BTCC 2013 : The season hots up at Oulton Park

Plato's car catches fire in race three

A packed grid took to the Oulton Park circuit in perfect conditions

MG KX Momentum racer Jason Plato scored a flawless double BTCC victory at Oulton Park today (9 June) before a dramatic fire put him out of the final contest, handing his Honda Yuasa Racing rival Matt Neal the championship lead.

Two-time champion Plato is no stranger to winning at the Cheshire venue, having taken seven victories at the circuit prior to this weekend, and he duly added to his impressive tally.

He was in dominant form throughout the event – claiming pole position before securing two lights-to-flag wins in commanding fashion. But for the agony of race three, the Oxfordshire driver was still pleased with his weekend’s work, “I’ve been on fire – literally,” he said in reference to both his fine form and later misfortune!

Plato’s young team-mate Sam Tordoff starred in race one by claiming second – the best result in his short BTCC career so far and the first ever one-two for MG KX Momentum Racing.Reigning champion Gordon Shedden took third in the opener before going one better in race two in his Honda Civic, whilst 2009 champion Colin Turkington claimed third in his eBay Motors BMW 125i M Sport.

The chaotic final encounter was won by Andrew Jordan in his Pirtek Racing Honda Civic after his team-mate Jeff Smith spun away the lead with just three laps remaining. Turkington scored another podium, rounding out an extremely encouraging weekend for the eBay Motors driver.

The impressive Adam Morgan took his first ever Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship podium in the final race, which was just reward for the Ciceley Racing driver and continues his fantastic form so far in 2013.

Matt Neal finished just 0.078s off the rostrum after hounding down Morgan in the closing stages but his race results of sixth and two fourth places were enough for him to leave Oulton Park with the championship lead. Such is the competitiveness of the 2013 BTCC season that Neal, Jordan and Plato are separated by just seven points at the top of the standings.

Other notable results belonged to the Rob Austin Racing-run Audis of Rob Austin and Will Bratt – the duo finished fifth and sixth respectively in race three.
 

Lea Wood and Liam Griffin shared Jack Sears Trophy honours

Lea Wood looked set to claim a first ever treble in the Jack Sears Trophy but after taking two wins he was forced into retirement in the final contest, which handed Liam Griffin’s Ford Focus his fourth win of the season. Wood heads the S2000 order with five victories.

Further to Neal’s lead in the overall Drivers’ standings, Honda lead the Manufacturers’ Championship and Honda Yuasa Racing also top the Teams’ Championship. Andrew Jordan and his Pirtek Racing squad hold the advantage in the Independents’ Drivers’ and Teams’ standings respectively.

Rounds 13, 14 and 15 of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship take place at Croft on the 22/23 June.

Jason Plato said: “I’ve been on fire – literally! It has been a fantastic weekend. What happened in the final race was just one of those things. The most important thing for me is that we’ve got the performance and we’ve sent a shockwave down the pit lane. There’s a long way to go but we’ve put on a pretty dominant display here, which bodes well for Croft and beyond.”

Andrew Jordan said: “If you’d asked me how my day was going after race two I’d have been a lot less happy than I am now. To pull that result off has made my weekend – you can never be sure what’s going to happen in race three and it was only once I got up into fourth that I thought I could actually win it. It’s a shame that we couldn’t get a one-two for the team – there were no team orders, Jeff (Smith) just lost the rear going into the chicane and didn’t quite manage to save it. Consistency is key for me this year and while I didn’t get great results in the first two races, we scored big in the last one while Shedden and Plato didn’t finish, so that makes it an even better result.”

Colin Turkington said: “That’s the first podium (race two) that we’ve had on raw pace. We didn’t have any luck or a reverse grid to be there so we’re definitely moving forward, but we have to keep our feet on the ground. We’ve still got more performance to find in the car and it’s not there yet. I didn’t expect two podiums, especially with the speed of the Hondas and the MGs, so to take those results when they're in the kind of form they are is absolutely fantastic.”

