Priaulx claims pole position on BTCC return

Three-time World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx has made an immediate impact on his return to the BTCC by claiming pole position for the season opener at Brands Hatch.

The West Surrey Racing driver set his fastest lap shortly after mid-session before a stoppage brought a halt to proceedings. Several drivers improved during a final ten minute shootout but couldn’t match the 48.411s pace set by Priaulx.

Aron Smith got the better of his illustrious Team BMR stablemates to take second, seeing off Jason Plato and Colin Turkington respectively – the latter of whom seemed to have his final flyer scuppered by traffic on the tight 1.2-mile Indy circuit.

The BMW trio of Sam Tordoff, Rob Collard and Priaulx initially held a 1-2-3 in the order but the VWs and Hondas soon entered the fray. It was Plato who first attacked for top spot but it was champion Turkington that set a time quick enough for provisional pole. Gordon Shedden joined the battle in the brand new Honda Civic Type R, running as high as third early on, although the squad’s challenge faded in the latter stages.

Collard held on to take fifth ahead of MG’s Jack Goff, who had endured an earlier spin. It had been a relatively low key day for the MG 888 Racing outfit but Goff’s late performance provided some relief for the reigning manufacturer champions. Team-mate Andrew Jordan, who had previously taken pole position in each of the last two season openers, could only manage tenth on his qualifying debut for the MG marque.

Shedden eventually took seventh with triple champion team-mate Matt Neal down in 11th. Sam Tordoff claimed eighth on his first BMW outing, making it three WSR cars in the top eight, whilst Tom Ingram completed an impressive day with ninth in the all-new Speedworks Toyota Avensis.

The mid-session stoppage was caused by Martin Depper’s Honda Civic, which had left the pitlane without one of its wheels correctly fitted. The Eurotech car trudged slowly towards Druids Hairpin before the wheel eventually came off, leaving the machine stranded close to the circuit. There were other off-track excursions for Dextra Racing’s Alex Martin and Power Maxed Racing’s Josh Cook, but both debutants recovered after trips through the gravel.

There was little doubting who would be grabbing the headlines, however, and that was Priaulx. Returning to the series following a 13-year hiatus, the Guernseyman now leads the championship for the first time in his career by virtue of the point awarded for pole position.

Andy Priaulx said: "I thought anything inside the top six would have been nice. We were taking nothing for granted – this is a top series but we’re happy to have made the most of it. I just went into the first qualifying session with a really good, positive feeling. I actually think we’re stronger in race trim, because the car in testing has lacked a little bit of maybe that ultimate one-lap pace. This is my first pole position for a long time and I’m absolutely delighted. That’s where I want to be. I think I’ve improved a lot as a driver over the last four years and now I feel that’s showing."

Aron Smith said: "I’m over the moon. This is the one qualifying session of the year that everyone really wants to come out on top in; everyone is on base weight and all things were equal. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous going into the session with the two big names alongside me, so to come out on top and to lay down a marker is something I’m really proud of. I’m feeling really good for tomorrow too. My race craft and race pace are really strong, so with a good set-up I’ll keep going in under the radar and surprising a few people. The hard part is done, we just need three good results tomorrow and we’ll see if we can be leading into turn one. Regardless we’ll do a good job."

Jason Plato said: "I’m having issues with power steering, and I honestly don’t know if we can get it sorted for tomorrow. It’s frustrating for me, but with my team hat on it’s been a really great session for the team. It’s a great debut for the new look Team BMR and that’s ace. We’ll try our best to put on a show tomorrow."

Colin Turkington said: "It’s a great result for me. First time with the Volkswagen, and I think we’re ideally placed. There were so many question marks in my head going into qualifying, and again for the first race tomorrow, but I think I’m in an ideal position and if I can tuck in behind the front row guys at the start, that will be perfect. Being on the second row always gives you a good chance for the race. I gave it 100 per cent, but the car is just a little bit tricky to drive for me at the moment; we’re still trying to tame it a bit more to my liking. It’s a work in progress, and we can only get faster from here."

Rob Collard said: "I’m really happy with that. To secure a top five position is good – I struggled a bit with qualifying last year but we’ve worked on it during testing to get the car just how I like it. The car is a bit easier to drive which is good with the mixed conditions today. If it’s a nice dry day tomorrow I think we’ll see people’s true pace. It’d be lovely to finish on the podium tomorrow – I like Brands Hatch and I’ve got a lot of support here this weekend so it would be great to get a result for them."

