BMW Pirtek Racing’s Andrew Jordan will look to enjoy another strong showing on-track when the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship returns to Thruxton this weekend (17/18 August) for the seventh meeting of the season.
 
Jordan was the man to beat when the series visited the high-speed Hampshire circuit back in May, securing a stunning double victory at the wheel of his West Surrey Racing-run BMW 330i M Sport.
 
The double victory kick-started an impressive run of seven podium finishes in twelve races and that run of form has brought the 2013 title winner right into contention for championship honours, with the Midlander returning to Thruxton sitting second in the championship standings behind WSR team-mate Colin Turkington.
 
Currently 36 points behind the Northern Irishman, Jordan will hope to close the gap to his rival at a circuit where he has traditionally performed well in the past.
 
Jordan has secured pole at Thruxton on three occasions in the past, the most of any current driver, whilst his double win earlier in the year means he has now taken eleven podium finishes at the circuit – more than 15 percent of his career total.
 
“We were strong when we went to Thruxton earlier in the year and I feel we are going back with a car that is better now than it was then,” said Jordan. “It’s changed quite a bit because we’ve been picking up more data every time we have been on track and constantly making improvements.
 
“Of course I have to carry some weight into the weekend this time around but even with that onboard, I’m confident that we can be strong and I’m heading for Thruxton with the aim of trying to win some races.
 
“With four rounds to go, I need to try and outscore Colin this weekend to close the gap in the standings. At this stage of the season, every single point is vital and I have to make sure I maximise what is available this weekend to eat into his advantage.”

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship is set for a second visit of the season to Hampshire’s Thruxton Circuit next weekend (17/18 August), with Colin Turkington the man with the target on his back as Rounds 19, 20 and 21 approach.

Reigning champion Colin Turkington notched up another consistent performance at Snetterton to pull a further three points clear of nearest rival and stablemate Andrew Jordan, though the chasing pack – spearheaded by Josh Cook in the BTC Racing Honda – is far from out of the equation. The standings’ top six drivers sit within 70 points of one-another. With 67 points on offer at each of the four events to come, there’s plenty of scope for it all to change – and quickly.

Honda machinery has arguably proven to be the most suited to the high-speed sweepers at Britain’s fastest race track having taken victory in 13 of the last 27 rounds there – including via Cook himself back in May. That said, the BMWs were strong first time around. Jordan capitalised with a pair of victories as the outfit caught everyone on the hop out of the blocks with its trio of new-build 3 Series’ fresh out of the workshop just a week before the curtain-raising event of 2019 at Brands Hatch. 

Those unable to make the trip will be able to catch the action on qualifying and race-day, live and exclusively via the championship’s long-term broadcast partners, ITV Sport, with an eight-hour programme of the best motor racing action in the country to be screened live on ITV4 next Sunday. The BTCC is in rude health, illustrated by ITV’s year-on-year live broadcast figures for the championship seeing a 14 percent rise.

The BTCC enjoys exclusive television bragging rights in 2019, as the only major motorsport series to be broadcast on a leading UK free-to-air television network. All ten race weekends are screened live on ITV4, the ITV Hub and streamed via itv.com/BTCC with six hours of programming at every race-day this season.

THRUXTON: 17/18 AUGUST

Qualifying LIVE: Saturday 17 August
ITV.com/BTCC from 1520

Raceday LIVE: Sunday 18 August
ITV4 & ITV4 HD 1130-1815
ITV4+1 1230-1915
ITV Hub 1130-1815
ITV.com/BTCC 1130-1815

Highlights: Saturday 24 August
ITV4 & ITV4 HD 1030-1200
ITV4 +1 1130-1300
ITV Hub Available anytime for the next 30 days

Highlights: Sunday 25 August
ITV4 & ITV4 HD 0725-0900
ITV4 +1 0825-1000

Highlights: Wednesday 28 August
ITV & ITV HD 2345-0100

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship returns to Thruxton Circuit this weekend (17/18 August) for its second high-speed visit of 2019, and local star Rob Collard has his sights set on podium celebrations at what he predicts to be another BTCC blockbuster show.
 
Collard might be one of the BTCC’s elder statesmen at 50 now, but the Hampshireman shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. That much was clear from his fourth-place finish amongst the 30 high-calibre contenders – some of the fastest drivers in the country – at Snetterton two weeks ago.
 
