inside btcc - issue 3 - brands hatch gp - october 2011

Inside BTCC �www.insidebtcc.com

issue 3 : sept 2011

PLUS: BRANDS HATCH PREVIEW / BTCC STARS RACE GTs / MUCH MORE

BOILING OVER

Honda Racing pair Shedden and Neal top points standings

INSIDEBTCC.COM

Title race hots up asNeal and Plato come to blows

Inside BTCC � www.insidebtcc.com


Rockingham proved to be another dramatic weekend both on and off track, with paddock skirmishes, joint championship leaders and a first time winner amongst the stories to come out of the eighth meeting of the year.

In this third edition of Inside BTCC, we look back at all the action from Rockingham and preview the penultimate round of the year this weekend on the Brands Hatch GP circuit – where Gordon Shedden, Matt Neal and Jason Plato will all hope to take an advantage in the title race.

As well as that, we catch up with double champion James Thompson after his visit to the paddock at Rockingham.

We have Chris James and Paul Merson talking about their new tie-up at ES Racing, Mat Jackson talks us through a lap of Brands Hatch and we see who shone when a number of BTCC stars past and present hit the track in the recent British GT race at Donington Park.

Hopefully you’ll enjoy the third edition of Inside BTCC just as much as the first two and if you don’t already follow us on Twitter or ‘Like Us’ on Facebook, then you can find all the details on how to do so within these pages.

Any feedback you may have – we’ll love to hear it.

Until next time...

WELCOME...


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CONTENTS

ABOUT INSIDE BTCC...

Inside BTCC is an independent publication that is in no way endorsed by, or affiliated to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship or its organisers.

Photos are credit PSP IMAGES or JAKOB EBREY unless otherwise stated.

To get in touch, please email: [email protected].

IN THIS ISSUE...

ROCKINGHAM ROUND-UP 6 - 9

PLATO VS NEAL - HOW IT UNFOLDED 10 - 11

CHRIS JAMES - SEEKING A BOOST 12 - 13

NEWS ROUND-UP 14 - 15

JAMES THOMPSON - FIGHTING THE DOWNTURN 16 - 17

TOURING CAR STARS GO GT RACING 20 - 21

A LAP OF BRANDS HATCH WITH MAT JACKSON 22 - 23

BRANDS HATCH PREVIEW 24 - 25

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS 28 - 29

RACE RESULTS 30 - 31

NGTC: MOVING TO THE NEXT LEVEL 34 - 35

Front cover images: Main - Matt Neal & Jason Plato come to blows after qualifying at Rockingham (Still/PSP); Top right - Shedden on the podium at Rockingham (Jakob Ebrey).


Good weekend:Nick Foster Impressed throughout the weekend and challenged established stars towards the front of the pack.

Michael Caine Scored a point in his first BTCC race and seemed to catch the BTCC bug.

Rockingham’s three races brought victories for Jason Plato, Gordon Shedden and James Nash. For the latter, it was his first victory in the series.

However, the weekend will be remembered more for one off-track incident rather than any of the racing. Championship rivals Jason Plato and Matt Neal came together in the pitlane after qualifying and had to be held apart in front of the watching cameras. For a full look at the clash, head to pages 10 and 11.

Back on the track, it

was the Honda Racing pairing of Neal and Shedden who left Rockingham with the biggest smiles on their faces – they’re now tied at the top of the points standings with 204 points each.

With six races remaining, it now looks like a three-way fight for the title – although there are seven drivers still in with a mathematical chance of winning. Silverline Chevrolet’s Jason Plato has confirmed his position as the main challenger to the Hondas, currently sitting 24 points behind.

It was another tough weekend for Airwaves Racing, with Mat Jackson now having picked up just a single point from the last six races. The Henley-in-Arden racer led the championship heading to Knockhill at the start of September, but he’s now fourth and has lost the lead of the independents’ category to James Nash.

Jason Plato’s weekend got off to the best possible start after taking pole position for the first race. A dominant performance followed and a lights-to-flag victory was only really threatened

HONDA DUO LEAD CHARGENeal and Shedden share championship points lead after controversial Rockingham weekend

MATT LAMPRELL REPORTS

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Bad weekend:Mat Jackson Failed to score. Second consecutive poor weekend all but rules him out of the title race.

Team Aon Best results of the weekend were 11th places for Chilton and Neate.

by a safety car period that was required to recover the cars of Rob Collard and Dave Newsham.

GoMobileUK.com with Tech-Speed racer Paul O’Neill made it a Chevrolet 1-2 to equal his Snetterton performance. Dynojet’s Frank Wrathall once again showed impressive pace in the NGTC Toyota Avensis, finishing third after getting the better of both Hondas in the closing stages – largely due to the Next Generation car looking after its tyres more effectively.

There was no repeat performance for Plato in the second race. His 45kg of success ballast clearly took its toll on the normally aspirated Chevrolet Cruze. While he held on to

the lead at the start, Shedden was ahead by the end of lap four, having passed O’Neill for second in the early stages. Plato struggled to fend off the charging turbo-powered cars and could do little to prevent first Wrathall and then Neal from pushing him down the order to fourth.

Once Wrathall was past Plato and up to second position, the Toyota driver looked in with a chance of claiming the first NGTC victory. However, with Shedden ahead and Neal behind, Wrathall was a little reluctant to push, having previously declared his intention not to get involved in the championship battle. He kept Shedden on his toes, but settled for second behind the Scot when others may

have challenged harder for the lead. Neal finished third to keep his teammate within touching distance.

Plato held on to fourth, ahead of Nick Foster, who was on the pace again in the WSR BMW, crossing the line in fifth. The remainder of the points were split between Nash, O’Neill, Smith, Austin and Collard.

Finishing tenth was to prove a great result for Rob Collard, as he was drawn on pole position for the third race – courtesy of the visiting James Thompson, who drew the number 10 live on ITV4.

It was an all rear-wheel-drive front row, with Rob Austin starting alongside Collard. That raised the question of whether

O’NEILL IN THE POINTSFOR CHEVROLET

GoMobileUK.com’s Paul O’Neill was nominated to score points for Chevrolet/RML in the Manufacturers/Constructors championship at Rockingham.

Each manufacturer outfit must nominate its two points-scoring

drivers ahead of the first race and this time, Chevrolet opted for O’Neill alongside Plato, rather than second works driver Alex MacDowall.

O’Neill and Plato took maximum points for Chevrolet in two of the day’s three races.

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RACE ONE TOP TEN:

1 Plato 18 laps, 26:57.428 (S2000/S2000); 2 O’Neill +2.612 (S2000/S2000); 3 Wrathall +10.403 (NGTC/NGTC); 4 Neal +11.440 (S2000/NGTC); 5 Foster +11.846 (S2000/S2000); 6 Shedden +13.832 (S2000/NGTC); 7 Austin + 17.360 (NGTC/NGTC); 8 Boardman + 18.951 (S2000/NGTC); 9 Nash + 20.777 (S2000/NGTC); 10 Caine +21.447 (S2000/NGTC).

Fastest lap: Frank Wrathall – 1:24.550 (lap 4).Independent winner: Paul O’Neill.

RACE TWO TOP TEN:

1 Shedden 16 laps, 23:06.832 (S2000/NGTC); 2 Wrathall +0.380 (NGTC/NGTC); 3 Neal +4.576 (S2000/NGTC); 4 Plato + 5.952 (S2000/S2000); 5 Fos-ter +12.895 (S2000/S2000); 6 Nash +15.852 (S2000/NGTC); 7 O’Neill +16.673

(S2000/S2000); 8 J.Smith +16.874 (S2000/NGTC); 9 Austin +23.549 (NGTC/NGTC); 10 Collard +25.848 (S2000/S2000).

Fastest lap: Gordon Shedden – 1:24.748 (lap 3).Independent winner: Frank Wrathall.

