View Full Version : BTCC 2014 news.
Rob
11th January 2014, 11:35
Jackson joins Welch in second Proton.
Ollie Jackson is to race alongside Dan Welch in the long-awaited second Welch Motorsport Proton Gen-2 in the 2014 British Touring Car Championship, it was announced at the Autosport International show.
Jackson, who moves into his third full season in the BTCC having previously raced for Triple Eight in 2011, AmD Tuning in 2012 and Speedworks Motorsport in 2013, will line-up in Welch’s 2013 car, whilst Dan Welch will race a brand-new second Proton.
“We’ve had some good meetings and we’re all getting on really well straight away so it’s definitely exciting,” said Jackson to TouringCars.Net. “Dan and Welch Motorsport are confident with the set up so it’s nice to be able to step into a car that’s proven.”
Jackson added that he expects to start 2014 on a much stronger footing, having lost weight during the winter months – something the 29 year-old feels held him back at times during 2012 and 2013.
“It’s a much lighter car,” added Jackson. “With me being a big guy – I’ve been losing weight over the winter – it’s going to be nice to be in a car that’s not 40 or 50 kilos overweight so I’m hoping for good things.
“The car is light enough now that with my weight we can actually put some ballast in it. That obviously helps and in terms of set-up we can run more aggressively for a raceas previously we would have to preserve the tyres more like people who run success do. It does kind of open things up a bit more.”
The former Porsche racer also admitted that he hoped his and Welch’s different racing backgrounds would prove to be of mutual benefit during the forthcoming season.
“Dan comes from a single-seater background and I come from a GT and Porsches background, so there are going to be differences,” said Jackson. “But generally speaking I’m finding it quite easy to adapt. He’ll probably learn some things from me and I’ll probably learn some things from him and hopefully we’ll move each other forwards.”
Welch Motorsport have previously only run one NGTC-sepcification Proton since joining the series mid-way through 2011, with the team adding a second car for S2000-runner David Nye for the 2013 season. The team have scored to-date a best result of fourth at Oulton Park in 2012.
Rob
11th January 2014, 11:36
Rotek to race Audi A3 saloon in BTCC
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Rotek Racing Audi A3Rotek Racing have announced that they are to campaign a single Audi A3 Saloon in the 2014 British Touring Car Championship, with American racer Robb Holland set to compete for the entire season for the first time.
Holland, who has previously competed in the BTCC in 2012 and 2013 for Tony Gilham’s Team HARD outfit, had previously set his sights on competing in the WTCC in 2013, having acquired the ex-Arena Motorsport Ford Focus’. However with that series’ change in regulations, Holland has since shifted his focus back to Britain and competing with an NGTC-specification car.
The team will compete with a Saloon version of the Audi A3 with support from Audi Customer Racing and Oakley sunglasses. The move means the team will continue their association with the German manufacturer, having competed with an Audi TTRS in the Thunderhill 25 Hours and the Nürburgring VLN Endurance Race.
Holland admitted that he was pleased to be returning to the British series, where he will become the first American to contest the series for the entire season.
“Being the first American full-time entry in the BTCC is a huge achievement for both myself and Rotek Racing,” said Holland. “This is the culmination of several years of hard work and, because the BTCC is what got me into racing in the first place, joining as a full-time entrant is definitely a dream come true.”
“The BTCC rounds I’ve contested to this point were all done with the view of understanding what the series is about and what it will take for us to be successful in it. We still have a huge amount of hard work to do to make the grid at Brands Hatch and 2014 will definitely be a learning year.”
Holland also added that he hoped the team’s choice of car would generate additional interest in the team.
“Trying to build a new car and develop it with very little testing is a tall ask for anyone and there are still many tracks for me to learn,” added Holland. “That being said, I’m really looking forward to running the Audi S3 saloon. I think it will be a good fit – from a marketing perspective it’s great to be running the S3 at this time. Audi has just launched the car and, as the first of the new generation S3s to race anywhere in the world, I’m really hoping that it will attract a lot of attention from Audi fans across the globe.”
Rotek Racing are inviting fans to choose the team’s 2014 livery from 12 pre-designed artist impressions as part of a competition to be held on their official Facebook page and the BTCC website next week.
Rob
11th January 2014, 11:37
2014 “BIGGEST YEAR” FOR BUOYANT BARTRUM
Latest News posted 11th January 2014
Motorbase team boss David Bartrum is brimming with confidence ahead of the 2014 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season. With confirmed backing from Airwaves once again, the Kent-based squad has made a number of key changes in an effort to score wins and podiums over the coming year.
Speaking at the Autosport International show this weekend, Bartrum said, “It’s going to be a good year. 2014 is a blank piece of paper and we’ve got some exciting projects planned.
“For me the Autosport Show is an important kick-start to the new season. We’ve had time to dissect 2013 now, change it and improve it and we know where we’re going to be now. It was tough last year but we didn’t stop learning so it wasn’t a waste of time. Now its time to start scoring trophies and wins again.
“We’re very happy with changes we’ve made to the car and the team, our engineering staff has been beefed up, so we can’t wait to get started.”
In addition to the three Airwaves Racing Ford Focus cars, there will be another Motorbase-built car on the grid in the hands of Dave Newsham and the AMDtuning.com team. Bartrum continued, “We’re going to have three cars on the grid ourselves – we’ve sold one car having looked at what the likes of Honda has done with Pirtek and we’d like to start something similar. The AMD team is based very close to us, and they’ve got a great driver lined up in Dave Newsham so it’s a good package to be a part of. We’ll be in contact with them a lot, and we’ll be sharing information this year too.”
The longstanding team boss was more guarded about his driver line-up for the coming season, but we can look forward to announcement in the coming weeks.
“I’ve got an idea on drivers, but I’m going to keep it to myself for the moment,” said Bartrum. “It’s great that Airwaves is staying with us, and we’re very grateful for that. They’ve been a big part of us for many years and I’m looking forward to building on our relationship.
“There’s a lot to prove this year, so for us it’s going to be our biggest year.”
Rob
11th January 2014, 11:42
AUSTIN LAUNCHES 2014 CAR AT AUTOSPORT INTERNATIONAL
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Rob Austin (GBR) Exocet Racing Audi A4 launch
Rob Austin Racing unveiled its NGTC Audi A4 that will contest the 2014 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship today at the Autosport International show. Now with title sponsorship from Fast Exocet, the team is planning to build on the good results achieved at a number of rounds in 2013, which included a breakthrough first win at Rockingham in September.
Austin himself is in eager anticipation of the challenges 2014 will bring, and said, “These are massively exciting times for our team. Fast Exocet’s input is going to play a vital role in our results in 2014, and I know our brilliant fans will get right behind them as we seek to challenge for podiums and race wins.”
