Thomas Michael Onslow-Cole (born 16 May 1987 in Kingston, Surrey) is a British former racing driver. He won the International GT Open in Pro-Am category in 2018 and in 2019 and the 24H Series in 2015.
It was announced in April 2014 that he would not be returning to the BTCC for 2014 and instead entered the British GT Championship driving in a factory-supported Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3. In 2015, Onslow-Cole won the GT3 class of the 24H Series after taking a podium at every round, including a second place at Dubai 24 Hours and a race win in the inaugural 24 Hours of Paul Ricard. In 2016, he entered various 24H Series events in the Ferrari 488 GT3 and Mercedes AMG GT3, winning the 24 Hours of Brno and taking third at Paul Ricard. He also raced for Team Parker Racing in the Bentley Continental GT3 in the Blancpain Endurance Series Pro-Am class. This year, he has a BMW factory contract for the Nurburgring 24 Hours and will contest Le Mans Cup, GT Open and various 24H Series races in the Mercedes AMG GT3.
Career
Team RAC (2007)
Onslow-Cole began his career in karting at the age of eight.
He was the 2006 Renault Clio Cup champion, winning the title by 113 points from his nearest rival. This allowed him to graduate to the BTCC for the 2007 season. He finished tenth overall in the championship standings for West Surrey Racing after recording four podiums, including his maiden victory at Snetterton.
VX Racing (2008)
In 2008, Vauxhall acquired his services and placed him into the third Vectra along with previous champions of the series, Fabrizio Giovanardi (2007) and
Matt Neal (2005 & 2006). He took pole position for round 3 at
Donington Park, leading race 1 until dropping to third through an off-track excursion. He was also strong in race 3, before being hit by Giovanardi, but recovered to finish third. He recorded another pole at Thruxton and followed this up with his first two wins of the season in races 1 and 2. He would go on to finish a career best sixth in the championship, scoring 170 points with two wins and nine podiums, including five podiums in succession.
Team Aon (2009–2011)
Having been replaced at VX Racing by Andrew Jordan, Onslow-Cole started 2009 without a drive. He drove the medical car during the second BTCC meeting of the season, at
Thruxton Circuit.
Onslow-Cole was brought in by Arena Motorsport to replace Alan Morrison ahead of the round at Croft, where he was due to drive the medical car once again. He had to use Morrison's race suit and seat.
In 2010, Team Aon's Fords are powered by liquefied petroleum gas, and Onslow-Cole was confident of a title push pre-season
In 2011, Onslow-Cole raced a NGTC-powered, Super 2000-specification Volkswagen Golf in the British Touring Car Championship, with AmD Essex.
eBay Motors (2012)
With Team Aon having left to go to the World Touring Car Championship, Onslow-Cole had to look elsewhere for a drive in 2012.
In February 2012 it was announced that he would join eBay Motors, the team for which under a different guise he made his BTCC debut with in 2007.
He finished on the podium for his first race back with the team at
Brands Hatch. He went on to claim a further 6 Podiums leading him to 6th in the Drivers Standings.
Team HARD. (2013)
In January 2013, it was confirmed that Onslow-Cole would drive an NGTC
Volkswagen CC for Team HARD. in the 2013 season in a three-year deal.
He took his first podium for the team at Thruxton where he finished third in race one and then he finished second in race two, his best result of the season.
He decided to miss the final three rounds of the season. at this stage he was placed 10th in the Championship.
Motorbase Performance (2013)
In September 2013, Onslow-Cole joined Motorbase Performance under their Airwaves Racing banner for the final three rounds of the 2013 season in a bid to improve the team's points tally in the constructors Standings. He achieved a best result of 4th and finished the year 12th in the Drivers Standings.
Strata21 (2014)
In April 2014, it was announced that Onslow-Cole would switch from touring cars to GTs, partnering Paul White in the 2014 British GT Championship for the Strata21 team, initially in a Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3
before switching to an Aston Martin Vantage GT3. The pairing managed to finish every round of the championship
and scored their first podium finish in the series when they finished third in the second race at the championship's Snetterton meeting.
Ram Racing (2015)
Onslow-Cole remained in GTs for 2015, joining Ram Racing to race a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 in the 24H Series, and taking second places at the Dubai 24 Hours and the 12 Hours of
Mugello Circuit before scoring his first win in the series at the 24 Hours of Paul Ricard. Ram Racing won their overall class and Onslow-Cole won his maiden GT championship. Outside of GT racing Onslow-Cole won the MSA
Rallycross Talent Search at Lydden Hill in May 2015, securing a drive in the RX Lites support race at the World RX of Turkey at
Istanbul Park in October 2015.
He went on finish in third place overall in his rallycross debut and hopes to contest more rounds with the support of sponsor Rockstar Energy Drink. Also in 2015 he won the Aston Martin festival at Le Mans.
Bentley Team Parker Racing (2016)
For 2016, Onslow-Cole signed for Team Parker Racing racing a Bentley Continental GT3 competing in the Blaincpain Endurance Championship for selected rounds. He also had various outings in the 24H Series once more. On 16 October 2016 he won the 24H race of Brno racing a Ferrari 488 GT3 for Scuduri Praha. He also made a one off appearance in the VLN Endurance Championship at the Nurburgring racing a Toyota GT 86 CS Cup-Car for Team TMG. He qualified fourth and finished the race third in class.
BMW Motorsport (2017)
In 2017, Onslow-Cole will make his debut as a BMW factory driver when he takes on Nürburgring 24 Hours in the M6 GT3. He will prepare for the event by contesting VLN1, VLN2 and the qualifying race with the team. He will also contest the Le Mans Cup with RAM Racing and GT Open with sps automotive performance, both in the Mercedes AMG GT3.
Racing record
Complete International GT Open results
Complete 24H Series results
Complete British Touring Car Championship results
(
key) (Races in
bold indicate pole position – 1 point awarded in first race) (Races in
italics indicate fastest lap – 1 point awarded all races) (* signifies that driver lead race for at least one lap – 1 point awarded all races)
Complete International Superstars Series results
(
key) (Races in
bold indicate pole position) (Races in
italics indicate fastest lap)
Complete British GT Championship results
(
key) (Races in
bold indicate pole position) (Races in
italics indicate fastest lap)
† As Onslow-Cole was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.
Complete FIA World Rallycross Championship results
RX Lites Cup
Complete GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup results
(
key) (Races in
bold indicate pole position) (Races in
italics indicate fastest lap)
|
|
| 2020
! nowrap | SPS Automotive Performance
! nowrap | Mercedes-AMG GT
! nowrap | Pro-Am | MIS
1
| MIS
2
| MIS
3
| MAG
1 | MAG
2 | ZAN
1 | ZAN
2 | CAT
1 | CAT
2 | CAT
3
! 8th
! 15 |
External links
