Porsche Carrera Cup update, Rounds 10 and 11

One of the best supported "support" acts to the BTCC is the Porsche Carrera cup, which must also rank as one of the most successful one make series in the UK as well. With a grid of 25 cars it's certainly a great addition to the BTCC calendar. Here's a round up of the latest action from Snetterton last weekend.

Round 10

Stephen Jelley scored a hugely important victory in a superb round 10 of the Carrera Cup GB. After 14 laps of the Snetterton 300 circuit, little more than two seconds split the top five cars and victory for Jelley put him to the head of the title race. Michael Meadows and impressive championship newcomer, Ben Barker, completed the overall podium, while the action continued all the way down the 25-car field. Jonas Gelzinis took Pro-Am1 as a fierce battle raged over second place, while Keith Webster beat George Brewster by less than half a second in Pro-Am2 after both had spins.

The 25-car field of 450 hp 911 GT3 Cup cars made a fabulous sight on the Snetterton grid and it was Meadows (Banbury) who led the pack away from pole. However, into Agostini’s hairpin on the opening lap, Jelley (Leicester) spotted a gap and dived ahead. “He left the door open and I went for it,” said Jelley. “I was a bit hesitant on the brakes,” said Meadows. Porsche Carrera Cup GB scholarship winner Ben Hetherington (Cheshire) burst through to lie third off the grid, but was adjudged to have jumped the start and had to take a drive through penalty.

As Jelley and Meadows settled into a rhythm at the head of the field, it was Barker (Clare, Suffolk) who was on the move and, from sixth on the opening lap, he passed Richard Plant (Sheffield) and Euan Hankey (Taunton) to take third as Hetherington took his penalty. Once clear in third, Barker set about closing the gap to the leaders and set the fastest lap of the race as he reeled in Jelley and Meadows. With five laps to run, Barker – an Englishman who has been racing in the Carrera Cup Championship in Australia – made it a three car contest for the lead and his arrival on Meadows’ tail gave Jelley a slight breathing space.

Then, into the closing laps, Plant and Hankey closed in as well to make a five car train at the head of the race. Despite race-long pressure from Meadows, Jelley drove a superbly controlled race to take his third win of the season as well as the Championship lead. “It was never comfortable and I thought that Ben Barker coming up might be a good thing for me,” said Jelley. “This could be an important weekend for the Championship.”

Meadows held firm in second, while Barker starred with his drive to third place in such a competitive field. “I didn’t want to take any big risks,” said Barker. “The podium was good for me and I had a great car from Parr.”

Plant had a fine run to fourth to match his best result of the season, while Hankey was right on his tail in fifth.

Pro-Am1 winner Gelzinis (Lithuania) was sixth overall ahead of former Championship leader James Sutton (London) who just didn’t have the pace to make up any places.

Gelzinis was away and clear in Pro-Am1 and had to fend off Sutton in the early laps. “It was a bit difficult when Sutton was behind me, but I managed to pull away,” said the Lithuanian racer. The battle for second and third in Pro-Am1 was far less settled, however, and a fierce contest raged between Derek Pierce (West Kilbride), Ahmad Al Harthy (Oman), Rory Butcher (Kirkcaldy) and Freddy Nordstrom (Weybridge). Eventually, Al Harthy spun at Riches after contact with Martin, and Pierce spun on the infield after a clash with Butcher and it was Martin who took second from Butcher as Daniele Perfetti (Italy) took fourth from the recovering Pierce.

Pro-Am2 also delivered some drama as Yucel Ozbek (Turkey), Webster (Liphook) and Brewster (Edinburgh) all had turns in the lead, and all had spins. Eventually, Webster got ahead but it was close as Brewster fought back for second after a spin at Agostini’s hairpin, and with Ozbek also spinning down the order it was Richard Denny (London) who took the final podium place. “Ozbek pulled off a brilliant move on me and then threw it off at the next corner,” said Webster. “The whole thing hinged on two mistakes; one by Keith and one by me,” said Brewster. “It was fantastic racing!”

Round 11

Jelley made it a perfect weekend in Norfolk when he won round 11 of the Carrera Cup GB to make it a double victory in a very important weekend for his title bid. Meadows again chased Jelley home as they both moved ahead of erstwhile Championship leader Sutton; Jelley now has an 11-point lead in the table. Gelzinis doubled up in Pro-Am1, while Pro-Am2 was only decided at the final corner when Webster dived ahead of Ozbek.

Jelley raced ahead from pole position and controlled the race from the front while under pressure from Meadows. After an early Safety Car period, Meadows mounted a concerted attack but Jelley was able to match his rival and then edged clear over the second half of the race. “We seemed to have the legs after the first quarter of the race,” said Jelley. “To outscore Michael Meadows and James Sutton is what we wanted.” Meadows chased Jelley to the flag, but was fortunate to make the finish in second as a slow rear puncture struck with four laps to run.

Into his first Carrera Cup podium finish was Plant, after spending the entire race containing the challenge of Sutton. It was 15 laps of pressure for Plant, but he was equal to the task and was delighted with his best Carrera Cup result to date.

“To be at the front with the big guys was great, but that was hard work,” said Plant. For Sutton it was a case of damage limitation during a trying weekend when he did not quite have the pace to challenge for victory.

Right behind Plant and Sutton were Barker and Hankey in a fast-moving train of cars that also included Gelzinis, Hetherington and Sam Tordoff (Leeds). Barker’s excellent pace helped earn the ‘Team of the Weekend’ award for Parr Motorsport.