Adam Morgan said: “It’s absolutely amazing to get that result, not just for myself but for my team, my family and all the sponsors that support me. The race was pretty hectic – I didn’t get a second to catch my breath, but I just kept pushing and to get my first BTCC podium at my home circuit – it’s brilliant. The car felt really really good, and now I've got one, I'll be pushing harder than ever to get up there again.”

Penalties:
Liam Griffin received a one second time penalty in race one for gaining an unfair advantage

Andrew Jordan received three penalty points and a £500 fine for an incident relating to driving standards in race three

Jeff Smith received three penalty points and a £500 fine for an incident relating to driving standards in race three

Photos courtesy of btcc.net

VIDEO : Jason Plato and Sam Tordoff lead MG Charge in 2013 BTCC

Britain’s brightest young racing driver has joined the MG KX Momentum Racing team − and has already achieved one of his lifelong ambitions.

Sam Tordoff, aged 23 has been racing since he was 10 years old and is acclaimed as Britain’s brightest racing talent. Last year he was officially recognised as the British Racing Drivers’ Club ‘Rising Star.’

He joins Jason Plato, the most successful driver in BTCC history, to contest the 2013 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

They will both be driving racing versions of the award-winning MG6 GT prepared by Triple 888 Race Engineering, one of the most respected constructors in touring car racing.

Last year Plato was third in the championship in what was supposed to be the team’s ‘learning year’ as MG returned to the track.

Tordoff, who hails from Leeds, began racing karts as a boy and worked his way up the motorsport ladder via the Renault Clio Cup and the Porsche Carrera Cup with many wins and podiums under his belt. He also competed in one round of BTCC racing in 2010 on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit.

Last year Tordoff, who has a B.Eng in Mechanical Engineering and works as a trainee accountant with the JCT600 motor group, won a place at the KX Akademy for the 2013 season. The bursary programme was set up by KX Energy Drink where Jason Plato is the scheme’s mentor.

Newcomer Sam Tordoff (Top) is looking forward to racing with Jason Plato

He said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Jason, Ian and the rest of the team and I’m determined to do well – even if it means beating Jason!”

Jason said: “Sam’s a great young talent and brings a lot to our team. He’s a fast learner and it will be great to see him alongside me on the podium – but I’m planning to be on the top step.”

Ian Harrison has the task of managing the MG KX Momentum team. He added: “We’ve got a great team for the 2013 season in Jason and Sam.

“Jason’s obviously got the experience, including a fabulous year with the MG6 GT last year, and Sam’s out to prove himself now he’s won a seat in a top team. It’s going to be a great year of racing.”

MG’s Sales & marketing Director, Guy Jones, said: “It was brilliant for us to get MG back on the track last year and the cars were seen by millions of fans. Motor sport is in the DNA of the MG brand and we can’t wait for the 2013 BTCC to get under way.”

SILVERSTONE The countdown begins

 The countdown begins. 

Little more than a week remains before Northamptonshire’s world-famous Silverstone circuit (Sat 6/Sun 7 Oct) hosts the crucial penultimate round of this year’s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. The three races at Silverstone will decide who will then still be in with a chance of winning the UK’s most prestigious motor racing title on Finals Day at Brands Hatch in Kent a fortnight later.

Seven drivers can mathematically still be crowned BTCC Champion in 2012, namely Honda Yuasa Racing Team team-mates Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal who lead the way, MG KX Momentum Racing’s Jason Plato, Pirtek Racing’s Andrew Jordan, eBay Motors pair Robert Collard and Tom Onslow-Cole and Redstone Racing’s Mat Jackson.

Arriving at Silverstone it is Hampshire’s Collard, Surrey’s Onslow-Cole and Warwickshire’s Jackson who will be most under pressure to perform if they are to keep their fading title hopes alive. All are presently more than 67 points adrift of leader Shedden with that then being the maximum available when the cars take to the legendary Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit for the season finale on the weekend of 20/21 October.