Fast Exocet, which provided sponsorship for the team in 2013 enabling promising youngster Jake Hill to contest the final event of the season, will have full branding on one of the team’s two entries and will also appear on the second. Managing Director of the company Neil Ryding adds, “Following a successful first season in 2013 as subsidiary sponsors of Rob Austin Racing, we are very pleased to announce that our association will continue over at least the next two seasons.
“Fast Exocet sees its presence within the BTCC as an integral part of its growth plans and on-going efforts to increase the Exocet brand recognition within the automotive and retail sectors.”
Rob
18th March 2014, 17:30
Jason Plato predicts 'brilliant' BTCC season in 2014
By Matt James Tuesday, March 18th 2014, 14:37 GMT
Jason Plato believes this year's British Touring Car Championship will provide some "brilliant" racing.
Seven champions will feature on the grid this season, including the returning Fabrizio Giovanardi in a Motorbase Ford Focus and Alain Menu in a BMR VW Passat.
Series bosses confirmed a 31-car line-up during the championship's pre-season press day on Tuesday.
MG driver Plato, who claimed the title in 2001 and '10, said: "It is going to be a brilliant season for the racing and there is a real buzz about the championship.
"It is tough enough as it is. I don't think it is going to be any tougher.
"Whilst Fabrizio Giovanardi and Alain Menu are world class drivers, they are going to take some time to get themselves in gear - probably Alain more so than Fabrizio, because he has a hill to climb with the team.
"But I am looking to having some great races with not just my old professional mates like Alain and Fabrizio, but everybody."
Plato won eight races last season and says that the Triple Eight team, which runs the MG6s, was working hard to iron out any reliability problems ahead of the new season.
"Had it not been for our DNFs last season - and we had far too many - we let it get away," he added.
"We lost wins through stuff going wrong. This is the last year of a three-year deal and we are better prepared than we have ever been. I would like to think we were in with a shout."
Confirmed 2014 British Touring Car line-up so far:
Team Car Drivers
Eurotech Honda Civic Andrew Jordan/Martin Depper
Honda (Team Dynamics) Civic Tourer Gordon Shedden/Matt Neal
MG (Triple Eight) MG6 J Plato/S Tordoff/M Hynes
Ciceley Racing Mercedes A-class Adam Morgan
Motorbase Performance Ford Focus F Giovanardi/J Clarke/M Jackson
AmD Ford Focus Dave Newsham
Rob Austin Racing Audi A4 Rob Austin/Hunter Abbott
Welch Motorsport Proton Gen-2 Dan Welch/Ollie Jackson
United Autosports Toyota Avensis James Cole/Glynn Geddie
Rotek Racing Audi S3 Robb Holland
Handy Motorsport Toyota Avensis Simon Belcher
Team BMR Vauxhall Insignia Jack Goff/Warren Scott
Team BMR VW Passat CC Alain Menu/Aron Smith
WSR BMW 125i M Sport C Turkington/R Collard/N Foster
Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Avensis Tom Ingram
Houseman Racing Toyota Avensis Lea Wood
Moffat Chevrolet Cruze Aiden Moffat
BTC Chevrolet Cruze Chris Stockton
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112995
Rob
18th March 2014, 17:31
DUNLOP INTRODUCES NEW DEVELOPMENTS FOR 2014 BTCC TYRES
Latest News posted 18th March 2014
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Dunlop has announced that it will supply a new specification tyre construction to the 2014 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.
The new construction will be used on all BTCC dry weather tyres, including the new Dunlop Sport Maxx Soft, Medium and Hard variants that were introduced for the 2013 season. The compound for each of these tyres will not change, but the new construction has been introduced to offer improved driver feedback and confidence across the whole range of tyres.
Dunlop undertake development work in GT racing, particularly in endurance racing championships that allow tyre competition. In this arena, where Dunlop were the choice of winners of the 2012 European Le Mans Series and 2013 Nurburgring 24 Hours, Dunlop are able to test different solutions across a wide range of weather conditions and distances.
The new BTCC construction includes learnings from Dunlop’s successful GT range. The new tyres feature a more pliable construction which maintains Dunlop’s trademark durability but gives better feedback to the driver, particularly under heavy braking and in corner sequences that call for rapid directional changes. The new construction means that drivers are able to gain a more accurate feel, particularly during turn-in to fast corners.
“Although we are a single-brand tyre supplier, we are driven to continually improve the product. Over the last few years, we have introduced several new developments, including Radio Frequency Indentification Tags, the Harder ‘Thruxton’ tyre, the new sizes for NGTC specification cars and, last year, the range of Soft, Medium and Hard Sport Maxx tyres. We are continually looking to improve performance and durability, even in a championship where every competitor has the same tyres. ” stated Michael Butler, Car Motorsport Sales and Product Manager.
One of the by-products of the new construction is that it is expected to amplify the performance difference between the existing Sport Maxx Soft and Medium compounds which are available at all circuits except Thruxton, where only the unique, circuit-specific, Sport Maxx Hard is used.
“The new construction will work the compound harder, and we expect that teams will see a greater difference in race pace between the two tyre choices, depending on the temperatures and circuits. Testing has shown that the Sport Maxx Soft and Medium tires have quite different optimum operating windows, so this will put more focus on the strategic choices for the teams. They must use the Sport Maxx Soft Tyre in one of the three races at each event, apart from Thruxton” added Michael.
The compounds used for the BTCC are taken from the softer end of Dunlop’s successful endurance range. “Very few endurance racing series allow the use of super-soft qualifying tyres, so even the softest tyres are designed for full-length stints during the race. That means it needs to be consistent over that time rather than giving you pace for a couple of laps then degrading. There will be phases where the soft tyre is the best choice and phases where the medium tyre will work best” explained Michael.
The introduction of the Soft option was a major talking point with teams in 2013. As the season progressed the teams found more opportunities to exploit the soft tyre. In the first part of last year, as teams began to learn about the tyre, most chose to run it during the final race of the day. However, in the second half of the season, there was more variety in the teams’ strategies. Significantly, in high temperatures at Snetterton in August two of the three races were won on the soft tyre for the first time and drivers on the Soft tyre were regularly registering their fastest laps in the final laps.
Rob
18th March 2014, 17:32
DUNLOP CONTINUE STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH BTCC.
Dunlop has confirmed that it has been re-appointed by the MSA British Touring Car Championship as Official Tyre Supplier and Sponsor.
This extends the partnership that began in 2003, although Dunlop has been actively involved in all eras of the championship since the BTCC began in 1958.
The new agreement is a multi-year contract and Dunlop will continue to be the title Sponsor as well as supply all teams with the Sport Maxx range for use on track.
