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| Arkas Expands For 2008 BTCC As Bell Joins Kizilirmak |
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| Monday, 04 February 2008 | |
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Arkas Racing has confirmed it will field two Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch
cars in the 2008
 HiQ British Touring Car Championship after agreeing terms with
popular BTCC runner Martyn Bell.
The 43-year-old, from Barrow upon Humber in North Lincolnshire, will join
Turkish racer Erkut Kizilirmak at the squad which, as in 2007, will be run by
Marvin Humphries’ Leamington-Spa based Tech-Speed Motorsport team. Additional
technical support will once again come from Banbury-based Triple Eight
Engineering Ltd.
Ending last season’s championship seventh overall in the Independents Team
Trophy as a single-car entrant, with 38-year-old Kizilirmak ninth in the
Independents driver standings, hopes are incredibly high for Arkas Racing’s
second year in the BTCC now it has been officially unveiled as a two-car
team.
Commenting on Bell’s signing, Arkas technical director Brian Ashwood said:
“We’re delighted Martyn has chosen to join Arkas Racing, our chief aim ahead of
the new season was to attract a second driver to the team and with two years of
touring car experience under his belt Martyn is an ideal team-mate for Erkut to
learn from.
“We’re all confident our second season in the BTCC will be successful and,
as always, a lot of fun. Having achieved a couple of overall top 10 race results
last year, I think we can rightfully hope for more top 10 finishes from both
Erkut and Martyn during 2008.”
Bell moved into the BTCC two years ago after almost a decade in the
club-level Kumho BMW Championship, a nine-year tenure in which he achieved the
outright series title in 2004 with 10 race victories. In 1999 he was the Class C
Champion and at the wheel of BMW M3 in 2000 and 2001 he became back-to-back
Class A Champion.
 Graduating to the BTCC in 2006 at the wheel of a BMW 320i E46, with the
help of BMW squad Geoff Steel Racing, Bell then raced under the banner Team
Allaboutproperty.com last season, finishing 11th overall in the Independents
Trophy both years.
Like Kizilirmak, Bell has become one of the most popular figures in the
BTCC and the experienced saloon car campaigner can’t wait to take his maiden
test mileage in one of Arkas’ immaculately prepared BTC-specification Vauxhall
Astras.
Speaking on his 2008 agreement with Arkas, Bell said: “Erkut and I first
spoke about a possible deal at Snetterton last season as we got on very well
throughout the year and raced closely on track. I’m regarding leaving the BMW
behind as a step forward, not a step sideways or backwards, and I’m confident
2008 will be a great season.
“I’ve raced BMW since 1996, won four national championships, and I think
I’m perhaps burnt out with racing the marque. I don’t see I’ll have any problems
adjusting to the Astra and I actually think I’m very fortunate to have this
opportunity to work with a professional team like Tech-Speed Motorsport and have
a good team-mate like Erkut.”
Bell added: “I’m indebted to my many sponsors as, without them, this just
wouldn’t be possible. I think we can ride high in the team championships and if
Erkut and I start formation flying and bring each other on, I really believe
we’ll be good top 10 material.”
The BTCC celebrates its 50th birthday in 2008 and the 30-round golden
anniversary season will begin at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit in Kent on 29th/30th
March.
Driver Profile – Martyn Bell
Nationality: British
Age: 43 Date of Birth: 17th July 1964 Lives: Barrow upon Humber, North Lincolnshire Occupation: Proprietor, Martyn Bell Motor Engineers Ltd Sponsors: Sunshine.co.uk, Quayside, Truck Links, Miller Oils, Paul Wiseman, ARCO, Grimsby Institute of Further & Higher Education
Career Highlights:
2007 - British Touring Car Championship – 11th overall in Independents Trophy 2006 - British Touring Car Championship – 11th overall in Independents Trophy 2005 - Kumho BMW Vice-Champion – four race victories (BMW M3) 2004 - Kumho BMW Champion – 10 race victories (BMW M3) 2001 - Kumho BMW Class A Champion (BMW M3) 2000 - Kumho BMW Class A Champion (BMW M3) 1999 - Kumho BMW Class C Champion
Driver Profile – Erkut Kizilirmak
Nationality: Turkish
Age: 38 Date of Birth: 14th September 1969 Lives: Istanbul, Turkey Occupation: Director, Arkas Automotive Sponsors: Arkas Automotive
Career Highlights:
2007 - British Touring Car Championship – 9th overall in Independents Trophy; achieved two overall top 10 race finishes 2006 - British Touring Car Championship – contested six races with VX Racing at the wheel of a BTC-specification Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch; Turkish Touring Car Championship 2005 - Turkish Touring Car Champion – three race victories; World Touring Car Championship – one race (GR Asia SEAT Toledo) 2004 - Turkish Touring Car Championship – second in 1600 Class 2002/2003 - Turkish Fiat Challenge & Turkish Renault Clio Cup |
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