Indeed, Collard has 15 race wins to his name in the UK’s premier motorsport series – one of which came at Thruxton two years ago – and he sped to a top ten double on home soil earlier this season. Buoyed by his strong form last time out behind the wheel of his Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra, the Eversley man is aiming to keep the ball rolling in front of family and friends this weekend.
 
“Thruxton is just a great circuit – one at which practically every driver looks forward to competing – and it’s fantastic that we have the opportunity to race there twice this year,” he enthused. “It’s probably actually the track I’ve driven the least in the UK due to limited testing opportunities, which makes it even more of a pleasure when we do get to drive there.
 
“It’s an undiluted challenge full of old-school charm – a really fast, flowing circuit that truly stretches drivers’ commitment and bravery to the limit, which ultimately is why we all do this. You also need to use your head as much as your right foot at Thruxton; its unique nature means that if you push too hard, too soon you will destroy your tyres in the first few laps – tyre preservation is equally as important as out-and-out speed. As we’ve seen in previous years at Thruxton, it really is never over until it’s over.
 
“It’s great having the local support behind me for the weekend, and Thruxton always generates exciting racing, with plenty of action at the Complex and Chicane in particular and fantastic viewing from the banking and on the big screens.
 
“We’ve struggled a bit for consistency this season and circumstances have conspired against us on occasion, but Snetterton offered more of a reflection of our true pace so hopefully we can keep that momentum going and score some good points. We were fast at Thruxton earlier in the year, and obviously it would be brilliant to reach the podium again on home soil.”
 
Alongside the headline-grabbing BTCC, a jam-packed schedule of high-octane support series – comprising the F4 British Championship, Ginetta Junior Championship, Renault UK Clio Cup, Ginetta GT4 SuperCup and Porsche Carrera Cup GB, the latter appearing at Thruxton for the first time in five years – will ensure the action remains red-hot from lights-out to chequered flag.
 
Off-track, there will also be a variety of activities around the venue including skid pan rides for all ages, an extensive display of Thruxton’s driving experience supercars and racing cars and a comprehensive trade village to explore. There will additionally be evening entertainment in the Thruxton Centre on both Friday and Saturday.
 
Tickets for the BTCC’s visit on 17/18 August can be purchased on the gate, starting at £17 for Saturday (qualifying) and £34 for Sunday (race day). Children aged 13-15 get in for £5 on Saturday and £10 on Sunday; accompanied children aged 12 and under will be admitted free of charge.
 
For further information or to buy tickets, visit thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc-aug or call 01264 882222.

For more information on Thruxton’s race meetings and driving experiences, visit www.thruxtonracing.co.uk

For the second successive season, Cobra Sport AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing can today announce the launch of a money can’t buy competition to win a road-going version of the car being used in this season’s Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.
 
Following on from a highly successful competition last year that saw one lucky winner walk away with an MG6 GT, the team will give away a road-going replica of the Honda Civic being raced in 2019 by Rory Butcher and Sam Tordoff.
 
The prize will be provided by joint title sponsors AutoAid and RCIB Insurance, whilst West Thurrock-based AmD Tuning will add a range of special upgrades before the car goes to its new home, including a new set of tyres provided by long-time BTCC supplier Dunlop.

How to enter:

A number of competitions will take place through AutoAid and RCIB Insurance’s social media channels from the next round of the season at Thruxton, with the respective winners all securing a pair of VIP Hospitality tickets to join the team at Brands Hatch for the final race of the season.
 
Over the course of the Brands Hatch weekend, a special Scalextric shootout will take place at the circuit to determine which of the competition winners secures the ultimate prize and wins the car.
 
To be in with a chance of winning the Honda Civic, potential entrants will need to follow both AutoAid and RCIB Insurance Racing on Facebook and Twitter using the accounts below, where the various qualifying competitions will take place.

AutoAid:
www.facebook.com/autoaidbreakdown
www.twitter.com/autoaidbreakd
 
RCIB:
www.facebook.com/RCIBInsuranceRacing 
www.twitter.com/RCIBRacing

Shaun Hollamby, Cobra Sport AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing Team Principal, said:
“When the idea was created to give away the MG last year, the reaction from race fans was fantastic and it proved to be a hugely successful campaign for everyone involved.
 
“When AutoAid and RCIB Insurance suggested running a similar competition this season as part of our on-going partnership, it really was a no-brainer and we’re excited to now launch the 2019 version to win a road-going version of the Honda Civic.
 
