Honda squad announces new partnership with Reis Motorsport Insurance ahead of Rockingham weekend

Halfords Yuasa Racing will bid to pick up from where it left off as the BTCC resumes at the tricky and technical Rockingham Circuit following a strong haul of points last time out, and the Honda-backed squad has been further buoyed by a new partnership forged with Reis Motorsport Insurance.

Matt Neal’s momentous victory in the 'Diamond Double' at Snetterton – held in honour of the BTCC’s 60th anniversary celebrations – not only signalled his and the Team Dynamics-backed Honda squad’s second victory of the season, but the maximum double-weighted points reward has spurred it towards the summit of the key championship standings.

With four rounds remaining, Honda heads to Rockingham with Neal sitting third in the drivers’ table – 16 points shy of the top spot – while Honda is second and closing on BMW in the manufacturers’ reckoning. Better still, Halfords Yuasa Racing is now in charge of the fiercely-competitive teams’ championship and Dan Cammish is stretching clear in the Jack Sears Trophy thanks to a third podium of the season in Norfolk.

Next up for the in-form pairing is Rockingham, which makes use of its famed banked oval for a unique full throttle blast all the way from the final corner to the first, before the drivers delve into a tricky and technical infield section. 

It is a circuit that suits a balanced all-round package, which Neal says should favour the Civic Type R (FK8) with its accomplished engine and aerodynamically-efficient silhouette. With the team on a roll, both Neal and Cammish head to Rockingham with sights set firmly on more strong points to consolidate its positive placings in the overall classification. 

Halfords Yuasa Racing forges new partnership with Reis Motorsport Insurance

Halfords Yuasa Racing and Team Dynamics are delighted to announce a three year partnership with Reis Motorsport Insurance for the 2018, 2019 and 2020 British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season.

The recently signed agreement will see the brand become the ‘Official Insurer’ for the team with its range of insurance solutions. It also sees their branding feature on both BTCC protagonist’s cars as ‘Technical Sponsorship Partner’.

Mark Taylor – Operations Manager for Reis Motorsport Insurance commented:

“This is a great signing for us. We have tailor-made a comprehensive insurance package that provides cover for every foreseeable situation for the team both on and off the track. You hope that you never have to call on your insurance cover, but we pride ourselves on handling the administrative and management side of the claims process from beginning to end. 

"We are looking forward to leveraging the brand during our three year relationship with the team and ultimately building a close relationship with them and their key sponsors and suppliers.”

James Rodgers – Team Dynamics' Team Manager commented:

“It’s great to welcome Reis on board, we have gone through a lengthy process of selection and they impressed us with their particular knowledge of the Motorsport Industry.  

"As Mark has already alluded, you never look at your insurance policy until you need to call on it and the guys have been great in guiding us through our very complex requirements across the whole business, not just at race track and given us a bespoke solution that matches exactly what we require as an organisation” 

Looking ahead to Rockingham

Matt Neal said:
“It was a truly special feeling to make BTCC history at Snetterton and it’s a pleasure to reward the team for all of the hard work they have put in this year to make the new Civic Type R (FK8) such a competitive package. While we’re all certainly still buzzing and savouring the moment, we are nonetheless focused on the rounds ahead, beginning with Rockingham, a track I had the honour of claiming victory at on the BTCC’s inaugural visit back in 2003. It’ll be tough to replicate that feat considering the success ballast I’ll be carrying but we have tested there this year and the Honda has all the attributes needed to perform well at Rockingham. If we enjoy a clean weekend, we’ll be in good shape overall.”

Dan Cammish said:
“We’re definitely coming to Rockingham on a roll after such a big haul of points at Snetterton. It’s great to see the team riding high in all of the championships at the moment and we’re certainly seeing the benefit of everyone’s hard work this year. As for myself, I was very pleased to be back on the podium again and it just motivates me further to reach that elusive top step, which I feel is getting closer with every round. Rockingham suites the Civic Type R with its balanced chassis and strong engine, so I believe there is great opportunity to collect another set of positive results.”

Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing has announced that Ollie Pidgley will step into the fold at the Team HARD-backed outfit from Rockingham this weekend, with the 20-year-old signing a deal that runs until the end of the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

Pidgley is no stranger to the TOCA package, having competed in the Renault UK Clio Cup in both 2016 and 2017 before shifting to Mini Challenge Great Britain for 2018.

With the opportunity to step up to Britain’s headline championship proffered to him by Team HARD Team Principal Tony Gilham, in place of Dan Welch, Pidgley jumped at the chance.

“The move came about quickly, as these things often do! I spoke to Tony (Gilham) and it’s an opportunity I just had to grasp,” said Pidgley.

“It’s always been a dream of mine and locking in four BTCC race weekends is an unbeatable chance for me. I’m really, really looking forward to it. I’ve got everything in place and I’m ready to go.

As part of Ciceley Motorsport’s junior set-up back in 2016, he was given a day in NGTC machinery at Silverstone and has had a taste of what to expect this weekend as he takes to Team HARD’s Volkswagen CC.

“I sampled BTCC machinery back in 2016 when I was awarded a day’s seat-time with Ciceley Motorsport at Silverstone, having been a part of its Renault UK Clio Cup outfit that year.

“Purely in terms of that being front-wheel drive machinery, and a sequential box, it was a similar feel to what I’ve been used to.

“Obviously, there’s a step, in terms of performance and with the tyre but I feel physically ready. Procedurally, regarding sessions and the structure of a weekend, things will be different but adjusting to that won’t be a problem.”

“I’m going to just go about my business and see how we fare. I am not setting myself any specific targets at this moment.

“We want to set our goals as we go along and improving weekend-by-weekend has to be the aim.

“Clean races, getting seat time and bringing the car home will be our first thought. Rockingham’s a place I like and probably the circuit I know best. I’ll do my own thing and see where that takes us.”

“For me, this is a precursor to achieving a full campaign in the BTCC. I know the cars are coming on a lot at Team HARD and they made a step at the last one with Bobby raking in good points and showing strong pace.

“I know Bobby well and I know he is quick. I’ll be looking to glean information where I can and I know with the way Tony runs things I’ll settle quickly.”

Gilham’s Team HARD is renowned for offering talented young racers the chance to step into the fold and continue their development at what is an established outfit operating within the UK’s premier motorsport series. With Pidgley’s signing, that philosophy continues.

“It’s a change that’s come about very quickly but we’ve been aware of Ollie for a while,” said Gilham. “Bobby (Thompson) and Ollie are close, and they share a similar profile – they’re both young, hungry and up-and-coming drivers that deserve a chance in Britain’s top-tier championship.

“The conversation was an easy one for us to have, and he’s in the seat for the remainder of the season.

“As an outfit, we’ve always been willing to back young talent and we’ve played a part in developing the careers of several drivers who’ve gone on to prove themselves as very capable racers. The likes of Aiden Moffat, James Cole and Jack Goff have all been a part of the Team HARD stable and have gone on to become race winners in the BTCC.

“We were sure we’d made a good step forward with the car at Snetterton, and with Bobby scoring a top ten finish and double points in the ‘Diamond Double’ we were vindicated in our efforts. His pace was right up there too over the course of the weekend. We’re looking for more of the same from our quartet going forward.”

AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing has today confirmed the signing of former British GT Champion Glynn Geddie ahead of the seventh weekend of the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Rockingham.

Geddie will form part of an all-Scottish line-up for the West Thurrock based team alongside Rory Butcher, and takes over at the wheel of the MG6 GT that secured a top ten finish in the hands of substitute driver Ant Whorton-Eales during the special 'Diamond Double' meeting at Snetterton last month.

Aberdeen racer Geddie has enjoyed an impressive career to date having enjoyed championship success in multiple series through the years.