Gelzinis extended his Pro-Am1 advantage with his second category win of the weekend. “I tried to fight with Euan and that stressed the tyres a little bit,” said Gelzinis. “It was very hard to control the car later in the race.” Over the first half of the race, a tremendous battle raged over second place in Pro-Am1 as Pierce headed Butcher, Al Harthy, Alex Martin (Somerset) and Nordstrom. Pierce defended resolutely for several laps before Butcher edged ahead at Agostini’s hairpin. Once ahead, Butcher pulled quickly away for a secure second in Pro-Am1. “It was another really hard fight with Derek,” said Butcher. Despite constant pressure from Martin, Pierce completed the Pro-Am1 podium. “It’s been a hard day,” said Pierce.

The Pro-Am2 contest ran right to the very last corner of the race as Webster mounted a relentless chase of his Redline Racing team-mate Ozbek. Then, as they braked for Murray’s chicane for the last time, Webster scythed ahead in a spectacular move to take victory and help earn the ‘Driver of the Weekend’ award. “The Bomb Hole was the one place I was quicker and that set up the move,” said Webster. “That’s the best I’ve driven all weekend,” he added. Ozbek salvaged second place while Steve Parish (London) recovered to take third after Brewster hit alternator problems early in the race.

The 2011 Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship moves to Knockhill in Fife, Scotland, for the next rounds on September 3/4.

Provisional 2011 Drivers’ Championship points positions

After round 11, Snetterton 7 August

1 Stephen Jelley 186

2 Michael Meadows 177

3 James Sutton 174

4 Euan Hankey 134

5 Richard Plant 113

6 Jonas Gelzinis 106

7 Michael Caine 84

= Sam Tordoff 84

9 Rory Butcher 71

10 Tim Harvey 66

= Ben Hetherington 66

12 Ahmad Al Harthy 49

13 Derek Pierce 42

14 Ben Barker 29

15 Alex Martin 25

16 Kieran Vernon 22

17 George Richardson 20

18 Daniele Perfetti 13

19 Andrew Shelley 6

= Michael Leonard 6

= Richard Denny 6

22 George Brewster 5

23 Freddy Nordstrom 1

24 Steve Parish 0

= Tommy Dreelan 0

= Tautvydas Barstys 0

= John Taylor 0

= Keith Webster 0

= Yucel Ozbek 0

Pro-Am1 category

1 Jonas Gelzinis 121

2 Rory Butcher 73

3 Ahmad Al Harthy 51

4 Derek Pierce 43

5 Alex Martin 25

6 George Richardson 20

7 Daniele Perfetti 13

8 Michael Leonard 6

9 Freddy Nordstrom 1

Pro-Am2 category

1 Keith Webster 85

2 George Brewster 81

3 Andrew Shelley 74

4 Richard Denny 66

5 Tommy Dreelan 55

6 Steve Parish 49

7 John Taylor 48

8 Tautvydas Barstys 26

9 Yucel Ozbek 18

NOTES:

Round 2, Brands Hatch (3 April) Keith Webster penalised two points

Round 2, Brands Hatch (3 April) Rory Butcher penalised three points

Round 10, Snetterton (7 August) Alex Martin penalised two points

BTCC Rocks Snetterton 300

Mat Jackson leads the BTCC in his Airwaves Ford Focus

Jason Plato, Gordon Shedden and Mat Jackson were the winners of yesterday’s three highly-charged Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship races at the new Snetterton 300 circuit while erstwhile points leader Matt Neal suffered an event to forget. It is Warwickshire racer Jackson who has left the Norfolk venue as the new championship leader as the title race heads to second-placed Shedden’s home circuit of Knockhill, Fife in four weeks’ time (Sunday 4 September).

Oxford’s Plato won the first race from pole position in his Chevrolet Cruze but only after a controversial clash with Neal at the first bend that sent the Honda driver into a costly spin. Alex MacDowall took second to cement a dream 1-2 result for the Silverline Chevrolet team ahead of Shedden in third. After qualifying a lowly 13th on Saturday, Jackson came through to finish sixth.

Jason Plato was the BTCC's big points scorer at Snetterton

Scotsman Shedden won race two in his Honda Civic to move past Neal and into the championship lead. Keeping his title hopes alive, Newport Pagnell’s James Nash was second in his 888 Racing with Collins Contractors Vauxhall Vectra ahead of Plato in third. Jackson was sixth again to move into second in the standings ahead of Worcestershire’s Neal who suffered more woes, this time with a punctured tyre.

Jackson then won race three in his Airwaves Racing Ford Focus ahead of a feisty Paul O’Neill in his GoMobileUK.com with tech-speed Chevrolet and Plato who took another third to make it podium results in all three races. Neal finally put points on the board with a stunning charge from 17th to fourth but Shedden was only seventh after damaging his Honda.
As a result, Jackson, for the first time in his career, now leads the BTCC ahead of Shedden, Neal, Snetterton’s biggest points-scorer Plato and Nash. Just 31 points cover these five. Furthermore, Jackson becomes the fifth different driver this season to lead the championship.

Gordon Shedden celebrates race 2 victory..

Jackson from Henley in Arden said: “I’m delighted but it’s way too early to think about titles. Just look how quickly fortunes have changed today and we’ve still got four events – that’s twelve races – to go. You have to remember we’re privateers taking on the bigger budget Honda and Chevrolet teams and maybe it’s starting to niggle them – I’m already beginning to sense a bit of mind games! Between now and Knockhill I’ll be busy renovating the house I’ve just bought with a big lump hammer to take my mind off things…”

Having also tasted the championship lead for the first time earlier today Shedden, from Dalgety Bay, Fife added: “It’s absolutely game on from here on in, isn’t it? Two more podiums have obviously kept me right in the hunt and it’s given me even more reason to look forward to racing in front of my home crowd at Knockhill.”