Of the four ahead, two wins for Scotsman Shedden last weekend at Rockingham, also in Northamptonshire, have moved him into the championship lead by three points from Worcestershire’s Neal. Shedden has never won the BTCC before while Neal is looking to retain his crown from last season – achieved when he defeated Shedden at Silverstone – and make it four titles to his name.

For Oxford’s Plato, himself a double BTCC Champion, Silverstone is very much his home event as it is for Lichfield youngster Jordan who, like Shedden and Neal, races a Honda Civic. All three Honda drivers, though, are expecting to struggle around Silverstone’s high-speed National circuit and Plato, in his MG6, will be hoping they are right.

Plato is currently 32 points behind Shedden with a maximum of 67 available from Silverstone’s three races. What’s more his MG team-mate Andy Neate, another local from nearby Aylesbury, will surely be out to aid Plato’s chances by stealing vital points away from his Honda rivals…

Silverstone’s short lap and long, wide straights never fail to deliver plenty of doorhandle-to-doorhandle entertainment for fans. Indeed the view from Woodcote corner of cars slipstreaming and fanning out five abreast along the Wellington Straight is one of the most evocative of the season.

As ever ‘the home of British motor sport’, easily accessible from across the Midlands just off the A43 dual carriageway between the M40 and M1 motorways, is making its big BTCC weekend hugely popular among audiences both young and old. Adult tickets for race day (Sunday) start from just £29 if booked in advance with admission for accompanied children aged 15 and under FREE all weekend. All admission includes access to grandstands, the main central BTCC teams’ paddock and Sunday’s specially organised autograph session with the star touring car drivers.

To book in advance visit www.silverstone.co.uk or call the ticket hotline 0844 3750 740.

In addition to the BTCC’s three penultimate races of 2012 which headline the event a further 12 races for the Ginetta GT Supercup, Ginetta Junior Championship, Porsche Carrera Cup, Renault Clio Cup and guesting Formula Renault BARC categories are also in store during the weekend.

Triple Podium for Triple 8 and Jason Plato

Plato pushing hard over the notorious Rockingham kerbs on his way to a win in Race 1. It's actually dry!

Race day at Rockingham arrived and the MG KX Momentum team were faced with the prospect of a change in recent fortune as well as changeable weather conditions. A season’s best qualifying session for the team with Jason Plato’s fourth pole of the year and a fifth on the grid for Andy Neate ensured that the drivers came to the circuit hopeful for a good haul of points to set them up for the remainder of the season.

Race One saw pole man Jason Plato take an early advantage over the pursuing field and he developed a commanding lead which enabled him to comfortably control the race and exploit the speed advantage the MG6 had over the rest of the field. Andy Neate’s race wasn’t as straight forward, dropping down a couple of places at the start, which were swiftly taken back over the next couple of laps. Andy carried on in fifth for most of the race, eventually finishing seventh after some battling with championship protagonist Matt Neal and a hard-charging Rob Collard. Plato finished the race 3.3 seconds clear of second place with a seemingly straight forward, lights to flag victory which gave him Pole Position for Race Two.

Race Two was held under relentless heavy rain, giving the drivers something to think about as track conditions all weekend had been bone dry. The start saw Jason Plato take a cautious approach, losing out on a couple of places in the run down to turn one. Andy’s Race Two was short lived, being turned around at the second corner and ending up in the gravel, leaving him with it all to do from the back of the grid in Race Three. Jason stuck at it, clearly using all his experience to find out how to get the best from his car on the slippery Rockingham tarmac, this enabled him to pick up his second podium of the day with third place to add to the points tally of the weekend.

Race Three and the reverse grid saw Plato start from seventh and with a few changes having been made to the MG6, his eyes were on completing a hat-trick of podiums and making further inroads into the championship lead. Andy started from the back after his brief Race Two, and his consistent approach meant he was able to move up to finish fourteenth in the spread out pack. Jason once again was faced with taking the fight to the Honda’s and a late charge in which he set numerous personal best lap times got him side by side through the high-speed turn one with Matt Neal but the move didn’t stick, it was good enough for third though and another good haul of points keeping the championship fight alive.

