AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing will seek to maintain its strong start to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season when the series heads for Thruxton this weekend for the third event of the year.
 
The West Thurrock-based team picked up a pair of points scoring finishes last time out at Donington Park to make it six for the season so far with the MG6 GT, which it is campaigning for the first time this year.
 
Fife racer Rory Butcher continued his impressive start to life with the MG in the second meeting of the year, with two top 15 finishes leaving him just a point away from the top ten in the championship standings.
 
The 31-year-old will be making his return to Thruxton for the first time since 2013, when he posted the fastest lap of the opening race whilst competing in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB.
 
Butcher has fond memories of the quickest circuit on the calendar having also qualified on the front row in the 2012 Carrera Cup – a meeting where he also secured his first two podium finishes in the series and led a race for the first time.
 
With three top ten finishes to his name already this season, Butcher will seek to add to his tally this weekend to maintain his strong placing in both the Independents’ and Jack Sears Trophy standings.

“I’m really looking forward to Thruxton this weekend," said Butcher. "It’s the quickest circuit on the calendar and one of the most exiting, and it will be good to return after five years away.
 
“The fact that we ran the hard tyre that is mandatory at Thruxton during the Donington weekend means we have an idea of how it will perform on the MG and have some good data to take with us into the weekend. That will also help us when you bear in mind that we didn’t take part in the test that was held last month, although I’m confident that that won’t hold us back and we’ll soon be up to speed.
 
“I’ve had a good start to the year and I will adopt the same approach this weekend that I took at Brands Hatch and Donington as it served me well. We’ve been racing strongly and have shown we have a car that is capable of pushing into the points, and anything beyond that is a bonus.”
 
Team-mate Tom Boardman endured a frustrating weekend at Donington Park when his hopes of a strong points finish in the final race were ended by contact that forced him to retire for the first time this season.
 
Returning to the series this season for the first time since 2011, the Forton-based driver has already shown his pace having come close to a podium finish at Brands Hatch and sits just outside the top ten in the Independents’ championship.
 
The 34-year-old has a strong record at Thruxton in the past, having scored a fine fifth place finish on his debut in the top class of the series back in 2010 and his maiden podium finish twelve months later.
 
Keen to put Donington behind him, Boardman heads for Thruxton in confident mood and optimistic about his chances of returning to the points scoring positions.

“Thruxton is a weekend I’ve been really looking forward to as I have always enjoyed the high-speed nature of the circuit," said Boardman. "It’s also a circuit where I’ve gone well before, and I have great memories of taking my first outright podium in the SEAT back in 2011.
 
“Donington proved to be tough for me as we missed out on a really good result in the final race when I was punted off into the gravel, but there were still plenty of positives to take away from the weekend.
 
“Every time we go out on track, I feel that we are moving forwards with the car as we continue to learn more about it, and I’m confident that we can do the same again this weekend and push for some more points.”
 
Shaun Hollamby, AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing Team Principal, added: “With two rounds down, I think we’ve made a good start to life with the MGs and both Tom and Rory have shown strong pace on track. We’ve been able to get some good points on the board and the aim this weekend is to try and add to our tally and maintain our position in the championship.
 
“Although it’s been a few years since either driver raced at Thruxton, they both have good records at the circuit in the past and we are hopeful of more solid results this time around.
 
“We’ve shown that the MG is strong in race trim and whilst points in all three races are the aim, it would be great to see both cars pushing towards the top ten – it’s certainly something we feel is achievable.

“Ahead of this weekend, we are also pleased to add Martin Smith and his company www.usedmgtfspares.co.uk, who specialise in all things MG in East Lydford Somerset, to our growing list of sponsors.”

West Surrey Racing-backed Team BMW returns to the scene of a landmark victory at Thruxton this weekend determined to get back to winning ways in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

BMW scored its 100th BTCC victory at the Hampshire circuit last year as drivers Rob Collard and Colin Turkington took a win apiece in their WSR-run BMW 125i M Sports.

Local hero Collard, from Eversley, Hampshire, is looking forward to his home event, with average qualifying speeds of over 111mph making Thruxton the UK’s fastest circuit.

He has been on the podium for each of the past five seasons – including a memorable maiden victory there in 2017 – and is due to chalk up his 450th BTCC start in Race 3 on Sunday.

“Thruxton is my local circuit and I’m determined to give my home crowd something to cheer about," said Collard. "I’ve finished on the podium there for each of the past five seasons and my win last year was particularly satisfying because it came after an intense battle in the early stages and a three-wide pass into the chicane that is one of the best moves I’ve ever pulled off.

"You have to give your rivals a lot of respect when racing wheel-to-wheel here and you have to look after your tyres in the early stages; which is something the BMW always allows me to do. I’m looking forward to it.”

Team-mate Turkington began his 2018 season with a podium finish at Brands Hatch and he’s aiming to add to his four previous BTCC victories at Thruxton.

He lies 10th in the Drivers’ Championship, but with the podium finishes having been shared by 13 different drivers from 2018’s opening six races, the Northern Irishman remains in the hunt for a third BTCC title and knows that a top-three result could catapult him up the table.