The sponsorship deal which includes television broadcast of the championship on ITV4 and clear branding across all assets including cars, trackside and online collateral including the popular BTCC website and social feeds, as well as a number of hospitality and ticket allocations at each round.
“Partnering with the BTCC provides a great platform for Dunlop from both a product and brand perspective. Not only do we put our motorsport products to the test in every race, but we also leverage our brand in close association with this important motorsport championship” said Andy Marfleet, Dunlop Brand Manager.
“The sponsorship package we receive allows us to talk to our key audience in the environment where they are most at home – at a race circuit. We are also able to use the BTCC across all of our brand activation across the year highlighting a clear synergy between Dunlop and motorsport.
“The activation will include a clear focus on digital activity with a range of Facebook tabs; we will also be producing a range of insight videos and giving away 30 pairs of tickets to every round of the championship via social media platforms. The partnership allows us to utilise the touring car drivers for promotions and road-tyre events.
“On top of all of this we will be using our ticket and hospitality packages with our dealer network and ensure that our customers are offered the best possible Dunlop experience at selected rounds of the championship.
“The BTCC is one of the most prestigious championships in Europe and our continued investment and partnership with this organisation enables us to prove our position as a leader in motorsport.
“The tyre supply includes Sport Maxx Soft, Medium and Hard compounds and BluResponse Wet tyres. The Soft and Medium tyre choice will be taken to all circuits apart from Thruxton, where the Sport Maxx Hard tyre will be exclusively used.
“This year we will provide a new construction of tyres which will bring greater differentiation between the tyre choices, further enhancing the racing and show our product as a leader in its field.”
Rob
18th March 2014, 17:33
AIRWAVES RACING CONFIRM MAT JACKSON’S RETURN
Latest News posted 18th March 2014
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Mat Jackson has been confirmed to drive alongside Fabrizio Giovanardi in the 2014 Airwaves Racing line-up.
The multiple BTCC race winner has been in negotiations with the squad for several weeks but a deal was finally inked on the morning of the championship’s official Season Launch at Donington Park.
Jackson has made his way to the Derbyshire circuit and completed the final 90 minutes of testing in the upgraded Ford Focus.
Rob
18th March 2014, 17:45
DUNLOP SOCIAL FEEDS TO HOST SUNDAY MORNING TYRE CHOICE REVEAL
Latest News posted 18th March 2014
Dunlop and TOCA are pleased to reveal that the announcement of driver tyre choice in the British Touring Car Championship will now be made available on Dunlop social media feeds before any other outlet.
Previously, spectators and competitors could not find out which tyres a driver had chosen until the cars were on the grid, ready for the race. From 2014 the information will be made public first on Dunlop’s social media feeds at 10am on race day.
In 2013 tyre choice became a major talking point within the BTCC with the introduction of a softer ‘option’ tyre. At each round every driver has one set of special Dunlop Sport Maxx Soft compound tyres for use in one of the three races. Before Saturday’s qualifying, drivers must nominate the race in which they will use the tyres without the knowledge of other drivers’ strategies.
The Sport Maxx Soft compound tyre has a different operating window to than the Sport Maxx Medium compound and, after testing and experience on the tyre, the second half of the 2013 championship saw teams find more opportunities to exploit the Soft tyre and integrate its benefits within their strategies. At Snetterton in August two of the three races were won on the Soft tyre for the first time and drivers on the Soft tyre were regularly registering their fastest laps in the final laps of the races.
The tyre options will continue in 2014 and the result-changing information of who will use what tyre in what race will now be available at the start of race day via Dunlop’s popular social media feeds, Facebook and Twitter (/Dunlop.UK and @DunlopLive). This allows spectators and fans to discuss driver strategy ahead of the start of the race and encourages people to get further involved with car set up, track conditions and the effect tyres have on these parameters.
Andy Marfleet, Dunlop Brand Manager said “We are thrilled to be the first people to host this information on our social media feeds. As the championship sponsor and tyre supplier it seems natural for us to release this news during race day.
“Tyres have become a major talking point in the BTCC since the introduction of the Soft option tyre in 2013 and we hope to see the teams and drivers use it even more within their race day strategy across the 2014 season.
“Fans and spectators will now get this information ahead of the race at 10am on race day and we hope that this will stem even more discussion and debate over how each race will pan out.”
N.B The tyre supply includes Sport Maxx Soft, Medium and Hard compounds and BluResponse Wet tyres. The Soft and Medium tyre choice will be taken to all circuits apart from Thruxton, where the Sport Maxx Hard tyre will be exclusively used.
TURKINGTON’S TWITTER TAKEOVER DURING ITV HIGHLIGHTS
Latest News posted 4th April 2014
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Colin Turkington (GBR) eBay Motors BMW 125i M Sport
The first highlights programme of the 2014 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship will be aired on ITV4 tomorrow, with this season’s coverage carrying an exciting and additional insight.
One BTCC driver will takeover the @ITVSport Twitter feed during the first scheduled highlights of each event on Saturday afternoons, who will answer questions and post his thoughts while the action is played out free-to-air to the watching nation.
To kick things off we’ve invited (spoiler alert!) race three winner Colin Turkington to take over the reigns after the Ulsterman enjoyed an action packed opening event at Brands Hatch.
Colin remained in contention for the title throughout 2013 and that despite his eBay Motors BMW only breaking cover on the eve of the campaign. That meant Turkington enjoyed a tough Brands Hatch Indy opener last time around, but it was a very different story last weekend as the West Surrey Racing-run outfit were immediately ready to challenge for victory.
The 90-minute highlights programme gets underway at 15:15 tomorrow and Colin will be online until its conclusion at 16:45. To get involved simply tweet the man himself at @ITVSport using the hashtag #AskColin and you can be a part of the show!
If you’re late to the party then remember that ITV4 +1 will be running the highlights one hour after the original broadcast, and ITV4 will repeat the programme again at 8:15 on Sunday – minus Colin’s input!
Rob
12th April 2014, 16:54
PLATO: “WE’VE GOT ALL THE INGREDIENTS AND WE’VE GOT THE PACE”
Jason Plato experienced somewhat of a familiar feeling in the BTCC opener at Brands Hatch and it’s not necessarily one he will want to repeat too often during the 2014 season.
As they were throughout 2013, both Jason and his MG6 were extremely quick, but the two-time champion arguably left the circuit with fewer points that his performances deserved.
“Five DNF’s is too many if you want to win the title,” reflected Plato after narrowly missing out on glory last year – a season in which MG took half of the pole positions on offer. There were a number of occasions where the team’s superior pace failed to translate into points on the board and that trend looked set to continue when Plato’s car stopped on the grid before race two at Brands Hatch last month.