“The Civic is a fantastic base car to work with, and it will undergo a number of upgrades at our workshop before going to its new owner.
 
“We’re sure that fans will embrace the competition in the same way they did twelve months ago, and we look forward to meeting the various winners when we get to Brands Hatch to see who gets to drive away with the main prize.”
 
Mike Joseph, AutoAid & RCIB Insurance Managing Director, said:
“We are very excited to be able to launch the 2019 version of the competition we ran with such success twelve months ago, and would like to thank AmD and Scalextric for once again helping to pull it all together.
 
“I’m sure that fans will get behind the competition and will embrace the opportunity to win a truly one-off prize. Hopefully the competition will prove to be as exciting for fans off-track as the action we have seen on-track this season, and would like to wish everyone who enters the very best of luck.”

Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport’s Adam Morgan endured a frustrating time back at Snetterton, with his Mercedes-Benz A-Class showing improved pace despite him suffering a bout of poor luck that compromised his results.
 
After a positive mid-season test session at Snetterton, Morgan headed to Norfolk in positive mood and was an encouraging ninth fastest in the all-important qualifying session.
 
From ninth on the grid for the opener, he made a good start and was running confidently in the top ten on the Dunlop soft tyre, battling his way up into eighth place, but, on lap six, an issue with his gearbox forced Morgan to retire. He said: "I placed the car down into second gear at turn two, I heard a bang and then a rattle and then my race was over. We needed a new gearbox for race two and that put us at the back of the grid. I was really disappointed because the pace we had was looking good and we were running in the leading pack.”
 
For race two, Morgan lined up 28^th on the grid with a huge task ahead of him. However, his competitive spirit shone through as he blasted up to 18^th place, working his way through the traffic in uncompromising form. A delay when he became tangled up with Stephen Jelley’s BMW cost him time and meant that he picked up some damage, but he continued to push and hauled his dog-eared Mercedes-Benz to 18^th place.

“I made a good start but then there was a bit of contact on the way to the first corner when four of us went side-by-side and that was a bit tight!" said Morgan. "I caught up to a battle with Stephen Jelley, Josh Cook and Senna Proctor all involved and it was hard to get through that quickly and then there was more contact which turned around Stephen. I had to try to avoid him and picked up some damage, which bent the steering, but also it damaged the radiator and the cooling system so that meant that I needed to finish rather than look at any heroics after that. It was frustrating because the car went really well early on but it’s a legacy of being at the back: you are in jeopardy with all the traffic around you.”
 
For race three, the A-Class lined up 18^th on the grid. However, despite starting on the fringes of the points and feeling optimistic for a solid result, more bad luck was waiting to ensnare Morgan. The damage in race two had been repaired with a spare radiator pack, but the car was running hot and that temperature rise caused the power steering to trip. Hanging on to the car without power steering became increasingly difficult and Morgan decided that it was best to retire – forced into parking the car from 16th.
 
“It just wasn't our weekend – again," he added. "The final race was affected by the damage in race two, really. The positives are that we worked hard on set-up, learnt a few things and made steps forward, so I can take that to Thruxton this weekend, especially as we have raced there already this season and have data to measure against. There are reasons to be buoyed by Snetterton but it is so frustrating for all of us in the team to come away with damage and little tangible to show for it. We'll fight on, though!”
 
The second Ciceley car, running under the Cataclean Racing with Ciceley Motorsport banner, of Dan Rowbottom qualified mid-grid, 17^th, and ran up in 13^th in the first race, battling with Ash Sutton’s Subaru. Rowbottom was unable to get by, and was backed up into Chris Smiley’s chasing Honda. That dropped Rowbottom to 15^th but he was still able to secure a second points finish of the season. A first lap clash with Aiden Moffat’s Infiniti Q50 shattered a front-left wheel rim and Rowbottom was unable to limp the car to the pit lane without causing further damage, forcing retirement from race two while a gearbox issue stopped his progress in race three despite good initial pace.
 
 “Our race reports are getting harder and harder to write each week,” said Norman Burgess, Commercial Director of Ciceley Motorsport. “We as a team have endured a terrible year, we are a top 10, even a top five team historically, and absolutely nothing is working for us so far this year, it’s so frustrating.

"Our guys have worked tirelessly on the two cars this weekend and results just haven't come our way, again. Both Adam and Dan drove really well and certainly had the pace to score better points finishes.

