GoMobileUK.com with Tech-Speed Motorsport had a strong start to the season at Brands Hatch after Paul O’Neill brought home three solid points finishes for the team. As the team continue to understand the new Chevrolet Cruze, O’Neill achieved his stated goals and took three strong results.
From ninth on the grid in the first race, O’Neill managed to improve to take seventh by the end after battling hard with the Honda of Gordon Shedden in the closing stages. Despite losing the position, a late-race puncture from Andrew Jordan meant that he would benefit a position. Tom Boardman’s late demise from the points also boosted O’Neill, who was having one of the cleaner races amongst the top drivers.
Race two saw O’Neill improve his finishing position to fifth, meaning a strong starting position from third for the final race of the day. And, despite losing out to Mat Jackson in the early stages of the race, O’Neill was able to take his first podium of the season when Jordan, at the time running in front, suffered another puncture.
Commenting after the races, O’Neill said: “This is just what the whole team deserves as these guys are the hardest working in the paddock. The experience of the team and my own experience told me that the most important thing this weekend was to maximise the track time available to help us learn about the car, as we’d have learned nothing if I’d been parked in the gravel. I used my head all weekend and never gave up.
“Jason [Plato] and RML are the benchmark for us and to have been able to pull away from him in the final race was a sign to anyone who may have questioned what we can do with the car.
“We’ve got a good relationship with RML and we’re only scratching the surface at the moment with the Chevrolet and this is a good start to our season.”
John George, in the sister GoMobileUK.com car, was also pleased with his weekend after taking home three race finishes. George has raced a Honda Integra BTC-spec car for the past four seasons and is still adjusting to the championship-winning S2000-spec Chevrolet Cruze. However he was happy with his performances and came away with 14th, 15th and 17th respectively.
“I struggled a bit early on in the weekend but in the end I felt at one with the car and my times improved,” he said. “I wanted to try and get into the top ten this weekend, but the main thing was to spend time in the car and the improvement was shown by my times.
“I’m chuffed to bits for Paul with a podium to start the season and here’s hoping for more of the same as the year goes on.”
Team boss Marvin Humphries added: “We did what we set out to do this weekend. We’ve moved forwards and have learned more about the car and it’s a excellent start to the season.
“Paul drove really well as usual to finish on the podium and John has improved throughout the weekend. The Chevrolet is a cracking car for us to work with and we’re looking forward to Donington Park.”