His Thruxton victory with WSR in 2006 remains – at 11.591 seconds – the largest winning margin in the BTCC for 22 years.

“We had a short test day at Thruxton last month and this gave us good a direction for the race weekend," said Turkington. It is by far the most abrasive and demanding circuit on the calendar and this provides a great challenge, not least for the tyres.

"It’s all about tyre management. We need to use the two practice sessions on Saturday to get an understanding for what setup will work over a single qualifying lap, but also what will work over the race distance on Sunday. It felt amazing to celebrate BMW’s 100th BTCC win here last year and we will do everything we can to add further success to that story this weekend.”

Andrew Jordan, in the BMW Pirtek Racing side of the WSR garage, is a master of Thruxton’s high-speed sweeps. He took pole position there in the BTCC in three consecutive seasons from 2012-14 and has two wins and nine podium finishes to his name.

The 2013 BTCC champion has a 100 per cent finishing record so far in what has been the most closely-fought start to a campaign in living memory.

He knows that a victory would likely move him into the top six of the Drivers’ Championship, while reigning Manufacturers’ Champions BMW are also determined to move up from their current second spot in the points table.

“Thruxton is one of my favourite circuits because it’s so high-speed and there’s no better feeling than winning a wheel-to-wheel battle with another driver around one of the long corners here," said Jordan. "You need to be brave, but you also need a well-handling car - like the BMW - that enables you to extract maximum performance from the tyres in qualifying, but also to look after the rubber over a race distance.”

WSR-run cars have scored 14 podiums and five wins in the past 12 seasons at Thruxton and more success will help BMW move up from its current second spot in the BTCC Manufacturers’ Championship.

Dick Bennetts, Team Principal, added: “We head to Thruxton aiming to add to the podiums we achieved at Brands Hatch and to re-establish ourselves at the head of the Manufacturers’ Championship.

"We’ve been pretty pleased with our speed in race trim at both Brands Hatch and Donington, whatever the weather conditions, although luck hasn’t always been on our side and converting that pace into results has been a challenge.

"This championship is shaping up to be the closest in years and we have to dig deeper than ever before to make sure we’re in the mix. A fully dry weekend would allow us to show the true potential of the BMW, as we were able to last year at Thruxton when we won two races.

“Thruxton is a circuit that holds some very happy memories for us, such as the double win we scored last year to give BMW their 100th BTCC victory, but memories don’t win you championships and we’re focused on this weekend.

"As a track, Thruxton places very high demands on tyres; so much so that the rules dictate all cars must use the hard-compound Dunlops in all three races to reduce the risk of punctures.

"Our BMWs have traditionally allowed our drivers to look after their tyres well over a race distance and this should mean we’re able to race our way towards the front as the laps count down.”

The opening six rounds of the 60th Anniversary, 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship could scarcely have been more exciting and we're back in action this weekend at Hampshire's Thruxton Circuit. 

As ever, ITV Sport will have you covered live, free-to-air and exclusive, starting with qualifying on Saturday afternoon – streamed over at itv.com/btcc. Then, on Sunday, Rounds 7, 8 and 9 of the BTCC will be live on ITV4, the ITV Hub and at itv.com/btcc with action from the support series' over an eight-hour programme.

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialBTCC/videos/1970760842965356/

 

Thruxton 19/20 May

Qualifying LIVE: Saturday 19 May
ITV.com/BTCC 1115-1820

Raceday LIVE: Sunday 20 May
ITV4 & ITV4 HD 1115-1820
ITV4+1 1215-1920
ITV Hub 1115-1820
ITV.com/BTCC 1115-1820

Highlights: Saturday 26 May
ITV4 & ITV4 HD 0800-0930
ITV4 +1 0900-1030
ITV Hub Available anytime for the next 30 days

Highlights: Sun 6 May
ITV4 & ITV4 HD 0800-0930
ITV4 +1 0900-1030

Highlights: Wednesday 30 May
ITV & ITV HD 2345-0105

Thruxton is preparing to welcome the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship on 19-20 May, with new race-winner Josh Cook primed as the local driver to watch.

In its 60th anniversary year, the BTCC’s Diamond Jubilee season is already shaping up to become one for the ages as the championship’s perennial favourites go into high-speed battle against the new wave of precocious talents enjoying success in Britain’s premier tin-top series.

It is a ‘revolution’ Cook, from Bath, finds himself at the heart of after claiming his maiden BTCC pole position and victory behind the wheel of his Power Maxed TAG Racing Vauxhall Astra last time out at Donington Park, in so doing lifting himself to third in the overall Drivers’ standings. 

Buoyed by the prospect of following up his landmark weekend with another successful event at the Hampshire Speedbowl, as Thruxton is affectionately known, Cook is convinced that local support has the power to carry him further on the crest of his current wave.