"We picked up damage that then had mechanical consequences later down the line and when we reflect on the weekend, it is clear that the pace from both of our cars isn’t being represented in the results.

"We will analyse the gearbox issues that we had, but also look at the positives of the pace and set-up on the cars and push forward to Thruxton. Our Mac Tools, Cataclean and other team supported guests all enjoyed the spectacle and the action provided by the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship and we look forward to bouncing back this weekend in Hampshire...”
 

Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher heads to Thruxton this weekend in high spirits, following a trio of top ten results and an Independents' race win last time out at Snetterton in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

The trip to Norfolk was a weekend of mixed emotions for the Motorbase-run squad, with Ollie Jackson collecting his maiden Indy victory, and a best-ever BTCC points haul as the second half of the season got underway. Sadly, it was a case of what might have been for his team-mate Tom Chilton, whose early potential was derailed by a puncture in race one.

Coming off the back of a successful two-day tyre test at on the Norfolk circuit, both Chilton and Jackson put their learnings to good use on Saturday, securing fourth and 12th spots respectively in the afternoon qualifying session.

Sunday’s opening race held much promise early on. Charging off the line, Chilton pulled off an outstanding switchback move on Sam Tordoff as the race leaders headed through the first corner, passing the Honda to steal third. Sitting in strong podium contention, a devastating puncture fired Chilton off track at high speed, ending his race after just five tours of the circuit.

Running on the prime-tyre for the weekend opener, Jackson was on career-best form at the Norfolk track. Scything the #48 Focus RS through the field, he made his way up through the order, holding off robust challenges to eventually cross the line in eighth.

A lightning start in race two saw Jackson take sixth by the first corner. Duelling with Tordoff as they raced down the straight, a bold lunge was rewarded with fifth. A challenge for the race lead on lap seven delivered the perfect opportunity for the Motorbase-man to strike, eventually taking a fourth place finish. Securing his best finish of the season so far, Jackson’s superb drive also netted him the Independents' race win and his first podium of the year.

Chilton’s weekend looked to be on the up, with the 34-year-old making his attack straight off the start line. Working his way up into the mid-pack in the early laps, the #3 Focus looked set for a points finish and possible reversed grid draw spot before getting caught up in an on-track incident, which dropped him down the order. A commendable fight-back saw him eventually cross the line in 17th, having made up an impressive 12 places.

The final race of the weekend delivered plenty of drama with tyre strategies all coming into play for the final 12 lap challenge. Jackson led the way once more with an excellent defensive drive. His tenacity was repaid with a seventh place finish, ending the day with a third top-ten berth and confirming his best-ever BTCC weekend.

Racing in heavy traffic, Chilton did well to stay out of trouble and pushed hard in the closing laps. Showing his true class once more to break into the points-scoring zone, Chilton brought the #3 Ford home unscathed in 12th.

Although a mixed bag of results for the two drivers over the weekend, the Motorbase-run team has made huge strides forward with the Ford Focus RS machines and heads to Thruxton full of confidence ahead of the BTCC’s return.
 
“I’m absolutely thrilled for Ollie and his side of the garage,” said Team Manager Oly Collins. “He put in an outstanding performance and got the results he has been promising all season. Unfortunately, Tom’s day was pretty much over from lap five. He was so unlucky to get the puncture so early in the race. He was in such control and on for a guaranteed podium which would have set the tone for a great weekend and a decent haul of points. Unfortunately a result like that in race one spoils the whole weekend. There was absolutely nothing he could do.

“On the plus side we had pace all day and Ollie got his first Independents' win – great teamwork from all involved and we go to Thruxton in a buoyant mood.

“The weekend started off great by qualifying fourth and then race one looked set to be a great race after moving up to third at turn one,” said Chilton. “I almost got Cammish for second, too. I had preserving the tyres in my mind at that point, to try to potentially get a second and then we got a slow puncture.

“So, from looking at a nice easy podium and being one of the fastest, to where we ended up was not what we wanted at all. A podium finish would have resulted in a totally different weekend for us. I would probably have been in the top five in the championship, but now we’ve dropped down to 10th and we have a big job ahead of us to close that gap now.

“Taking the positives away, our worst tyre was the hard and we were only two-tenths off the fastest time on the hard tyre in race three. I genuinely feel like we have one of the fastest cars on the grid, but definitely had the worst luck today. I’m gutted, but we’ve got three more rounds on the hard tyre, and our car is epic now so I’m excited about Thruxton.”

