The 2011 season will be Tom’s 10th year in the BTCC and will see him debut the all-new ‘Global’ Ford Focus.

As reigning Independent drivers’ champion he will again be leading Team Aon in the quest to land the main championship titles.

“I am extremely excited about the coming year,” he comments, “This is a very important season for me and the team and one where we’re going to be disappointed if we don’t finish the year with the overall titles.”

“The new Ford Focus is not a radical departure from the steps we have taken over the previous two seasons with the Focus. It retains a lot of parts from the 2010 car which have been developed and upgraded, along with a petrol version of the turbocharged engine we ran last year.”

“For sure it’s a new chassis and new bodywork, both of which improve vital areas for a Touring Car, but much of the mechanical side is an upgraded carry-over.”

The Team Aon squad know the car intimately having designed and built new versions of the Focus since its BTCC introduction in 2009. They went on to win the Independent Team’s championship last year with an LPG powered, turbocharged engine, but for 2011 are reverting to petrol and the BTCC’s unique NGTC engine regulations.

“It’s going to be an interesting year.” Tom added. “There are a lot of very competitive cars this year and coming out on top is going to be tough. The team know the car very well, as I do, and I think we’ve got the package absolutely spot on.”