Winner of the Pro-Am2 and Pro-Am1 titles in consecutive seasons in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, Geddie then switched to GT racing in 2011 as part of the Trackspeed assault on the GT3 class – taking four wins to finish second in the championship standings.

A switch to CRS Racing and Ferrari the following season however saw him secure the championship crown alongside father Jim, with the pair then picking up more silverware following a move into European competition with United Autosports – lifting the crown in the Benelux-based Supercar Challenge series in 2013.

Geddie then went on to spend a part-season in the BTCC in 2014 and has since raced in a range of different series, most recently the Porsche GT3 Cup in the Middle East.

As a new entrant to the BTCC, the 28-year-old will carry 45kg of additional ballast on his MG6 GT through qualifying and the opening race of the weekend.

Fife-based team-mate Butcher heads for Rockingham keen to bounce back from a tough weekend on track at Snetterton last time out, where an unfortunate mechanical issue and then multiple bouts of contact prevented him from adding to his points tally.

That meant he was unable to make the most of the impressive speed he had shown at the wheel of his MG6 throughout the opening half of the year and he now hope to add to the ten points finishes he has secured already in his first full season in the series. 

Rockingham marks the first circuit on the calendar where Butcher has raced a BTCC car in the past, having been the scene of his second outing with the Motorbase team twelve months ago – with a 14^thplace finish in the final race being his best result.

This time around, the 31-year-old will hope to push towards the top ten to improve his position in both the Independents’ and Jack Sears Trophy standings. 

Glynn Geddie, #41 AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing MG6 GT said:

“I raced in the Middle East over the winter and have been looking at the options available for a programme since then. I’d been speaking to Rory about the BTCC, and when the MG drive became available, it was at the right time for both my sponsors RAM Tubulars and I to try and sort a deal.

“I feel I have some unfinished business with the BTCC and it’s great to have a chance to return to the series. I know it will be a big learning curve as I haven’t raced a front-wheel drive car since my part-season in the Toyota, and I know it might take me a little longer to get back up to speed than if I was jumping into one of the rear-wheel drive sportscars I have raced for most of my career.

“Realistically, the Rockingham weekend will be a bit of a test for me ahead of a big weekend on home soil at Knockhill, but my aim is to work with Rory and the team to work my way forwards in each session and see how I get on.

“I’ve got to say thanks to Shaun and the team, as well as RCIB and AutoAid, for the chance to return to the BTCC and I can’t wait to get started.”

Rory Butcher, #6 AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing MG6 GT, said:

“Snetterton was a frustrating weekend for me as we had a real opportunity to score some good points and didn’t due to circumstances outside our control. But I have to just put that weekend behind me now and try and hope that luck will be more on our side at Rockingham. 

“I’m going there feeling positive as I think it is a circuit that will suit the MG and I see no reason why we can’t look to challenge for some decent points finishes. It’s also the first circuit we’ll visit this season where I have raced a touring car before, which can only benefit me as I’ll have an idea of things like how the tyres are going to perform across the races.

“I have a good feeling about this weekend and it’s great to be going there as part of an all-Scottish driver line-up alongside Glynn. We’ve known each other for years and have raced each other a number of times, and I feel he will be a good addition to the team.” 

Shaun Hollamby, AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing team principal, said:

“We’re pleased to welcome Glynn Geddie into the team and it’s great to have two Scottish drivers together in the team when we have the meeting at Knockhill coming up later in the month.

“Glynn is a driver who has enjoyed success in a range of championships during his career so far, and I feel confident that he will be able to challenge for some strong results when he gets up to speed in the MG. It will be tough for him this weekend at Rockingham with the extra weight and the fact it will be his first time in the car, so the focus is very much of maximising his track time to learn as much as possible.

“For Rory, there is no doubting that Snetterton was a disappointing weekend through no fault of his own, but we are confident that he can continue to push for points this weekend and secure some more strong results to add to those we have seen already this season.”

Ricky Collard will make his Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship debut at Rockingham this weekend (11/12 August) as he substitutes for his father Rob at Team BMW.