RACE THREE TOP TEN:

1 Nash 16 laps, 23:05.027 (S2000/NGTC); 2 Austin +0.366 (NGTC/NGTC); 3 Collard +0.860 (S2000/S2000); 4 O’Neill +2.207 (S2000/S2000); 5 Plato +3.724 (S2000/S2000); 6 Neal +14.182 (S2000/NGTC); 7 J.Smith +14.210 (S2000/NGTC); 8 Jordan + 14.726 (S2000/NGTC); 9 Wrathall +15.174 (NGTC/NGTC); 10 Boardman +21.065 (S2000/NGTC).

Fastest lap: Jason Plato – 1:24.588 (lap 5).Independent winner: James Nash.

RACE RESULTS - TOP 10s

The two free practice sessions at Rockingham were topped by NGTC drivers, with Frank Wrathall and then Rob Austin setting the early pace.

A rain shower ahead of qualifying meant there was variation in tyre strategies as the session got underway, but it soon became clear that slicks all round was the way to go.

Matt Neal was the first driver to set a quick time, but was soon toppled by Tom Onslow-Cole and then Gordon Shedden. Frank Wrathall was next to go top, before Plato’s first competitive lap put him onto provisional pole.

There was still plenty of time for further changes late in the session, with Shedden and Paul O’Neill both hitting the top of the times as the track continued to get quicker.

Jason Plato went back to the top with his time of 1:23.745, just before the red flags came out when Liam Griffin went off after the Tarzan hairpin.

That was it for changes at the front, although there was of course still time for a scuffle in the pitlane!

QUALIFYING TOP TEN:

1 Plato 1:23.745 (S2000 chassis/S2000 engine); 2 O’Neill +0.160 (S2000/S2000); 3 Austin +0.225 (NGTC/NGTC); 4 Neal +0.261 (S2000/NGTC); 5 Nash + 0.269 (S2000/NGTC); 6 Shedden +0.350 (S2000/NGTC); 7 Wrathall +0.441 (NGTC/NGTC); 8 Jordan +0.627 (S2000/NGTC); 9 Jackson +0.713 (S2000/NGTC); 10 Byford +0.792 (S2000/NGTC).

PLATO TAKES POLE AFTER NGTC CARS SET PRACTICE PACE

Austin would succeed where Wrathall had failed and become the first NGTC winner.

Collard led off the line, but Austin passed him on the inside at Deene. However, it was Triple Eight’s James Nash who was soon in control of the race. He passed Collard for second at the start of lap two and took the lead from Austin on lap four.

Just as in the earlier races, the NGTC-spec car appeared to get stronger as the race went on. Austin put Nash under pressure, but the Vectra driver was controlled at the front, sensing a chance for his first victory.

The hardest challenge for Nash came in the final few laps. It was still Austin in the Audi in hot pursuit, but they were joined by Collard and it was a three-way fight for victory through the last few corners. Nash held firm and the wait for an NGTC win continues, but it was

an impressive second place finish for Austin nonetheless. Collard was third ahead of O’Neill in fourth.

Jason Plato was the first of the championship contenders across the line in fifth. Neal finished sixth, some ten seconds behind his rival. Shedden finished down the order in 21st after suffering contact earlier in the race.

So with six races remaining, Shedden and Neal are tied at the top of the standings, with Plato behind them. With Brands Hatch up next, the title looks set to go down to the wire once again.

Matt Neal said, “They are throwing things in our direction to slow us down for doing a good job but we are fighting on regardless. The extra penalty has made things hard compared to some cars that don’t carry the extra handicap but the fact we still got strong results is down to the

performance of the Honda.”

Gordon Shedden said, “Like Matt says, the only reason we were able to put in such a good showing was that the Civic is an excellent all round package that works well on the fast corners and through the twists. It will certainly not make things easy for the rest of the season but we are both in the best place to be, which is on top of the points table.

“Matt and I both want to win this championship for Honda and that is our primary goal. Once that is done, we can look at sorting the drivers’ title out between ourselves but there is a lot of racing yet to be done.”

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RACE ONE

Lap 1: Plato leads. Austin passes O’Neill for second at the start. Contact with Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden sees Mat Jackson spin. Austin loses second after a tap. Byford pits with bonnet covering the windscreen of his VW Golf. Jackson and Austin also pit at the end of the lap.Lap 2: Jeff Smith lands in the gravel, but rejoins.Lap 3: Boardman goes straight on at Deene before closing on and

passing Neate. Jordan slows and retires to the pits.Lap 4: Neate switches attention to defending from MacDowall.Lap 6: Contact between Neate and MacDowall at Turn 1. MacDowall goes for the inside line but ends up sliding sideways along the grass towards Deene. Newsham in the grave and out of the race at Yentwood.Lap 7: Austin back up to 11th after first lap spin. Collard in the gravel at Pif Paf after challenging Onslow-

Cole on the inside.Lap 8: Safety car deployed. Onslow-Cole pits with rear puncture.Lap 10: Racing resumes with Plato leading from O’Neill and Shedden. Nash tries a move on Wrathall for fourth at Deene.Lap 11: Neal challenges fifth-placed Nash.Lap 12: Neal takes fifth from Nash at Deene. Foster tries, unsuccessfully, to follow Neal around the outside.Lap 13: Boardman and

Foster battle through Deene and Yentwood, eventually holding station. Wrathall challenges Shedden for third.Lap 14: Chilton passes Austin for ninth.Lap 15: Shedden under pressure from Wrathall and Neal. Boardman and Nash together. Neal passes Wrathall through Tarzan. Contact between Chilton and Caine at Deene after Chilton runs wide.Lap 16: John George goes off at Deene. Neal challenges teammate

Shedden for third, giving Wrathall a chance to fight back and re-pass Neal.Lap 17: Wrathall passes Shedden to take third at Deene. Foster closes on Neal and challenges for fourth. Neal takes third from Shedden at Tarzan. Foster passes Shedden for fourth.Lap 18: Foster challenges Neal. Plato wins ahead of O’Neill and Neal.

RACE TWO

Lap 1: Poor starts for polesitter Plato and third-placed Wrathall. Plato holds on to lead, with O’Neill second and Foster third. Foster loses out at Deene, dropping down the order. Shedden moves up to third and challenges O’Neill.Lap 2: Shedden passes O’Neill for second at

Deene. Wrathall passes Neal for fourth.Lap 3: Shedden chases Plato at the front.Lap 4: Shedden takes lead from Plato at Deene. Wrathall passes O’Neill for third.Lap 5: Nash takes seventh from Foster at Deene. Plato back on Shedden at Tarzan, while defending from Wrathall.Lap 6: Wrathall takes

second, passing Plato at Deene. Boardman off at Deene but rejoins.Lap 7: Neal passes O’Neill for fourth at Deene.Lap 8: Plato challenges Wrathall.Lap 9: Top four, led by Shedden, all running together. Austin, Jackson, Jordan and Collard battle over 13th place. Michael

Caine pits and retires.Lap 11: Contact between MacDowall and Austin at Tarzan.Lap 12: Neal on the back of Plato.Lap 13: Team Aon teammates Chilton and Neate make contact. Black and orange flag for Onslow-Cole.Lap 14: Neal takes third from Plato at Turn 1. Jackson receives black and orange flag

for flapping rear door. Foster passes Nash for sixth.Lap 15: Foster closes on O’Neill at Turn 1, before taking the place at Tarzan. Neate retires.Lap 16: Wrathall challenges Shedden at the front, but the Scot hangs on for victory. Neal fends off Plato for third.