Jason Plato, MG KX Momentum Racing #99:

“I’m naturally thrilled with three podiums and encouraged by what we have learnt about the car over the course of the day. We leave this weekend almost where we started it - In touching distance of the championship lead and moving onwards to Silverstone and then Brands Hatch I’m confident we are in a strong position to challenge for the crown.”

Andy Neate, MG KX Momentum Racing #44:

“We came to this weekend hopeful for three solid results, qualifying and Race One lived up to the promise but then Race Two was a short lived affair which really damaged chances of getting much from Race Three. I can take the positives of Saturday away from this weekend and am glad I could show my pace and from the teams perspective a good weekend for Jason’s championship challenge.”

Ian Harrison, MG KX Momentum Racing Team Principal:

“A bit of a frustrating day really, if the weather had stayed dry we would certainly have been much stronger as our wet set-up wasn’t quite there in comparison with the Hondas. We leave not having made enough inroads, the championship is still mathematically possible but it’s going to be a tough challenge.”

Jason Plato claims Knockhill Pole Position

Under leaden skies, Jason Plato splashes his way to pole position for tomorrow's race

Jason Plato has taken pole position in a wet Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship qualifying session at the Knockhill circuit in Fife.

 

Plato set a best time of 57.128s in his KX Momentum Racing MG6 to secure pole for the third time this season. Qualifying second fastest was Robert Collard in his eBay Motors BMW while young Irishman Aron Smith was a best-ever third in his Redstone Racing Ford Focus.

 

But Plato’s two Honda rivals, Worcestershire’s Matt Neal and Scottish ‘home hero’ Gordon Shedden who lay just ahead of him in the title race, could only manage eighth and sixth places.

 

It means Plato, chasing the third title of his career, has a golden opportunity to make further inroads into their advantage in the first of tomorrow’s three races at least. They will go into it with Neal, the reigning Champion, leading the standings with Shedden in second and Plato third. Just ten points cover them with 20 awarded for a win.

 

Oxford’s Plato commented: “I had a bit more in reserve if required but the main thing is I’m starting from the front tomorrow and the two Hondas have a lot to do. But we’re looking good in all conditions – I was very happy with the car in the dry in the earlier practice sessions so I’m feeling good about tomorrow.”

 

Hampshire’s Collard, currently fifth in the table, said: “I gave it everything. Pole would have been very nice but I’m satisfied to be starting on the front row which is important here as it’s a tough circuit to overtake.”

Dubliner Smith, aged just 21, added: “I’ve been chipping away all season and finally I’ve got my first top three and it feels great. I’m looking forward to tomorrow – it's a chance to see how the more established names do it and hopefully I can go with them.”

 

Elsewhere ‘returnee’ Paul O’Neill qualified an excellent seventh fastest in his Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Avensis. Inverness’s Dave Newsham, a winner for the first time at Snetterton, Norfolk two weeks ago, was tenth on his home track in his Team ES Racing.com Vauxhall Vectra.

 

Tomorrow’s three BTCC races from Knockhill will be shown live on ITV4, ITV4 HD and www.itv.com during a mammoth seven hour show from 11.00am-6.00pm.

 

Leading position, BTCC Qualifying, Knockhill, Sat 25 Aug
1. Jason Plato (GBR), MG KX Momentum Racing/MG6, 57.128s
2. Robert Collard (GBR), eBay Motors/BMW 320si, +0.297s
3. Aron Smith (IRL), Redstone Racing/Ford Focus, +0.350s
4. Tom Onslow-Cole (GBR), eBay Motors/BMW 320si, +0.405s
5. Frank Wrathall (GBR), Dynojet/Toyota Avensis, +0.444s
6. Gordon Shedden (GBR), Honda Yuasa Racing Team/Honda Civic, +0.477s
7. Paul O’Neill (GBR), Speedworks Motorsport/Toyota Avensis, +0.522s
8. Matt Neal (GBR), Honda Yuasa Racing Team/Honda Civic, +0.560s
9. Mat Jackson (GBR), Redstone Racing/Ford Focus ST, +0.648s
10. Dave Newsham (GBR), ES Racing.com/Vauxhall Vectra, +0.676s