Former double Champion Neal, from Droitwich, commented: “That’ll go down as one of the worst days at the office in all my years in the BTCC – a proper stinker and all the knock-on effect of what happened with Jason at the start of race one. But I enjoyed the run to fourth in race three and it’s at least good to come away with something positive.”
Plato, the reigning Champion, said: “To have arrived here 40 points behind Matt and to be leaving just ten behind him is mission accomplished for us today. We took some big risks in qualifying to get the pole – we had to – and it’s paid off really well.”

James Nash remains in the title hunt after Snetterton

There were several other star performances at Snetterton. Frank Wrathall achieved the first-ever top ten finish for a car built to the BTCC’s latest Next Generation Touring Car technical regulations with a fourth place in race one in his Dynojet team’s Toyota Avensis. Dave Newsham also shone with three top ten finishes in his Special Tuning Racing SEAT Leon. Newcomer Daniel Welch showed encouraging pace on his and the Welch Motorsport team’s first appearance in the BTCC with its all-new Proton Gen-2. So too did Martin Byford, also making his BTCC debut in the AmD Milltek Racing.com team’s VW Golf.
Honda/Dynamics and the Honda Racing Team continue to lead the Manufacturer/Constructor and HiQ Teams championships but by a reduced margin over Chevrolet/RML and Silverline Chevrolet respectively. Jackson has extended his lead in the Independent drivers’ standings as has Airwaves Racing in the Independent teams’ table, with Nash and 888 Racing with Collins Contractors rising to become their respective nearest challengers.

it just took yards for old rivals Plato & Neal to clash...

Elsewhere, Jason Plato was fined £500 by BTCC officials for his involvement in the incident with Matt Neal in race one. He also had three penalty points applied to his competition licence. Honda/Dynamics and the Honda Racing Team had ten points deducted from their Manufacturer/Constructor and HiQ Teams championship scores for exceeding their engine allocation. Similarly Dynojet in the HiQ Teams and Independent Teams standings.

The next round of the BTCC is Knockhill on the 3rd and 4th of September

2011 Dunlop BTCC Drivers’ Points after Snetterton (round 6 of 10):

New BTCC series leader Mat Jackson sprays the victory champagne..

1. Mat Jackson, 158pts
2. Gordon Shedden, 150
3. Matt Neal, 148
4. Jason Plato, 138
5. James Nash, 127
6. Andrew Jordan, 113
7. Alex MacDowall, 73
8. Robert Collard, 67
9. Tom Chilton, 66
10. Paul O’Neill, 54

Manufacturers/Constructors’ Points:

1. Honda/Dynamics, 367
2. Chevrolet/RML, 323
3. Arena/Ford, 248

HiQ Teams’ Points:
1. Honda Racing Team, 266
2. Silverline Chevrolet, 200

3. Airwaves Racing, 152
4. 888 Racing with Collins Contractors, 138
5. Pirtek Racing, 124
6. WSR, 95
Independent Drivers’ Points:
1. Mat Jackson, 195
2. James Nash, 176
3. Andrew Jordan, 153
4. Tom Chilton, 108
5. Robert Collard, 105
6. Paul O’Neill, 93

Independent Teams’ Points:
1. Airwaves Racing, 199
2. 888 Racing with Collins Contractors, 185

3. Pirtek Racing, 168
4. Team Aon, 132
5. WSR, 131
6. GoMobileUK.com with tech-speed, 111
*All points remain provisional

E-Types assemble for Goodwood

In just six weeks time, the finest collection of significant and authentic racing Jaguar E-types ever assembled will gather at the 2011 Goodwood Revival (16-18 September) for an exceptional Fordwater Trophy race.

To mark the 50^th anniversary of the most iconic of British sport cars, as an exclusive race for 2011, Goodwood’s Fordwater Trophy will feature a grid exclusively made up of Jaguar E-types of a type that raced up to 1966. The race will be a 45-minute two-driver race, with driver changes in the pits between 15 and 30 minutes.

The Fordwater Trophy will feature an extraordinary mix of historically-significant competition E-types, including six of the 12 lightweights still in existence racing, plus three more of the surviving cars present on static display.

With significant racing E-type low drag coupés, roadsters and fixed head coupés also competing, the race promises to make for an intriguing spectacle and a fitting tribute to Britain’s most popular sports car and its special relationship with Goodwood.

An exceptional line-up of top drivers will campaign the Jaguars, including ex-F1 stars Gerhard Berger, Jackie Oliver, Jochen Mass, Adrian Newey, Desiré Wilson and Tiff Needell, touring car legends Andy Priaulx, John Cleland and Anthony Reid, ex-Jaguar Le Mans winner Andy Wallace and actor and comedian Rowan Atkinson.

Be A Racing driver at Rockingham - no experience nessasary!

2001 the first cars raced around Rockingham and now, 10 years later, one lucky individual will get the chance to experience the thrills of the Northamptonshire circuit first hand. To celebrate its 10th anniversary Rockingham, Europe’s fastest racing circuit, is offering one lucky BTCC spectator the chance to win the ultimate prize – a race in the Air Asia Renault Clio Cup at this year’s BTCC race over the weekend of September 17/18.