RACE THREE

Lap 1: Collard starts from pole and leads away from the line ahead of Austin and O’Neill. Austin takes the lead through Deene. Neal and Shedden run side-by-side at the bottom of the top ten. Nash takes third from O’Neill, who also drops behind Jeff Smith.Lap 2: Nash passes Collard for second through Turn 1. O’Neill challenges Smith for

third. Plato passes Foster for sixth but the BMW driver retakes the spot.Lap 3: Shedden passes Plato. Wrathall closes on O’Neill for 11th.Lap 4: Nash passes Austin on the run from Turn 1 to Deene. Contact between Shedden and Foster at Yentwood, with Plato passing both. Onslow-Cole off at Chapman Curve.Lap 5: Neal passes Foster.Lap 6: Wrathall and

Boardman pass Shedden.Lap 7: Wrathall takes ninth from Foster at Deene. Plato passes Smith through the chicane.Lap 8: Neal passes Jordan at Tarzan. Jackson closes on Newsham.Lap 9: MacDowall pressures Shedden for 12th place. Jackson passes Dan Welch for 15th.Lap 10: MacDowall passes Shedden at Turn 1. Jackson passes

Shedden at Deene. O’Neill closes on Collard in third and the pair touch.Lap 11: Welch passes Shedden.Lap 12: Austin keeps the pressure on leader Nash, as does O’Neill on Collard.Lap 13: O’Neill passes Collard for third, but Collard fights back. Plato closes as the pair ahead battle.Lap 14: Collard challenges O’Neill at Deene. Just two-tenths between Austin and

Nash at the front.Lap 15: Leaders Nash and Austin lap Chris James. Austin looks for his chance to pass, but fails to find an opening.Lap 16: Collard re-takes third place from O’Neill at Turn 1. Nash holds on at the front to take his first win, ahead of Austin, with Collard rapidly closing through the final few corners.

LAP BY LAP - HOW THE ACTION UNFOLDED

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IT STARTED WITH A KISS (ON TRACK, THAT IS)...OLD RIVALS NEAL AND PLATO CLASH IN THE PITLANE AFTER ON-TRACK SKIRMISH DURING QUALIFYINGBY MATT LAMPRELL

You can tell it’s coming to crunch time in the BTCC title race when the off-track action competes with what’s happening in the races. That was certainly the case at Rockingham as long-time rivals Matt Neal and Jason Plato nearly came to blows after qualifying.

At any other circuit, the clash between the two champions would have been witnessed by only a handful of privileged observers, but if you pick a fight at Rockingham, there’s nowhere to hide.

Rockingham’s open pitlane setup meant that the crowd, plus the watching media, literally had a grandstand view as Neal and Plato squared up to each other after coming together on the

track.

There also happened to be live ITV cameras and a pack of press photographers on hand to make sure the moment was written into BTCC history.

It all started in the final stages of Saturday’s 30-minute qualifying session. There were just three and a half minutes remaining when the session resumed after a red flag, so there was a scramble for position as they all tried to improve their times on the final run.

Neal and Plato were together on the track, with the Chevrolet just ahead. The two cars touched and Neal ended up abandoning his lap and returning to the pits without completing his run.

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Inside BTCC ��www.insidebtcc.com

...AND ENDED WITH A HANDSHAKE(NOT TO MENTION A £1000 FINE!)The Honda Racing driver was already out of his car when Plato arrived to receive the congratulations of his team after claiming pole position.

Plato raised his finger in Neal’s direction and Neal then went running towards the still-helmetted Plato. Neal could be heard to say “I’m going to rip your ******* face off”, before

raising his fist to Plato. The pair were then separated by Plato’s father, Tim and Team Dynamics team manager Barry Plowman, although there was still time for one more gesture from Plato to Neal.

Unsurprisingly, the pair’s antics caught the attention of the officials and they were both summoned to

explain their actions. Each was handed a £1000 fine and three points on their competition licence, while the stewards also recommended a six-place grid penalty be imposed, but suspended for the remainder of the season.

Raceday brought somewhat more calm to the paddock and no further drama between Plato and Neal,

despite running together on the track. All was well at the end of the day, as our photos show. A conversation on the pitwall following the final race ended with a handshake.

Roll on Brands Hatch…

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Inside BTCC �� www.insidebtcc.com

BY MATT SALISBURY

While much of the focus this season has understandably been on the heated battle for the 2011 championship crown, there is another battle raging further down the field amongst those drivers still to break into the top ten.

Chris James is one of those drivers as he heads towards the conclusion of his debut season, having taken up the challenge of competing in the BTCC after moving up from the MINI Challenge.

Running on a shoe-string budget, James has managed to make it to every meeting so far and has taken a best

finish of twelfth; despite the fact his team is one of the smallest and his car – a Chevrolet Lacetti – is older than most on the grid.

While it’s been a far from easy season, James is clearly in his element in the series and is keen to make sure that his entry into touring cars isn’t just a one-off.

“We have a business plan for this – it isn’t just a one-season wonder,” he says, “but raising our profile is paramount to getting sponsorship because we have been self-funded this year and have done it on a tenth of the budget of some people. Give us £150,000 more and

we’d be ten places higher up the grid.

“We don’t want to be associated with the back of the grid all the time. But the good thing is that there is so much data with these cars that you can go to potential sponsors and show them that a lot of our problem is down to a lack of straight-line speed. But you also have to look at the fact that we don’t have a data engineer, we don’t have a chassis engineer, we don’t have a turbo and a lot of these other guys on the grid have at least that and more besides.

“Being an Independent team in the BTCC basically

means you don’t have a manufacturer onboard but we are the ultimate independent. Fair play to the likes of Motorbase and WSR, but they are professional organisations and racing is how they make a living. We have four motorsport students, who are good lads, a few hydraulic and mechanical engineers from my day job and a truckie. That is the team but with some extra funding, we can prove that we can run further up the grid.”

In an effort to increase his profile and bring in additional backing for a second season in the series, James welcomed former Arsenal and England footballer Paul

SEEKING A BOOSTChris James has called on the helpof former footballer, Paul Merson

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Merson into the ES Racing team for the weekend at Rockingham – and the move clearly worked.

As well as the pit garage being a hive of activity throughout the weekend, James and Paul also featured in a video on The Sun website following the event. But why get a footballer involved in a BTCC programme?

“I’ve known Paul for a little while now, he’s a friend of a friend but we’ve been getting closer,” he said. “He loves motorsport and as an ex-England footballer who is still very much in the media eye, having him around isn’t going to hurt us at all. It certainly raised our profile at Rockingham. It’s all about getting our name out there and being seen more and then hopefully picking up sponsors that way.

“We want to be back again in 2012, but we won’t be back with this car for sure. We will need to go to an S2000 car with a turbo already in it or we will need to go for an NGTC car, but we probably won’t know that until February. We are planning for next year and Paul’s profile has helped us. We just need

the right person to see what we are doing so we get the break we need.”

Merson himself, who has forged a successful career as a football pundit since the end of his own career, visited a BTCC event for the first time at Rockingham but based on the experience, it won’t be long before he makes a return.

“A friend of mine is a friend of Chris and he asked me to come down and have a look,” he said. “He’s asked me a few times and I’ve not been able to make it because of the football. This time I had the opportunity to come along and I’ve got to admit that I’ve been very impressed.

“From a spectator point of view, it’s a lot different to football because it isn’t closed in in a stadium, but the adrenaline and the buzz you can feel from the drivers in the paddock is exactly the same as I experienced in football throughout my career. I can’t believe how professional it all is and I’ll definitely be coming back again.”

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HONDA STICKS WITH NEAL AND SHEDDEN FOR 2012Consistency for Japanese marque’s 2012 NGTC Civic programme

BY MATT LAMPRELL

They’re fighting for championship honours this year, but Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden already have their race seats confirmed for 2012.

The pair, seen above at the IAA Frankfurt Motorshow where the announcement was made, will again front Honda Racing’s challenge on the BTCC next year, driving two new Civics, built to the championship’s NGTC regulations.

