Bell enjoys solid Arkas debut.

Martyn Bell enjoyed a solid debut for his new Arkas Racing with Sunshine.co.uk team as the 2008 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship season kicked off at Brands Hatch.

The weekend marked the first time that Bell has raced using front-wheel drive, going into the weekend looking to continue his education with the Tech-Speed run Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch.

Unfortunately for Bell, qualifying didn't go to plan when he missed a radio call to come in for new tyres and was caught out by tricky damp conditions at Paddock Hill Bend, going off into the gravel and being left in 24th on the grid for the opening race.

His luck didn't improve when the race itself got underway, when rival Alan Taylor suffered a spin coming out of Graham Hill Bend and collected the Astra in the process, putting Bell into retirement.

However, from ...