The contest is simple – everyone who purchases an advance ticket can be entered in for the chance to win this amazing, once in a lifetime experience! Ticket holders will simply need to log on to www.rockingham.co.uk/dreamdrive and enter their advance ticket reference number along with contact information and the correct answer to a race related multiple-choice question.

From all the entries received ten lucky winners will be selected at random to take part in an exclusive day of driving training at Rockingham with The Racing School (TRS)and the Association of Racing Drivers Schools (ARDS), after which one lucky individual will be chosen. The winner will receive further training and be put through their ARDS test before getting behind the wheel of one of the leading team’s Renault Clio Cup cars for the weekend’s race.

Chief Executive of Rockingham, Charlotte Orton, said: “We wanted to celebrate Rockingham’s 10th anniversary in style, so what better way than giving one of our customers the opportunity of a lifetime!

“It’s every fan’s dream to be a racing driver and the magic of this competition is that the winner really could be anybody. It will be a great showcase for the winner, going head-to-head with Lewis Hamilton’s brother, Nicholas, in front of thousands of fans, as well as being broadcast live on ITV4.”

Advance race day tickets cost just £26 and can be booked at www.rockingham.co.uk or via the ticket hotline on 01536 500500, chose option 1. Tickets must be purchased and registered for the competition by August 23.

The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship will be held at Rockingham over the weekend of September 17/18. For further information on the DreamDrive contest, BTCC race or any of the other exciting events being held at Rockingham please visit www.rockingham.co.uk.

Honda head into action at Snetterton

Matt Neal at Croft... See him at Snetterton!

Honda Racing Team drivers Matt Neal and Gordon ‘Flash’ Shedden are eager to continue their dominant form as the 2011 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship blasts back into life at Snetterton in Norfolk this weekend.

The Civic duo are first and third in the drivers’ points standings at the halfway point of the year and are aiming to stretch further away from the competitive field over the remaining 15 rounds.

Both drivers took part in a test session at Donington Park recently to check out revisions to the two-litre turbocharged machine and say they are keen to get back into the heat of battle.

Neal explains: “Our Civic is one of the best handling cars on the grid, but you can always keep refining things and that is what we did at the test. We were chipping away at the suspension settings trying to find an extra edge. Although there has been a seven-week break in the championship, our team never stands still in the quest to make the Civic even stronger.”

A rule change from the championship bosses will peg back Neal’s and Shedden’s cars and force them to run with less turbo boost pressure this weekend but Neal says that the homework done by the team should keep the car at the front. 

“We have yet again been held back for doing a good job so far this year, which seems unfair,” said Neal. “But we can only make sure that we have the handling and the speed to overcome this handicap. I am confident that we will perform.”

The Snetterton circuit has been completely remodelled since last season and now features a new three-mile configuration with a demanding infield section. ‘Flash’ Gordon says that the challenge will be ramped up for everyone.

“It is like going to a totally new track,” says Flash. “It has new sections that are twisty, but there are still the long straights and they will play into our hands.”

“My prime target is to cut the gap to Matt at the top of the points standings. The championship has been so tight and competitive this season and we have already seen that it can alter dramatically over the course of any given weekend. If I can leave Snetterton having narrowed the gap to Matt and made Honda one-two in the drivers’ points, then I will be happy.”

The first of the weekend’s three races kicks off at 12.10am on Sunday and the entire day’s action will be shown live on ITV4. Fans can also follow Honda Racing on Facebook and Twitter for news and race results as the action happens -www.facebook.com/HondaRacingBTCC andwww.twitter.com/hondaracingbtcc

Aston Martin GT4 Challenge heads for Oulton Park

Aston Martin Racing will host the 6^th round of the GT4 Challenge of Great Britain at the Oulton Park circuit in Cheshire. 

In only its second year, the Aston Martin GT4 Challenge of Great Britain has already seen some spectacular circuits and exhilarating action, firmly cementing itself as one of the definitive one-make racing events.  The series, which is based around the V8 Vantage road car, provides competitors with a first step onto the GT racing ladder.

Beginning at Silverstone in April the series has visited some of the most iconic venues in motorsport, including: Snetterton, Donington and Spa Francorchamps. Continuing the theme of challenging yet exciting circuits the next round heads to Oulton Park on the 6^th of August. 

Practice and qualifying commence at 09:00 and the 90 minute race starts at 13:45.  During the day, Oulton Park will also be playing host to the Aston Martin Owners Club (AMOC) race meeting featuring customers’ cars from throughout Aston Martin’s illustrious history.

Both the last two races, held at Spa Francorchamps last month, were won by the number 12 car of Nicholas Mee Racing with drivers Karsten le Blanc and Dan de Zillle at the wheel. The race was closely fought with a hard battle between the top four cars pushing each other to the limit around the 7 km circuit.

With only three rounds remaining in the Aston Martin GT4 Challenge, Oulton Park plays host to a critical race in the series before action heads to Brands Hatch on the 27^th of August before concluding the series at Dijon Prenois on the 10^th and 11^th of September.

To follow the Oulton Park round of the GT4 Challenge, live updates can be found on the Aston Martin Racing official Twitter page: @AMR_Official.

Toyota's BTCC Teams ready for action

Toyota’s independent racers Frank Wrathall and Tony Hughes are raring to go as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship blasts back into action this weekend (6/7 August) at Snetterton.

There’s been little rest for the Dynojet Racing and Speedworks Motorsport teams during the long break since the last rounds of the series; they have been hard at work in conjunction with the creator of the BTCC Avensis, GPR Motorsport, preparing, making and testing revisions to their cars aimed at further enhancing the new racer’s promising performances.