"It was fantastic to stand on top of the BTCC podium for the first time in my career and I cannot wait to experience that winning feeling again and again," the 26-year-old commented. "Thruxton is an exhilarating circuit to race at and nothing would make me happier than to carry our momentum through to another great result. I will be giving it my all and I am sure the vocal home support for me and the team will be worth those extra tenths of a second."

With the BTCC headlining an action-packed TOCA racing weekend, visitors will get their first proper look at the circuit's brand new, industry-leading £2 million hospitality facility – The Thruxton Centre – ahead of its official opening by Nigel Mansell and Murray Walker on Sunday, 3 June amid a weekend of 50th Anniversary celebrations.  

"I am looking forward to exploring the state-of-the-art Thruxton Centre,” Cook continued. “It is a brilliant new centrepiece for the circuit and one that represents an exciting future for this legendary venue."

Cook’s burgeoning BTCC success comes as part of an unmistakable youthful charge among some of the series’ up-and-coming participants, one that currently sees the top eight drivers in the standings average little more than 25 years of age.

Even so, there remains arguably no substitute for experience and few in the BTCC come as seasoned as fellow local favourite Rob Collard, the Frimley man seeking more silverware at Thruxton after a triumphant performance in front of a bumper crowd at the hugely popular Andover venue 12 months ago.

Competing in his 19th season of BTCC competition, Collard in the factory-backed Team BMW 125i M Sport has demonstrated some of his best form in recent years, finishing in the top five overall in  both 2016 and 2017. He will be seeking to replicate his popular 2017 victory this weekend.

Armed with its striking new Civic Type R, Swindon-based Honda UK's works team, Halfords Yuasa Racing, has enjoyed significant success at Thruxton over the years and is targeting a landmark first win for the latest-generation model with its accomplished driver pairing, BTCC veteran Matt Neal and rookie sensation Dan Cammish.

Fan favourite DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing will also strive for the top step at Thruxton with its all-new Alfa Romeo Giulietta. The Swindon team has re-introduced the iconic Italian marque to the BTCC for its first Thruxton appearance in more than a decade, HMS Racing hoping to hark back to Alfa Romeo’s iconic glory days when the Italian factory squad famously swept to the 1994 BTCC title with Gabriele Tarquini.

The RAF Falcons are additionally confirmed to perform their incredible display during Thruxton’s BTCC race meeting on Sunday, 20 May at approximately 10:15. More information can be found here.

Tickets for the BTCC’s visit on 19-20 May can be purchased on the gate, priced at £16 for Saturday (qualifying) and £33 for Sunday (race day). Saturday grandstand seats are an additional £5. Accompanied children aged 15 and under will be admitted free of charge. 
 
For further information, see www.thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc or call 01264 882200 and select Option 1. For details on ticketing for Thruxton’s 50th Anniversary meeting, head to www.thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/50th-anniversary
 
For more information on Thruxton’s race meetings and driving experiences, visit: www.thruxtonracing.co.uk

Swindon-based DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing heads to Britain's fastest racetrack, Thruxton Circuit, looking to put on a show on home turf at the third race meeting of the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship this weekend.

It will be the first chance for hometown supporters to see the new-for-2018 HMS Alfa Romeo Giulietta in race action on their doorstep at the much-loved Hampshire venue, and with only a day's testing there – at the annual TOCA test – Rob Austin is fully expecting that Thruxton's unique properties will mean Rounds 7, 8 and 9 will be somewhat of a leap into the unknown.

The track is one Austin relishes though, as do many of the drivers up and down the 32-car field. It's a circuit where bravery is usually handsomely rewarded and the Evesham racer is eagerly anticipating putting the Giulietta through its paces in competitive trim around the flat-out sweepers.

“We’re heading a little bit into the unknown this weekend,” said Austin, “We’ve only had limited running with our Alfa full stop, but hardly any running at Thruxton.

"It’s such a unique track and is so much faster than anywhere else, we’ll just have to wait and see what happens. We did test last week at Snetterton and we certainly understand now where we went wrong at Donington Park.”

Due to the abrasive nature of the track surface at Thruxton, and the load which it puts on tyres, it's the only event on BTCC calendar which doesn’t feature an option tyre choice with, instead, a specially-developed hard Dunlop SportMaxx compound used throughout.

HMS' Alfa is still very much in the early stages of its development, following a ground-up build over the off-season after the team elected to make the switch from its Toyota Avensis to the Italian machine. 

Having earned an emotional maiden podium with the Giulietta at Brands Hatch, last time out at Donington Park the DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing driver battled back from a challenging qualifying session and contact in race two to post a pair of points finishes.

“We’re obviously on the hard tyre all weekend at Thruxton, which requires certain settings to make it work properly," said Austin. "At the point we’re at now, still developing the car and with lots of work to do each weekend, not having to think about running another tyre choice will be beneficial.

“Our aim is to stay in the top 10 all weekend, we just want points and a solid run after the relative disappointment of Donington. If we get it right at the weekend, though, we can be near the front and that’s what we’ll be working to achieve.”

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 19^th May, plus tickets for the all-important race day on Sunday 20^th 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.

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 50^th 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/.

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...

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'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!”