WIN WITH TEAM SHREDDED WHEAT WITH GALLAGHER

This is your chance to win a behind-the-scenes money-can’t-buy day out with Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher at Thruxton this coming Saturday 19th May, plus tickets for the all-important race day on Sunday 20th May.

The winner will spend Saturday with the multiple race-winning team and its impressive driver line-up, including lunch and an exclusive garage tour.

You will receive a Shredded Wheat goodie bag, including signed team kit. You will also race against Tom Chilton and James Cole on a Project Cars simulator on the Shredded Wheat truck on Saturday afternoon, which will be filmed by ITV with Paul O’Neill commentating!

Finally, you will receive 2x complimentary race day tickets with Paddock Access to enjoy all the action unfold for Rounds 7, 8 and 9 of the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

To enter you simply have to like this Twitter post and follow the team on Twitter here OR share this Facebook post and follow the team on Facebook

The competition closes at 8pm on Wednesday 16 May. For full terms and conditions see below.

Good luck!

#BTCC #Shredded

 

Terms and conditions:

1x Like and follow of Motorbase on Facebook = 1 entry or 1x RT and follow of Motorbase on Twitter = 1 entry. 1 entry per person. Winners picked at random. The competition will close 8pm on 16 May. The winners will be announced on Facebook and Twitter the following morning. The winners will have 24 hours from the announcement to come forward. If this does not happen another winner will be selected. The winners must be available over the Thruxton race weekend, transport to and from the circuit is not included. The prize is non-transferrable.

Britain's biggest motorsport spectacle roars into Britain's fastest circuit

BTCC heads to Hampshire's flat-out Thruxton

The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship heads to Thruxton next weekend (19-20 May) for the latest instalment of what is already shaping up to be a season to remember, as Britain's biggest motor racing series celebrates its 60th, Diamond Jubilee year.

So far this season, there have been a host of new faces taking to the podium, with somewhat of a changing of the guard in the Drivers' Championship as the BTCC's latest crop of touring car stars come to the fore. The average age of the standings' top eight drivers is just a little over 25, with the current pace-setter atop the tally, Tom Ingram – the reigning Independents' champion, just 24 years of age. Incumbent champion Ash Sutton is also just 24 – the current chapter of the championship's storied history looks like it may well be written by a gaggle of precocious young talents.

The Brands Hatch season-opening weekend was always going to be a hard act to follow after we saw three different drivers take to the top step and nine to the podium but Donington Park's action maintained that high, and some. Ingram became the first, and so far only driver to notch a second victory in 2018 and as a result tops the early championship running while Adam Morgan in the Ciceley Motorsport Mercedes-Benz also reached the top step with a storming Round 6 win.

Power Maxed TAG Racing continued its pace-setting start to the season, with the Vauxhall squad notching pole position and a race win via Josh Cook – both firsts for the Hampshire racer as he followed up the outfit's own maiden victory back in Leicestershire with aplomb. Cook will be looking for another strong haul, this time on home turf with local backing at Thruxton.

Brands Hatch and Donington Park enjoyed bumper crowds and Thruxton, as a favourite of spectators and fans alike for its throwback high-speed racing, is sure to see strong numbers descend for a packed weekend's action with some 12 races on the bill. As always, it's all broadcast live and free-to-air by the BTCC's longstanding partner ITV, on ITV4 the ITV Hub and online at itv.com/btcc. You'll be covered down to the finest detail wherever you are – be it on the banking or in your living room.

Precocious young talents
Back in 2017 at the Hampshire Speedbowl, as Thruxton is affectionately known given its status as the UK's fastest race circuit, BMW secured a landmark 100th victory in the BTCC at the hands of Rob Collard and Colin Turkington, who took a round apiece, while Honda hero Matt Neal sealed a win on home soil for the Japanese marque, which harbours its UK base at Swindon.

This season, though, the form-book certainly looks to have swung the way of the young-guns – currently headed by Speedworks Motorsport's Tom Ingram. The Buckinghamshire-based racer scored a pair of podium finishes at Thruxton last year and with two victories under his belt this year already, he will be aiming for the top step once again in a week's time.