The 22-year-old from Eversley, Hampshire, will join Colin Turkington at the WSR-run team at Rockingham and the following round at Knockhill while Rob recovers from a concussion sustained as a result of two high-speed incidents at Snetterton in July.

Ricky – a BMW Motorsport Junior driver, who has this year competed primarily in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup – tested the BMW 125i M Sport BTCC car at Silverstone late last year and has also participated in several pre-event shakedown sessions.

A BRDC Rising Star, Ricky was the runner-up in the BTCC-supporting F4 British Championship in 2015 and in BRDC F3 the following season.

A class-winner at the 2017 Nurburgring 24 Hours and a race winner in Germany’s ultra-competitive ADAC GT Masters series, Ricky this year claimed a British GT4 podium at Oulton Park following a late call-up and saw his car run second at the recent Spa 24 Hours before an issue forced its retirement.

Ricky Collard said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for me. I’ve been around the BTCC paddock throughout my childhood and teenage years watching Dad race – mostly with WSR – and I’ve been desperate to compete in the series for a long time, especially for a team with their record of success. While I never wanted my debut to be under circumstances like this, Team BMW are one of the best in the BTCC, have won the championship for the past two seasons and are right in the thick of the title battle again. My target is to do the best job I can and help score as many points as possible for the Teams’ and Manufacturers’ championships.”

Rob Collard said: “Concussion - in motorsport, and many other sports - is something the medical profession is working hard to understand better. The advice for now is to sit out Rockingham and Knockhill, but if I can’t be in the car, the next best thing for me is to see another Collard in there. I’m extremely proud that Ricky will drive the ‘Collard’ Team BMW car. Giving him the benefit of my knowledge and experience of the 125i M Sport and the BTCC, alongside Ricky’s pace as a BMW Motorsport Junior, we have everything to play for, with the key objective to support the hunt for the Teams’ and Manufacturers’ titles.”

Dick Bennetts, Team Principal, said: “While we’re extremely sorry for Rob and wish him a speedy return, we’re pleased to be able to give Ricky Collard, a young driver with a huge amount of talent, an opportunity to drive the Team BMW 125i M Sport at Rockingham and Knockhill. Ricky tested the BMW with us last November and was extremely impressive. For a young driver who had never been behind the wheel of a touring car before, his pace and – in particular – his technical feedback, were very strong. It will be very important to use the free practice sessions wisely as we try to get him up to speed as quickly as possible. I’m sure he’ll do a good job.”

Team BMW will field a revised line-up this weekend as Rob Collard has been ruled out of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship events at Rockingham and Knockhill on medical grounds.

Collard was involved in high-speed incidents during Races 1 and 2 at Snetterton; the second of which meant that his BMW 125i M Sport was unrepairable on-site and also left him with a concussion.

Having been under observation by the TOCA medical team since a previous heavy impact at Silverstone in September 2017, the driver from Eversley, Hampshire, was prevented from taking part in the third race of the day at Snetterton and will miss the Rockingham and Knockhill events as well.

A substitute driver will be named in the coming days while Rob works on returning to the BTCC as quickly as possible.

Rob Collard said: “After suffering a serious concussion in a crash at Silverstone in 2017, I was cleared to return to racing earlier this year while remaining under close monitoring by the TOCA medical team. Following a pair of high-speed, high-impact accidents in Races 1 and 2 at Snetterton, and after reviewing the results of a concussion test with the medics at the track, it was ruled that I was unfit to participate in the special ‘Diamond Double’ race and that I should not race at Rockingham or Knockhill either. I’m absolutely gutted for Team BMW, all my sponsors and supporters and I’d like to thank the TOCA medical team for their professionalism and support, as always.”

Dick Bennetts, Team Principal, said: “I really feel for Rob. Having first competed in the BTCC together in 2005, we’ve experienced some incredible highs including back-to-back Teams’ and Manufacturers’ titles over the past two seasons and – most recently – his win at Oulton Park in June. We hope the doctors give him the all-clear to return very soon and, on behalf of everyone at Team BMW and WSR, I’d like to wish him a speedy recovery.”