Click here for the final classification from the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship qualifying session at Brands Hatch.

Ride on board with Andy Priaulx as he takes pole position:

Champ Turkington produces late FP2 flyer

Reigning Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Champion Colin Turkington has fired out a warning ahead of qualifying by setting the quickest time in the final moments of Free Practice 2 at Brands Hatch.

The Ulsterman was languishing down the order for much of the session but produced a last gasp qualifying simulation run, which was good enough to pip WSR's Andy Prilaux and the sister VW of Aron Smith.

"We’re making steady progress but with a mixed session like that it’s hard to tell exactly where everyone is on pace," he said. "We had a few issues with the car throughout the session which means I’ve really only done about seven laps today on full attack mode.
"There’s definitely more to be gained but I’m pleased that the car now feels like mine – it’s natural to drive which is what we’ve been working towards. I had a half-spin at the end of the session – I was testing my limit for qualifying and found it. It’s good to put a marker in the sand though, in more ways than one!"
Team BMR's VW quartet were quick throughout the 40 minutes of running with Smith leading his more experienced team-mates until late on. Plato then took over at the top in the final five minutes before being trumped by both Turkington and Priaulx. Smith fought back to set his own best time on the final tour with the Irishman pushing Plato down to fourth in the process.

The 1-3-4 finish for VW was slightly marred when Team Boss Warren Scott crashed on the exit of Paddock Hill Bend late on.

Sam Tordoff confirmed the pace in WSR's BMW 125i M Sports by setting the fifth quickest time while Rob Collard claimed 11th in the third Bavarian machine.

Adam Morgan's promising pre-season performances have led many to suggest the Lancastrian could mount his own championship challenge and he completed the top six order in the WIX Racing Mercedes.

Jack Goff provided some respite for MG with seventh while Andrew Jordan continued to focus on race set-up for the manufacturer squad.

Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal were eighth and tenth respectively with the Exocet AlcoSense Audi of Rob Austin between the two Honda Civic Type Rs in ninth.

Click here for the full classification from FP2.

Tom Ingram takes first honours

Speedworks racer Tom Ingram kicked off his sophomore season in some style with an absolutely blistering display in the opening practice session at Brands Hatch this morning (4 April).

The talented young gun set no fewer than three laps that were faster than any other driver in a drying session where bragging rights changed hands several times.

Jason Plato, Adam Morgan, Jack Goff, Andrew Jordan, Sam Tordoff and Andy Priaulx all enjoyed spells at the top as times tumbled throughout the 40 minutes of running, but it was Ingram who delivered when it mattered.

"It felt great to be back out there," said the 21-year-old. "It’s only free practice so we can’t get ahead of ourselves, but it already feels like a brilliant piece of kit. It’s been quite a while since my name has been at the top of a time sheet – to be up there just ahead of Matt Neal is a pretty cool feeling. We’ve got a lot of work still to, but it’s already clear that the guys have done a superb job over the winter."

The majority of cars commenced their season on Dunlop Sport Maxx Blu Response wet tyres but almost all had switched to slicks by mid-session.

If Ingram's performance was a relative surprise then a host of rookies also shone. Kieran Gallagher (Toyota Avensis), Alex Martin (Ford Focus), Josh Cook (Chevrolet Cruze) and Mike Bushell (Ford Focus) were all quick out of the blocks, whilst a number of their more illustrious and experienced rivals endured difficulties.

After a slow start it was Honda's Matt Neal who claimed second, signalling a good debut bow for the all-new Civic Type R. Team-mate Gordon Shedden propped up the order, however, after failing to set a time during the driest, and therefore quickest, period of the session.

Power Maxed Racing completed its best ever session with Josh Cook and Dave Newsham finishing third and fifth respectively, with the WSR-run BMW of Rob Collard sandwiched between them. Returning star Andy Priaulx was there or thereabouts throughout and eventually claimed sixth in the standings.

"With 28 cars on the Indy circuit it was pretty exciting," said the three-time World Champion. "I was on a quicker lap at the end but got caught up in some traffic, but I’m really delighted to be out on-track in the BTCC. The championship is going so well at the moment – the guys have put together a brilliant series – and it’s just good to get going!"With all the hype over Colin Turkington and Jason Plato joining Team BMR it was in fact the fledgling squad's other two drivers who fired out a reminder of their own abilities as Aron Smith and Warren Scott set the seventh and eighth fastest times.