“It was a really successful weekend. The car was fantastic, and the team did an awesome job. I was delighted,” said Jackson. “It feels like a watershed weekend! There are still a few little bits of the puzzle that I still need to fill in, but I feel like now it’s rocking and rolling.

“I’ve finally managed to pull it all together to get us all the results that I’ve been threatening to get all year. All we need to do now is make that next step and to build from here and make that next step onto the podium. It’s definitely a huge confidence booster for me now heading to Thruxton in a couple of weeks.”

Cobra Sport AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing enjoyed a successful weekend on track as the 2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season resumed back at Snetterton just over a week ago.
 
Qualifying saw Leeds racer Sam Tordoff leading the team’s challenge as he secured third on the grid, with Rory Butcher just missing out on a place in the top ten. Although he lost a place to the Ford Focus of Tom Chilton at the start, Tordoff reclaimed the position when Chilton went off at Coram with a puncture and held onto it to the finish for his third podium result of the campaign.
 
Tordoff went somewhat under the radar with a solid drive to fifth place in race two, which left him on the second row of the grid for the final race of the weekend thanks to the reverse grid draw.With the hard tyre fitted for the final race, he wrapped up another solid weekend on track with sixth place, with his results across the Snetterton meeting leaving him on the fringes of the top ten in the standings.
 
Fife ace Butcher slipped back to 14^th during the hustle and bustle of lap one in the opener, but the Scottish racer was able to work his way back to eleventh by the finish for a solid points score. Contact in race two saw him lose places having battled into the top ten, with twelfth place being his end result.
 
On the soft tyre in race three, Butcher produced one of the drives of the season to battle his way through the pack into third place, where he became embroiled in a three-way battle for the lead with Jason Plato and Ash Sutton. Going three-wide with the pair into Brundle, he was able to get ahead into the lead and went on to secure his second victory of the campaign, and his first ‘on the road’.
 
The combined points across the weekend also saw Cobra Sport AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing secure the teams’ trophy for the first time, having picked up more points than any other team.
 
“Race three was what touring car racing is all about and for us to get that win is fantastic,” said Team Principal Shaun Hollamby. “It’s also brilliant to have won the teams’ trophy as it isn’t something we have ever been in contention for!

“There is a massive amount of team work that has gone into this weekend. Sam picked up two great results in the first two races and then Rory has done a brilliant job in race three.

"Credit has to go to Sam, because he let Rory through in that final race when he knew he was quicker, and it is great to have two drivers who are mature enough to work together in that way. Rory’s move for the lead was then one of the best overtaking moves I’ve seen; how exciting was that race!
 
“We made some big changes to the car this weekend and it all paid off. We’ve learned a lot about the Honda that will help us going forwards and a huge thank you to everyone involved.”
 
“I’m absolutely buzzing at the end of the weekend,” said Butcher. “It was nice to get the win at Brands Hatch at the start of the season, but that was given to us because of a penalty for someone else, and to win on the road means so much to me and the team.
 
“We had a tough time in qualifying and the opening two races didn’t quite go to plan for us. The engineers made some pretty radical changes to the car, and it really came alive in the final race. I had to take a few risks and make some hard moves, and when I got up towards Ash and Jason, I knew a podium was on.
 
“Mike [Bushell – engineer] was on the radio and told me to play it smart and when we were going down the back straight, I got a run on them both and had to go for the inside. It was a big risk to go three-wide, but it was a risk I had to take and we got the reward.
 
“It’s an incredible feeling to secure the win and to be able to stand on the top step of the podium. I’m grinning from ear-to-ear and this is the perfect way to kick off the second half of the season.”

“We’ve had another good weekend, put some good points on the board and have been able to make up more ground in the standings as a result,” said Tordoff. “The car has been tricky this weekend as the circuit was different to when we came here for the test, but we qualified well and it set up race day.
 
“It shows that if you qualify at the front, it’s easier to stay out of trouble and that is what we’ve been able to do. It’s all about being consistent and that is what we have done with our results. Three top ten finishes is a good return. Rory did a great job to secure the victory in race three, and as a team it was a brilliant weekend. To get the Teams’ trophy at the end of it is a fantastic reward for the work everyone has put in.”