Our current champion, Ash Sutton, set the pace in the Adrian Flux Subaru Racing Levorg at the annual Thruxton TOCA test five weeks ago, and, currently occupying fifth spot in the standings, he'll be looking to grab to a maiden top-step appearance of 2018 to get his title defence underway proper. Judging by his pace back at the test, where he was one of eight drivers to go quicker than Matt Neal's official qualifying lap record at the circuit, he'll be another to look out for.

FK2-generation Honda Civic Type Rs have historically gone well around Thruxton's high-speed sweepers and with 11 wins in 21 of the most recent encounters at the Hampshire racetrack, Honda is the current era's most successful marque there. It bodes well, then, for WIX Racing with Eurotech, which has tasted the champagne and victory once already this season thanks to Jack Goff – whose first podium with the team came last year at Thruxton. Eurotech is sitting pretty in fourth in the overall running and it would be foolish to discount its race-winning credentials. 

BTC Norlin Racing also runs Honda machinery and is enjoying its best spell yet having entered Britain's top-tier motor racing championship just over a year ago. Chris Smiley brought home silverware and the outfit's best finish yet back at Donington Park and, alongside BTCC race winner James Nash, Norlin will be hoping to go one better this time around.

In the latest-generation factory FK8 Civic Type R, it's been Dan Cammish showing the way ahead of legendary team-mate and triple champion Matt Neal so far this season. He's the first of the pairing to make the rostrum in the newest hot-hatch from the famed Japanese marque. Neal flew last year at Thruxton, though, taking pole and a win, so Cammish is unlikely to have things all his own way next weekend.

Rounding out the young-guns which currently occupy the standings top eight, barring aforementioned local boy Josh Cook who harbours third, are a pair of Mercedes' in Ciceley Motorsport's Adam Morgan and Laser Tools Racing's Aiden Moffat. The former is breathing down Ingram's neck – second in the points – and the A-Class is perfectly suited to the balance and poise required around Thruxton. Morgan himself has two victories there in recent seasons and after winning at Donington last time out – he's optimistic there's more to come. Moffat, in one of the sister Mercedes', is a man on a charge, too, after a podium double back in the East Midlands.

Local heroes
So, Bath racer Cook heads to what he will regard as his local circuit in the best shape he has ever done – only 15 points shy of the top of the table with a maiden race win now in the bag. Power Maxed TAG Racing, too, is enjoying its richest vein of form yet in the BTCC after Senna Proctor brought home a very first victory for the squad in the opening weekend of the year, with Cook then doubling their win tally at the next opportunity in true London bus style. As a result, PMR heads the way in both the Teams' running and the Manufacturers' honours.

"I’m over the moon for the guys and everyone who’s put all the hard work in," said a delighted Cook after his first win. "Senna (Proctor) got his last weekend and I needed mine. We were quick yesterday and I had to battle for the lead. I’m really glad to have brought it home and hopefully it’s the first of many! We’ve always had strong pace over the years but there’s been a bit of bad luck perhaps. We’ve worked so hard over the winter to make sure we’ve nailed our qualifying setup and the Vauxhall’s an amazing drive now – the best car I’ve driven out of the box and every thanks to my engineers for it!"

Eversley's Rob Collard sealed BMW's 100th victory in the BTCC last year and his first win on home turf. Replicating that high will be his task for 2018 at Thruxton and the swashbuckling Team BMW man has as good a chance of spraying the bubbly as any.

Thruxton at 50
Thruxton itself celebrates its 50th Anniversary, and the beloved circuit is set to open parts of its brand-new, industry-leading £2 million hospitality facility - The Thruxton Centre – ahead of a full official opening on Sunday 3 June amid a weekend of 50th Anniversary celebrations.

"We're always thrilled to host what is undoubtedly the premier four-wheeled series in the country," said Thruxton Group Managing Director, Bill Coombs. The BTCC has storied history – spanning 60 years – and the championship never fails to come up with the goods over a race weekend.