Dave Hodgetts, Managing Director of Honda (UK) said “Both Matt and Gordon have been fantastic ambassadors for Honda during this season and we are delighted to have

them racing for us in 2012. They will be behind the wheel of a race-prepared version of the new Honda Civic and we believe that will give us outstanding opportunities to further add to Honda’s already-bulging trophy cabinet. We’ve still got a job to finish this year, though.”

The ‘Next Generation’ Hondas are already in-build at Team Dynamics’ Pershore base and could get their first run before the end of 2011.

Neal and Shedden currently share the lead of the championship, with 204 points each, driving S2000-spec Civics that are already powered by the turbocharged engines that will be fitted to their NGTC machines next

year.

The 2012 NGTC programme sees the continuation of a relationship between Honda and Team Dynamics that goes back to 2004 when the team, run by Matt Neal’s father,

Steve, first ran the Integra models that went on to be so successful over the following years.

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2012 BTCC CALENDAR REVEALED Plus we round up all the latest BTCC news

TOCA has released provisional dates for the 2012 season with the calendar featuring the same nine venues that it has used in recent years.

As per usual, Brands Hatch hosts two meetings and will both start and finish the campaign, with the only venue yet to be given a date being Donington Park; although that date is expected to be confirmed in the near future.

Putting next season’s calendar together has been particularly problematic given the number of major sporting events that series boss Alan Gow has been keen to avoid a clash with, with London playing host to the Olympic Games during the summer, the 2012 European Football Championship taking place in Poland and the Ukraine and the annual Tour de France cycle race – which is broadcast live on the same ITV4 channel that carries the BTCC’s own extensive coverage.

31 March-1 April, Brands Hatch Indy28-29 April, Thruxton9-10 June, Oulton Park Island

23-24 June, Croft11-12 August, Snetterton 30025-26 August, Knockhill22-23 September, Rockingham6-7 October, Silverstone20-21 October, Brands Hatch GPTBC, Donington Park

NEWS IN BRIEF

Triple Eight, Pirtek commit to NGTC

Triple Eight and Pirtek Racing have become the latest teams to commit to the new NGTC rules for the 2012 season. The teams will replace their current Vauxhall Vectras with full-spec NGTC machines although plans for both teams are yet to be finalised.

Triple Eight has been linked with a number of manufacturers following the end of its factory deal with Vauxhall at the end of the 2009 season but there is no guarantee that any programme for 2012 would be a full works effort.

Triple Eight is one of the most successful teams to have competed in the BTCC, with multiple titles to its name and

at least one win every season since 1998.

“Its fairly obvious now that the NGTC regulations are the future of the BTCC,” Triple Eight Chairman Ian Harrison said. “It’s quite clear, too, that the future has already arrived, perhaps a bit sooner than we expected.

“While our complete plans have yet to be finalised, we’re announcing the switch from S2000 to NGTC now as a clear sign of our support of the BTCC going forward and where we have competed successfully since 1997.”

Pirtek meanwhile hope to announce more on their plans in the coming weeks having put their Vectras up for sale.

Thorney sets launch date

Thorney Motorsport will launch its NGTC-spec Vauxhall Insignia at an event at its Crowfield base on Saturday 8 October.

The team is aiming to debut the car in the final round of the season at Silverstone ahead of a full campaign in 2012.

The Insignia will become the fifth NGTC car on the grid alongside the Dynojet and Speedworks-run Toyotas, the Rob Austin Racing Audi and the Welch Automotive Proton.

GT date for Turkington

Former BTCC champion Colin Turkington will compete in this weekend’s Britcar 24 Hours at Silverstone in a Rollcentre Racing-run Ginetta G55. Ginetta boss Lawrence Tomlinson will be one of Turkington’s team-mates in the race, which comes a week after he brought his campaign in the STCC to an end.

Turkington ended his debut season fifth in the championship standings.

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BY MATT SALISBURY James Thompson made a welcome return to the BTCC paddock, albeit only in a watching capacity, after making the trip down from Yorkshire to cheer on long-time friend Paul O’Neill over the course of the weekend at Rockingham. Having the double champion watching on clearly helped the GoMobileUK.com with Tech-Speed driver as he enjoyed his best weekend of the season so far, taking a second place finish in race one and only missing out on a second podium finish in race three when Rob Collard knocked him back to fourth on the final lap. Thompson himself last raced in the BTCC back in 2009 when he was given the chance to contest a limited programme but his last full season came all the way in 2004 when he clinched his second title for Vauxhall. Since then, he’s had programmes with SEAT, Alfa Romeo, N.Technology and Lada in the WTCC, taken two

ETCC titles and competed in both Denmark and Sweden. However, it’s been far from an easy ride along the way for the 37-year-old, with a number of programmes that promised much coming to a premature end as manufacturers and teams were forced to deal with the fall-out of a downturn in the financial markets. With that downturn leaving many teams needing to find drivers with budget in order to go racing, people like Thompson and fellow BTCC title winner Fabrizio Giovanardi have been left watching from the sidelines with only limited opportunities available for the top-line professional racers. “Motorsport has changed a lot in recent years, and teams are now looking for drivers who are competitive but who can also bring money,” he said. “There aren’t a lot of professional drives around and me and Fabrizio have shown that if you can’t bring a budget, you won’t be in the car. That is how it is and

you have to wait for the right opportunities to come along. “All the deals I’ve entered into recently have been long-term projects but unfortunately – such is the way of the world at the moment – plans change for car manufacturers and you have to adapt to it. The last few years haven’t been in vain as I’ve won two European titles to add to my BTCC ones, but it can

be frustrating when you think you are involved in something that could net you a big championship and you are working towards it and then the rug gets pulled from under you because of the financial climate.” Perhaps the most surprising of those deals was the agreement that saw Thompson line up alongside Jaap van Lagen and Kirill

FIGHTING THE DOWNTURNFORMER CHAMP JAMES THOMPSON TELLS INSIDE BTCC WHY IT’S HARD BEING A RACING DRIVER

“Motorsport has changed a lot in recent

years...you have to wait for the right

opportunities to come along”

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Ladygin as part of the Lada assault on the 2009 WTCC. Driving the team’s new Priora model, Thompson took a double score at Imola to show the potential of the car but his multi-year deal with the team would ultimately count for little when – in January 2010 – he took the call telling him that the programme was ending. “There was a lot of potential there and there is no reason why that car couldn’t have finished on the podium in the second year and who knows, it could have gone even better in the third year,” he reflects. “Touring car regulations are made so that everyone can compete and if you have a good team and the right work ethic, then all the cars can be competitive, as you see in the BTCC and the WTCC. It’s all down to working through the right areas step-by-step. “We took the LADA from being three or four seconds off the pace to the last few races of the year where we were qualifying in he top ten and picked up some points. We got a double score at Imola and were unlucky not to score in some of the other races as well. We took a massive step and if was

frustrating when I then got the call in January to say we weren’t going racing. The knock on effect is that it’s too late to find a drive elsewhere as you’re sat there with a contract you thought you had and other drives have gone. But things change and you have to deal with it.” Having raced for Volvo in Sweden earlier this year, Thompson currently finds himself without a drive but his focus remains firmly on securing another top line drive, although the current lack of manufacturer teams in many top series’ is proving to work against him. “There is always an ebb and flow,” he says. “If you look back over the years, we’ve lost manufacturers and then gained some, then lost some and gained some. Hopefully, if a manufacturer comes in [to touring cars] who is serious about winning the title, they will look at the drivers who have got the job done over the years and decide they need to put one or two of those in the car. That is what Vauxhall used to do, they used to put two top guys in to fight for the title and know that if one guy didn’t do it, the other probably would. Then you’d also win

a manufacturer title as well because you can’t have one guy who always plays back-up and is there to make up the numbers. A manufacturer needs to have two top drivers and then it when we [professional drivers] become more valuable.” As for the BTCC, Thompson won’t rule out a possible return in future. “The entertainment is fantastic, no doubt about it,” he says. “You only have to look at the TV as an example of that. If you look at the people in the series who have won championships in the past, maybe there isn’t the strength there has been when

there were drivers like Rydell, Ravaglia and Tarquini. “Then, you had top drivers filling the top 15 cars and you would look at it and think, how am I going to get into the top ten? But things have changed so much and now you have the reverse grids and the weight penalties. The BTCC is still a great place to be and it’s the best national championship around.”