“We’ve got all the ingredients and we’ve got the pace – there’s no doubt about that, but we need to understand why we keep getting gremlins into the system,” said Plato. “We lost at least 17 points because of it – we’ve got to stop that and then we’ll win it – it certainly wont be through lack of pace.”
Plato had narrowly missed out on the first pole of the season by just 0.012s and then hounded Andrew Jordan’s Honda Civic in race one to visit the podium at the first time of asking in 2014. He then ran into the aforementioned problems ahead of the second contest, but Plato was able to eventually fire up his Triple Eight-run machine up and subsequently produced two more master classes.
He made up 20 places to finish 11th in that race, before improving to take third in the final encounter – just over a second behind race winner Colin Turkington. Such is the competitiveness of the 2014 field, however, that title contenders will not want to be fighting their way through the order on a regular basis.
The MG KX Clubcard Fuel Save team deserves huge credit for its efforts in Kent, as not only did they respond to the setback emphatically, but they’ve provided Plato and his team-mate Sam Tordoff with a machine that is now supremely fast in all conditions and on all compounds of Dunlop rubber.
The pace in the dry had been there from the outset of the project in 2012, although the MG6 needed refining in wet conditions. That improvement came last season when impressive speed was shown at Croft and elsewhere. A further hurdle that needed jumping was how the car looked after the Dunlop Sport Maxx soft tyre over a race distance – a challenge that was passed last time out at Brands Hatch.
“It could have been a disastrous day but we turned it around and scored some great points,” continued Jason. “Everyone is really motivated. The big story for us is that was the first podium we’ve scored on the soft tyre and we were the quickest out there by a fair chunk.
“The team will be confident moving forward to Donington and also of the developments we’ve got on the car – our new aero package and dampers – they will come into effect more at circuits like Donington and Thruxton, so the car should get even better.”
So there’s the warning – one of the fastest drivers in one of the fastest cars could be about to get even better – quite a prospect for the next few rounds of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship…
Rob
12th April 2014, 16:56
LOCAL LIGHTS LEAD THE WAY IN THE BTCC
Andrew Jordan and Matt Neal head a 31-car field as Britain’s premier series ‘rocks’ into Donington Park
The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship visits Donington Park over the Easter weekend (19/20 April) with a festival of speed and sound set to ‘rock’ the Leicestershire venue.
The on-track action is perfectly poised as local lights Andrew Jordan and Matt Neal currently head the record 31-car entry after performing impressively at the Brands Hatch season opener. With a line-up that includes seven former champions and a further half dozen race winners, however, the charge for glory at Donington Park will be as enthralling and unpredictable as ever.
It’s not just the BTCC’s crop of international star drivers and 14 flame-spitting models of car that will have the crowd on its feet, as a whole host of support races plus two top class music concerts will be adding even more speed and sound to proceedings.
With tens of thousands of fans expected to arrive from Leicestershire, Derbyshire and much further afield, Donington Park will be bursting at the seams with festive atmosphere and action.
Story so far: Campaign gets off to a flyer
The opening BTCC event of 2014 proved to be incredibly close with just one second covering the first 23 cars in qualifying at Brands Hatch.
The ultra competitiveness of the series didn’t stop the usual suspects from topping the timesheets during the weekend, however, as reigning champion Andrew Jordan scooped pole position before claiming back-to-back wins in his Pirtek Racing Honda Civic.
Colin Turkington proved victorious in the final showdown as he hauled his eBay Motors BMW 125i M Sport past his two team-mates and into an early lead that he would hold until the chequered flag fell. Last year’s other title protagonists also featured highly, with Matt Neal, Jason Plato and Gordon Shedden all tasting champagne over the course of the event.
It was a different story for returning champions Fabrizio Giovanardi and Alain Menu, however, although the latter did produce a stunning drive in his VW CC to take fifth in race three from 16th on the grid.
Away from the stories of the seven champions, it was multiple BTCC race winner Rob Collard who produced a front-running return to form with a hat-trick of top six finishes.
Adam Morgan lies seventh in the overall standings after an impressive debut for the WIX Racing Mercedes A-Class – the first three-pointed star machine to appear in the BTCC since 1986.
Talking point: Festival of speed and sound
Donington Park is offering some fantastic entertainment away from the race action during its Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship weekend, which looks set to bring the crowds pouring into the legendary venue.
An ‘Official BTCC Drivers Party’ on Saturday evening in the circuit’s Exhibition Centre will be headlined by the indie-rock band Scouting for Girls. A host of BTCC drivers have already confirmed their attendance, although as it’s on the eve of a huge race day it’s unlikely they’ll be partying as hard as the thousands of spectators!
Sunday evening may be a different story, however, as the ‘Official BTCC Afterparty’ kicks off in the same venue at the conclusion of the expected action-packed trio of tin-top races around the 1.96 mile circuit.
Platinum-selling artists Toploader and Reef will enjoy equal billing on Sunday night, bringing down the curtain on an unforgettable weekend.
Local heroes: Jordan and Neal homing in
Lichfield’s Andrew Jordan is riding the crest of a wave after fending off four former champions to win his maiden BTCC title last year. It was an incredible feat for the 24-year-old and he’s already out to prove his success wasn’t just a one-off.
Despite going up against rivals with vastly more experience, Jordan is quickly proving to be the man to beat again in 2014. He stormed to pole position at Brands Hatch, after pipping legend Jason Plato by just 0.012s. Despite Plato putting him under enormous pressure in the first race, Jordan held on to take the win.
It was a similar story in race two – this time Jordan had to defend from the challenge of 2012 champion Gordon Shedden. With success ballast on the car, Jordan failed to trouble the top ten in the final contest, but his points return was enough to top the standings at this early stage of the season.
“It was a good weekend at the office at Brands Hatch,” said champ Jordan. “Now I can’t wait for Donington! I love it there – it’s a classic circuit that’s really fast and flowing, plus of course it’s my home event. The people there are doing a great job improving the circuit and the fans love it too. If I was watching I would park myself on a deckchair down at the Craner Curves as it’s simply like no other place in the country.”
It’s a local weekend for Jordan’s Pirtek Racing team too, with the squad also based at Lichfield, whilst team-mate Martin Depper is from Birmingham.
Birmingham-born Matt Neal has such an incredible and uncanny affiliation with his local circuit that he’ll be going all out to produce the goods in front of his home crowd again next weekend.
“I have a lot of special memories of Donington Park,” he said. “It was where I took my first BTCC win, which really set me on my way, plus of course it’s my local circuit. It always attracts huge numbers of fans who all create a great atmosphere, and the racing always seems to be good too! It’s a circuit like no other to be honest, with very different characteristics, so I’m really looking forward to the weekend.”