"As we've seen this season, it's entirely unpredictable. You don't head into a BTCC race weekend knowing who will be coming out on top – it's just too close to call, and that makes for some of the best doorhandle-to-doorhandle racing around with 32 cars all racing within a second or so.

"The test day a month ago gave us an insight into just how competitive it'll be come race day. Some of the times were quicker than we've ever seen before here from BTCC machinery – it really whetted the appetite and the beauty of the TOCA package means that not only do you get the three headline BTCC races, but nine further races of the highest quality across a number of leading championships."

Timetable and tickets 
Rounds 7, 8 and 9 of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship on Sunday, 20 May as well as the rest of the day's action from the TOCA support package – the F4 British Championship, Ginetta GT5 Challenge, Ginetta Juniors and the Renault UK Clio Cup – will be broadcast live and in high-definition on ITV4. Those lining the spectator banking can keep abreast of everything with circuit commentary and live timing from every session over at btcc.net/live throughout the weekend.

Advance tickets for the BTCC’s visit, 19-20 May, are available from £12, with weekend passes with paddock access running to just £40. Saturday grandstand seats are an additional £5. Accompanied children aged 15 and under will be admitted free of charge. With 12 races over the two days, value for money cannot be questioned.
 
They can be purchased online at http://www.thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc or by calling 01264 882200 (Option 1). Advance tickets will remain on sale online and over the phone until 3pm on Wednesday, 16 May, after which they will be available from the BARC Ticket Office at Thruxton until 3pm on Friday, 18 May. Full price day tickets can be purchased on the gate; weekend tickets are only available in advance.
 
For more information on Thruxton’s race meetings and driving experiences, visit: http://www.thruxtonracing.co.uk/.

Power Maxed Tag Racing | Donington Park | BTCC 2018

LATEST VIDEO: Another BTCC 2018 event, another win for Power Maxed TAG Racing. Catch up with everything from the team's mega weekend at Donington Park...

Austin: 'We're learning with every lap'

Duo Motorsport with HMS Racing's Rob Austin left Donington Park inside the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship top ten after a weekend spent making the most of the tools at his disposal, as work continues apace on his new Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

After a dream start for the outfit back at Brands Hath, where Austin secured a podium finish in round three, the weekend's racing in Leicestershire didn't go entirely the way of the Swindon squad.

Austin endured a difficult qualifying session but battled through from 20th on the grid and into the points with 15th in race one. Recovery was the main aim in race two after contact saw him spiral down the field. Twenty-first was the end result but the Evesham racer was able to bookend his weekend with more points and 11th in the final round of the day.

“It was a tough weekend but at least we could take lots of positives away as well,” said Austin. “We are not where we want to be with the car at all yet but the potential is clear and I have no doubt that once we get on top of it, this car will be a regular race winner.”

“With a bit more time to analyse the data after qualifying we are confident we know where we went wrong but, as we keep saying, this is a brand new car so we’re constantly learning with every lap. You’re not going to get it right every time when you’re still learning, but it’s important we understand what the problem was.

“In race one I had a really good start and made good progress, but as everyone else got up to pace and I was already maxed out it was clear we didn’t have the pace we needed to stay in that position. We made some significant changes for race two and we were still set for a really good points haul, right up until I was turned around at the chicane. 

“The changes worked really well so the car was quick in that race and a top 10 would have been comfortably achievable, maybe even the top six but it just wasn’t to be. We’ve taken some positives from race three too, we were generally the quickest runner of the 14 cars on the hard tyre and to come from 21st to 11th with those tyres on, I think we have to be happy with that.”

BTC Norlin Racing boss hails 'meteoric' Donington Park weekend

BTC Norlin Racing's latest outing, at Donington Park just over a week ago, was its best yet in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, with Chris Smiley's first podium finish in the series the highlight.

The team, competing in its second BTCC campaign, managed second with Chris Smiley and seventh for team-mate James Nash to kick the weekend off in fine fashion with their strongest qualifying session to date.