Thompson was the development driver for TOCA’s NGTC test programme last year...

...But last BTCC race outing was in 2009

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Pics: PSP Images & Jakob Ebrey


MATT SALISBURY REPORTS

Most fans of the BTCC will also have an interest in other forms of motorsport, and the same can be said for the drivers seen in action over the course of the season.

The fight for honours in the 2011 British GT Championship is proving to be as enthralling as in touring cars, with the title race in both the GT3 and GT4 classes set to go to the wire in the final race of the year at Silverstone.

A number of people with BTCC experience have played a major role in the proceedings this season, with no fewer than eight drivers to have competed in a touring car race having been part of the grid for last weekend’s Donington Park race.

Star of qualifying was former WSR driver Stephen Jelley, who was given the chance to partner defending champion David Ashburn for the weekend in a Trackspeed-run Porsche 997. A fourth place finish was the end result after the three-hour race following a number of off-track excursions for Ashburn, with

Jelley leading the fight-back as the car finished just nine seconds behind the race-winning Ferrari.

Second of the BTCC brigade home was current points leader Gordon Shedden, who teamed with Hector Lester in a brand new Ferrari 458 Italia run by Rosso Verde. Donington marked the car’s

debut and the first outing for Shedden in the series, but the Scot adapted well to his new surroundings and helped to bring the car home inside the top six.

For the three remaining touring car names in the premier GT3 class, the three-hour Donington race would end in disappointment. Former Motorbase man Jonny Adam was the man to beat through the opening stint in his Beechdean Motorsport Aston Martin, building a lead of more than 20 seconds before pitting for his first mandatory stop. However, his hopes of taking a second win of the year were dashed when team owner Andrew Howard suffered a spin into the gravel at the Esses and the car was ultimately forced to retire.

Also forced out was the Stark Racing Ginetta G55 of Stefan

TOURING CAR STARS SHINE AT DONINGTONNASH AND GLEW WIN IN GT4 AS BTCC DRIVERS PAST AND PRESENT FLOOD THE BRITISH GT GRID

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Hodgetts after a mechanical issue led to an earlier retirement, while former Audi factory driver John Bintcliffe missed the race altogether after a high-speed off in qualifying damaged his Audi R8 and forced it to be withdrawn from the race.

“I caught the kerb on the inside at McLeans and pivoted around at high-speed,” he said afterwards. “The gravel trap didn’t take any speed off and I hit the small tyre wall positioned just in front of the concrete barrier very hard. It was a big impact.”

The GT4 class saw James Nash – just a week after his maiden win at Rockingham – join forces with another man with touring car experience, Phil Glew, in a Lotus Sport UK-entered Evora GT4. Despite no running in the car prior to the weekend,

Nash was on the pace from the outset and helped the pair to take a dominant victory having led the class from start-to-finish, despite a drive-through penalty in the closing stages.

“It’s my first time in a GT4 and first time in a rear-drive car for a long time,” Nash said. “Lotus Sport UK did a great job and Phil did a great job in the wet; it was tough for him. Hopefully I can do some more races, and maybe even get a drive in GT3.”

The eighth and final man well-known to BTCC fans also ended the weekend with a trophy, as former Nissan and MG man Anthony Reid took GTC class honours alongside youngster Jordan Witt in a Chevron GR8.

GT3

4th - David Ashburn/Stephen Jelley (Trackspeed Porsche GT3 R)

6th - Hector Lester/Gordon Shedden (Rosso Verde Ferrari 458 Italia)

DNC - Jonathan Adam/Andrew Howard (Beechdean Motorsport Aston Martin DBRS 9)

DNC - Ian Stinton/Stefan Hodgetts (Stark Racing Ginetta G55)

DNS - Jay Palmer/John Bintcliffe (United Autosports Audi R8 LMS)

GTC

1st - Jordan Witt/Anthony Reid (Chevron GR8)

GT4

1st - Phil Glew/James Nash (Lotus Sport UK Lotus Evora GT4)

WHO FINISHED WHERE?

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A LAP OF BRANDS HATCH GP

WITH AIRWAVES RACING’S MAT JACKSON

The penultimate rounds of the 2011 season will be held on one of the most iconic circuits in motorsport as the BTCC returns to Brands Hatch for its annual outing on the famous Grand Prix loop.

Taking the cars off the shorter Indy layout, the GP loop incorporates a number of high-speed bends as drivers blast through the trees with no room for mistakes.

Ahead of the weekend, Mat Jackson talks us through a lap of the circuit at what will be the home venue for his Airwaves Racing team…

PADDOCKHILL

DRUIDS

GRAHAMHILL COOPER

STRAIGHT

SURTEES

PILGRIMSDROP

HAWTHORNSHILL

HAWTHORNS

WESTFIELDDINGLEDELL

SHEENECURVE

STIRLINGS

CLEARWAYS

CLARKCURVE

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Brands Hatch is an interesting lap and I think it is one of the best circuits on the BTCC calendar. Obviously we are on the Grand Prix layout for this weekend and it has some fantastic corners, the first of which is Paddock Hill Bend; which is also the most famous.

We come into the corner in sixth gear and it’s very fast as you come over the crest and get onto the brakes. The exit of Paddock Hill can be very interesting, especially in the wet, as there is the green concrete on the outside and cars don’t tend to like that in the wet conditions – they can go off and cause rather big shunts…

We get up to fifth gear on the run up to Druids and then its hard on the brakes and down to second for there, using all the kerb on the apex and then trying to avoid all the matting that is on the exit kerb. It’s then a short run down to Graham Hill Bend, we’ll go up to gears on that little blast and then down one for the corner itself. You need to be careful not to take too much kerb on the inside and

you’ll see all the cars using the matting on the exit.

We then have a short run along the Cooper Straight into Surtees, which is a long left-hander. We need a different approach to the corner when we are on the GP circuit than if we were on the Indy layout and the line you take coming into the bend is completely different. The profile of the corner is a lot different and it goes on for a long time when you turn in. It’s a late apex and you have to carry as much speed as you can to get a good exit for the straight that follows.

We come down the hill under the bridge on what is probably the fastest part of the circuit into the right-hander at Hawthorn. It’s a corner where you have to be very committed and it’s a very interesting corner. You’ll see a lot of cars run off on the exit but it is so committed that the last thing you want is to have any understeer on the apex.

Another short straight follows into Westfield, which has been re-profiled a number

of times. In its current form, it’s another pretty committed corner but the apex kerb can throw the car up quite high and then there is no run-off on the exit. If you get onto the matting on the exit, it’s likely to be followed by the grass and the armco so there is the potential for a big shunt.

We then have the run to Dingle Dell, which is another famous corner, and another that has been re-profiled a number of times over the years. It’s less of a challenge than it used to be, but it’s a corner we now take at higher speed and we don’t get as much as air as the cars did in the past.

We then drop into the left-hander at Stirlings, which is quite good as it has a lot of camber and you can really throw the car into the corner. If you can get a good exit from there, then you can

sometimes get a run on the car ahead and get up the inside on the straight into Clearways where we rejoin the Indy circuit.

Through Clearways, if you can get up the inside and get a good exit, you have a chance to win a race to the line as Jason Plato did back in 2009 against Tom Chilton

when he out-dragged the Ford in a sprint to the finish.

The GP circuit is definitely more challenging for a driver than the Indy circuit is; it’s big balls stuff when you are out the back and sometimes, you just have to hold on tight!

MAT JACKSON GUIDES US AROUND THE BRANDS HATCH GP CIRCUIT...