It's all to play for with four race weekends of the 2018 season remaining

After a weekend of Diamond Jubilee celebrations last time out at Snetterton, the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship moves on to its latest port of call – Northamptonshire's Rockingham circuit for Round 19, 20 and 21 of the 2018 campaign next weekend (11/12 August).

The trip has often proven a pivotal one as drivers fight to stamp their authority on the title as the competition heads towards the home straight. That said, there's still plenty of time for any number of contenders in Britain's top-tier motorsport series to make their move and put themselves in the shakeup for glory.

In any case, a weekend of enthralling action around the 1.94-mile circuit will entertain the crowds, and many more watching on ITV4. It was announced that Rockingham would not be part of the 2019 BTCC calendar, so all the more reason to visit one of the UK's more unique motor racing settings next weekend – the partial-oval layout is unlike any other.

As things stand...
Halfords Yuasa Racing's legendary BTCC racer Matt Neal took the honours in the showpiece 'Diamond Double' last weekend, and with double the usual quota of championship points up for grabs, he's brought himself right into the reckoning in the title charge, just 16 points adrift of the new pace-setter – Speedworks Motorsport's Tom Ingram.

The Toyota driver pulled a real rabbit out of the hat in race two, as he stormed through the field from 27th on the grid to seal a podium at the last – swiping third from Neal's Honda team-mate Dan Cammish by just 0.042 seconds as the pair crossed the line in a photo finish.

That wasn't the only photo finish of the day, either, as earlier on, in the opening round from Norfolk, WIX Racing with Eurotech's Jack Goff held on despite the best efforts of reigning champion Ash Sutton in the Adrian Flux Subaru Racing Levorg. Sutton had made it past the flying Honda Civic Type R as the pair duelled through the final sector of the final lap, but Goff fought back and, with good drive out of the final turn, pipped the Subaru man at the post to take the victory.

Sutton did bite back, sealing top honours in race two, ensuring he remains in contention as he looks to successfully defend his crown, a little under 40 points shy of the standings summit. 

Having led the running on the way into Snetterton, Team BMW's Colin Turkington was forced into deploying some of his very best recovery driving to remain within touching distance. With a maximum complement of 75 kilograms of success ballast on-board his 1 Series, due to his position of championship leader ahead of the weekend, qualifying proved a real task. The Northern Irishman hauled the BMW to 15th and mid-pack for Round 16.

With the field so close and so competitive, the midfield battle always proves fierce and Turkington couldn't escape contact, which saw him fail to finish race two. A zero score required a comeback, and in the 'Diamond Double' Turkington profited with sixth spot, leaving him right on Ingram's coat-tails heading to Rockingham.

With almost 270 points still to play for in this year's championship, that margin, and the standings order, is more than liable to change, especially among the current 'power four' – Ingram, Turkington, Neal and Goff heading the way, separated by just 17 points.

Double delights
Another chapter was written in the BTCC's storied six-decade history last weekend as Honda stalwart, series legend, and triple champion, Matt Neal notched victory in the 'Diamond Double'. 

The one-off 60-mile, ballast-free double-points race was announced ahead of the 2018 season as a special celebratory contest to mark the 60-year anniversary of the BTCC. As soon as it had taken up a spot on the calendar, teams and drivers clamoured to ensure they'd be in contention to win it.

Neal is one driver who performs when the gauntlet's thrown down, as his famous 1999 victory at Donington Park – the first outright Independent win in the modern era – attests. His 63rd BTCC victory at Snetterton last weekend was a special one for the 51-year-old, who made his series debut all the way back in 1991. 

“It was a truly magical day for the entire Halfords Yuasa Racing team," said Neal. "To produce a result like that on a level playing field with no success ballast is testament to the pure performance and the fundamental competitiveness of the Civic Type R, as well as demonstrate how hard the team has worked to unlock its potential since the start of the season.