With both cars running the hard Dunlop SportMaxx rubber in race one, it was a case of damage limitation to an extent. Smiley held firm through the opening stages before eventually losing ground at the Craners on the way to a solid points finish with seventh. Nash rounded in 18th and the team turned their attention to the second encounter.

Unfortunately for Nash, he was unable to start race two, having suffered a loss of engine oil on the way to the grid. Smiley, though, flew away from the line and into second place by the end of the second lap which turned into the race lead come lap nine. Tom Ingram was charging hard, however, and despite the Norlin man's best defensive efforts, he couldn't quite keep the Toyota at bay.

He did, though, hold off a rather feisty looking Dan Cammish as well as Jack Goff, who, also wielding an FK2-gen Honda Civic Type R, was desperately trying to clamber onto the podium – eventually doing so at the expense of Cammish in the factory Honda.

The reverse grid draw saw Smiley eighth in the final race of the day, while after his non-start in race two, Nash began from the back of the pack. 

Smiley steered his Honda as high as fourth before contact with Cammish brought an end to his chances. Nash, meanwhile, clambered up to 12th and points – meaning a gain of an impressive 20 spots.

“Race one was a disappointment and not starting race two was frustrating for all but hats off to the BTC Norlin Racing team for their hard work and changing the engine to get me out in time for race three,” said Nash.

“I can’t ever remember starting a race so far back before. I think the starting lights must be in Leicestershire and the back row in Derbyshire! Certainly, from where I was sat I couldn’t see them so when the guys in front of me went, I set off too!”

“Watching me come through the field was hopefully a good spectacle for the spectators and for those watching at home on television. Though, in the car it was a bit frustrating to be honest.

"I know that there’s time to come in the car and finding that half a second or so we’re currently missing would make a huge difference.”

"It was a great weekend at Donington Park!” added Smiley. “I got my first podium in race two with second.

"Running the hard tyre in race one was survival but I had a respectable finish in seventh. In race three, I had a little bit of contact at the Craner Curves which cost me what was potentially another podium on the cards.

"But, all in all it was a very positive weekend and there’s no other feeling in the world like standing on that podium. A big thanks to the team at BTC Norlin Racing and all our fantastic sponsors who without them this could not be possible.”

An extremely proud Team Boss, in Bert Taylor, was overjoyed with the weekend's spoils.

“The whole weekend was meteoric,” said Taylor. “It was tough at times, with the oil situation in race two for James and Chris’ incident in race three, but overall, we have shown that we can do this.

“Qualifying on Saturday really set out our stall in the BTCC. It showed that despite being a small team, that we have huge ambitions and potential.

"The results mean a lot to the team, and I am proud of everyone who has helped get us to this point.

"We have a great group of people around us, and we're supported by a great selection of sponsors, to whom we are infinitely grateful for their support. Bring on Thruxton!”

Mighty Mercs!

It was quite a weekend for the trio of Mercedes-Benz A-Class cars in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Donington Park. Ciceley Motorsport's Adam Morgan showed pace throughout and recovered from 23rd in race one to a storming race three victory while Tom Oliphant notched a maiden top ten finish.

Meanwhile, over at Laser Tools Racing, Aiden Moffat sealed a pair of podium finishes – meaning race three was the first time that there's been two Mercedes' drivers spraying the champagne on the podium since the A-Class arrived in the BTCC some four years ago, though the outfit have had two drivers take top three results before, only after the intervention of a post-race judicial.

Morgan's day didn't go swimmingly from the get-go. Thirteenth in qualifying was the result of a tricky wet-dry session and the Lancashireman was keen to make progress through the points-paying positions. However, team-mates Oliphant and Morgan got together, forcing the latter off the circuit and plummeting down the order.

“That was frustrating,” said Morgan post-race. “I was running the harder tyre which the regulations state we must run in one race of a weekend and here they were the slower tyres, so Tom would have passed me anyway. I was off the track and in the gravel and thought my weekend was ruined.”