Hunter Abbott (Audi A4) and Simon Belcher (Toyota Avensis) also completed impressive runs to round out the top ten.

Both MGs were absent from the leading pack after Andrew Jordan suffered with turbo failure having only set one flying lap, whilst Jack Goff focussed on race-pace set-up in the mixed conditions.

Free Practice Two takes place at 12:45 before the all-important qualifying session commences at 15:40 this afternoon. Stay tuned to btcc.net for live updates and reports and visit www.itv.com/btcc for live streaming of qualifying.

Click here for the full classification from FP1.

Palmer to drive Infiniti Support Our Paras Racing car in BTCC opener

Derek Palmer, who successfully debuted the car during testing earlier this week, will drive the Infiniti Support Our Paras Racing NGTC Infiniti Q50 in the opening triple-header at Brands Hatch this weekend.

Having not been able to test the car at Mallory Park earlier this week due to technical issues, Richard Hawken will sit out the season opener. The decision was taken following discussions involving team management and both drivers.

Following Brands Hatch, Hawken will resume a normal testing program ahead of his debut in one of the team's two cars at the next round Donington Park on April 18/19.

"The natural route to take was to put Derek in the car, as he'd has the experience of driving one of the cars earlier this week at Mallory," team principal Derek Palmer Snr said. "Richard will be in the team's second car at Donington."

 

DRIVERS' Q&A:

Derek Palmer:

Realistically, how big is the step up to BTCC?
"I think the answer to this question is, it's a big step up, not just for me but for the whole team. I've raced all over the world in many forms of car, but there is nothing quite as competitive as the BTCC. 

"And for the guys as well, this is a completely new challenge to them, a new form of combat if you will. But this is something we have taken on willingly, knowing full well what and who we are up against. And believe me, we're more than up to the challenge. I'm just excited to get started and to work with the guys.

What would qualify as a good weekend for you and the team?
"Realistically, three finishes would be fantastic. We want to ensure we maximise the opportunity to learn about the car and what we have underneath us, and how to utilise it as best we can.

"It's the BTCC and you can never predict how it's going to go, so I'll just go out there and do the best job I can and let's see where we end up.

"This is the first step on a very big adventure for the whole team and I'm just so excited to get out in the first Free Practice session on Saturday morning."

Richard Hawken:
How disappointed are you not to be racing this weekend?
"Naturally I'm disappointed to not be behind the wheel at the season opener.

"Having not driven the car yet due to technical issues faced earlier this week, and the BTCC a championship rarely being kind to the unprepared driver, I'll now learn from the data we will collect over the weekend and head to Donington in a stronger position in two weeks’ time."

But you'll be cheering the team, and Derek from the garage?
“We’ve already come so far as a team in a relatively short space of time. The Paras, as we expected, have learned their craft fast.

"It’s just amazing how they’ve switched their expertise from 'rifle to ratchet', testament to the continued training they receive at ISOPR HQ.

"I for one, along with many of our sponsors present at the weekend, will be cheering both the Paras and Derek Jnr on from the pit wall as he debuts the first of our stunning Q50 BTCC racers."

Jordan Aiming for third consecutive Brands Hatch pole

2013 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Champion Andrew Jordan is aiming for his third consecutive pole position at the opening event of the season this weekend at Brands Hatch. Having made the switch to manufacturer MG machinery this season with Triple Eight Racing, the 25-year-old will be hoping to repeat his past successes that were achieved behind the wheel of a Honda Civic.

“I’m so focused to do that,” explains the former champ. “To get pole three years on the trot at the first race will be fantastic, and to do it this year with a new team and new car, that’s really my aim. It’s all about who doesn’t get traffic and who strings their lap together the best, which I’ve managed to do in the last few years. It will be close, that’s for sure.”

As well as qualifying pace, Jordan has also been a pace-setter in race trim at the tight action-packed Kent venue.

“I’m more experienced than when I initially drove for Triple Eight and I’m driving a lot better too," continued the #77 driver. "I’ve got a title now, so that monkey is off my back, and this is the first year I can focus solely on being a racing driver. The MG is a very good car and we’ve got a great team here; I want to lead the team forward and go for the title again.”

