Three-time British Touring Car Championship race winner Luke Hines will return to the series for the remaining two rounds of the 2014 season, after he was announced as Glynn Geddie’s replacement as United Autosports’ second driver.
Hines, the 2003 BTCC Production Class champion, spent three full seasons in the championship with a best finish of 9th in 2005 for Seat Sport UK, and returns to the series to replace Geddie in the team’s second Toyota Avensis following the Scotsman’s suspension last week after he was charged with drink driving.
The 32-year-old will now prepare for next weekend’s meeting at Silverstone, where he took his third series victory in 2005, before the season finale at Brands Hatch on October 12.
Speaking about the announcement, Hines was delighted to be returning to the series and stated his intent to race competitively in his six outings.
“I’m thrilled to be returning to the BTCC,” said Hines. “I would like to say a huge thank you to United Autosports for this fantastic opportunity. I raced in the championship previously between 2003 to 2005 taking podiums and wins and I can’t wait to get my hands on the car. I’m not just going to make up the numbers, I’m excited and I have a lot of unfinished business in the BTCC.”
And for Team Owner and Managing Director Richard Dean – who has worked with the 32-year-old before – Hines’ previous experience was an attribute the team were keen to capture.
“I know Luke very well and I am a big fan having run him in Formula Ford and in the Panoz GT2 car,” said Dean. “Luke helped my old Team JLR to score a one-two-three podium clean sweep in the big grid, 30+ car Formula Ford days. Luke also finished second in the BGT championship with Tom Kimber-Smith when we ran the Panoz in GT2 back in 2006. He is a winner and will add the front wheel drive experience we are looking for with our BTCC programme.”