Motorbase has announced that Andy Neate will return to the British Touring Car Championship to complete its three-car line-up for the 2020 season.

The 45-year-old last raced in the series back in 2016 when he joined Team Dynamics only to split with the Honda squad after the opening meeting of the year at Brands Hatch.

Prior to that, Neate briefly ran his own team in 2013 having earlier raced for the likes of WSR, Arena and Triple Eight – completing his last full season in the series with the latter as team-mate to Jason Plato back in 2012.

Given his time away from the action, Neate will take to the track in the 2019-spec Ford Focus RS for pre-season testing whilst the build continues of the brand new Focus ST that he will campaign this season alongside Rory Butcher and Ollie Jackson.

“It has been a while, but I feel like I have some unfinished business in the BTCC,” he said. “I have taken some time away and I have been overseeing my son Aiden’s burgeoning karting career, but there was always the itch to come back to the BTCC. I don’t think I have been in a place where I could really show what I can do, but Motorbase suits me perfectly.

“Within a few minutes of talking to the team bosses, I could tell there was a hunger to succeed here which matches my own ambitions and there is also a really nice and encouraging atmosphere. We will be a superb fit, I am sure.

“I have a lot of experience and I have always enjoyed developing new cars, so the challenge with Motorbase and its new Ford Focus is something I am keen to get started with. I need to dust off some cobwebs first and I want to be in a position to hit the ground running when we get to the opening rounds at Donington Park on March 28-29.”

Team boss David Bartrum said he was delighted to welcome Neate into the fold.

“We’re delighted to welcome Andy to Motorbase Performance in a very exciting year for us with the new car,” he said. “Andy has a wealth of experience in the BTCC with some very good teams and from our early meetings he is very motivated and keen to get to work with our team.

“The BTCC has moved on since his absence from the series and Andy has no illusions of the task ahead and getting back up to speed. We have a test programme planned which will start in last year’s car to get him back up to speed and see how the cars have developed since he last drove the Honda. I feel sure from his experience he will be a great addition to the team.”

Entry List – 3 March:

No – Driver – Nat – Team – Car

1 – Colin Turkington – GBR – West Surrey Racing – BMW 330i M Sport

3 – Tom Chilton – GBR – BTC Racing – Honda Civic Type R

4 – Sam Osborne – GBR – Mark Blundell Motorsport – Honda Civic Type R

6 – Rory Butcher – GBR – Motorbase Performance – Ford Focus ST

11 – Jason Plato – GBR – Power Maxed Racing – Vauxhall Astra

15 – Tom Oliphant – GBR – West Surrey Racing – BMW 330i M Sport

16 – Aiden Moffat – GBR – Laser Tools Racing – Infiniti Q50

18 – Senna Proctor – GBR – EXCELR8 Motorsport – Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance

19 – Bobby Thompson – GBR – Trade Price Cars Racing – Audi S3

21 – Mike Bushell – GBR – Team HARD – Volkswagen CC

22 – Chris Smiley – GBR – EXCELR8 Motorsport – Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance

24 – Jake Hill – GBR – Mark Blundell Motorsport – Honda Civic Type R

25 – Matt Neal – GBR – Team Dynamics – Honda Civic Type R

27 – Dan Cammish – GBR – Team Dynamics – Honda Civic Type R

28 – Nic Hamilton – GBR – Team HARD – Volkswagen CC

31 – Jack Goff – GBR – Team HARD – Volkswagen CC

32 – Daniel Rowbottom – GBR – Ciceley Motorsport – Mercedes A Class

33 – Adam Morgan – GBR – Ciceley Motorsport – Mercedes A Class

41 – Carl Boardley – GBR – Team HARD – BMW 125i M Sport

44 – Andy Neate – GBR – Motorbase Performance – Ford Focus ST

48 – Ollie Jackson – GBR – Motorbase Performance – Ford Focus ST

66 – Josh Cook – GBR – BTC Racing – Honda Civic Type R

77 – Andrew Jordan – GBR – West Surrey Racing – BMW 330i M Sport

80 – Tom Ingram – GBR – Speedworks Motorsport – Toyota Corolla

116 – Ashley Sutton – GBR – Laser Tools Racing – Infiniti Q50

180 – James Gornall – GBR – Trade Price Cars Racing – Audi S3

777 – Michael Crees – GBR – BTC Racing – Honda Civic Type R

TBC – Mat Jackson – GBR – Power Maxed Racing – Vauxhall Astra

Race numbers subject to confirmation when official entry list is revealed