Tim O'Neil

Infobox rally driver
name = Tim O'Neil

---

pixels = 150
caption =
nationality = American
date of birth =
place of birth =
related to =
current series = Rally America
first year = 1986
current team = Team O'Neil
prev teams = Mitsubishi, Volkswagen
co-driver =
starts =
event wins =
stage wins =
career points =
best finish =
year =
prev series = SCCA ProRally
prev series years =
titles = SCCA ProRally Group A Champion, GT Champion
title years = 1989, 1992
awards =
award years =

Tim O'Neil is an American rally racing driver, and the winner of five North American rally championships. [ [http://www.rallyracingnews.com/teams/bio-toneil.html Biography Tim O'Neil, Team O'Neil Rally School, Rally Racing News ] ] He has driven both as a privateer, and as a factory driver for Volkswagen and Mitsubishi. [ [http://www.rallyracingnews.com/teams/bio-toneil.html Biography Tim O'Neil, Team O'Neil Rally School, Rally Racing News ] ]

Racing career

1980s

O'Neil's first rallying experience was in 1986, racing a Saab 99 he had prepared, winning Canada's Novice of the Year. [ [http://www.rallyracingnews.com/teams/bio-toneil.html Biography Tim O'Neil, Team O'Neil Rally School, Rally Racing News ] ] Prior to this he had raced stock cars, receiving rookie of the year honors in 1982. [ [http://www.rallyracingnews.com/teams/bio-toneil.html Biography Tim O'Neil, Team O'Neil Rally School, Rally Racing News ] ] In 1987, he won the New England Division Championship. [ [http://www.rallyracingnews.com/teams/bio-toneil.html Biography Tim O'Neil, Team O'Neil Rally School, Rally Racing News ] ] He was recruited by Volkswagen in 1988 to drive the Group A Golf GTI. [ [http://www.rallyracingnews.com/teams/bio-toneil.html Biography Tim O'Neil, Team O'Neil Rally School, Rally Racing News ] ] During that year's Press On Regardless Rally, he led for over two days before getting stuck in a ditch on the last stage. [ [http://www.rallyracingnews.com/teams/bio-toneil.html Biography Tim O'Neil, Team O'Neil Rally School, Rally Racing News ] ] He achieved his first overall victory at the Tall Pines Rally, clinching the Canadian Group A title. [ [http://www.rallyracingnews.com/teams/bio-toneil.html Biography Tim O'Neil, Team O'Neil Rally School, Rally Racing News ] ]

He formed Team O'Neil Motorsport in 1989 as Volkswagen moved from Group A to the Production Class. [ [http://www.rallyracingnews.com/teams/bio-toneil.html Biography Tim O'Neil, Team O'Neil Rally School, Rally Racing News ] ] He won six of the first eight SCCA National ProRally Championship Events, locking up both individual and manufacturer's championships by midseason. [ [http://www.rallyracingnews.com/teams/bio-toneil.html Biography Tim O'Neil, Team O'Neil Rally School, Rally Racing News ] ] As North American Production Champion, he also became the first Production class driver to win overall at an SCCA national event. [ [http://www.rallyracingnews.com/teams/bio-toneil.html Biography Tim O'Neil, Team O'Neil Rally School, Rally Racing News ] ]

1990s

In 1990, O'Neil drove the AWD, supercharged Rallye Golf prototype to three overall wins and then became the first American in years to compete in Finland's 1000 Lakes Rally, a World Rally Championship event. [ [http://www.rallyracingnews.com/teams/bio-toneil.html Biography Tim O'Neil, Team O'Neil Rally School, Rally Racing News ] ] In the same year, he used the car to set a record time of 7m, 45s in the Mount Washington Hillclimb Auto Race. [ [http://www.climbtotheclouds.com/history.html The Climb to the Clouds Vintage Hillclimb at the Mt. Washington Auto Road at the base of Mt. Washington, Pinkham Notch New Hampshire ] ] In 1992, O'Neil was signed by Mitsubishi, and drove a Galant VR4 to win the National GT Championship. [ [http://www.rallyracingnews.com/teams/bio-toneil.html Biography Tim O'Neil, Team O'Neil Rally School, Rally Racing News ] ]

2000s

O'Neil drove a United States Air Force Reserve sponsored 2002 Ford SVT Focus in the 2002 and 2003 SCCA ProRally Championship seasons, which was featured in the game Sega Rally 2006. [ [http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=140786&FS=PRORALLY Motorsport.com: News channel ] ] At the end of the 2003 season, he announced his retirement from competition to focus on his Rally School. [ [http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=140786&FS=PRORALLY Motorsport.com: News channel ] ]

He began competing again in 2006, driving a Subaru WRX STI, in several events in the Rally America National Championship in 2006 and 2007. [ [http://www.rally-america.com/event.NEFR.2007.php?section=entry_list Rally America ] ] [ [http://www.subaru-msm.com/global/local2006/ranc/8.html Motorsports | Subaru Global ] ] [ [http://www.rally-america.com/event.NEFR.2007.php?section=photos&pic=1562&gallery=50 Rally America ] ]

Rally School

O'Neil started the Tim O'Neil Rally School in 1997, after having spent several years coaching other rally drivers on techniques, most notably, the skill of left-foot braking. [ [http://www.rallyracingnews.com/teams/bio-toneil.html Biography Tim O'Neil, Team O'Neil Rally School, Rally Racing News ] ] [ [http://www.team-oneil.com/press4.htm Team O'Neil Rally School & Car Control Center | Press ] ]

ources