"We had a tough race one and two in tough conditions, but we were always confident for the ‘big one’ from the front row and while the car didn’t feel settled initially it got better and better as the race went on.
 
"Once I was in the lead I was determined not to put a wheel wrong, which was tough because Jack (Goff) and Tom (Ingram) were all over me, but the Civic Type R performed perfectly right to the flag. I’m so very proud to be part of another landmark BTCC moment, it is one I certainly won’t forget."

Timetable and Tickets
All three BTCC races on Sunday, 12 August – and the day’s other races – will be broadcast live and in high definition on ITV4. Those in attendance at the circuit can stay in touch with the commentary and live timing from every session, available at btcc.net/live throughout the weekend.

The support series on the TOCA package are also guaranteed to thrill, with a double-digit total of races set to entertain the crowds. Renault UK Clio Cup, F4 British Championship and the Ginettas will all be appearing, making for a jam-packed weekend of truly unmissable racing.

Advance tickets can be booked online at www.rockingham.co.uk or via the hotline on 01536 500500 (option 1). Weekend passes cost £42, Sunday race day tickets are £33.50 and Saturday entry price is just £13. General admission starts at £34 (no Sunday grandstand entry).
 
Rockingham prides itself on providing access to all motorsport fans, and those who are registered disabled can apply for a complimentary admission ticket for their carer, while children aged 16 and under get in free.

Gates open at 0800 on both days.

WIX Racing with Eurotech bounced back from a disappointing Croft weekend with a race win and pace aplenty at Snetterton as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship marked its Diamond Jubilee.

Jack Goff laid down markers in practice before sealing a double pole position – and a new qualifying lap record in the process, ensuring he'd be on pole for the much vaunted 'Diamond Double'. 

On Sunday, he followed up with a remarkably close victory, and second spot in the special, one-off 60-mile finale – with a bumper double-points haul in his pocket.

The team’s promise was evident from the off in FP1, with the Eurotech-run Simpson Racing Honda Civic Type R of Matt Simpson topping the times on a tricky drying-but-still-damp track.

In FP2, all three Eurotech Civic Type R’s were in-amongst it at the top of the times. When the chequered flag fell, it was Goff who headed the way with Simpson third and Brett Smith fifth. A trio of WIX Racing with Eurotech machines in the top six – no mean feat.

Conditions improved for qualifying and the strength of the Eurotech Civic Type R’s was clear, with Goff taking pole and sealing a new lap record. Simpson took third and Smith forth. With Dan Cammish sitting in-between in second, it made for an all-Honda front two rows on the race one grid.

A second qualifying session for the ‘Diamond Double’, 60-mile, double-points encounter followed. Once again, Goff put the Type R on pole position, smashing his own lap record. Both Smith and Simpson fell foul of track limits however, placing ninth and 13th respectively after having their fastest lap times disallowed.

With Sunday came more rain, and unpredictable track conditions. Goff fired away from pole position in the opener and drove with intent from the off, building up a commanding three-second lead in the wet.

His advantage looked strong but the Subaru of reigning champion Ash Sutton closed in, in the latter stages, resulting in one of the tightest BTCC race finishes in recent memory. 

A series of fastest laps midway through the race eventually left Sutton on Goff’s tail with less than two tours of the Norfolk track to go. Slight contact through Brundle’s was followed by a tooth-and-nail scrap over the last four or five miles of action. 

A slight moment at the Bomb Hole for Goff let Sutton around the outside on the last lap and both cars exited the final corner almost side-by-side. Goff had a better run to the line, though, and hauled his Honda alongside, and ultimately just ahead, of Sutton’s Subaru as the chequered flag fell – clinching an extroardinary photo finish by just 0.152s.

Team-mate Smith had completed a strong points haul with 11^th while Simpson sustained damage, resulting in enforced retirement.

The team suffered a big blow ahead of Race 2, missing out on the pit-lane closure time while trying to make set-up changes. This meant Goff would have to start from the pit-lane rather than the front of the grid.

