Arena Motorsport

Motor racing team

pixels = 95
founded = 1999
country = flagicon|UK United Kingdom
principal = Mike Earle
current series = Le Mans Series
A1 Grand Prix
British F3
former series = BTCC
12 Hours of Sebring
24 Hours of Le Mans
European Le Mans Series
driver titles = -
team titles = 2001 ELMS
folded =

Arena International Motorsport is a British motor racing team founded by Mike Earle. The team made their racing debut in the British Touring Car Championship in 1999, where they ran for many years before moving to become a factory-supported Zytek sports car team in the Le Mans Series in 2007.

BTCC

Arena's first season saw the team running a year-old Renault Laguna for Russell Spence, who was later replaced by Will Hoy. The team disappeared from the series for a while, but in 2001 approached Honda about running a Civic on an independent basis. However, Honda chose to give the team full manufacturer backing for the 2002 season, with Alan Morrison and Andy Priaulx driving. There was some initial success, and in 2003 newcomer Matt Neal finished third in the standings for them, in what was Arena's best year in the BTCC with six wins and finishing second in the Teams' and Manufacturers' Championships.

However Honda chose to reduce their support, leaving Arena running a single car for Tom Chilton in 2004 and claim two wins. Honda's support was gone altogether in in 2005 but despite missing the opening and closing meetings of the year Chilton went on to take four wins in the 2005 season before they decided to sell off their Civic to Fast-Tec Motorsport, although Arena provided some assistance with setting up the car. Arena then moved on to a full time sports car team.

*2008-09 is the current season.
*D.C. = Drivers' Championship position, T.C. = Teams' Championship position.

References

External links

* [http://www.arenamotorsport.com/ Arena International Motorsport]