Frank Wrathall heads to the next round with confidence

Wrathall hopes the developments will provide a big boost at Snetterton and enable him to better the 12th-place race finish he scored last time out, at Croft in June. “I think the changes we have made will result in some big improvements,” said the 24-year-old from Preston, Lancashire. “We have been developing the geometry of the Avensis, putting a lot of effort into trying to find the sweet spots… Hopefully that will pay off and be visible to everyone at the next round.

“We’ve developed a new exhaust system, which we hope will not only improve performance but also ease of working on the car, while retaining the great sound of the Avensis. The new Toyota engine was really strong at Croft, a match for anything out there, so I am hopeful for a good set of results at Snetterton. Hopefully I can do the Avensis justice.”

Tony Hughes will hope the modifications to his Avensis bring success

Speedworks Motorsport boss Christian Dick has been busy too, not just in the workshop but also behind the wheel: both he and GPR Motorsport’s chief development driver Kelvin Burt have tested the Hughes Avensis following extensive revisions to the set-up. “We’ve been busy doing lots of bits – things that we have not had the time to attend to during the early part of the season because of the hectic race schedule,” said Christian.

“We have made good progress and made a big step forward, but the developments have put us into a new ball park with the set-up, and we have not had as much circuit time as we would have liked to evaluate things.” Stockport-based driver Tony Hughes will go behind the wheel of his revised Avensis for the first time this week.

Another variable in the Snetterton mix is the complete revision of the Norfolk circuit since last year: while the track retains some parts of its original configuration – including the spectacular Bombhole corner – it has been improved with a lengthy, twisting infield surrounded by vast spectator banks. Its length has been extended from 1.9 to three miles.

Neither Wrathall nor Hughes has any race experience of the new layout; both men will sample it for the first time at a track day mid-week. Wrathall believes it will suit him: “I have always enjoyed Snetterton – I won there last year in my Ginetta sports car – and I am looking forward to getting to grips with the new layout. From what I have seen, it will be good for the drivers and provide some great action.”

Croft's Nostalgia Weekend attracts big grids

A stunning entry of some 250 historic race cars has been received for the 18-race programme at this coming weekend’s (6-7 August) Nostalgia event at the Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire.

Race organiser, the Historic Sports Car Club, has also confirmed entries for its Formula Junior single-seater category and Guards Trophy race for GT and sport-racing cars are at maximum capacity with 30-plus grids guaranteed for both.
Furthermore, the event’s charm – a heady mix of motoring, motor racing and lifestyle themed from the Forties through to the Seventies that attracts large numbers of public dressed in period style – has also drawn competitors from as far afield as Belgium, Finland, France, Germany and Sweden.

Chevron - a car marque enjoying something of a renaissance

But they will have to beat a number of local racers all eager to shine in front of their home crowd – among them 18-year-old James Buckton from Harrogate in his historic Elden Formula Ford, York’s Robert Rook and Selby’s Jim Clark in their Ford Lotus Cortinas, fellow saloon car racer Andy Yool from Barrow-in-Furness in his Ford Anglia, Workington’s Robert Gates in his evocative E-type Jaguar and Whitley Bay’s Richard Evans in his sensational March Formula 2 car. There's also 'adopted local' Nick Fleming from Upper Largo, Fife in his stunning Chevron B8 sportscar.

Evans will be among the favourites to win one of the two headline trophies up for grabs – the Derek Bell Trophy which consists of races on both Saturday and Sunday for historic Formula 5000 and Formula 2 cars. Fleming meanwhile will be chasing honours in the sister headline-grabbing Guards Trophy, a 40-minute race on Saturday.

“In terms of numbers of race entries and the activity we are packing into two days on the track, this will be the biggest event of the year here at Croft,” commented Circuit Manager Tracey Morley. “Pretty much every inch of the site will be covered by race teams and their cars, exhibits, displays and entertainers.

“For an event in still only its second year, the rate of growth has been phenomenal. It is of course unique to the region and very much in the spirit of other top-notch historic motor sport festivals such as Goodwood and Silverstone Classic held further south. We’re also continuing our ‘free for children’ policy so hope the Nostalgia weekend offers something for all ages to come along and enjoy.”

Indeed, off-track the line-up of entertainment is staggering. Getting a bird’s eye view of the Croft Circuit will be pilots of Spitfire and Hurricane WWII fighter planes that will provide thrilling aerial displays on the Saturday – replaced on Sunday by a Jet Provost from the Seventies.

ATTEN...SHUN!

On the ground, taking centre stage will be a classic car show – organised by the Teesside Yesteryear Motor Club, more than 400 pristine models of car along with a variety of motorcycles and buses from the period will drive into Croft Circuit for a mouth-watering display. In addition, a huge array of WWII military vehicles will be on show. Arranged by the enthusiastic Military Vehicle Trust, these now total some 100 jeeps, cars, trucks, weapons carriers, motorcycles, fire engines and even aircraft.

Other highly entertaining side shows including living history, fashion and music – featuring a George Formby act – plus rides around the race track on the Sunday morning in buses from the Forties will further add to the event’s authenticity.

Tickets for Croft’s Nostalgia weekend are priced: £12 Saturday; £15 Sunday or £22 for a weekend pass. Admission for children aged 15 and under is FREE all weekend. Car parking is also free. More information is available from the Croft Circuit office on 01325 721815 or website www.croftcircuit.co.uk.

Q and A with BTCC Boss, Alan Gow

Teams and drivers are coming to the end of a lengthy seven-week summer break and making final preparations for the start of the second half of their season, at the Snetterton circuit in Norfolk this coming weekend (6-7 August).