Teams prepare for Snetterton : MG

The colourful MG is proving very capable in the hands of Jason Plato and Andy Neate

The MG KX Momentum Racing team is back on track this weekend as the 2012 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) resumes racing after a six week summer break. The Snetterton circuit in Norfolk will play host to rounds 16, 17 and 18 of the series, as the championship battle re-commences.

It was a weekend of highs and lows for Jason Plato last time out at Croft, as technical gremlins within the MG6 continued to blight the Triple Eight team’s progress. Failure to see Jason take the start of Race One was disappointing for the MG KX Momentum Racing Team, however the squad was sent into the summer break happy as the double BTCC champion fought back to win Race Three in spectacular style.

Andy Neate recorded his strongest BTCC weekend to-date with the MG6 at Croft, when he brought the car home for points paying finishes in all three races. It could have been even better for the young Englishman though, as he had impressively led Round Fifteen for the majority of the race.

Having had a chance to catch their breath following the team’s late start to the season’s preparations, the second half of the BTCC season gives the MG KX Momentum Racing squad a chance to build on the team’s positive first six months of existence. The team will now look to push the established squads for glory, in what is still their maiden campaign. The charge towards the finish starts at Snetterton this weekend!

Jason Plato (#99), BTCC Standings 3rd – 192 points:

“Our summer break has been long, the batteries are well and truly re-charged, the team are well prepared; I feel strong and very motivated. Our season starts at Snetterton! I am confident that our recent developments with the MG6 GT will not only improve our speed, but also our race performance. I feel some race wins coming this weekend.”

Andy Neate (#44), BTCC Standings: 17th – 46 points:

“The Croft race-weekend seems a long while ago now, my memory of it is very positive though with a triple points finish and having the pace to lead Race Three from the front for so long. I’m taking those positives into the second half of the season and am determined to get the results that the car, and I, are capable of.“

Ian Harrison, Team Principal, BTCC Standings: Teams - 4th – 235 points, Manufacturers – 2nd - 360 points:

“The summer break has been a good chance for the team to re-group before heading into battle for the second half of the season. It hasn’t been time off and holidays for us at Triple Eight though, we’ve been working hard to get on top of the new MG6 and do a little bit of testing. This should hopefully see us unlock some more potential in the car and challenge at the front – which is the only place we want to be.” 

LAST GASP POLE POSITION FOR PLATO AT OULTON PARK

 

 

Image shows Jason Plato en route to pole position at Oulton Park

Jason Plato set a qualifying lap record to grab pole position for the first of tomorrow’s three Dunlop MSA British Touring

Car Championship races at the Oulton Park circuit in Cheshire.

Plato left it right until the end of a highly exciting session to post a best time of 1m26.872s in his KX Momentum Racing MG6 and pip arch rival Matt Neal to pole by just 0.077s. Neal’s time of 1m26.949s in his Honda Yuasa Racing Team Civic was also beneath the old record.

So too were the times set by Robert Collard, third in his eBay Motors BMW and Andrew Jordan, fourth in his Pirtek Racing Honda Civic.

Significantly, all these times were set in less than ideal track conditions with a number of damp patches still on the circuit. Furthermore, championship leader Plato’s time was set in a car carrying the maximum 45kgs of success ballast.

The former double Champion from Oxford commented: “I put the team under a bit of pressure in that session – I ran wide at Lodge corner on my first run and on my second was off the track and through the puddles at Cascades. It all came down to that final run – Matt had just set a very good time but we thought it still might just be possible so it was all or nothing on that last lap.”

Worcestershire’s Neal, the reigning Champion, added: “I was on track at the end and I knew Jason was as well – I was sure he had something up his sleeve and suddenly the team started telling me over the radio he was setting best sector times. I was warming up a new set of tyres for what was going to be my final run but couldn’t get across the line in time to respond.”

