the challenge of a number of drivers, with team principal Dick Bennetts believing that the combination of the teenager and established front-runner Turkington will carry the team to success in 2007.
I believe Team RAC have an incredibly strong driver line-up for this year's championship, he said. Tom is a very talented young driver who had a successful year in the Renault Clio Cup. We're also delighted to retain Colin for this season and are confident that, with a new car and talented drivers, 2007 will be a superb season for Team RAC.
Main sponsors RAC came into the BTCC as backers of the West Surrey Racing run team in 2006, leading to a radical change in colour for the two MG ZS driven by Turkington and Rob Collard.
With Onslow-Cole now on board at the wheel of the WTCC-title winning
BMW, director of RAC marketing Alastair Pegg said the company was confident of an even stronger second season with the team.
RAC is looking forward to working with and seeing Tom behind the wheel for the coming season, he said. We were very keen to see young talent being given the chance to prove itself at a higher level with Team RAC and we're very confident in Tom's ability.
