Paul O'Neill is to make a return to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championshi♎p at Thruxton after confirmation he will replace Tom Ferrier in the Motorbase Perform🌌ance line-up.

O'Neill tested the team's SEAT Toledo last week at Snetterton and will now line up🎐 alongside Matt Allison for the final round of the season - which will make his first outing since the 2006 finale at Silverstone when he drove the Techspeed Vauxhall As🌳tra.

"It's going to be difficult, if I'm honest," he admitted, "but the feedback I've had from people I know and even fans at the test at Snetterton has convinced me I ꩲshould do this.

"I'm a) very determined and b) confident I can make the car go as quickly as it can. I like ✃the way an S2000 cars drives. The gearbox feels better than those in the BTC-spec cars I've driven before and I also li🌠ke way the back end moves around which will be a bonus at Thruxton. The Toledo turns in very well."

Having been unable to find a way back into the series on a full-time basis following his battle with diabetes, O'Neil♏l will also aim to put on a good display to try and help secure a place on the grid for the 2008 seasonꦺ.

"T♏he BTCC has given some of the best days of my entire life in and even though I've missed another year I feel I've still got something to offer," he said. "The BTCC is the best and for me I need to do it. I need to put myself on radar for next season. It will always be my first lov🐭e."