Neal’s Donington CV includes becoming the first independent winner of a modern era BTCC race when he stormed to victory there in 1999, which earned him £250,000 in prize money. Last year Neal reached his 500th BTCC milestone race at the venue, and the Droitwich Spa-based racer remains the most experienced driver in the history of the series.
Timetable and Tickets
Three BTCC races will take place on Sunday, with the entire race day being broadcast live and in high definition on ITV4 from 10:30am.
In addition to the BTCC, there’ll be a plethora of races on the support bill. The Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain – the series that launched the careers of a host of top drivers including Ayrton Senna and Jenson Button – represents single-seater racing. Sportscar racing fans will get their fix with action from the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup, Porsche Carrera Cup GB and Ginetta Junior Championship, whilst the Renault UK Clio Cup – often seen as a stepping-stone to reaching the BTCC – will also feature on the huge bill of British racing.
Tickets for the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Donington Park on 19/20 April are available from just £25, with free entry for children aged 12 and under. Tickets for the aforementioned concerts are priced from just £15. For more information call 0844 873 7343 or visit www.donington-park.co.uk. All admission includes access to Sunday’s lunchtime autograph session with the BTCC drivers in the pit lane as well as free parking.
Rob
12th April 2014, 16:58
TOURER SCORES BIG ON BTCC BOW
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The Civic Tourer has big boots to fill when it comes to Honda models in the BTCC, and the early signs suggest it is more than up to the challenge after securing an impressive points haul at Brands Hatch.
Honda has a clear and simple DNA of winning titles in Britain’s premier series, as it has done in both the teams’ and manufacturers’ standings in each of the last four seasons. Team Dynamics also has a history of producing cars that have scored victories first time out, which includes wins under the three most recent sets of regulations in the BTCC.
The squad won with the Integra back in 2005, before repeating the feat in 2007 with the Super 2000 Civic. Dynamics then became the first team to take victory under the current NGTC regulations, with an all-new Civic in 2012.
So on to Brands Hatch at the end of last month and the question as to how the new Japanese machine would compare with the already established cars of the Civic hatchback, MG6 and BMW 1-Series to name but a few. Not forgetting of course that the 2014 BTCC season opener looked set to be one of the most competitive in the series’ history, suggesting positive results and podiums would be even harder to come by on the car’s bow.
Winning championships of course requires supreme consistency and the need to maximise every opportunity, as Honda Yuasa Racing knows only too well, and that is exactly what the squad produced in Kent.
The Tourer proved to have front-running pace from the outset, albeit a fraction behind Andrew Jordan’s Civic and Jason Plato’s MG in the cut and thrust of qualifying and the opening race. Expert preparation of the cars plus the experience and speed produced by its duo of drivers in Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden, however, gave the team a stellar start to the campaign that even bettered its efforts from recent title-winning seasons.
A sextet of top six finishes, including three podiums, whilst its rivals collected mixed results mean the squad has already taken up its regular spot of heading both the manufacturers’ and teams’ championships. Neal and Shedden are second and fourth in the drivers’ standings respectively, both within touching distance of reigning champ Jordan and with more favourable venues to come for their ‘estate’ style machines.
“I’m chuffed to bits with the results, absolutely over-the-moon,” said triple champion Neal. “Ok, we didn’t win a race, but we certainly made our presence felt and threatened the top spot. Every time we go out in this car, we are learning something new and making progress. What’s more, the longer, more sweeping circuits should suit the Tourer a lot better.”
Team-mate and 2012 supremo Shedden was equally delighted. “What a start for the new Civic Tourer!” echoed the Scot. “I honestly don’t think anybody expected us to come away from the car’s first weekend with a podium in every race. Historically, Brands Hatch Indy has always been my bogey circuit; last year, I left 37 points off the championship lead, so this is a massive turnaround.
“Overall, it was a really good, solid opening meeting. To be this competitive this early is fantastic, especially as we will only improve as we really find the car’s sweet spot – and there are some circuits coming up that should suit the Civic Tourer better. We are firmly in the game, the car is quick enough to win – and there’s plenty more still to come.”
There was some talk of the other title contenders needing make the most of the early rounds while Honda would likely be getting the Tourer up to speed, but it seems they’ve joined the party ahead of schedule and they’re unlikely to be leaving any time soon.
Damaged BTCC cars in doubt for next round at Oulton Park
By Kevin Turner Monday, May 5th 2014, 14:04 GMT
Ollie Jackson wreckage, BTCC 2014Two British Touring Car drivers are in doubt for the next round at Oulton Park after heavy Thruxton accidents.
Ollie Jackson's Welch-run Proton (pictured) and Simon Belcher's Handy Motorsport Toyota Avensis both went off at the high-speed Church right-hander in the final race.
Both escaped unscathed, but their cars are seriously damaged and the teams face a race against time to get them ready for Oulton on June 7-8.
Belcher told AUTOSPORT: "Something on the front-right broke and the car turned left. There's a lot broken so we just don't know what broke first.
"Oulton is questionable at the moment. The shell's gone and we're light on budget because it's our first year.
"We're going to have to wait and see what's what."
Dan Welch, who runs Jackson's car, was more confident, despite not yet knowing what caused the crash.
"It changed direction on him and he lost it," said Welch. "Luckily he got out of it and walked away.
"It's done a lot of damage - there's a hole in the engine, it's ripped the gearbox apart, and the shell's damaged, but we'll work like crazy to get it out for Oulton."
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/113791
HONOURS SHARED IN THRUXTON THRILLER
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Reigning champion Andrew Jordan extended his advantage at the top of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship standings after an impressive win in the opening race at Thruxton, before the Honda of Gordon Shedden and Colin Turkington claimed the honours in races two and three respectively.
Pirtek Racing’s Jordan secured pole position for the third consecutive season at the high speed Hampshire circuit, but surprisingly had yet to taste victory champagne at what is arguably the UK’s most daunting track. That all changed when he took a lights-to-flag victory in the opener, however, which he followed up with second and fourth place finishes in the other two contests.
Honda Yuasa Racing’s Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden completed the podium in race one, but the latter would go even better in the next showdown.
Shedden attacked for the lead from the outset but was lucky to stay in contention after running off at the Campbell/Cobb complex on the first lap.
It was the eBay Motors BMW of Rob Collard that took the challenge to Jordan in the immediate aftermath of Shedden’s moment, but the Honda was soon being hauled back towards the leading duo. Now running line astern, Shedden eventually got by Collard coming out of Church corner and the top two began to pull clear.
Jordan’s hatchback looked decidedly looser than its Tourer rival and when the former slid wide through Church, Shedden got a run on the outside of Brooklands and made the move stick before they’d reached Club on lap 11. Shedden went on to win from Jordan and Collard.