Come lights out, Smith was in the thick of the action. After a race-long battle with Tom Chilton, he eventually took the chequered flag in 12th. Goff and Simpson, meanwhile, battled their way up through the back of the pack to finish 17th and 19th respectively.

Goff sat on pole for the 'Diamond Double' and made a clean getaway, taking the lead from BTCC legend Matt Neal with Tom Ingram getting the better of Tom Chilton to snatch third.

It remained that way until the rain returned. As leader, Goff was the barometer and a lock-up into turn one, despite warnings from his engineer over the radio moments earlier, meant Neal was able to nip ahead and take advantage.

The top three took the chequered flag together, with Neal leading Goff and Ingram home, lifting Jack Goff to fourth in the Driver’s Championship, just one point behind Matt Neal in third and seventeen behind leader Tom Ingram. Eurotech closed to within three points of Speedworks Motorsport in the Independent Teams' standings.

"That was a pretty special weekend," said Goff. "To not only be a part of the 60th anniversary weekend but to put it on pole position in both qualifying sessions with a new lap record will be something that will live long in my memory.

"To then convert Pole into a race win in the ‘Diamond Double’ race along with two Independent wins was just a great way to bounce back after our disappointment of Croft”.

Team Principal Jeff Smith added: ‘I am incredibly proud of the whole team. We came here after a shocking round at Croft which has turned in to our bogey circuit, but we kept our heads up and kept pushing.

“We knew our cars are strong at Snetterton and we worked on improving our strengths at the two-day test here which has obviously paid dividends. The lads have driven brilliantly, and this has been the result of a fantastic team effort. It is even more special being the 60^th anniversary weekend.

“I am proud that we will go down in the history books as a part of that success and that we are back on track to seriously push for the championship."

AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing's Ant Whorton-Eales marked a return to Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship machinery in fine style, claiming overall Dunlop #ForeverForward honours at Snetterton with 31 positions gained. Tom Ingram and Senna Proctor, meanwhile, share the overall #ForeverForward lead.

Last weekend's celebratory 'Diamond Double' weekend saw 23 of the 31 car field opt for the Dunlop Sport Maxx Option-Soft tyre in race one, with all drivers required to use the yellow side-walled Prime tyre for the 60-mile, ballast-free, double points-scoring finale.

A downpour on Sunday morning resulted in the full adoption of Dunlop’s Sport BluResponse wet tyre throughout the field. BTC Norlin Racing's pairing of Chris Smiley and Dan Lloyd revelled in the conditions to gain 14 positions apiece from their respective grid slots of 21st and 23rd to top the race one movers' list.

The second race saw further status quo in terms of tyre allocation. A wet opener, and the Prime-only allocation for the 'Diamond Double' meant teams had to run their Option-Softs in Round 17.

As track conditions improved and a dry line began to form, lap times tumbled by more than eight seconds, showcasing just how wide a window in which Dunlop's Option rubber can operate.

Speedworks Motorsport's Tom Ingram surged from 27th to third, gaining 24 positions on the way to what had looked an unlikely podium at the start of the race and ensuring he'd be top of race two's #ForeverForward running.

Ciceley Motorsport racer Tom Oliphant produced some eye-catching manoeuvres mid-pack, including a stunning pass around the outside of former BTCC champion Andrew Jordan.

After falling down the order to the back of the grid in race two, through no fault of his own, the DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing Alfa Romeo of Rob Austin surged early on in the 'Diamond Double', with the Evesham racer making up 14 positions in two laps, leaping from 24th to 10th.

Ant Whorton-Eales gained 15 spots, contributing to a table-topping 31-place gain over the weekend as he clambered up the order from 30th in Qualifying 1 to a top ten finish with 10th come race two – sealing weekend #ForeverForward honours ahead of Senna Proctor (27) and Ingram (25).