Thruxton is set to host the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship for the second time in 2019 as the series once again heads to Hampshire for Rounds 19, 20 and 21 next weekend (17/18 August). 

This season has been as spectacular and unpredictable as ever, producing seven winners and 17 podium finishers with four events to come. Reigning champion Colin Turkington tops the table ahead of Andrew Jordan, with Rory Butcher and Josh Cook flying the flag for the independent teams in third and fourth respectively. 

The BMW drivers at the head of the championship have collected five wins apiece so far with Turkington scoring two further podiums to Jordan’s three. Jordan has recovered manfully since a nightmare Donington weekend - three non-scores earlier in the year - with a dominant double victory at BTCC’s first visit to Hampshire in May, but the Pirtek sponsored driver remains some 36 points behind the Northern Irishman. 

At a track where the Hondas are regularly quick, there are plenty of on-form Civic drivers who will be looking for a strong result with the marque’s UK base residing in nearby Swindon. Fresh off the back of a win at Snetterton, Rory Butcher can be hopeful of a good weekend at Thruxton, backed by a podium finish during the first visit of the year. Bath-based Josh Cook is another Type R driver to have enjoyed exceptional weekends at both Thruxton and Snetterton. Likewise, Dan Cammish scored two podiums at each of those meetings. 

Ash Sutton is sure to be fired up in his Subaru Levorg after a thrilling wheel-to-wheel battle with ex-teammate Jason Plato at Snetterton, ultimately ending in disaster for the BMR driver. Sutton finished on the podium at Thruxton earlier in the year which bodes well in his bid to take to the top step in 2019. Team Toyota GB with Ginsters and Tom Ingram are another pairing to watch in the coming races after correcting a damping issue during the in-season test, followed by a lights-to-flag victory at Round 16. 

Off-track, there will be something for everyone with a variety of activities around the venue including skid pan rides for all ages, an extensive display of Thruxton’s driving experience supercars and racing cars and a fantastic trade village to explore. There’s also evening entertainment in the Thruxton Centre on Friday and Saturday.

The fast and flowing ‘Hampshire Speedbowl’ is sure to provide even more spectacular racing up and down the field, with commitment and precision required at every corner - most notably ‘Church’ - to string together the perfect lap. The championship battle is primed to intensify at Thruxton next weekend. 

“Snetterton went to plan for us,” commented championship leader Turkington. “It was always going to be a tough weekend given the official test day back in July, where everybody was able to get a feel of the circuit and get up to speed – we knew it was going to be ultra-competitive.

“It was great to win again, and win with a heavy car heading into the weekend as championship leader with the maximum complement of success ballast on-board. We were consistent over every session and we’re hoping for more of the same at Thruxton. We’ve a good knowledge of the circuit, this being our second visit of the year so it’ll make for a strong starting point.

“The BMW 330i M Sport was quick there earlier this season and looking back, we’d come out of the blocks fast. Now, as the season’s played out, people have closed that gap. The front-wheel drive cars went well at Snetterton last weekend and it’ll be even more difficult, for sure, this time around at Thruxton.

“The focus is firmly on myself at this stage of the season and maximising opportunities wherever I can. There’s a lot of competition from any number of drivers - not just the guys directly behind me. We’ve completed six of ten race weekends and there’s still a huge amount of racing left.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome BTCC for a second time in 2019,” enthused Pat Blakeney, Thruxton Group Operations Manager. “After such a successful event in May, we can’t wait for the return of the championship to the UK’s fastest circuit.

“As always, Thruxton produced some great racing earlier in the year and we’re hoping for more of the same next weekend, the nature of our track requires a lot of nerve from the drivers and I think the fans enjoy that. There’s also plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy away from the track!” 

Tickets for the BTCC’s visit on 17/18 August can be purchased on the gate, starting at £17 for Saturday (qualifying) and £34 for Sunday (race day). Children aged 13-15 get in for £5 on Saturday and £10 on Sunday; accompanied children aged 12 and under will be admitted free of charge.

Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing headed back to Snetterton in Norfolk for rounds 16, 17 and 18 of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

Jason Plato missed the chance to get on the front row during qualifying with a slight error at the final corner but still ended up in an impressive P6. Collard also improved following his first run but was hampered on his fast lap to finish in P10.

Both drivers made solid starts in race one, holding positions through the first corner with Collard slipping through into P8 as the field headed around lap 1.

