Tag: BTCC

Brands Hatch braced for unmissable BTCC finale

After nine events and 27 races, the destiny of the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship will be decided around the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit this weekend (September 29/30) – and the fight is still very much on.

Since roaring into life at the Kent venue in early April the BTCC’s Diamond Jubilee year has been one to remember, with records tumbling on a consistent basis. Boasting an impressive 16 different race winners, the series has hit new heights and that is set to continue as the final chapter of the current campaign is written.

Colin Turkington heads to Brands Hatch as the man to beat holding a 34-point advantage over Tom Ingram at the top of the standings. Chasing a third BTCC crown, the Team BMW driver has once again underlined his class with a consistent season to-date.

A single victory, taken at Oulton Park, has been backed up by an additional nine podiums to leave the Northern Irishman with a clear road to the biggest prize in British motorsport.

Standing in the way of Turkington however is reigning Independents champion Ingram, who at the wheel of his Speedworks Toyota Avensis has pieced together a mesmerising championship challenge thus far.

Producing standout performance after standout performance, Ingram descends on Brands Hatch as the hunter and focused on overhauling the 34-point deficit he has to make up over the double champion. Renowned for his overtaking prowess and ability to rise to the occasion, the 25-year-old is expected to be on maximum attack from the get-go.

Tom Chilton also enters the final weekend of the year in mathematical contention for the title but with a gap of 64 markers to make up over Turkington, the Motorbase Performance driver’s chance of overall glory looks to be an unrealistic one.

Whilst the battle for the title will take centre stage, several other drivers will be keen to sign off their season’s in style. Having seen his aspirations of his retaining crown slip away, outgoing champion Ashley Sutton will be on the march for silverware and bidding to finish in the top three.

In addition, the likes of Andrew Jordan, Jack Goff, Adam Morgan, Josh Cook, Matt Neal, Aiden Moffat and Sam Tordoff, to name just a few, are also likely to be in the mix for silverware over the course of the weekend too.

Dan Cammish’s quest for a breakthrough BTCC victory will continue however the Halfords Yuasa Racing driver won’t need to worry about the Jack Sears Trophy after building up an unassailable lead at Silverstone last time out.

The remaining championships see Ingram and Chilton as well as Speedworks and Motorbase locked in a battle for both Independent titles whilst Team BMW will look to successfully retain their BTCC Manufacturer/Constructor and BTCC Teams Championship crowns too.

With a maximum 67 points up for grabs and three high-octane BTCC encounters set to take place around the 2.43 mile circuit, the final chapter of the Britain’s premier race series’ Diamond Jubilee is set to be an enthralling one – and it is not to be missed.

The all-important final qualifying session of the season will take place on Saturday at 15:20 before rounds 28, 29 & 30 take place on Sunday at 11:35, 14:25 & 17:15 respectively.

For more information in the event including links to the full timetable and live timing, click here.

Alan Gow hails 2018 BTCC season as one of the ‘truly great years’

Alan Gow has hailed the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season as going down as one of the ‘truly great years’ in the series’ 60-year history following the Brands Hatch finale this past weekend (September 29/30).

Celebrating its Diamond Jubilee, the BTCC served up a record-breaking campaign which ultimately culminated in Team BMW’s Colin Turkington being crowned champion for a third time.

Boasting another capacity entry list, a total of 17 different drivers tasted victory at some stage through the 30-race campaign as the series travelled the length and breadth of the UK.

Handing the coveted trophy to Turkington on Sunday evening, the BTCC Series Director admitted was full of praise for the newly crowned three-time champion and the championship as a whole.

“This year has certainly lived up to all expectations, how it could it not!” Gow said. “Having 17 different race winners, the championship go down to the wire and a host of incredible races underlines why it will go down as one of the truly great years.

“There has never been an underserving champion and Colin is testament to that. He has shown he is championship material all year and to do it with one win speaks volumes of his consistency and ability to constantly rack up the points.

“It has arguably been the most competitive season in the BTCC; we’ve a record number of winners and the cars are so evenly matched. Cream always rises to the top and Colin is a class act.”

As the dust settles on the 2018 campaign, the focus towards 2019 will soon be on the horizon however Gow admits he isn’t thinking about that just yet.

He explained: “It is hard to see how we can top this year in 2019 but somehow we always seem to do so. I’m sure we will have another fantastic year next season but for now I am going to sit back and think about how well this year has gone.”

Colin Turkington: “Third BTCC title is the most special”

Newly-crowned three-time Dunlop MSA British Touring Car champion Colin Turkington admits his third title is the most special after enduring what he has described as the toughest year of his life away from the circuit.

The Team BMW driver secured the crown on a dramatic final day of the season at Brands Hatch this past weekend (September 29/30) to join an exclusive list of triple champions.

In what has arguably been the BTCC’s most competitive season to-date in the modern era, the Northern Irishman showcased his title credentials with a consistent season that culminated in him scoring just a solitary victory at Oulton Park.

Scoring a further nine podiums along the way, Turkington fended off the charging Tom Ingram to lift the coveted trophy for a third time and in-doing so, be crowned champion in the series’ 60th Anniversary season.

Commenting on his title success, Turkington said: “This title is the most special, it is difficult to believe that it has actually all happened. On Sunday morning I woke up as a double champion and by the evening I went to bed as a triple champion.

“This year has been the hardest of my life and the struggles we have been through as a family have been tough. The BTCC has been the one thing that has kept us happy though and coming here, getting results has been a ray of light for us.

“I had so many reasons why I wanted to win it this year and I was hungrier than ever to do so. We laid the groundwork coming into Brands Hatch but we knew it was going to be tough.

Whilst his third title will write his name into the history books, so will his single victory of 2018 – a feat never before achieved by a driver that would end the year as champion.

Admitting that the competition in the BTCC has been tougher than ever, the BMW driver revealed playing to their strengths was the secret behind his and West Surrey Racing’s success this year.

He explained: “We haven’t had the fastest car this year and as we have seen the competition is fierce; everybody is fast and it gets a step more difficult every year.

“We were clever throughout the year and played to our strengths, maximising what we had along the way too. From Thruxton onwards we began to find our groove and had momentum on our side, we were strong everywhere pretty much.”

Now with all-time record holder Andy Rouse, who holds four titles, in his sights, Turkington admits he would like nothing more than to return and defend his title in 2019 with the number one adorning his car.

“I love this championship and I hope to come back next year and defend my title,” he stated. “For now though I am going to live in the moment and soak up what we as a family and as a team have achieved this year.”

Turkington’s triumph was further backed up with West Surrey Racing and BMW successfully retaining their BTCC Teams Championship and BTCC Manufacturer/Constructors Championship respectively.