It was Colin Turkington’s turn to star in race three after the Ulsterman surged from fifth on the grid and into the lead before the end of the first lap. It was a postion the BMW driver would keep until the finish line, promoting him up to third in the standings behind Jordan and Shedden.
The Airwaves Racing cars of Mat Jackson and Fabrizio Giovanardi were second and third respectively, rounding out an impressive day for the Wrotham-based squad.
The two Ford Focuses battled for a number of laps, with Team Owner David Bartrum warning his drivers to ‘play nicely’ over the team radio. That’s exactly what the experienced duo did with Giovanardi eventually relinquishing second place to his faster team-mate on the day. Jackson had already secured two top five finishes earlier in the proceedings, so this weekend represents his and the team’s biggest points haul of the season so far.
The final race will be largely remembered for a huge accident involving the Toyota Avensis of Simon Belcher at the fastest corner in country. His car went off at well over 100mph before hitting the barrier and barrel rolling over the tyre wall at Church Corner. Belcher emerged from the car completely unscathed although the same couldn’t be said for his rather second hand looking Toyota.
MG KX Clubcard Fuel Save endured a rather challenging day as it lost ground to Honda Yuasa Racing in both the Manufacturers’ and Teams’ standings, with eBay Motors moving into second place in the latter.
Andrew Jordan said: “It feels great to finally convert a pole position at Thruxton into a victory. Race three was mega for us too. To come through unscathed and get a decent points haul is brilliant. It’s been a great touring car weekend, and a great weekend for Honda. The main thing is that we’ve got a lot of points on the board and managed to get through Thruxton without any major issues, which can be tricky to do around here!”
Gordon Shedden said: “The first two races today were fantastic although the third one was a bit chaotic! It was important to come through and get good points in race three with weight on-board. The Civic Tourer has done really well here – like I’ve said we learn more every time we get in the car, so it’s onwards and upwards to Oulton Park now.”
Colin Turkington said: “I’m so glad we held on to that one – it’s a bit of redemption for what happened in race three at Donington Park! We started this weekend with a really tricky car to drive, but to be so fast in that race is a big reward for the team. This has been a bit of a bogey track for us – I don’t think a BMW has won here since 2009, so to take that win was really special. I was a little worried with the two safety cars, but because Thruxton works the tyres harder I was able to keep them in the sweet spot and race for the full distance.”
Mat Jackson said: “It’s been a very, very good weekend for us. It’s been a long time coming, but it really clicked with the Focus – it’s been awesome all weekend, and to be fighting with the championship contenders shows just how quick we can be. Fabrizio is getting to grips with the car too, and to see two Airwaves Racing cars up there in podium positions is great for everyone in the team.”
Fabrizio Giovanardi said: “For a few seconds I thought I might even win race three! In turn two I lost the rear and had a big slide and Turkington was able to get past. I didn’t want to hold Mat up so let him come past, and then in the last few laps everyone else wanted to come past as well! That made it really good fun! I am learning the car all the time – I’m definitely not rusty, I just need to learn how the car works at all the tracks. Hopefully we can get a few more podiums.”
Simon Belcher calls for Church corner gravel trap
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Simon Belcher has called for Thruxton circuit bosses to review the safety of Church corner, after surviving an enormous crash and barrel roll at the fearsome right-hander in yesterday’s final race.
The Speedworks Motorsport man believes a gravel trap would avoid the repeat of this weekend’s problems, where he was one of three cars to go off at unabated speed at the fastest turn in the country.
Belcher says his Toyota Avensis is a write-off, and his small team, running under the Handy Motorsport banner, may not have the budget to finish the season.
Suspension failure led to the 120mph impact for Belcher, who gave his thoughts to TouringCarTimes afterwards.
He said: “I’m fine, I’m aching a little bit which is to be expected, but the worst thing is we have a wrecked car which a team in their first year of touring car racing can ill afford.
“I don’t know if we have got the budget to get it back out again, because it is a total write-off. We were extremely tight on budget already.
“What’s frustrating is that it’s a car failure that’s caused the accident, rather than a driver mistake or someone hitting us. Something’s failed on the front right and it’s just turned left, gone straight into the barrier and hit a tree.
“I think we need to have a little bit more thought at Thruxton about safety at Church, because there’s no gravel trap there, nothing to scrub off any speed, and it’s the fastest corner in the UK.
“I think that’s something the circuit needs to look at.
“The roof’s gone, both rear quarters are gone, the back of the car’s gone, and the front of the car’s gone. Had there been a gravel trap and a tyre wall there, we would be looking at extensive front-end damage, but only the front end.
“We need to see where we are and see if it’s possible to get out at Oulton Park, but it’s far too early to say.”
http://www.touringcartimes.com/2014/05/05/simon-belcher-calls-for-church-corner-gravel-trap/
Rob Collard given a warning for Race 3 incident with Neal.
The stewards at Thruxton have given West Surrey Racing’s Rob Collard a verbal warning following a clash between himself and Honda’s Matt Neal in the final race of the day.
The stewards investigated the incident which took place at the Complex on the 18th lap, where Neal was attempting to pass Collard around the outside, with Collard running into the side of the Civic and both drivers going off course and rejoining the circuit further on.
Matt Neal dropped to 23rd position at the finish, with Collard going on to cross the line in tenth position.
The officials also decided to take no action in respect of two incidents following a protest from Team BMR’s Jack Goff.
The team had argued that Motorbase Performance driver Mat Jackson had passed Goff under yellow flags behind the first safety car, and also that Jackson’s Motorbase team-mate Fabrizio Giovanardi had made unfair contact with Goff’s Vauxhall Insignia.
Neal and Collard in war of words after Thruxton spat
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Matt Neal and Rob Collard were embroiled in a war of words after a final race clash at Thruxton, with Neal describing Collard as a “mobile chaos machine,” and Collard calling Neal’s driving “outrageous”.
The pair came to blows at the first chicane on the penultimate lap, shortly after Collard had gone straight on through the final chicane after contact with Neal’s team-mate Gordon Shedden.
West Surrey Racing’s Collard was given a verbal warning by the stewards for the incident, and was also left unimpressed after nearly coming to blows with Honda Racing Team boss Steve Neal in the pitlane after the race.
Both men gave their view of the incident, and their overall weekend, to TouringCarTimes.
Collard said: “We had a great day today, and the eBay BMW has been fantastic. Qualifying was good, race one was strong and race two was even stronger.
“We were going really well in the third race, and then I just came under a constant barrage of attack from the two works Honda cars, hitting me left and right.
“I was just trying to get the car home to score points, and then Matt Neal hits me a couple of times at the chicane, hooks me sideways and hits me again going into the complex.