He fought back to 23rd spot by the end of the 16-lap encounter. Race two saw Morgan's pace rewarded. Running the prime Dunlop SportMaxx tyre, and without success ballast, he was able to storm through to fifth with an inspired drive – including a stunning double pass at the chicane. That fifth spot set him up nicely for the final race of the weekend and by the tricky double-apex right-hander at Coppice in race three he was second.

A safety car then bunched the pack and leader Ash Sutton was forced onto the defensive with the harder Dunlop compound bolted to his Subaru. Morgan was able to make his move for the lead on lap eight, hooking up the A-Class on the inside of the penultimate corner before sealing the deal at the chicane. Race one winner Josh Cook in the Power Maxed TAG Racing Vauxhall chased him hard to the very end but Morgan didn't put a wheel wrong, holding onto victory by a couple of tenths of a second to make it five different BTCC race winners from the opening six rounds.

Race three had a semi-reversed grid with the top nine finishers from race two being turned upside down, so Adam started fifth on the grid. With some brave driving on the opening lap he charged up into second place exiting the tricky double-apex right-hander of Coppice Corner. At the end of the opening lap, a safety car period bunched up the field leaving Adam on the tail of race leader Ash Sutton ready for the restart.

By lap eight, Adam was ahead, diving through on the inside at the Chicane. Behind him was race one winner Josh Cook (Vauxhall Astra) who chased Adam to the very end, the pair split by never more than a few tenths of a second. Adam, however, never put a wheel wrong to secure victory, the fifth different BTCC winner in the opening six races, and closing the Ciceley man to within seven points of championship leader Ingram.

“When you get fired off in race one and finish 23rd, you don’t expect a fifth and a win from the weekend!” said Morgan post-race. “The car was just fantastic here and I was really determined to get a win and it all gelled. I am so happy for all the Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport team because we didn’t get a win last season but we have fought back over the winter. The car feels fantastic and proof of the pace of the Mercedes is that Aiden Moffat in the Laser Tools Racing car, built by Ciceley, took third so for the second time we had two Mercedes-Benz A-Classes on the podium.”

Ciceley Motorsport’s Tom Oliphant enjoyed yet another solid weekend, securing his first top ten finish with pace in all three races comparable to that of the top three drivers. Oliphant’s intelligent, aggressive and determined driving style is already paying dividends for Ciceley Motorsport and its partner Hexathron engineering – headed by the vastly experienced Marco Calovolo.

 His interpretation of data and his technical input is assisting with the setup of both of the team's cars. Oliphant was the third driver home on hard tyres in race two and in race three, a fantastic drive saw him gain 16 places after being caught up in a crash at Craner Curves and having to pit under the safety car.

Ciceley Motorsport’s Commercial Director Norman Burgess said: “What a weekend! You can never predict the BTCC and we have seen that again today. Adam was gutted after race one as he felt his day was over but he knuckled down and fought back like he has never done before.

"It proves that you just can’t give up because you never know how your day will turn out and to come away from race two with a fifth was astonishing but a win at the end of the day was exceptional.

"We are very proud to have Adam driving for Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport because he gets better all the time. Our many Mac Tools, Fuchs Lubricants, Lunar Caravans and Pallex guests were given the perfect result and we go to Thruxton, a circuit kind to our car, in optimistic mood.”

Double podium joy for Moffat and Laser Tools

Aiden Moffat added to the Merc magic with two visits to the Donington Park podium, coupled with an Independent-class victory at the famed circuit.

The site of his maiden BTCC victory last year, Donington is proving to be a circuit the young Scot relishes visiting. Fifth in qualifying, in difficult, mixed conditions showed straight-off-the-bat that Moffat was a challenger top threes and come race one, it rang true as he stormed to third.

"That was an important result. We were all a bit deflated after Brands Hatch,” explained Aiden. “The car has been developed a lot of over the winter and it felt so good, so planted.

"As it gets older, the car just gets better! It felt great and gave me the confidence to push.”

