Andy Neate has announced that he is not racing in the 2014 British Touring Car Championship, and has mothballed his IP Tech Race team.

The 39-year-old set up the team last year, and built an NGTC Chevrolet Cruze, which eventually made its series debut at Snetterton in August.

He sold the car to Aiden Moffat at the end of the season, and said IP Tech Race was planning to expand and build two new Cruzes to race in the 2014 championship.

But he has now announced his plans have changed, and he will instead return in 2015.

Neate’s best performance in the car came at Silverstone, when he qualified in 11th place. The car achieved a best finish of 17th, for Neate at Silverstone, and Mike Bushell at Knockhill.

Writing on his Twitter page, Neate said: “No BTCC for 2014 but I’ll be back in 2015 & do it right.

“Need a break from BTCC, regroup learn from my experience & mistakes, come back to win.”