BTCC 2014 - BRANDS HATCH
QUALIFYING
Andrew Jordan has kicked off his title defence in fine style by securing the first pole position of the 2014 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch.
Jordan took top spot in the same event last season, but the 24-year-old went event faster this time around to pip the MG of Jason Plato by 0.012s. Jordan left it extremely late to set his fastest flyer, as did eBay Motors’ Colin Turkington who claimed third on his final tour.
Incredibly close times has been the theme throughout the day on the tight 1.2 mile Indy circuit and qualifying proved no different with the top 23 cars covered by just over eight tenths of a second.
Honda Yuasa Racing’s debut with the new Civic Tourer proved fruitful and although they slipped back with Jordan and Turkington’s last gasp efforts, the squad will be content with its performance. It was Matt Neal who led team-mate Gordon Shedden and the duo will line up fourth and fifth for tomorrow’s season opener.
Arguably the performance of the day came from young debutant Tom Ingram, who backed up his top six practice pace with exactly the same result in qualifying. The Speedworks’ driver’s commitment through the legendary Paddock Hill Bend was there for all to see, and he set the third fastest first sector of any driver in the field.
Chrome Edition Restart Racing also deserve enormous credit with its pairing of Aron Smith and Alain Menu separated by just 0.028s in seventh and eighth respectively. The team certainly enjoyed less pre-season running than the majority of its rivals but the VW CC has proved immediately quick and Smith’s position equals the highest for the machine since introduction to the series last year.
Mat Jackson’s Airwaves Racing Ford Focus and the eBay Motors BMW of Rob Collard were ninth and tenth fastest – the former scoring his first top ten grid slot since the 2012 season finale. Rob Austin’s popular Audi will line-up on row six alongside MG’s Sam Tordoff, who himself endured his lowest qualifying position in his short BTCC career so far.
Notable absentees from the top order included the Mercedes A-Class of Adam Morgan, which had run extremely well during testing, and the Ford Focus of two-time returning champion Fabrizio Giovanardi.
Incidents were at a minimum, as were issues involving the newly introduced track limit regulations, with only drivers towards the rear of the field suffering. The Audi A3 of Rob Holland recovered from a minor spin, whilst Jack Clarke, James Cole, Glynn Geddie and Aiden Moffat were among those to have their quickest lap times removed after running off limits.
Now the attention turns to the opening three rounds of the 2014 BTCC season, which will take place at the Kent venue tomorrow. The first race gets underway at 11:45 with ITV4′s live and exclusive coverage commencing at 10:30.
Andrew Jordan said: “It was a really really good lap. It felt pretty quick but I had a little moment. It’s so close out there but it’s going to be cracking tomorrow. There’s going to be a load of fans here and the weather’s going to be great, so I can’t wait to get the racing underway.”
Jason Plato said: “I’m a little disappointed – I didn’t quite get the best time at the right moment. The car feels good and it was a good fight for pole. There was nothing in it but congratulations to Andy. The most important thing tomorrow is three good points finishes. I personally think that P2 is the best spot to start here at Brands Hatch so let’s spray some champagne tomorrow and go home happy!”
Colin Turkington said: “We’re in much better shape this year and I’m really pleased to be on the second row. We still haven’t completely pinned the car down and that lap didn’t come easy. The aim is to be first after 25 laps but if we get a good start then we could get into the lead early. With such a tight grid this year it makes qualifying even more important so I’m delighted with that.”
Pos Driver Car Time Gap Laps
1. Andrew Jordan Eurotech Honda 48.228s 21
2. Jason Plato MG 48.240s +0.012s 24
3. Colin Turkington WSR BMW 48.298s +0.070s 26
4. Matt Neal Honda 48.321s +0.093s 27
5. Gordon Shedden Honda 48.371s +0.143s 27
6. Tom Ingram Speedworks Toyota 48.404s +0.176s 27
7. Aron Smith BMR VW 48.419s +0.191s 24
8. Alain Menu BMR VW 48.447s +0.219s 21
9. Mat Jackson Motorbase Ford 48.479s +0.251s 29
10. Rob Collard WSR BMW 48.487s +0.259s 30
11. Rob Austin RAR Audi 48.488s +0.260s 30
12. Sam Tordoff MG 48.506s +0.278s 23
13. Nick Foster WSR BMW 48.542s +0.314s 31
14. Adam Morgan Ciceley Mercedes 48.590s +0.362s 26
15. Jack Goff BMR Vauxhall 48.696s +0.468s 26
16. Marc Hynes MG 48.701s +0.473s 27
17. Martin Depper Eurotech Honda 48.842s +0.614s 27
18. Fabrizio Giovanardi Motorbase Ford 48.884s +0.656s 27
19. James Cole UA Toyota 48.921s +0.693s 26
20. Dave Newsham AmD Ford 48.936s +0.708s 18
21. Hunter Abbott RAR Audi 49.001s +0.773s 28
22. Warren Scott BMR Vauxhall 49.034s +0.806s 22
23. Glynn Geddie UA Toyota 49.053s +0.825s 23
24. Lea Wood Houseman Toyota 49.479s +1.251s 30
25. Simon Belcher Speedworks Toyota 49.733s +1.505s 25
26. Jack Clarke Motorbase Ford 49.767s +1.539s 15
27. Aiden Moffat Moffat Chevrolet 50.242s +2.014s 26
28. Robb Holland Rotek Audi 50.369s +2.141s 25
29. Olile Jackson Welch Proton 50.487s +2.259s 28
30. Chris Stockton BTC Chevrolet
"I don't want to be treated as special because I'm not. I just drive a racing car round in circles a bit faster than everyone else." Michael Schumacher
Bookmarks