Five different drivers in four different makes of car racing for four different teams have shared the wins in the season’s opening 15 races. But 2011 is much more than just another season of close racing – it’s marked the beginning of a transitional period for the championship with the introduction of cars built to the BTCC’s new Next Generation Touring Car technical regulations. This has led to at least five different configurations of car on the grid – full Super 2000-spec as seen in recent years (front and rear-wheel-drive), S2000 cars using NGTC-spec turbocharged engines plus full-blown ‘Next Gen’ machines (again front and rear-wheel-drive).

So with half the season gone and having had the past six weeks to reflect on the 2011 form guide, the timing was perfect for the championship’s official website btcc.net to put a long list of questions to BTCC Series Director Gow. This is what the no-nonsense Aussie had to say…

Matt Jackson takes a sneaky short cut.

Q: What have been the most pleasing aspects of the season so far and why?

A: “The racing… that’s what the BTCC is all about and the on-track action this year has been great.”

Q: Best race so far this season for TV and crowds? Best drive so far this season?

A: “My memory is so poor for remembering individual races that every time I answer such a question I then realise I have forgotten about another particular or better race…so it’s probably best I don’t answer it!”

Q: Any particular team/driver combo(s) over-delivering/punching above their weight that has/have really impressed you so far in 2011 and why?

A: “I don’t think ‘over-delivering’ or ‘punching above their weight’ is necessarily the right or fair terminology… but, yes, there have been some performances that have made people sit up and take notice. However it would be unfair on the others for me to just point out some individuals.”

Q: Are you surprised at the relative lack of different winners so far this season – ‘only’ five in 15 races? Normally when we get to the mid-way point we’re on at least seven or eight.

“Not really – this year has seen a lot of teams and cars with newly developed (and developing) engines/packages, so it stands to reason that the teams with the best resources will have the best developed ‘package’ and be at the top in the first half of the season. But as the others continue to refine/develop their cars then we will likely see a few new race-winners as the season progresses. Having said that, five different race winners in the first half of a season isn’t exactly a ‘one-horse race’ is it?”

888's NGTC Vauxhall Vectra in the hands of Andrew Jordan

Q: How do you rate the progress of the NGTC cars so far and, based on your feedback from them, what can we expect in the second half of the season?

“Those cars are at the very start of their development programme – they had virtually zero testing before their very first event. I have nothing but complete admiration for those teams who decided to jump-in feet first with that programme – particularly as they are all first-time BTCC teams/drivers and don’t possess the same resources that established front-running BTCC teams have.

“Many ‘armchair enthusiasts’ totally underestimate what is required to develop a whole new type of front-running car in one of the toughest touring car championships in the world. If it were that easy then everyone would be doing it!

“But in the last couple of events we have seen glimpses of what they are capable of doing and no doubt they will make much more progress as they continue to develop and learn the cars. The NGTC cars are the future of the BTCC and those teams developing theirs now will be in the box-seat for the future.”

Q: We’re effectively a quarter of the way through a two-year transitional period for the technical regs with a wide variety of cars/engines/transmissions. How is all this progressing? Just how much time does TOCA spend sifting through technical data and how difficult a balancing act is it?

Jackson leads the way. On the track this time!

“Whenever there are technical differences in cars then there are always some ‘balancing acts’ to perform. And I can’t think of any year since I started managing the championship in 1992 when there hasn’t been some specification differences in some cars that required ‘tweaking’ – so nothing at all has changed in that respect.

“It is something we constantly keep an eye on and make changes when/if necessary. Sifting through raw technical data is one thing, but obviously we also have to take into consideration other factors such as race results, weather, mechanical issues, circuit configuration and suchlike.”

Q: You started touring car racing’s 2-litre formula 20 years ago in 1991 – a clichéd question but how do you feel the BTCC, right here and now in 2011, compares to any of those previous 19 years?

“The BTCC has gone through its toughest period of the last 20 years – we are all still feeling the effects of the global financial crisis – but, by any measure, is much stronger now than at any time this century. Year on year our grid numbers are up, our spectator numbers are up and our TV figures are up.

“We’ve been ‘swimming against the tide’ and, believe me, there are a great many sports – let alone other motor sports – that would dearly love to be able to produce the figures and the strong sustained growth that we have.”

Splat! Tom Onslow-Cole gets pitted for tyres

Q: There’s likely never going to be the same ‘rush’ of manufacturer entries that the Nineties produced. Nor therefore the influx of paid international ‘superstars’. Don’t you wish you could have those ‘legendary’ names back or just how good/entertaining are the young homegrown talents on the grid – Shedden, Jackson, O’Neill, Jordan, Nash, Onslow-Cole, Wrathall, Austin etc – turning out to be?

“People often lose sight of the fact that it’s the BTCC that largely forged the reputations of so many of those ‘legendary’ touring car drivers… not the other way around. Drivers such as Menu, Rydell, Muller, Radisich, Thompson, Cleland, Rouse (and so, so many more I could also name) were all established as ‘touring car superstars’ almost purely as a result of their time in the BTCC. And in another ten years’ time people will be all misty-eyed remembering some of the drivers we have from today.”

Q: We’ve got the new Snetterton 300 circuit coming up. Isn’t it going to be too long for a typical BTCC lap – isn’t BTCC about lots of laps/spectators seeing the cars frequently without too long a delay? Or will you take a view on this after the event and shift the action to one of Snetterton’s shorter lay-outs for 2012?

