paul o neill back in btcc

[motorsportmarshal61]

just read in the local paper
paul o neill is standing in for tony hughes at croft this weekend
welcome back

[KayBee]

Originally Posted by motorsportmarshal61

just read in the local paper
paul o neill is standing in for tony hughes at croft this weekend
welcome back

Although it's a pity he didn't make it back for the for the previous round.

[Mike Kelly 1]

Lets hope Paul does what he does best, mix it with the top 10 and show the teams what a class driver he is.

[Guinness2702]

Originally Posted by motorsportmarshal61

just read in the local paper
paul o neill is standing in for tony hughes at croft this weekend
welcome back

That reminds me, wasn't there a group photo in the pit lane, last year? Anybody have a copy, I've never seen it?

[PlatoBTCC]

Read this a few days back

I think it's great, he is a great driver and a decent guy

[Jim H]

Great news.

I always like to see him racing. I am always disappointed when I ask him that his sister doesn't come to see the races though. I wonder if she will come this year?

[Peat]

My sister won't come and watch me race. Why should his?

[Jim H]

Originally Posted by Peat

My sister won't come and watch me race. Why should his?

You do know who his sister is, don't you? But I suppose being famous doesn't matter that much. I saw her during the pit lane walkabout at Croft, I think the first year he was racing in touring cars.

I just hope that paper is right and he is coming to Croft and it's not just a rumour.

[Peat]

Of course i know who she is, i just didn't realise that being an ex-popstar obligated her to hang around at a wet and windy Croft just because her brother is driving cars.

Beside's i'm sure he would rather be regarded as 'that alright-ish Touring car driver' than simply 'Mel C's brother'.

[Inside BTCC]

You'd be surprised how many times his sister is at the track watching him - she just keeps herself to herself while there.

We had a chat with Paul in the eMag about his return as he talked us round a lap of the Croft circuit ahead of this weekend and there was also an interesting comment from Tony who thinks they have put 'the most popular driver on the grid' behind the wheel.

[BillWiskins]

Originally Posted by Peat

Of course i know who she is, i just didn't realise that being an ex-popstar obligated her to hang around at a wet and windy Croft just because her brother is driving cars.

I'm fairly certain I bumped in to her (literally) at Thruxton some years ago. I had apologised and was on my way before I realised who it was. She didn't even ask for an autograph!

[Craner Curves]

Originally Posted by Jim H

Great news.

I always like to see him racing. I am always disappointed when I ask him that his sister doesn't come to see the races though. I wonder if she will come this year?

He probably gets bored of being asked that constantly, so says no for a laugh.

I like how the BTCC.net story about him didn't mention his sister at all. It's taken long enough! The guy deserves to be mentioned in his own right, not have this "brother of Sporty Spice" tag every time he is mentioned in the press.

[Peat]

Originally Posted by Craner Curves

The guy deserves to be mentioned in his own right, not have this "brother of Sporty Spice" tag every time he is mentioned in the press.

Precisely what i was trying to get at.

[Clive Brown]

Who were the Spice Girls?

[BootsOntheSide]

I've been trying to forget them ever since 1996.

I don't seem to rate Paul as highly as a lot of people on here, but then I've never met him and he seems to be a well-liked guy - he's come across well in his TV work this year. He's not the only talented guy I'd like to see out there this year - Martin Byford, Adam Jones, Dan Eaves etc. all seem squeezed out by pay drivers and owner-drivers.