“It was outrageous behaviour from so-called professional drivers. Then the unprofessionalism of the team boss, coming over and verbally abusing me in the pitlane after I’d got out of the car, is outrageous.”
Neal said: “When my car felt really good was race three, and that’s when all the chaos ensued, and I ended up on the wrong end of the stick.
“It is a good day for Honda because it’s the closest track to Swindon. It was not such a bad day for me until race three. Everywhere I seemed to turn was the wrong way.
“Rob had a bit of a skirmish with Flash, but he was just a mobile chaos machine. I don’t know if it was retaliation for what happened with Flash, but he just torpedoed me.
“I looked sideways and he had his foot hard in, and was pushing me along the circuit. But I’m not going to fall out with Rob long-term, because I’m too old and too big.”
http://www.touringcartimes.com/2014/05/05/neal-and-collard-in-war-of-words-after-thruxton-spat/
eBay Motors trio voice thoughts on longer first gear
Colin Turkington, Rob Collard and Nick Foster have all commented on the longer first gear that has been implemented to rear-wheel-drive cars from Croft onwards.
After a strong weekend which saw Turkington take a double victory and the championship lead as well as Collard securing a brace of rostrum finishes,series organizers TOCA confirmed that the longer gear ratio would be enforced until further notice.
Speaking to BTCC Crazy at the team’s shakedown, Turkington said: “It only effects the car off the start line and it has done what it is supposed to do which is take the edge off our launch. I think until we are in the environment of starting alongside everyone else then we don’t know what we’ve got.
“It isn’t a night and day difference and it isn’t designed to be. Having used it in the shakedown, we completed three practice starts each and I got a feel for it straight away.
“Due to the gear being longer all we are doing is managing the start phase for a greater period of time, I’m not too concerned over it.”
Fellow West Surrey Racing drivers Collard and Foster also passed comment surrounding the longer ratio.
“It is one of those things,” admitted Collard. “RWD will always get a good start but lose out in others areas over the race, it is half a dozen of one thing and half a dozen of another.
“People are moaning because we are now quick at the moment. FWD machinery has won two third’s of the races run in the past three years and now that RWD is running at the front consistently we are the ones who seemed to be pegged back.
“Of the three starts I did in the shakedown, all were inconsistent unlike the old first gear. It is no where near as good and the clutches were getting very hot which is a worry ahead of the race weekend.
Foster added: “It is going to be tricky because firstly it makes it easier for the car to bog down when trying to get off the line. For some reason this is what we have been given and we aren’t always going to agree with it.
“FWD have an advantage due to the fact that they can lock their diff during qualifying and we can’t. The rules are the rules and we have to make the best of what we have. Starts are only a small part of the race but it is a very important one.
“Croft will present more opportunities to overtake than Oulton Park did so in that respect our apparent advantage that people seem to think we have won’t be as much.”
Qualifying for round 13 of the championship takes place this Saturday from 15:45 and will be streamed live on the ITV website. Race day coverage begins from 11:00 on ITV.
CROFT TO HOST PIVOTAL POINT IN BTCC SEASON
Yorkshire is set to become the central hub of speed over the coming weeks as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship roars into the Croft Circuit (28/29 June) just a week before the county hosts the start of the world’s most famous cycling race – the 101st edition of the Tour de France.
First up it’s the turn of the fiercest flame-spitting touring cars from the pinnacle of UK motor sport, driven by 31 hard-charging racers, including seven of the finest tin top champions. Whilst the Tour de France will display its own spectacle of speed in July there will be no quicker sight than the 150mph BTCC cars blasting around one of the most popular circuits on the calendar.
The event will also mark the important halfway stage of the BTCC season with rounds 13,14 and 15 of the championship determining the title picture for the second half of the year.
Furthermore Croft is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2014 and with sporting euphoria in the area at an all time high, organisers are expecting a huge summer crowd to descend on the venue in what is sure to be a carnival atmosphere throughout the weekend.
Story so far: All change at the top
The BTCC is renowned for being one of the most exciting, competitive and unpredictable championships in the world and few could have foreseen the swing in the title chase that presented itself last time out at Oulton Park.
Reigning champion Andrew Jordan arrived at the picturesque Cheshire venue in confident mood and seemingly in imperious form, having won three of the opening nine races. The Pirtek Racing driver went on to suffer his worst event since 2011, however, with a race day high of eighth place providing scant reward for the 25-year-old.
Jordan dropped from first to third in the standings in just one afternoon as eBay Motors’ Colin Turkington soared to the championship summit thanks to a dominant double victory for the Portadown-based driver.
Honda Yuasa Racing’s Gordon Shedden maintained second in the table after securing an impressive points haul in the ‘estate style’ Civic Tourer — a new-for-2014 machine that ominously seems to be getting faster and faster.
Double champion Jason Plato remains in close contention after a podium at Oulton Park, whilst his old adversary Matt Neal endured a miserable weekend. Neal has been leap frogged in the standings by Turkington’s BMW team-mate Rob Collard who reached the rostrum twice in Cheshire.
The chasing pack includes multiple race winner Mat Jackson, Yorkshireman Sam Tordoff, double champions in Alain Menu and Fabrizio Giovanardi, Oulton Park race winner Aron Smith and the ever popular Rob Austin, who produced his own return to form last time out.
Talking point: Croft celebrates its half century
At the beginning of the Second World War, an airfield named RAF Croft was built on the site now occupied by the circuit. Also known as Croft Aerodrome, it was mainly used as a bomber airfield and was home to a number of different aircraft types as well as several squadrons. Amongst them was Canada’s legendary 419 Squadron, a plaque to whom can be found on the office building today.
During the late 1940s and into the ‘50s, Darlington & District Motor Club organised race meetings on various layouts utilising the runways and perimeter roads, before Bruce Ropner and fellow enthusiasts purchased half the venue at public auction in 1962, completing a track on the site in July 1964.
The Daily Mirror Trophy Meeting revved the circuit into life on 3 August 1964, attracting a crowd of some 40,000 spectators to watch various classes of cars and motorcycles duelling it out wheel-to-wheel.
Since that historic day, Croft has played host to some of the sport’s most fabled competitors – think Formula One World Champions Ayrton Senna, James Hunt, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Alan Jones, national treasure Sir Stirling Moss and Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti, plus of course our own legendary BTCC champions.
“Croft is kind of like my second home track having grown up in Newcastle,” explained double champion Jason Plato. “The circuit has a fantastic blend of technical slow corners and some blindingly quick ones, which test the drivers to the max. I love the annual trip up north, the crowd there loves the BTCC and the BTCC loves Croft.”