Third place meant a second row grid-start for race two and it was damage limitation for Moffat with the harder-compound Dunlop SportMaxx rubber and 57kg of success ballast to contend with. A point and 15th spot wasn't the end of the world.

Race three, without the weight and the more optimal Dunlop rubber for the conditions, Moffat flew by 12 cars to finish on the podium once again, moving him up to sixth in the Drivers' standings and third in the Indy running.

“The car feels better than ever,” added Moffat. “Our qualifying pace is often not as good as race pace but this weekend we were well up on the grid and we could race at the front.

"That made me both more determined and confident and to go away with three trophies and two bottles of Champagne is a great feeling! It is the consistent pace across the weekend that is most reassuring: we can deliver wet or dry, with weight or not.

"We know that Thruxton, where we go next, is a good track for our car so we will hope to build on this weekend’s results.”

Ingram picks up where he left off

Tom Ingram left Leicestershire on Sunday evening with an extended gap at the head of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, and another victory to his tally as well as a strong points haul in the bag having travelled to Donington Park with the maximum 75kg of success ballast aboard his Toyota Avensis.

The Speedworks Motorsport man drew level with motorsport legend Jim Clark in the all-time BTCC winners' list following his race two triumph. Points with 14th and eighth in Rounds 4 and 6 respectively, ensured he would take a seven point lead to Thruxton, with an 18 point gap at the top of the Independents' standings. Speedworks, too, holds an enviable position in its championships with third in the Teams' table – the best of the single-car entrants – to go with a 16-point lead in the Independent Teams' running. Quite the start to the season for the 2017 Indy champions.

“To come away with another very solid points haul and still leading three of the four championships, I would call that a pretty successful weekend,” said Team Principal, Christian Dick.

“We knew we needed to get rid of the ballast and hard tyres as quickly as possible if we were going to fight for a decent result, so we took a double hit in race one. Fourteenth probably exceeded our expectations in the circumstances, and with most of our main championship competitors finishing in roughly the same area, it was the perfect exercise in damage limitation.

“With the weight gone and the faster tyres back on the car for race two, Tom produced a truly stunning drive. We had been thinking the top six may be possible and were hoping to luck into the reversed grid draw for race three, so to storm through the way he did and make it look as easy as he did was simply breathtaking.

“The last one was more of a struggle again with the ballast back; the extra weight means you work the tyres harder, which increasingly hurts your performance and whilst that prevented Tom from being able to attack, to keep pace with the battle for the final podium position I thought was very impressive.

“I’m incredibly proud of the way all the Speedworks boys are approaching each race weekend, and to arrive carrying more weight than anybody else and leave having increased our advantage is testament to the fantastic job that each and every one of them is doing. We’re in good shape right now and of all the circuits on the calendar, Thruxton is arguably the one that punishes ballast the least due to its fast, flowing nature. Having taken two podiums there last year, I think we can go back feeling quietly optimistic about pushing for a strong set of results.”

“Another very positive weekend,” echoed Ingram, “And one over the course of which we learnt a lot. We genuinely struggled on Saturday, although I’m pretty confident in saying that at least seven tenths of our nine-tenth deficit to pole was due to the weight.

“That left us out-of-position and slightly on the back foot going into race day, and we deliberately decided to take the bullet as early as possible by putting the hard tyres on for race one. It was a strategic gamble, but it was one that had paid off last year and it worked again. I knew I would be super-vulnerable so just wanted to stay out-of-trouble and get to the end. We managed to hold on to bag a couple of points, and then effectively our weekend started from there.

“Race two was very similar to the one we won at Brands Hatch. We knew we had the pace with the weight taken out and it was great fun scything through. The Avensis was so hooked-up – simply incredible to drive. I fully expected Chris [Smiley] to be a tough nut to crack but I could see I was stronger in a couple of areas and once I got a little bit of an overlap, I didn’t need asking twice!