“The 300 is effectively a ‘new’ circuit so it would be wrong not to try it out. It could be terrific for our type of racing – but we will never know without first finding out, after which we can take a view on what configuration we should use in the future.” 


Q: Silverstone also has its new Wing/pit lane complex. Why couldn’t BTCC use it/the ‘South Circuit’ incorporating Abbey-Becketts-Stowe-Club etc and, given the BTCC’s profile, was this frustrating? Could this be used in 2012?

“It is simply due to the new paddock area, located behind the new building, not being able to also accommodate all our support races and associated infrastructure at this time.

“Obviously it would create major logistical (and practical) issues to have the BTCC located in the new pits/paddock and all or most of the support races and other infrastructure located quite a long distance away at the opposite end of the circuit in the existing pits/paddock area.

“However, Silverstone's on-going development plan will I’m sure address this issue and we look forward to using the new facility and configuration when it has.”

3 NGTC cars and the S2000 Seat and Chevrolet

Q: It’s 20 years since Matt Neal made his BTCC debut – it was at the British GP support race in 1991. Tens of thousands used to stay on to watch the BTCC after the GP – is there any possibility of it getting back on the GP bill?

“There are many complex matters that conspire against it happening, mainly concerning broadcasting and commercial issues… not just for the championship itself, but also for our teams and their sponsors. Perhaps in the future that may change, but at the moment I can’t see it.”

Q: Matt and Team Dynamics have been about in the BTCC as long as you! What can you say about them?

“Nothing that can be published! No, seriously, they have been fantastic participants in the BTCC and their genuine commitment to the championship has at least been equally rewarded with some great success over the years.”

Q: It’s Matt who also leads the current BTCC standings. However, who do you think might be Champion come the end of the year?

“I have absolutely no idea – although as much as I would like to think it could happen, it probably won’t be John George…”

Clubman's Cars No. 1 : Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X FQ330 GSR SST

Welcome to the first in what is hoped to become a regular feature here on Overdrive - Clubman's Cars. Here we'll try and find the best new car to use in club motorsports. The definition we're using to find this car is "a car that may be used every day as a "daily driver" but can also be used, unmodified, for club motorsports."

We've also developed a class system - A+ is for Supercars, A : 2000cc+, B : 1400cc-1999cc and C : up to 1399cc. Forced induction cars have an equivulency formula of 1.4:1 - so this 1998cc Evo X is regarded as having a 2797cc engine

Where better to start than the latest in a long line of road going rally cars, The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X. Or to give it it's full title, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X GSR SST... Lets just call it the Evo X...

This name means a lot!

 A Brief history lesson. Group B Rallying was banned in the late 1980s for being too fast, too dangerous, and too expensive. It was replaced with Group A as the standard for the World Rally Championship. The rules said that the car could have up to 2000cc turbocharged engines, 4 wheel drive was allowed too - but the rules also said that there had to be a minimum of 5000 cars built of that exact specification, minus the roll cages and other safety measures of course.

Thus was born a new age of homologation specials. Lancia had their Delta Integralé, Toyota had the Cecilia GT-Four. Subaru entered their WRX model, and Mitsubishi took their Lancer model to their in house tuning department, Ralliart, and came up with the first Lancer Evo for the 1993 season - replacing their Galant GR-4 model. Evo II came in 1994, followed by Evo III in 1995.

Agressive looks bred from years of evolutions on the World's rally stages.

In 1997 the WRC entered a new era with the new WRC class cars, more technical and packed full of electronics - crucially the 5000 examples rule was relaxed, now only the basic shell of the car had to come from production. But Ralliart stuck with the Group A rules and the Evo, now on generation V won the manufacturer's championship against the WRC cars in the hands of the late Richard Burns in 1998. Ralliart finally abandoned Group A in 2001 where the first Lancer WRC appeared - but the now Evo VII continued to be a favourite in the production class of rally car ; Group N. These cars are still in use even though the new R4 standard is slowly replacing them. Few modifications beyond those made for safety are allowed.

And so we reach the tenth evolution, the Evo X. The first impressions are that it hasn't lost any of it's aggressive rally car looks. This car turns heads, and lots of them. The performance specification is impressive too - 330bhp from it's 4 cylinder 2litre engine, thanks to the large Turbocharger. Actually, long before you see the car you can hear it - it's lovely deep growl appears much louder than it really is. Finer details also impress, the big Brembo brakes sit behind multispoke alloy wheels shod with Yokohama low profile tyres. The car's low stance also makes it seem ready to hit the race track - yet this is a 4 door saloon. It's based on the Lancer, which sits in the same class as a common-or-garden commuter car, but the performance is similar to some sports cars. Sticking with the exterior features, the front headlights are self leveling HID units, which are fantastic - giving a great view of the road ahead in a pure white light. Turn the wheel around corners and extra lights illuminate the patch of road you're about to turn into too, a clever feature. The offset number plate is another attention grabbing feature - A feature that goes back several Evolutions to maximise the amount of cold air getting to the radiator.

