Chatham based Aaron Steele today announced that he will be making a move into the British Touring Car Championship for the 2014 season.
The talented young racer has been out of full time racing since 2012 but announced his comeback with RGM Motorsport this afternoon.
Not only will it be the 24-year-olds first foray into the Touring Car Arena but it will also be his team’s first season in the sport in 2014 as well.
It will be a learning curve for both but one they will be able to work together on to develop a car that challenged the likes of Aron Smith, Mat Jackson and Tom Onslow-Cole as well as the established drivers like Matt Neal, Jason Plato and Colin Turkington.
As preparation for next season Steele will be taking part in the final two races of the FIA European Touring Cars with Vuik Racing. His first race will be on 14th July in Italy where he will race in a Mercedes C200 S2000 before heading to the final race of the season in the Czech Republic on 6th October.
After that he will turn his attentions along with the team to developing the car for their inaugural run in 2014.
Speaking about their decision to give Steele the drive for 2014, Team Principal Richard Taylor said: “The Team have recognised how much Aaron has achieved in his career against the odds, and, like Aaron, are positive and excited for the 2014 season. The whole Team is fired up, and cannot wait to hit the track with Aaron Steele.”
Despite never having raced in British Touring Cars Steele has a wealth of experience in motorsport having won the 2011 MSV F3 Cup and the Sunoco Grand am 200 Challenge as well as having raced in A1 GP, and many other race series.
He has won one championship, with 17 race wins and 35 other podiums finishes in his career and he will be confident he can mix it with the big names in the BTCC next season.
Giving his reaction to being given this opportunity, Aaron said: “I know being part of the debut season for the RGM Motorsport Team in British Touring Cars could provide some unique challenges, but I also know it would provide an excellent opportunity to demonstrate what I can do as a racer, and I intend to show this in the final rounds of the European Touring Car Championship.
“There have been some tough weekends and tough years, but every time I have taken to the track I have learned something and taken a step forward. I believe the 2014 season will see me develop even further as a racer, and I will take my experience into the 2014 season, where I will show what I can really do with RGM Motorsport and our partners.”
Kent Sports News looks forward to following Steele on his debut season in the BTCC in 2014 and wish him the best of luck.