“The Grand Prix layout has some fantastic

corners. It’s big balls stuff...and sometimes,

you just have to hold on tight!”

A LAP OF BRANDS HATCH GP

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BRANDS HATCHPREVIEW

Following the rounds at Knockhill and Rockingham there is only one thing for certain as the BTCC heads back to Brands Hatch for the penultimate round of the season.

Anything can – and probably will – happen…

As we head to the world famous Grand Prix circuit, things couldn’t be tighter at the top of the standings with Honda pair Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal level on points. The full GP circuit is one where Shedden has yet to taste success and this weekend would be the perfect time to open his account in order to put some daylight between himself and Neal in the title race.

Neal has however taken the chequered flag first on the GP circuit in the past – back in 2002 with Vauxhall – and it was on the GP circuit where he wrapped up his maiden championship title back in 2005.

With Brands Hatch being the penultimate round of the campaign, a strong weekend is vital for both drivers to

try and gain an advantage heading to Silverstone, but the pair will be well aware of the fact that Jason Plato is still within striking distance in third place.

The final round will be difficult for the defending champion, but Brands Hatch is a circuit where his Chevrolet should be strong. It won on the Indy circuit at the start of the year and Plato has won more times than any other driver on the GP circuit, with a hat-trick in 2009 amongst the five victories he has taken in the past. The RML driver continues to take the fight to both Shedden and Neal and isn’t going to give up his title easily.

However, as the title fight intensifies – and after the controversy between Neal and Plato at Rockingham - here’s hoping that any battles stay firmly on track.

While the champion is likely to come from those three, who go into the weekend covered by 24 points, a number of other drivers can’t yet be discounted, with Airwaves Racing’s Mat Jackson keener than most

to pick up a result for the Motorbase team on its home circuit. Jackson topped the standings following the Snetterton rounds and looked set to fight for a maiden crown, but has since failed to finish inside the top ten in any of the last six races; his only point coming from a fastest lap at Knockhill.

While now an outsider, Jackson will be keen to score well in an attempt to not only try and bring himself back into contention for overall honours but also reclaim the lead into the Independents’ standings from James Nash; another man who retains an outside chance of a first title.

Others to watch this weekend include Tom Chilton – who has claimed pole on the GP circuit for the last two seasons and broke the qualifying lap record twelve months ago – although he will need his Team Aon Ford Focus to return to the kind of form it showed at Knockhill after a difficult outing for the entire Arena-run team at Rockingham.

Paul O’Neill, Rob Collard and NGTC runners Frank Wrathall

and Rob Austin all visited the podium at Rockingham and will look to at least repeat that this time around, with the latter pair now embroiled in their own private battle to become the first driver to win a race in a Next Generation Touring Car. Another man to shine at Rockingham was Collard’s team-mate at WSR Nick Foster, who continued to show improvement at the wheel of his BMW to secure a brace of fifth place finishes and could be an outside bet to impress this weekend if conditions play into his hands.

In front of what should be a bumper crowd, a number of home drivers and teams will be out to impress, including Liam Griffin and Michael Caine in the other Airwaves Fords, Martin Byford in the VW Golf of local team AmD Milltek Racing.com and Essex-racer Tony Gilham in his BMW run by the Geoff Steel Racing team.

After missing the last two rounds of the season at Knockhill and Rockingham, the Speedworks Toyota Avensis of Tony Hughes will return to action after the

WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE RACES ON THE FAMOUS GP CIRCUIT

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Brands Hatch GP RECENT HISTORY2010

Pole Tom Chilton, Ford Focus ST

Race One Tom Chilton, Ford Focus ST

Race Two Tom Onslow-Cole, Ford Focus ST

Race Three Mat Jackson, BMW 320si

2009

Pole Tom Chilton, Ford Focus ST

Race One Jason Plato, Chevrolet Lacetti

Race Two Jason Plato, Chevrolet Lacetti

Race Three Jason Plato, Chevrolet Lacetti

2005

Pole Dan Eaves, Honda Integra

Race One Dan Eaves, Honda Integra

Race Two Jason Plato, SEAT Toledo

Race Three Rob Collard, MG ZS

2002 (TWO-RACE FORMAT)

Pole Yvan Muller, Vauxhall Astra (x2)

Race One Matt Neal, Vauxhall Astra

Race Two James Thompson, Vauxhall Astra

2000

Pole Alain Menu, Ford Mondeo (x2)

Race One Alain Menu, Ford Mondeo

Race Two Jason Plato, Vauxhall Vectra

1996

Pole Alain Menu, Renault Laguna (x2)

Race One Alain Menu, Renault Laguna

Race Two Alain Menu, Renault Laguna

BRANDS HATCH STATSLENGTH 2.30 miles

2011 RACE LAPS 15

RACE DISTANCE 34.50 miles

LAP RECORD(QUALIFYING)

1m 31.604s (Tom Chilton, 2010)

LAP RECORD (RACE) 1m 33.983s (Jason Plato, 2009)

MOST WINS (1991-) 5 – Jason Plato

BRANDS HATCHPREVIEW

team worked on testing the car away from the public eye, while Renault Clio Cup graduate Chris Swanwick will make his debut in the series as the Rob Austin Racing team runs its second Audi for the first time. That means that, barring any late withdrawals, a field of 28 cars is set to race this weekend in Kent.

As an interesting aside away from the BTCC race action, Brands Hatch will mark the final rounds of the supporting Renault Clio Cup with a title battle even closer than in the

touring cars set to be decided over the final two races of the year.

Heading into the weekend, the top four in the championship – Aron Smith, James Dixon, Paul Rivett and James Colburn – are covered by just four points, while a double pole and double win at Rockingham means fifth-placed Jack Goff could also clinch the crown.

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RACE FOR THE TITLECHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER 24 OF 30 RACES

DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP MANUFACTURER/CONSTRUCTOR INDEPENDENT DRIVERS INDEPENDENT TEAMS

1 Gordon Shedden 204 1 Honda/Dynamics 504 1 James Nash 220 1 Triple Eight/Collins 233

2 Matt Neal 204 2 Chevrolet/RML 423 2 Mat Jackson 196 2 Airwaves Racing 213

3 Jason Plato 180 3 Ford/Arena 327 3 Andrew Jordan 175 3 Pirtek Racing 198

4 Mat Jackson 159 4 Tom Chilton 148 4 WSR 195

5 James Nash 158 TEAMS CHAMPIONSHIP 5 Rob Collard 146 5 Team Aon 174

6 Andrew Jordan 124 1 Honda Racing 372 6 Paul O’Neill 126 6 GoMobileUK.com/Tech-Speed 150

7 Rob Collard 102 2 Silverline Chevrolet 238 7 Nick Foster 92 7 Special Tuning Racing 117

8 Tom Chilton 98 3 Triple Eight/Collins 159 8 Tom Boardman 89 8 Dynojet 71

9 Paul O’Neill 78 4 Airwaves Racing 153 9 Frank Wrathall 86 9 AmD Milltek Racing.com 46

10 Alex MacDowall 74 5 WSR 145 10 Tom Onslow-Cole 60 10 Rob Austin Racing 41

11 Frank Wrathall 62 6 Pirtek Racing 142 11 Dave Newsham 52 11 Team ES Racing 29

12 Tom Boardman 59 7 Team Aon 112 12 Jeff Smith 49 12 Central Group Racing 27

13 Nick Foster 44 8 GoMobileUK.com/Tech-Speed 78 13 Tony Gilham 42 13 Geoff Steel Racing 19

14 Rob Austin 21 9 Special Tuning Racing 62 14 Andy Neate 36 14 Welch Automotive 10

15 Jeff Smith 19 10 Dynojet 52 15 Rob Austin 33 15 Speedworks 7

16 Tom Onslow-Cole 19 11 Rob Austin Racing 19 16 Lea Wood 11

17 Dave Newsham 18 12 AmD Milltek Racing.com 9 17 John George 5

18 Tony Gilham 12 13 Central Group Racing 4 18 Liam Griffin 5

19 Andy Neate 9 14 Geoff Steel Racing 1 19 Aron Smith 5

20 Lea Wood 4 15 Team ES Racing 0 20 Michael Caine 4

21 Liam Griffin 2 16 Speedworks 0 21 Chris James 2

22 Aron Smith 1 17 Welch Automotive 0 22 Dave Pinkney 0

23 Michael Caine 1 23 Dan Welch 0

24 Dave Pinkney 0 24 Tony Hughes 0

25 John George 0 25 Shaun Hollamby 0

26 Dan Welch 0 26 Martin Byford 0

27 Tony Hughes 0

28 Chris James 0

29 Martin Byford 0

30 Shaun Hollamby 0


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Jason Plato 1 1 5 18 DNF 6 DNF 8 1 2 1 11 4 DNF 11 1 3 3 7 7 DNF 1 4 5