Local heroes: MG duo spearheads local attack
The MG KX Clubcard Fuel Save driver pairing of Jason Plato and Sam Tordoff will spearhead the local challenge at Croft next weekend with the former having grown up on Tyneside and his younger team-mate coming from Leeds.
“It’s in a great part of the world,” enthused Yorkshireman Tordoff. “I’ve never seemed to have much luck at Croft, but I love going there. It’s my local track and I always enjoy a lot of support there from sponsors, family and friends. I’m really looking forward to the weekend, and hopefully I can enjoy a change of fortunes on home turf!”
Both Plato and Tordoff have a win apiece so far this season and have every chance of adding to their respective tallies during the event.
It’s not just the BTCC that boasts local connections, however, with some of the supporting cast also having links to Yorkshire. Amongst the local favourites taking to the track will be Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB whilst Leeds-based manufacturer Ginetta runs two supporting series in the line-up.
Timetable and Tickets
Three BTCC races will take place on Sunday, with the entire race day being broadcast live and in high definition on ITV4.
In addition to the BTCC, there will be a plethora of races on the support bill including the aforementioned Porsche Carrera Cup GB, Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup and Ginetta Junior Championship. The Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain – the series that launched the careers of a host of top drivers including Ayrton Senna and Jenson Button – represents single-seater racing, whilst the Renault UK Clio Cup will also feature on the huge bill of British racing.
Tickets can be purchased in advance until Monday 23rd June from as little as £11 by calling 01325 721815 or online at http://www.croftcircuit.co.uk/tickets/btcc.html. All admission includes access to Sunday’s autograph session with the BTCC drivers in the pit lane as well as free parking.
DAVE NEWSHAM READY FOR RACE 100
Dave Newsham is revving up for his 100th BTCC race this weekend, as the Inverness-based driver is currently just two contests shy of a century in Britain’s leading motor sport series.
The AmD racer admits to be ‘living in a dream’ when he considers his BTCC career, which has so far brought a number of highs and lows.
“That’s motor sport,” declares Dave. “You can have good days and bad days, particularly in a championship as tough as this one.”
Newsham’s highs have been unforgettable of course, and none more so than his two race victories in the 2012 season.
“The first win stands out,” reflects Newsham on his maiden BTCC success at Snetterton. “Then we went to Knockhill and we were having a tough weekend, but it all came together for another victory at my home circuit. It was a sensational time and I have six trophies from that season. It was a credit to the team and the Vauxhall Vectra – it was a great car at the end of the S2000 period.”
Just over a year previous to that and Newsham was lining up for his first ever Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race at Brands Hatch.
“It was so nerve wracking,” he recalls. “It was like playing one of the old TOCA computer games being in the same race as people like Jason Plato and Matt Neal. It was so surreal and I just wanted to keep out of trouble to be honest. So to be beating those guys just a year later was incredible.”
Newsham is at his fifth team in four seasons and admits the stress of completing a deal over the winter always makes things difficult. Now settled at the Essex-based AmD Tuning squad, however, Newsham is buoyant as he prepares for his 100th race at Croft and a long-term future in the series.
“It’s really stressful in the off-season to be honest and it was never the plan to move around,” he concludes. “I had a great relationship with the guys at Speedworks for example but it just wasn’t meant to be for this year. That said I’ve found a great bunch of guys at AmD and I’m really happy with the way things are going.
“We don’t have the budget to test like some of the other teams but we still believe we can do it and challenge at the top. We don’t quite have the pace over one lap in qualifying and we’re working hard on that, but we definitely have the race pace. Aron Smith proved it can be done at Oulton Park and that would be the plan for us if we could sneak a kind reverse grid draw I think we have the speed to stay there.
“I have to pinch myself sometimes as it’s still a dream to be in the best championship in the country. It wouldn’t be possible without my sponsors of course and I’m so grateful to be doing something that I really enjoy. This was a series I watched for years and never imagined I could be a part of it – now to be approaching my 100th race is just incredible.”
MG’S HOMEGROWN DUO FIRED UP FOR CROFT
Jason Plato and Sam Tordoff are hoping to enjoy home comforts this weekend as the MG KX Clubcard Fuel Save team targets a return to the top step of the rostrum.
Newcastle-born Plato is firmly in title contention while Leeds-based Tordoff is still within touching distance of the championship chase, but the Triple Eight-run squad is looking to improve on the lone podium it secured last time out at Oulton Park.
Jason is no stranger to Croft, having raced at the circuit 40 times in the BTCC alone and with four wins to his name. The former local was full of positives about his ‘home’ track, but doesn’t under estimate the challenge posed by his rear-wheel-drive rivals. Currently fifth in the driver’s standings, Jason is looking to make the most of his closest competitors carrying success ballast this weekend.
“Croft is a spiritual home circuit for me,” enthused Jason. “I’ve been lucky to get good support there in the past; it’s a nice weekend. The BTCC event there is the biggest motorsport show at the circuit, and it’s the only opportunity for locals to watch top drivers at the track. It’s great to see so many fans at any race, but at Croft they turn up in their tens of thousands. I think it’s fair to say Croft loves the BTCC and vice versa, it’s a great track.
“I think we stand a good chance this weekend. It has historically been a good stomping ground for RWD cars, but with Turkington on maximum ballast after Oulton, that could level things; he only pipped me last year as he was running less weight in the car than me.”
Last season Tordoff had a tricky time at the former World War Two airfield, but the 25-year-old Yorkshireman has taken podiums here in other series and wants to set the record straight with a win here in the BTCC. Having already taken a stunning victory earlier in the year at Donington Park and with one in his debut season twelve months ago, the JCT600-backed driver has improved his consistency and sits eighth in the points standings, still very much in contention for the 2014 title.
“I love Croft,” he said. “The atmosphere’s always really good, and it’s a great place to spectate at. If the weather is good, we should have a good big crowd.
“I think the BMWs will do well, but we’ll be in the mix. We should be okay on paper; last year wasn’t too bad for us. Despite it being the circuit nearest to where I live, it’s probably one of the circuits I’ve raced on least. That said, I’ve been on the podium here in the past, but I’ve never won a race here in anything, so I’m rather keen to try and break that duck.”
More so than some of the other circuits on the BTCC calendar, Plato sees car set-up as both challenging and critical if you want to have a successful weekend.
“Croft is a challenging circuit, it has very, very fast sections and some technically very tricky parts too,” the double BTCC champion concludes. “Your car has to be well-balanced at Croft and while you can never get a perfect car, the laws of physics never allow for that, you have to work closely with your engineer to get as close as you can.”
If you’d like to see 31 flame-spitting BTCC machines taking on the challenge of Croft then you can still purchase tickets on the gate for as little as £13 on Saturday and £27 on Sunday. You can also watch all of the action live and exclusively in high definition on ITV4.
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