Ingram’s race two charge was decisive in ensuring he left Snetterton with the overall #ForeverForward lead, as well as heading the way in the Drivers' Championship. Power Maxed TAG Racing's Proctor is tied with the Speedworks man atop the overall #ForeverForward chart heading to Rockingham (11-12 August).

#ForeverForward weekend honours

1. Ant WHORTON-EALES, 31
2. Senna PROCTOR, 27
3. Tom INGRAM, 25
4. Daniel LLOYD, 22
5. Bobby THOMPSON, 21
6. Sam SMELT, 20
7.  Dan WELCH, 19
8=. Stephen JELLEY/Chris SMILEY, 16
10. Aiden MOFFAT, 14

#ForeverForward overall standings

1=. Tom INGRAM/Senna PROCTOR, 92
3. Adam MORGAN, 79
4. Tom BOARDMAN, 78
5. Stephen JELLEY, 76
6=. Jake HILL/Josh COOK/Ollie JACKSON, 75
9. Rob AUSTIN, 74
10. Mike BUSHELL, 70

In celebration of 60 years of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Dunlop Tyres is running a bespoke promotion to attract fans of the BTCC to fit new tyres and enjoy some fantastic racing for free.

Fans who purchase two or more qualifying Dunlop tyres* between now and 14 September 2018 will receive two tickets to one of the remaining race weekends of the 2018 campaign.

The promotion aims at getting fans at the heart of what they love most; racing. To take advantage of the promotions, fans simply need to purchase two (2) or more Dunlop tyres* in a Dunlop stockist in the UK and claim their free tickets via Dunlop’s reward website using promo code ‘SportMaxx’. 

Jamie Stanton, Assistant Brand Manager for Dunlop said: “We know how much fans of the BTCC love being in the throng of a race weekend and that’s why we have developed this bespoke promotion for them. Dunlop has a long heritage with BTCC and this is the perfect opportunity for us to give back to the fans who enjoy driving on our products and attending race meetings.”

Alan Gow, BTCC Series Director commented: “In our 60^th year we are doing a lot of activities to engage with our fan base and thanks to Dunlop we will be able to have even more people at the track enjoying the action across the second half of the season.”

Terms and conditions of the promotion can be found at www.dunloprewards.co.uk

Evolution of BTCC regulations to include hybrid at the end of 2021

TOCA, Series Organiser of the MSA British Touring Car Championship, has announced that hybrid power will be introduced to the series within the evolution of the current technical regulations at the end of 2021.
 
The hugely successful NGTC regulations are already in the second half of its ten-year term, and at a meeting last week the BTCC Technical Working Group (TWG) agreed an outline of the pathway for the introduction of hybrid energy.
 
It was confirmed at the TWG that a specified hybrid unit would be fitted to all cars as an addition to their current drive train. This will allow each car to have a reserve of supplementary hybrid power available during each race, which can then be used by drivers as part of their overall race strategy.
 
The detailed engineering aspects of the project will now commence in close conjunction with the TWG, with finite technical decisions to be made over the coming 12-18 months. It’s envisaged that some current cars will be fitted with hybrid units during 2020/2021 as part of the project’s test and development programme.
 
Updates will be provided by TOCA during the course of the project.
 
Alan Gow, BTCC Series Director, said: “We’re going through a very important and exciting time for this great championship, so I’m delighted to now confirm that the BTCC will be introducing hybrid energy as part of our evolution.
 
“This concept was very welcomed at our recent TWG meeting and now the real work begins as to the technical implementation. But different to hybrid development within the likes of Formula 1, this certainly shouldn’t – and won’t – be an ‘extreme’ technical exercise, but rather will be one which we will introduce within our NGTC technical regulations relatively seamlessly and very cost-effectively.
 
“Just as importantly, by incorporating hybrid it keeps the BTCC absolutely relevant to manufacturers, sponsors and the public… with the added benefit of further enhancing our great racing. Drivers will have a given reserve of additional hybrid power to use during each race, which will provide an extra element of race-craft and excitement to the fantastically close and entertaining racing that is the hallmark of the BTCC.”