Priaulx and Honda confirmed.

Andy Priaulx will, as expected, lead Honda's return to the British Touring Car Championship in 2002.

The Guernseyman has been confirmed as the team's lead driver for the forthcoming season, when Honda will return to the BTCC with a pair of Civics run by the Arena Motorsport outfit.

Priaulx's move comes on the back of two impressive races at Oulton Park last season, when the erstwhile single-seater racer was drafted in to replace the suspended Phil Bennett in one of the Egg Sport Astras.

Although he was unable to capitalise on pole position for one of the rounds, Priaulx's mature performance put him at the top of several shopping lists. However, while he was tipped to return to the Triple Eight Vauxhall squad, the former hillclimb champion opted for a full works drive with Honda instead.

Arena Motorsport returns to top flight touring car racing after a year spent helping former F1 star Stefan Johansson make the switch to an Audi R8 in both the ALMS and ELMS sportscar series.