“Our speed there went to show just how much of a factor ballast plays at Donington – and that was evident again in race three, with the weight back on-board. I made up ground wherever I could, but after that, with everybody around me being significantly lighter, I was a bit powerless really.

“Still, to finish eighth was a decent result and looking back overall, it’s pretty cool to have now won the same number of BTCC races as Jim Clark, who is an absolute legend of the sport. While I couldn’t ever dream of going on to achieve the same kind of results as he did in his career, it’s still a nice statistic to have and gives me even more motivation to carry on winning and hopefully emulate another of his accomplishments in ultimately taking the series title.

“Next we go to Thruxton, which is one of my favourite circuits on the calendar – a truly awesome, old-school challenge. It’s likely to be another uphill battle on Saturday, but then hopefully we can pull it back on Sunday – and besides, we went there last season carrying full ballast and came away with three top four finishes. I’ve got a fantastic team behind me who give me one hell of a car every time we take to the track, and it keeps on getting better and better – so let’s see what we can do!”

Table Toppers!

Power Maxed TAG Racing left Donington Park top of the pile in both the Manufacturers' and Teams' running after following up its maiden victory at Brands Hatch at the hands of Senna Proctor with another – this time via team-mate Josh Cook.

Cook managed to secure a first pole position on Saturday, to get things off in the best possible manner. The Bath racer favours the tricky, slippery conditions thrown up by a wet track surface and revelled in them as he stormed to P1. The outfit's work over the winter looks so far to be paying off as it entered season two with the new Vauxhall Astra.

On Sunday, Donington Park dried out, and some feisty to-and-fro on the opening lap saw Cook retain his advantage after briefly losing out to fellow front-row starter Chris Smiley. From there, he never looked back and took the win. An unfortunate incident in Round 4 left Proctor starting Round 5 from the back of the grid after receiving a third strike, despite finishing eighth. His finale was curtailed by another incident at the Craners, through little fault of his own.

“What can I say, other than it’s been a long time coming?" said Josh Cook, now third in the Drivers' standings. "Once I saw the times in FP1 and 2 I knew we could be on for a pole, which gave me that little extra push right at the end. Other than a little challenge from Smiley, who drove really well, leading Race 1 from grid to flag was a dream come true.

"I was happy with second in Race 3 too. Adam Morgan made that Mercedes super-wide, and I just couldn’t quite get the opportunity to pass him to chalk up a second win. I can’t thank my engineers and the whole of PMR enough for giving me what is a fantastically set up car, and I’m glad that I’m doing Euro Repar Car Service, Glide Parking and my other sponsors proud this early in the season.”

Team Principal Adam Weaver is understandably excited about the season ahead given the way things have started: “In just two events, we’ve seen both Josh and Senna take their first win, our first pole in the hands of Josh, and witnessed Martin Broadhurst cry with happiness!

"We’ve spent the last three seasons working relentlessly, building the right team and doing things the right way, and it’s really paying off. I’m immensely proud of Josh for what he achieved this weekend, and equally proud of Senna for keeping his head when the day went against him. I couldn’t imagine two better drivers representing us.”

Team Manager Martin Broadhurst was equally as positive: “I’m over the moon with Josh’s performance this weekend. From the get-go he was posting consistently quick times, and his feedback on the car and what it was doing was, as always, top notch.

"What happened with Senna was unfortunate, but when racing at this level you have to take the rough with the smooth. Every single member of the team put their lives into making sure these cars are at the front, and we’re proving that the hard work and dedication is completely worth it.

"To be out front in both the Manufacturers' and Teams' standings is a huge boost for us, and is exactly where we want to be.”

Senna Proctor, added: “The only word I can use to describe it is ‘frustrating’. The car was absolutely on the pace, but we were just marred with bad luck from the outset. The racing incident with Turkington in Race 1 set us back massively, and I truly believe that if we hadn’t lost eighth for the start of Race 2, I would’ve been up on that podium with Josh during Race 3.