Tune into qualifying on the ITV BTCC website on Saturday 4 April, and watch all the racing action live on ITV4 from 10:30 to 18:30 on Sunday 5 April.

#ForeverForward: Dunlop launch new league to highlight the top overtakers in BTCC

The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship is the UK’s number one motorsport championship, hugely popular with fans across Great Britain. There are many reasons why the championship wins the hearts of so many motoring enthusiasts and one of them is due to the sheer amount of action and overtaking at every race.

Dunlop, the Official Sponsor and Tyre Supplier to the championship, has launched a new overtaking league table that will focus on the battles throughout the field, the fightbacks from adversity and the determination of the best drivers in bumper-to-bumper combat.

The #ForeverForward league table will be discussed on Dunlop Social feeds and will show which drivers have made the biggest improvement from their starting position to finishing position. At the end of the year, the driver who has made the most progress during the season will receive the prestigious new Dunlop #ForeverForward trophy.

“In recent seasons the BTCC has provided compelling viewing for spectators and thrilling action for TV viewers. We asked fans why they love this championship and they told us it was the overtaking, the battles and the fighting throughout the field. In a world where many racing championships get criticised for providing processional races, we believe this award, and the debate it will create on social media, will also attract new audiences to the excitement of the  BTCC.” stated Tony Ward, Dunlop Marketing Manager.

The #ForeverForward hashtag will be used on the @DunlopLive Twitter feed to create conversations around the best overtaking moves across the season.

BTCC Brands Hatch Giveaway with WIX Racing

Ahead of the first event of the 2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch, btcc.net has teamed up with WIX Racing and Brands Hatch for a special ticket giveaway today (2 April).

If you live in Kent, you’ll need to keep a close eye on the WIX Racing and BTCC social media feeds today, as the liveried Mercedes A Class road car will be heading to a number of locations in the county with a pair of tickets and some other goodies to give away.

The first person to speak to our man on the ground with the password “BTCC is Here” will get their hands on a pair of entry tickets for Brands Hatch!

Follow WIX Racing on Twitter and Facebook

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DAVID ADDISON’S ‘MOONLIGHTING’ 2015: EPISODE FOUR

Last year, a regular pre-season question posed was: “Who is going to be best rookie?” I confidently banged the drum for Marc Hynes, you may recall, and was spot off in my assessment. Therefore, the voracity of this Moonlighting is open to immediate question…

Inevitably, there has been much discussion about who will be champion and there is a list of five, maybe six, drivers that you can expect to be fighting for the win. But what about those looking to score a first win? How can they be expected to shape up this year?

In some ways it may be easier to score a win this year given that the new ballast regulations are going to play a bigger part than before. Given the effects that 75 kilos are likely to have, there is a reasonable assumption that the wins will be spread across a greater range of drivers. That said, we will have to go some to better the record 11 different winners of 2014.

Let’s start with Adam Morgan and the WIX Racing Mercedes-Benz. Yes, yes, I know he won at Brands at the end of last year but he did inherit that win after a Jason Plato penalty and I am sure Adam is itching to take the flag first and score what could be regarded as a proper win. The Mercedes made solid progress during 2014 and Adam’s racecraft has improved and this, coupled with engineering ace Paul Ridgway’s contribution, should have the car up front this year.

Then you come to Jack Goff. I was surprised that when JG got the Volkswagen last year, he didn’t leap up the order, but this year he has no reason not to be at the pointy end of the grid. He drives the second MG6 at Triple Eight Racing and drives the ex-Plato chassis, which has proved its ability to win races in the past. Putting Goff in a team like Triple Eight should help him develop as well and he is on the verge of a breakthrough season. That maiden win can’t be far away which will be just reward for a driver who works incredibly hard to find funding for his racing, but he has to deliver: he has the team and car to do the job, so he has to come good now. This could be make or break season for Jack. I reckon he’ll make…

And then you daren’t overlook Tom Ingram. He looked impressive last year but never achieved the results his talent demanded due to myriad circumstances. A number of teams have shown an interest in TIngram over the winter but he has remained at Speedworks and collectively they need to take a step forward. Reliability was an issue last season but the team has worked hard over the winter to take that step forward and the package should gel in 2015.