And said Hampshire’s Collard: “I’m very happy with third. All I need now is one of my demon starts tomorrow but it’s a very narrow circuit at Oulton – I went from fifth to first at Donington Park but whether I can squeeze between Jason and Matt at the start here… I think that gap might close very quickly.”

Neal’s team-mate Gordon Shedden was fifth fastest while, just a few places behind, Daniel Welch qualified a career-best eighth in his Welch Motorsport Proton Persona.

Tomorrow’s three BTCC races at Oulton Park will be shown on ITV4, ITV4 HD and www.itv.com in two shows – live from 11.30am-4.00pm and then highlights from 8.00pm-10.00pm..

Leading Qualifying Times, Dunlop BTCC, Oulton Park, Sat 9 June
1. Jason Plato (GBR), MG KX Momentum Racing/MG6, 1m26.872s
2. Matt Neal (GBR), Honda Yuasa Racing Team/Honda Civic, +0.077s
3. Robert Collard (GBR), eBay Motors/BMW 320si, +0.117s
4. Andrew Jordan (GBR), Pirtek Racing/Honda Civic, +0.179s
5. Gordon Shedden (GBR), Honda Yuasa Racing Team/Honda Civic, +0.585s
6. Tom Onslow-Cole (GBR), eBay Motors/BMW 320si, +0.631s
7. Frank Wrathall (GBR), Dynojet/Toyota Avensis, +0.787s
8. Daniel Welch (GBR), Welch Motorsport/Proton Persona, +1.042s
9. Dave Newsham (GBR), ES Racing.com/Vauxhall Vectra, +1.097s
10. Mat Jackson (GBR), Redstone Racing/Ford Focus ST, +1.161s

BTCC At Thruxton : Qualifying Report

Andrew Jordan attacking the final Chicane at Thruxton, on his way to Pole

Andrew Jordan has taken pole position for the first of tomorrow’s three Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship races at Hampshire’s high-speed Thruxton circuit, but there were major problems in this afternoon’s qualifying session for three of the series’ big names, Gordon Shedden, Jason Plato and Matt Neal.

 

Staffordshire’s Jordan, driving a Pirtek Racing Honda Civic, set the pole position time in 1m16.983s – a dizzying average speed of 110.17mph. It is the second pole of the 22-year-old’s career.

 

Oxford’s Plato, the current championship leader, ended up second overall but had to rely on the time he set earlier in the session as he then crashed at high speed in his MG KX Momentum Racing MG6. Preston racer Frank Wrathall, another of the championship’s rising young stars, was a career equal-best third fastest on a damp but rapidly drying track in his Dynojet team’s Toyota Avensis.

 

Plato also attacked the kerbs...

Jordan, from Lichfield, commented: “That was a real man’s pole position lap – to do it around Thruxton which is an ‘old school’ style circuit with no margin for error makes it extra satisfying. Even more so as we beat the 1m17s barrier which hardly ever happens.”

Plato added: “The car swapped ends on me as I went into Church Corner at about 140mph, but I managed to get it pointed in a straight line before it left the track. That helped and it was a fairly soft landing all things considered. A shame, though, because I was up on my best lap at that point…”

And said 25-year-old Wrathall: “I’m delighted and felt I could have gone even faster. I’m just going to enjoy the moment and not even think about tomorrow. Everyone’s talking about the weather but I couldn’t care less. We get what we get and then get on with it.”

... And the Scenery (and yes, the recovery truck is stuck)

 

Meanwhile Mat Jackson (Redstone Racing Ford Focus), Dave Newsham (Team ES Racing.com Vauxhall Vectra) and local Hampshire ace Robert Collard (eBay Motors BMW) were next up to make it six different cars in the top six positions.