"Unfortunately, that’s motorsport, and with Thruxton less than three weeks away, I’m confident I’ll be spraying that champagne by the end of the weekend! I’d just like to say thanks again to my sponsors-Bee Health, Matrix and LAPD for continuing to support me.”

Hill claims #ForeverForward honours at Donington Park

Following a remarkable opening trio of encounters at Brands Hatch, the second event on the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship calendar proved a more than worthy sequel with three more captivating races at Donington Park. It was Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing's Jake Hill that made the most passes on a thrilling race weekend.

Rain prevented teams from utilising the Dunlop SportMaxx prime or option hard tyres during Saturday’s running, creating a level playing field on a green track for Sunday’s races.

Following BTCC organisers' objectives for Dunlop to create a 0.8-1.0 second delta between the option and prime tyres, a range of strategies came into play over the three races, treating fans to gripping drives throughout the field.

With only six drivers opting for the harder compound in the opening race, it provided the perfect opportunity for those who had not qualified as expected to make their way through the field. Both Jake Hill and Rob Collard made their way to the sharp end of the grid, overtaking 14 cars apiece. Upfront, Josh Cook continued his dream weekend, converting his maiden pole to his first ever BTCC win.

The second race of the day proved to be a valuable recovery drive for the Motorbase team. With problems in the first race for both Sam Tordoff and Tom Chilton, the pair carved their way through the field to gain 20 and 18 places respectively. The Mercedes-Benz of Adam Morgan also recovered from earlier incidents to finish fifth, which would prove pivotal for the final race of the day. After electing to run the hard compound tyre in the opening race to limit the damage of carrying success ballast, championship leaders Tom Ingram and Jack Goff decisively made their way onto the podium. The pair made the most of the medium compound while others were still bringing the harder compound tyre up to temperature in the cold conditions.

Fourteen drivers ran the harder compound in the final race of the day, which saw Morgan and Aiden Moffat utilise the prime tyre to their advantage to finish first and third respectively, while Josh Cook took his second podium of the day. Following an engine change after the second race, James Nash rewarded his team’s hard efforts by gaining 20 positions from the final spot on the grid to come home in 12th.

A number of drivers will have wished they could have run the hard compound for more than one race, with Ollie Jackson gaining 13 places, Matt Simpson (11 places), Colin Turkington and Rob Austin (10 places), throwing a spanner in the works for those that thought the prime was the only competitive tyre at Donington Park.

#ForeverForward – Donington Park

  1. Jake HILL, 27pts
  2. Andrew JORDAN, 24pts
  3. Rob COLLARD, 23pts
  4. Ollie JACKSON, 21pts
  5. Adam MORGAN, 21pts
  6. Matt NEAL, 20pts
  7. Sas TORDOFF, 20pts
  8. James NASH, 20pts
  9. Tom CHILTON, 19pts
  10. Senna PROCTOR, 17pts

#ForeverForward – Overall

  1. Jake HILL, 50pts
  2. Senna PROCTOR, 43pts
  3. Ollie JACKSON, 41pts
  4. Mike BUSHELL, 41pts
  5. Matt SIMPSON, 40pts
  6. Adam MORGAN, 39pts
  7. Matt NEAL, 38pts
  8. Rob AUSTIN, 8pts
  9. Tom BOARDMAN, 37pts
  10. Sam TORDOFF, 33pts

Super-fan Steve soaks in BTCC weekend with PMR

This past weekend at Donington Park, Power Maxed TAG Racing welcomed super-fan Steve Rogers into their garage for the full Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship VIP experience.

Steve, who fully lost his sight at the age of 30, is a lover of all things motorsport and a long-time admirer of the BTCC and he was treated to the whole hog by the team at PMR – including a chance to meet both of the outfit's drivers, Josh Cook and Senna Proctor, breakfast and lunch as well as a garage tour.

In addition, right at the very top of his bucket list was to get an opportunity to meet the team at ITV – the guys painting the picture for everyone tuning in.

Duly, Paul O'Neill, David Addison and the ITV crew took the time out to chat to Steve, and give him a little tour of the pit-lane and paddock in the process!