Now, how about a win for Warren Scott? You may dismiss the thought straight away, but then factor in ballast, reversed grids and how far he and the team have come in two seasons. Take the set-up data from Colin Turkington and Jason Plato and his car, surely, will be closer to the front. So, if he avoids weight and gets a good grid position for race three it is possible that a win could go his way. He’ll need to make fewer errors but Warren, rightly, points to his driving improving with each race. Worth a few quid on good odds, perhaps…

As for the newcomers, such as Mike Bushell and Josh Cook, I think their main task is to get up to speed in the BTCC and adapt to its nuances. Whatever people think, winning in the BTCC isn’t easy. Only the best do so, drivers and teams, and while we may well get some quirky results this year, expecting every driver to be able to win isn’t realistic. It’s tough out there, but this new ballast spread will certainly throw up some surprises.

I still think that keeping away from maximum ballast is a good idea. If you can be lighter and score regular thirds and fourths, for example, that should prove better than winning and then coming, say, ninth in the next race when the full weight really hurts. Remember, we are talking 75 kilos now as the heaviest amount you can carry and that is the weight of a person. I think that’ll have a noticeable effect, certain circuits more than others, but it will hurt.

So, throw that in, the race two grid format, further restrictions on the BMWs, shuffling of top drivers and teams, new drivers… the list goes on! A superb season is in prospect. It’s a brave man that makes any confident predictions this year!

Track debut for Infiniti Support Our Paras Racing

The Infiniti Support Our Paras Racing BTCC car ran for the first time at Mallory Park this morning (Wednesday).

Derek Palmer took the honour of debuting the car as the Scotsman completed a detailed, scheduled number of installation and shakedown laps.

The premium Japanese marque worked tirelessly in an attempt to ready its pair of Q50s in time for Brands Hatch although admitted it faced a huge challenge ahead of the weekend.

There will certainly be one of the striking machines on the grid in Kent, however, as Palmer progressively worked through the development programme on the first car this afternoon. The car, prepared by injured ex-servicemen from the Parachute Regiment, went on to complete a series of race-pace laps at the Leicestershire track.

"We completed everything we set ourselves for this first running," team principal Derek Palmer Snr said. "The guys did a fantastic job preparing the car, and it was an emotional moment seeing it take to the track for the first time.

"Everyone in the team has worked tirelessly to get to where we are. We know we're a work-in-progress, but we know we have the team to deliver."

The not-for-profit team, which will also run Richard Hawken in a second NGTC Infiniti Q50, will donate 100% of its profits to Support Our Paras, the official charity of the Parachute Regiment. The team had planned to run a second car in this weekend's opening triple-header, but will now only run one at Brands Hatch.

"We experienced a late technical problem today which, after detailed analysis, has unfortunately resulted in the second car now not being in a position to race at Brands Hatch," Palmer Snr explained.

"Of course it's disappointing, but this is exactly what test sessions such as today's are intended to discover before we head into a race weekend. We can now take the necessary steps to ensure the same problem doesn't materialise in the other car."

The team will decide later this week whether Palmer Jnr or team-mate Richard Hawken, will race at the weekend. After driving the car for the first time today, under cloudless blue skies, Palmer admitted he was delighted to finally get behind the wheel of the BTCC racer.

"I've dreamed about this day for so long," the 28-year-old Scot said. "Today is the culmination of six months hard work for the team.

"We set ourselves a specific programme today, and we worked through the process and ticked off all the boxes, so we're happy with where we are as we head towards the first race at Brands Hatch."

 

Tin Top Tuesday is back!

What better way to kick off this Easter week of BTCC festivities than by tuning in to the world famous Tin Top Tuesday?

The 2-hour show, hosted by the BTCC’s ever-present pitlane commentator Alan Hyde, will be aired from 8pm this evening and will include a host of headlining guests.

Alan Gow will be live in the studio as he looks ahead to what is sure to be an epic 2015 BTCC season. The Series Director will also be fielding your questions so get in touch with the show on Twitter at @TinTopTuesday using the hashtag #AskAlan.

Reigning champion Colin Turkington will be joining the team for a live interview, as will MG new boy Jack Goff, whilst ITV’s Tim Harvey will inform listeners on what to look out for on the track and on your screens ahead of this weekend.

There will be the usual fun and frolics that you’d expect from any Tin Top Tuesday so make sure you tune into the 2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship preview show at www.tintoptuesday.com.