 

But having looked supreme in morning practice, it all went wrong for the factory Honda Yuasa Racing Team team-mates Neal and Shedden in qualifying. Neal finished up a lowly 19th after a crash and Shedden, on course for his first pole of 2012 having set the fastest lap, then had all his times disallowed mid-session when it was discovered his car had exceeded the permitted turbo boost limits. He rejoined the session for one final flying lap but a costly error meant he could do no better than 18th.

 

Tomorrow’s three BTCC races at Thruxton will be shown on ITV4, ITV4 HD and www.itv.com as part of its mammoth live broadcast of the event (11.00am-6.00pm).

 

Leading Qualifying Times, Dunlop BTCC, Thruxton, Saturday 28 April

1. Andrew Jordan (GBR), Pirtek Racing/Honda Civic, 1m16.983s

2. Jason Plato (GBR), MG KX Momentum Racing/MG6, +0.824s

3. Frank Wrathall (GBR), Dynojet/Toyota Avensis, +1.019s

4. Mat Jackson (GBR), Redstone Racing/Ford Focus ST, +1.468s

5. Dave Newsham (GBR), Team ES Racing.com/Vauxhall Vectra, +1.595s

6. Robert Collard (GBR), eBay Motors/BMW 320si, +1.643s

7. Aron Smith (IRL), Redstone Racing/Ford Focus ST, +1.888s

8. Lea Wood (GBR), BINZ Racing/Vauxhall Vectra, +2.066s

9. Liam Griffin (GBR), Redstone Racing/Ford Focus ST, +2.168s

10. Tom Onslow-Cole (GBR), eBay Motors/BMW 320si, +2.244s

Photos courtesy of BTCC.net

MG at Thruxton : A leap into the unknown?

Donington Park wasn't a great event - now the new MG6 has an even greater test of speed at Thruxton

The MG KX Momentum Racing team heads to Thruxton this weekend for rounds seven, eight and nine of the 2012 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). It has been a busy start to the season for the championship leaders, with the first three race weekends all falling in April. The team is looking for a strong weekend, with the BTCC taking a six week break before the next instalment of the season at Oulton Park.

The Thruxton circuit in Hampshire is the fastest circuit on the 2012 BTCC calendar, with the average speed of the qualifying lap record being in excess of 111mph. The high speed nature of Thruxton means that championship tyre supplier Dunlop has to produce a special edition tyre, that is capable of enduring the high loads the tyres are put under during the weekend’s competition.

Thruxton has been a happy hunting ground for the Greatworth based Triple Eight Race Engineering squad with the team having won nine of the last fifteen BTCC races held there. The MG KX Momentum Racing team will be hoping the new MG6 can enjoy similar pace around Thruxton to the team’s Vauxhall predecessor.

The flat out curves of Thruxton ensure that the Hampshire venue is a favourite amongst the BTCC drivers and both MG KX Momentum Racing drivers are relishing the opportunity to get back behind the wheel of their MG6 race cars this weekend.

Jason Plato (#99), BTCC Standings: 1^st – 84 points:

“I just love Thruxton, of all the UK circuits we visit on the calendar, this is the one that gets your heart racing the most. It is a huge challenge for the drivers and engineers and interestingly the last time I had a perfect set-up for this circuit was in 2001, in a Triple Eight engineered car. Ian and his team always produce an amazing chassis for Thruxton. It’s time to win some races!”

Andy Neate (#49), BTCC Standings: 18^th – 12 points:

“Donington was a tough weekend for me and so I’m delighted to get back behind the wheel so soon afterwards and put that weekend behind me. Thruxton is a great circuit to be heading to next as well, which will hopefully

suit the MG6. Overall I’m looking for a strong and consistent weekend.”

Ian Harrison, Team Principal, BTCC Standings: Teams ‐ 5^th – 93 points, Manufacturers – 2^nd 157 points:

“Thruxton has been a good track for us in the past, but with our new car it doesn’t stand for much to be honest. Thruxton’s fast turns command respect from both drivers and the team, so we will be ensuring that we get the best speed out of the car, while keeping an eye on the dreaded tyre wear. It also looks like the weather will be a factor this weekend, so all in all, it’s a bit of a lottery!”

