17/2/2003

New Edenbridge Racing signing Michael Bentwood is capable of winning the British Touring Car Championship's Production class, according to the BMW team's boss Peter Briggs.

Bentwood, a former British Formula 3 racer, is hoping to lift the trophy that last year narrowly eluded Edenbridge's Norman Simon, despite the German taking seven class victories - more than eventual champion, Synchro Motorsport's James Kaye in a Honda Civic Type-R.

"From what I've seen in the two tests he's done with us, I think Michael will have the same pace as Norman," said Briggs.

"How he races I don't know, but he's done F3 for quite a few years and is therefore very professional in his approach. We have an excellent chance of winning it this time around."

Briggs also said that the identity of Bentwood's team-mate - rumoured to be Tom Ferrier, the wnner of the recent Renault Clio Cup winter series and who last year drove a privateer Alfa Romeo in European Touring Cars - would be announced soon.

Bentwood, meanwhile, also believes he has a strong chance of Production class success. The 25-year-old, from Cheshire, has not raced for two years but said: "I can;t wait to get back into the driving seat in a race situation. Edenbridge are a highly competitive and professional outfit and I expect to be a very serious challenger this year."

Bentwood raced in British F3 from 1997 to 2000 when grids included the likes of Jenson Button, Antonio Pizzonia and Takuma Sato. In 2000, he finished the season as the highest-placed British driver.

However, his most famous - or rather infamous - moment in F3 came in bizarre circumstances on the slowing down lap at Thruxton in 1997 when he was forced to a halt and confronted by rival Nicolas Minassian.

Frenchman Minassian accused Bentwood of being responsible for costing him victory on the final lap as he tried lapping him. Minassian's actions against Bentwood earned him exclusion from the race and a two-race ban that effectively ruined his title hopes.

If the rumours are right, among Bentwood's biggest Production class rivals will be team-mate Ferrier, plus Mark Lemmer and Luke Hines, who are expected to form the driver line-up in Barwell Motorsport-run Honda Civic Type-Rs, and Tom Boardman in a Vic Lee Racing-prepared John B&Q Peugeot 307.