Plato and Collard eventually found themselves line astern, Collard eager to get past, Plato eager to retain P6 as the Astras crossed the line.

Race two saw Plato start from P6, with Collard hoping to minimise his losses from P7.

Again, both Astras made good getaways, running side by side into turns 1 and 2, making it a challenging four abreast. Contact between the team-mates caused both to drop back, Plato in P8, Collard in P12. The next laps saw a frustrated Plato lose time, before making an opportunistic lunge to move the Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing Astra back into P6 and closing onto BMW’s Colin Turkington before running out of laps.

Further back, Collard managed to haul his Astra back into the points with a P14 finish after dropping places at the last corner.

A favourable reverse grid draw saw Plato start P3 for race 3, albeit on the hard tyre. Back in P14 Collard was on the soft Dunlop, looking to exploit the handling of his Vauxhall Astra.

At the front, Plato made a move into the hairpin for the lead. This was followed by a thrilling game of cat and mouse with the Subaru of Ashley Sutton. Momentarily losing the lead, Plato immediately fought back, fighting fire with fire in a no holds barred contest.

Meanwhile, Collard’s attempts to take advantage of the soft tyre were hampered in the early stages as the Hampshire driver dropped down to P14 with a lot of work to do.

As the race entered its final stages, Plato found himself in a three-car standoff before contact with Sutton would drop Plato back to P4.
 
Collard gritted his teeth to attack the final podium place from P7 and, despite a big slide in order to avoid contact, closed up again before finishing in P4 with Plato rolling through in an eventual P5.

Subsequent Stewards enquiries adjudged Plato to have been culpable for moves on Smiley and Sutton and the Oxford-born driver was penalised by the addition of a cumulative 15 seconds to his overall race time.

“Overall it’s been a good weekend,” said Collard. “Being in the Top 10 Saturday proved that I’m still on the pace and that the car is there. That last race is a lot more like the racing that I like! Starting on the Soft Tyre, after five laps or so I was thinking that I was never going to catch the front runners, but a few spots of rain gave us the chance to catch those on Hard Tyres, so we just had a that edge. I’m looking forward to Thruxton.”

“That was good fun, I was enjoying myself,” said Plato. “I was on the wrong tyre, obviously, compared to Ash, but the car went well and we held our own. Unfortunately, 3 into 1 doesn’t go, so I had to give Rory a bit of space on my left, understeered a bit, and the rest is history.”

“JP drove with pure class; it was great to see a proper driver use his talent and experience to full effect,” said Team Principal Adam Weaver. “This is exactly what the fans pay to see; close racing between proper drivers. The outcome wasn’t what we wanted, but we’ll be back in just a couple of weeks to bag some more points. Rob also had a strong meeting and it’s great to see him getting stronger as the season goes on.”

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship is set for a second visit of the season to Hampshire's Thruxton Circuit next weekend (17/18 August), with Colin Turkington the man with the target on his back as Rounds 19, 20 and 21 approach.

West Surrey Racing's trio of BMW 330i M Sports have so far proven to be the car to beat this year, as the Bavarian marque has claimed ten victories out of 18 races. 

Reigning champion Colin Turkington notched up another consistent performance at Snetterton to pull a further three points clear of nearest rival and stablemate Andrew Jordan, though the chasing pack - spearheaded by Josh Cook in the BTC Racing Honda - is far from out of the equation. The standings' top six drivers sit within 70 points of one-another. With 67 points on offer at each of the four events to come, there's plenty of scope for it all to change - and quickly.

Honda machinery has arguably proven to be the most suited to the high-speed sweepers at Britain's fastest race track having taken victory in 13 of the last 27 rounds there – including via Cook himself back in May.

That said, the BMWs were strong first time around. Jordan capitalised with a pair of victories as the outfit caught everyone on the hop out of the blocks with its trio of new-build 3 Series' fresh out of the workshop just a week before the curtain-raising event of 2019 at Brands Hatch. 

Thruxton's a favourite of both fans and drivers alike, and a massive crowd descended on the circuit earlier this year. Another huge attendance is expected to bask in the August sunshine, and soak in the thrilling action served up by Britain's premier motorsport series.

Those unable to make the trip will be able to catch the action on qualifying and race-day, live and exclusively via the championship's long-term broadcast partners, ITV Sport, with an eight-hour programme of the best motor racing action in the country to be screened live on ITV4 next Sunday. The BTCC is in rude health, illustrated by ITV's year-on-year live broadcast figures for the championship seeing an 18 percent rise.