Comfortable interior features Recaro bucket seats. Stereo's good too

 Slipping into the Recaro driver's seat immediately puts you in the perfect driving position - although the high sides do slightly impede working the handbrake - The seats, whilst not full racing jobs, support you every where you want support and there's even holes for a pair of shoulder straps should you wish to add harnesses. The thick, leather wrapped, steering wheel features controls for the radio and phone, and the dash is simply laid out with the two dials and a small screen between them. The larger screen provides the sat nav - more about that later, and entertainment system. Below that are the customary heater controls, and below that is the gear stick - and here's a surprise... It's an Automatic.
Mitsubishi actually call this an "Automated Manual" and it goes under the name of Twin Clutch SST - which is a twin clutch system. Basically it's two gearboxes with one common output shaft and two clutches. When you're in first, second is already selected and just needs the two clutches to swap over to change gear very quickly! Either leave it in Drive and let the car do it's thing, or use the sequential style shift on the gear stick or the two aluminium paddles behind the wheel to do the job. I found that there was a very slight delay between pulling the paddle and the gearshift - and the lack of a clutch pedal really threw me! Naturally, if you're reading this feature you're interested in motorsport, possibly competing yourself. The use of a gearbox like this in any competition is something of a grey area - The blue book doesn't say you can't use it, but neither does it say you can!
There are more buttons around - a small toggle switch changes between normal (for driving around town), Sport (for driving very quickly) and Super Sport (for driving insanely quickly) - which raise the rev limits between gear shifts in automatic mode. Apparently this has no affect at all on the manual shift mode! Below the gear shift is the button to change the mode of the active differential. You can have Gravel, Snow, or Tarmac, so there are still some rally genes in there! I didn't have the opportunity to try the car on Gravel - and being July here in Wales, snow's somewhat thin on the ground, so this stayed in Tarmac mode for my time with the Evo.

Engine Bay after modifications by WRC developments

There's good news for those looking to use their Evo for competition. This could very well be the ultimate standard road legal sprint car. The enormous amount of power on tap from the 2 litre engine means fantastic acceleration. Either using the paddles or leaving the car in Automatic, the car feels like it will reach 100mph effortlessly... then just keep on going. Certainly on the motorway, at 70mph you can feel the car straining at it's lead, begging to go faster. It actually seems bored, settling into a "I-can-do-this-all-day" hum at around 3000rpm.

It's like taking a Tiger for a walk - it always wants to go quicker, it's powerful enough to go quicker with no problem. If you kick it, it will bite you! On a fast flowing B-Road, the lancer comes into it's element. the road holding is fantastic, handling as if it's a slot car on a scaletrix track thanks to it's stiff suspension and high performance tyres. The fantastic Recaros also are a great help to keep you where you should be! Even out here, at 60mph, it feels like it could effortlessly go quicker around the corners. A peek under the bonnet gives a clue to it's performance - a strut brace runs across the engine bay over the Intercooled Turbocharger and the shiny pipes that were added by WRC Developments when they increased the already impressive performance. The turbo itself sits down between the engine and bulkhead and reminds you of it's presence by hissing at you when you open the throttle. However the fantastic performance and handling does not extend to slow speed manoeuvrability. I found it tricky to manoeuvre around car parks, remembering that it's a relatively big car, and it feels it with surprisingly heavy steering (my VW Polo felt weightless after a week driving the Evo!) Quick changes into Reverse are also difficult with the automatic transmission, especially if you start from manual mode - and I really missed the clutch pedal when trying to ease the car into a parking space. The spoiler also does nothing for rearwards visibility, and neither does the high back end of the car - Then again, I'm only 5' 5" so maybe a taller person wouldn't find this much of an issue.

So, if you do want to go sprinting or hillclimbing, this car could be just the thing, or it would even make a decent race or rally car with the necessary modifications (and a manual gearbox). But if you want it as your one and only car, it's got to be practical...
Firstly, the creature comforts. The air conditioning is great - although turning it on causes the engine to increase revs to compensate. And the gadgets you get are brilliant. It comes with a Sat Nav with a funky touch screen. I tried to get this lost - and succeeded by taking it down some of the new bypass roads that are around here. One of them is 2 years old, but didn't show up at all on the sat nav's map. This confused the dominatrix who lives inside the Sat Nav and barks orders at you ("In two hundred yards, turn left... in one hundred yards, Turn Left!... TURN LEFT!!") but as soon as you return to a road which it does recognise, it returns to normal again. Quite where it thought I had been I've no idea. On the subject of practicality, I subjected the car to two tests.

a) Can you get the Overdrive TV crew in it with the filming kit?
b) Can you go shopping in it?

And the answer to both is yes. The back seats easily accomodated Ulrich, our 6' 2" Sound guy, and all the kit went in very easily. And a weekly shop was easily fitted into the boot. Only the addition of folding rear seats would have made this more practical, along with removing the sub in the boot. On the road, the firm suspension makes the ride lumpy over our not very well maintained roads, and there's quite a bit of vibration in the back.

One of the other functions of the sat nav screen is an info panel that tells you just how well you're doing on fuel economy (it also has an altimeter, barometer, and a thermometer). Which brings us to the Achilles' heel of this car if you have to live with it every day... The cost. The best I could get out of it was 26.8mpg which gave the car a range of just over 200 miles. Using 98RON fuel... Ouch! Then there's the road tax - the test car's tax disc showed £950 for 12 months... Not to mention the insurance, which is group 20. I could forgive the car it's firm ride (the great seats make up for that), but I'm afraid I just couldn't live with the high cost of keeping the thing fuelled. It's also a bit expensive to justify keeping as a second "toy" car.

So if you can live with the high cost of fuelling, insuring and taxing the Evo X, it could make you a great car to compete in speed events with and to do shopping in during the week. If you can't... this isn't the car for you.

Scores

Competition Potential : 7/10

Performance : 9/10

Practicality : 8/10

Economy : 26.8mpg

Total : 51

Current rank : 1st 

[but we haven't tested anything else yet!]

Photos by Matthew Miller. With thanks to Mitsubishi Motors UK and Llandow Circuit.