Matt Neal DNF 7 1 1 3 7 2 1 5 8 DNF 4 1 1 7 18 17 4 2 2 4 4 3 6

Tom Onslow-Cole 13 DNF 12 11 7 DNF 7 DNS 10 11 16 DNS 11 10 13 8 8 11 DNF 11 8 19 12 DNF

Tom Chilton 3 8 8 4 4 DNF 4 4 DNF 17 10 7 7 6 9 9 12 13 1 4 6 13 11 18

Mat Jackson 4 3 2 5 10 1 6 5 2 DNF 9 1 2 5 1 6 6 1 19 DNF DNF DNF DNF 13

Michael Caine / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / 10 DNF 20

Rob Collard 17 9 7 6 5 DNF 12 14 13 5 3 14 3 2 3 23 10 12 5 5 2 DNF 10 3

Frank Wrathall R DNS DNS 16 NC NC DNF DNS DNF DNF 13 DNF 12 DNF DNF 4 DNF DNS 4 3 3 3 2 9

David Pinkney DNS DNS DNS / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

Rob Austin / / / DNF DNF 13 DNF DNS DNS DNF 12 16 DNF NC DNF 15 DNF 10 DNF DNF DNF 7 9 2

James Nash 2 4 6 3 2 3 8 6 4 4 2 13 8 11 5 5 2 6 6 8 15 9 6 1

Dave Newsham 10 11 11 DNF 15 DNF / / / 12 17 8 19 8 10 10 7 8 15 12 11 DNF DNF 15

Nick Foster 12 14 14 12 DNF 10 15 16 17 6 8 9 13 7 2 13 11 9 11 10 9 5 5 12

Alex MacDowall 5 13 16 9 9 4 10 7 8 3 5 18 14 DNF 8 2 4 5 12 DNF 10 12 15 11

Tom Boardman DNF DNF 10 7 DNF DNF 5 9 3 DNF NC 5 10 DNF DNF DNF DNS DNS 8 6 1 8 DNF 10

John George 14 15 17 DNF 12 11 17 15 16 DNF DNF DNF DNF 14 17 19 DNF DNF 17 DNF DNF 17 19 22

Paul O’Neill 7 5 3 8 DNF 8 13 11 14 13 7 DNF 9 DNF DNF 7 5 2 13 14 DNF 2 7 4

Tony Gilham 8 10 9 15 8 DNF 11 10 9 14 DNF 12 DNF 12 12 DNF 13 15 / / / 15 14 17

Daniel Welch / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / 22 18 19 NC 16 12 DNF DNF 14

Lea Wood / / / / / / / / / 7 11 15 16 15 19 DNF 15 18 / / / DNS DNS DNS

Andy Neate 11 12 15 14 11 DNF 16 13 12 9 15 6 DNF 9 DNF 16 DNF DNF 14 15 13 11 DNF DNS

Tony Hughes DNF 19 21 19 16 DNF / / / 16 14 17 / / / 21 DNF DNS / / / / / /

Gordon Shedden 6 2 4 DSQ 6 DNF 1 2 6 1 6 2 5 4 6 3 1 7 3 1 5 6 1 21

Jeff Smith 9 16 13 10 13 5 9 12 11 DNF DNF 10 15 DNF 14 11 16 17 16 18 14 14 8 7

Liam Griffin R 18 18 13 DNF 9 14 17 15 15 18 DNF 18 DNF 16 17 14 DNF DNF DNF 16 16 16 19

Andrew Jordan 16 6 20 2 1 2 3 3 7 10 4 3 6 3 4 12 9 14 9 9 7 DNF 13 8

Chris James 15 17 19 17 14 12 18 DNF 18 DNF DNF DNS DNF DNF 18 20 DNS DNF 18 17 17 18 17 23

Aron Smith / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / 10 13 DNF / / /

Martin Byford / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / 14 DNF 16 DNF DNF DNF 20 18 16

Shaun Hollamby / / / / / / / / / / / / 17 13 15 / / / / / / / / /

ITALICS denotes fastest lap

THE SEASON

BOLD denotes pole position


RACE-BY-RACE RESULTS FOR THE 2011 DUNLOP MSA BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Jason Plato 1 1 5 18 DNF 6 DNF 8 1 2 1 11 4 DNF 11 1 3 3 7 7 DNF 1 4 5

Matt Neal DNF 7 1 1 3 7 2 1 5 8 DNF 4 1 1 7 18 17 4 2 2 4 4 3 6

Tom Onslow-Cole 13 DNF 12 11 7 DNF 7 DNS 10 11 16 DNS 11 10 13 8 8 11 DNF 11 8 19 12 DNF

Tom Chilton 3 8 8 4 4 DNF 4 4 DNF 17 10 7 7 6 9 9 12 13 1 4 6 13 11 18

Mat Jackson 4 3 2 5 10 1 6 5 2 DNF 9 1 2 5 1 6 6 1 19 DNF DNF DNF DNF 13

Michael Caine / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / 10 DNF 20

Rob Collard 17 9 7 6 5 DNF 12 14 13 5 3 14 3 2 3 23 10 12 5 5 2 DNF 10 3

Frank Wrathall R DNS DNS 16 NC NC DNF DNS DNF DNF 13 DNF 12 DNF DNF 4 DNF DNS 4 3 3 3 2 9

David Pinkney DNS DNS DNS / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

Rob Austin / / / DNF DNF 13 DNF DNS DNS DNF 12 16 DNF NC DNF 15 DNF 10 DNF DNF DNF 7 9 2

James Nash 2 4 6 3 2 3 8 6 4 4 2 13 8 11 5 5 2 6 6 8 15 9 6 1

Dave Newsham 10 11 11 DNF 15 DNF / / / 12 17 8 19 8 10 10 7 8 15 12 11 DNF DNF 15

Nick Foster 12 14 14 12 DNF 10 15 16 17 6 8 9 13 7 2 13 11 9 11 10 9 5 5 12

Alex MacDowall 5 13 16 9 9 4 10 7 8 3 5 18 14 DNF 8 2 4 5 12 DNF 10 12 15 11

Tom Boardman DNF DNF 10 7 DNF DNF 5 9 3 DNF NC 5 10 DNF DNF DNF DNS DNS 8 6 1 8 DNF 10

John George 14 15 17 DNF 12 11 17 15 16 DNF DNF DNF DNF 14 17 19 DNF DNF 17 DNF DNF 17 19 22

Paul O’Neill 7 5 3 8 DNF 8 13 11 14 13 7 DNF 9 DNF DNF 7 5 2 13 14 DNF 2 7 4

Tony Gilham 8 10 9 15 8 DNF 11 10 9 14 DNF 12 DNF 12 12 DNF 13 15 / / / 15 14 17

Daniel Welch / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / 22 18 19 NC 16 12 DNF DNF 14