Toyota tweaks

One of the stories to emerge at Snetterton, after a summer break which saw teams striving to find every thousandth-of-a-second from their cars and drivers, was the pace of Tom Ingram and his Team Toyota GB with Ginsters Corolla.

The car is new-for-2019, and the first that Speedworks Motorsport has constructed from the ground up to compete in the series. While he had been there-or-thereabouts throughout the first half of the campaign, Ingram had yet to hit the heights he reached in the outgoing Avensis last year on the way to taking the Independent Drivers' and Teams' titles.

At Snetterton, though, the team made a major breakthrough. The in-season two-day test at the Norfolk circuit was spent hunting down a cure for a troublesome damping issue which had prevented their Corolla from operating as expected. It was immediately evident at Snetterton that Speedworks' efforts had borne fruit.

Ingram flew to pole position and followed up with a lights-to-flag win in race one – managing a three-second gap to next-best Dan Cammish.

“I couldn’t keep up and we didn’t have enough in the car," said Honda's Cammish, himself a man in good nick. “He had a bit of a quicker package and I could see where he was good – we couldn’t match it. They’ve worked hard, so all credit to them. We're all working hard, though. That's just how competitive it is in this championship."

“We made a massive step forward at the test," confirmed Ingram post-race. “It was so important for us. The way that the BTCC works over a race weekend, time is so tight and you can’t try the things you’d like to.

“The team have been none-stop trying to get every single last bit out of it. It was better there than the Avensis ever was, and if we’re there already – it’s a real good sign going forward."

Form men

Over the last three race weekends, at Croft, Oulton Park and Snetterton, Andrew Jordan has edged Colin Turkington in points scored by four points. The BMW Pirtek Racing man is striving to overcome an early-season deficit after a disastrous non-score back at Donington Park. He's keeping parity but the reigning champion has so far been able to keep Jordan at arms' length. 

Jordan sealed a win-double at Thruxton earlier in the year, to bounce back immediately from that Midlands misfortune. Despite reaching the top step twice, he was only able to nibble away at Turkington's advantage. He will be hoping the dice rolls his way next weekend.

"It’s nip and tuck in the championship between myself and Colin," said Jordan. "To gain 30 points over four weekends isn’t going to happen easily. If he gets some bad luck somewhere, I need to be there to pick up the points."

The next in the form-book is Halfords Yuasa Racing's Dan Cammish. The Honda man has outshone his legendary team-mate, Matt Neal, in his second BTCC campaign and has constructed a title challenge from a string of podium finishes over the last three weekends. The top step has eluded him in 2019 to this point, but the Honda Civic Type R (FK8) is well suited to the pace and poise required at Thruxton. He'll look to take a bite out of the BMWs over Rounds 19, 20 and 21 on 'home turf' for Honda, based just up the road at Swindon.

Rory Butcher is another man looking to fire himself into championship contention. The AmD driver was instrumental in the outfit securing its maiden BTCC Independent Teams' trophy at Snetterton. He's also top of the tree in the Independent Drivers' championship and the Jack Sears Trophy.

Alongside with team-mate Sam Tordoff, the Essex outfit are enjoying their best streak in the BTCC to-date. Its first two victories came via Butcher but both he and Tordoff have combined to propel the AmD Honda squad to the top of the Independent Teams' running – albeit tied with BTC Racing on points.

Bath-based Josh Cook and team-mate Chris Smiley are the guys steering BTC Racing's Honda Civic Type Rs into Indy title contention, and following a podium-double at Snetterton, they'll be looking to follow up with more silverware in Hampshire – especially given Cook took to the top step there just a couple of months ago.

Timetable and tickets 
 
All three BTCC races on Sunday, 18 August alongside the rest of the day’s action will be broadcast live, free-to-air and in high-definition by the series’ longstanding partner ITV, on ITV4, via the ITV Hub and streamed live online at itv.com/btcc. Those in attendance at the circuit can stay in touch with the commentary and live timing from every session, available at btcc.net/live and via the Official BTCC App throughout the weekend.
 
Advance tickets are available from just £13, with weekend passes with paddock access running to just £42. Saturday grandstand seats are an additional £5. Accompanied children aged 12 and under will be admitted free of charge. 
 
For further information or to buy tickets, see https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc or call 01264 882200 and select Option 1.