Lea Wood / / / / / / / / / 7 11 15 16 15 19 DNF 15 18 / / / DNS DNS DNS

Andy Neate 11 12 15 14 11 DNF 16 13 12 9 15 6 DNF 9 DNF 16 DNF DNF 14 15 13 11 DNF DNS

Tony Hughes DNF 19 21 19 16 DNF / / / 16 14 17 / / / 21 DNF DNS / / / / / /

Gordon Shedden 6 2 4 DSQ 6 DNF 1 2 6 1 6 2 5 4 6 3 1 7 3 1 5 6 1 21

Jeff Smith 9 16 13 10 13 5 9 12 11 DNF DNF 10 15 DNF 14 11 16 17 16 18 14 14 8 7

Liam Griffin R 18 18 13 DNF 9 14 17 15 15 18 DNF 18 DNF 16 17 14 DNF DNF DNF 16 16 16 19

Andrew Jordan 16 6 20 2 1 2 3 3 7 10 4 3 6 3 4 12 9 14 9 9 7 DNF 13 8

Chris James 15 17 19 17 14 12 18 DNF 18 DNF DNF DNS DNF DNF 18 20 DNS DNF 18 17 17 18 17 23

Aron Smith / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / 10 13 DNF / / /

Martin Byford / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / 14 DNF 16 DNF DNF DNF 20 18 16

Shaun Hollamby / / / / / / / / / / / / 17 13 15 / / / / / / / / /


SO FARRACE-BY-RACE RESULTS FOR THE 2011 DUNLOP MSA BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP


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directorya who’s who of btcc on twitter...

TEAMSChevrolet @RMLgroup

@chevroletbtcc

Honda @hondaracingbtcc

Team Aon @TeamAON

Airwaves Racing @Motorbase

WSR @Official_WSR

Rob Austin Racing @RobAustinRacing

Triple Eight @official888race

Geoff Steel Racing @GeoffSteelBTCC

Special Tuning @BTCCSTR

Central Group Racing @teamwoodracing

Speedworks @SpeedworksMS

Team ES Racing @teamESracing

AmD Milltek Racing @AmDessex

Toyota @ToyotaBTCC

DRIVERSJason Plato @jasonplato

Matt Neal @MattNealRacing

Tom Chilton @Tom_ChiltonBTCC

Mat Jackson @mat_jackson

Tom Onslow-Cole @tomonslowcole

Frank Wrathall @frankwrathall

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BY MATT SALISBURY

The saying goes that football is a game of two halves, but the same could easily be said for two teams now making a real impression on the BTCC as the season heads towards its conclusion.

Newcomers Dynojet and Rob Austin Racing were two of the teams who elected to make the step up this season thanks to the new Next Generation Touring Car regulations, aimed at making the sport more affordable and bringing down costs.

For both teams, the first challenge was to be ready for the start of the season and the late arrival of cars meant the first half of the year was more difficult that expected.

In total, the two teams secured just six classified finishes between them from the first 15 races of the year as – despite glimpses of potential – a series of new-car niggles and the related reliability issues hampered their chances.

And then the BTCC entered its traditional summer break.

More than anything else, that break gave the two teams the chance to regroup and get down to business with resolving the problems they had been unable to deal with due to the short periods in between the opening five rounds of the campaign.

That extra time paid dividends when racing resumed at Snetterton, and suddenly the NGTC machines became an altogether different proposition.

The Dynojet Toyota in particular has become a front-line contender in the hands of Frank Wrathall, having qualified inside the

top seven for the last three meetings and with six top-four finishes in the last nine races; including a run of four straight podiums split across the Knockhill and Rockingham meetings. Putting that into context, Andrew Jordan is the only other driver to have achieved that feat so far in 2011, with a run of five straight podiums earlier in the year.

It’s a turnaround in fortunes which has seen Wrathall become a thorn in the side of the championship contenders, with a series of highly impressive performances rewarding his team for the work carried out to improve his Toyota Avensis since the

opening race of the year.

“For us, the season really started at Croft,” Wrathall’s father and Dynojet team boss Frank Sr said. “It was clear from an early stage that we had the potential to do well but we didn’t have the reliability so it was a difficult start, but I felt we could make it onto the podium before the end of the year.

“The fact we had four races in a short space of time at the start of the year made it tough because we didn’t have the time we needed to work on things. As people know, we basically took delivery of the car on the Saturday morning at Brands Hatch so we hadn’t done any work on the engine management or anything else. In that situation, you haven’t really got a chance.

“But we knew that things would come good and kept our spirits up. I have a lot of experience and we have a good engineer in Paul Ridgeway, so we knew if we put the effort in that we would be quick. It’s just the speed at which it has happened that has surprised

MOVING TO THENEXT LEVEL

IS THE FIRST NGTC WIN JUST AROUND THE CORNER?

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MOVING TO THENEXT LEVEL

us. We knew we would be competitive but perhaps not as quickly as we have been, I expected it to be towards the end of the season.”

From an early season target of simply making it to the finish of a race to put mileage on the all-new machine, the aim on race day now is a different matter altogether, with Dynojet now chasing a place in history as the first time to win a race with an NGTC-spec car.

“I’d like to see us win a race and I’d like to do it without a reverse grid, which doesn’t concern me too much,” Wrathall Sr continues. “It would be nice to win on merit but we have to see what happens. Our car has strengths in certain areas whereas the S2000-based cars have strengths in other areas and it can be difficult to race them even though the lap times are similar. Put it this way, we won’t be happy until we’ve won.”

The Rob Austin Audi may have only taken one podium finish compared to the four scored by the Toyota, but it too has come on leaps and

bounds since the resumption of racing. A major diet which saw the car shed weight and a change of engine builder put the team on the right path, but again it was time to work through a series of developments over the summer break which resulted in the big step forward being made.

More often than not since then, the Audi has been on the pace on Saturday but has then been out of luck on race day, most notably at Knockhill where team boss Rob Austin qualified on the second row of the grid but then failed to finish any of the three races.

However, at Rockingham came the breakthrough result the team had hoped for as Austin pushed James Nash all the way to the flag in race three to secure a maiden podium, having earlier battled back from a first lap off to take seventh in race one and ninth in race two despite being forced to start from the back of the field after being late out of the pits.

Within the Rob Austin camp, there has always been the belief that the Audi could be a

contender and now, the team is realising the potential of the car it has at its disposal.

“I spoke to you at Donington when I was four or five seconds off the pace and you asked me how I was going to do,” Austin said. “I told you that I was going to win. I expect to win every race and realistically I expected the kind of result we got a Rockingham a few rounds ago as we have genuinely had the pace in the car since Croft.

“We have had our share of problems on race day and some of those are simply down to experience. I’m not being big-headed or anything, but I’m vastly experienced as a racing driver and I can drive a car quickly, but the racing side of touring cars is a totally different discipline to me; I haven’t done anything like this before. I’m a single-seater or GT man, so the rubbing and bumping you get in tin tops is something that is new to me. I knew I had a lot to learn and I’ve learnt the hard way.”

Those who have followed Austin through his career were ready for a banzai

move for the lead during the final race at Rockingham, but instead what they were treated to was a measured drive that saw him size up his opponent but ultimately fail to find a way through; instead settling for a second place finish that the team will now hope to build on at Brands Hatch this weekend.

“I couldn’t have done a mad lunge on James as I know it was his first win and it’s as important to him as it would be for me,” Austin said. “I could almost see him tense in the car watching the mirrors and you could see his lines were changing; I almost sympathised.

“But I also couldn’t have done it to my boys. If I was going to pass, it was going to be clean and I couldn’t afford for it to go wrong. We needed that result and if I’d taken Nash off and gone off myself, I’d have been walking home.”

The question now is which of the pair will be first to grace the top step of the podium? Given recent form, the answer won’t be far away.

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inside btcc - issue 3 - brands hatch gp - october 2011

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