Mixed fortunes for MG at Donington Park

Platos MG hits the tyrewall as Collard's BMW spins, Ruining both driver's race

The Donington Park circuit in Leicestershire was the venue for the second race weekend of the 2012 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. The MG KX Momentum Racing Team continued their strong start to the season, as Jason Plato once again took the new MG6 to a podium finish.

The MG KX Momentum Racing team book-ended the grid for Race One following Jason Plato’s maiden pole position for the team yesterday, in a qualifying session that saw Andy Neate suffer technical issues. Rob Collard’s BMW lead the race into the first corner from 6th on the grid, dropping Jason to P2. He quickly caught the BMW though and moved to take the lead on lap 5, but as Mat Jackson tried to follow him through, the Ford driver out-braked himself and ran into the back of Jason’s MG6, forcing him across the grass and down to 4th where he would finish.

Andy Neate had an eventful race, after a great start gaining five places he was again low on luck getting into several minor scrapes with other drivers which hampered his progress through the field. He continued to battle though and came home 16th.

Race Two was one to be put down to experience for the fledgling MG KX Momentum Racing team. After a strong start for double BTCC champion Plato, as the leading cars came to complete the first lap, contact between Jason and the BMW of Collard resulting in both cars spinning, with Jason also contacting with the wall. A lengthy pit-stop to repair some damage to the car ended any hope of a points paying position and so the quick thinking Triple Eight team used the rest of the race as a test session, with Jason making a total of 4 pit-stops to try different settings.

Andy again looked to battle through the field from his P16 starting spot and after enduring some tough battles with the mid-field runners, his efforts were rewarded though as he brought home four valuable championship points courtesy of his 12th place finish.

Plato's MG leads Shedden's Honda after a trip through the Gravel.
The positions were later reversed after a steward's enquiry

The reverse grid for race 3 always ensures plenty of action and today’s race was especially eventful! Unfortunately Andy picked up some suspension damage in the melee of the first lap and despite the team’s best efforts to repair it, was forced to retire. Jason started the race from 17th on the grid after his Race Two adventures, but after the frantic opening laps, he had hauled himself into 9th as the Safety Car was deployed on Lap 5. At the restart Jason began to pick his way through the field one by one to incredibly move into a podium position by Lap 15, he then had a titanic battle with Shedden’s Honda that went all the way to the final corner with some contact that saw both cars skate through the gravel and although Jason finished ahead on the road the officials later reversed the positions after an appeal, which still ensured a podium finish for the team.

Jason Plato, MG KX Momentum Racing #99:

“It always seems to be a roller-coaster ride of a day for me here at Donington and we’ve had that sort of day again today. Yesterday’s Pole Position was fantastic, but today’s been up and down with the results, but overall a 4th and a 3rd from the back in Race Three is solid. We will of course look to come back stronger again for Thruxton in two weeks.”

Andy Neate, MG KX Momentum Racing #44:

“I feel empty handed to be honest, especially after the disappointment of qualifying. The car felt better and better as the day went on and I really think we could have come away with something- I was up to sixth after the first couple of laps in Race Three but, I was somehow spun on the start finish straight, which frustratingly ended my weekend. I’m able to go to Thruxton in the knowledge that the car has some real speed and the potential is there.”

Ian Harrison, MG KX Momentum Racing Team Principal:

“It’s been a mixed weekend overall, Jason has again got the best out of the car, but we’ve got into a few situations that meant we haven’t collected the points we perhaps could have. Andy’s been on the back foot since qualifying, through no fault of his own. After solid drives in Race One & Two we’ve had to disappointingly retire his car with significant damage after some poor driving standards in Race Three. Really there’s been too much damage up and down the Paddock today, it needs looking at.

“Looking ahead to Thruxton though, we should be competitive there and will be working to improve the car to ensure we’re as strong as possible.” 

BTCC : Crashes and Controversy at Donington Park

Shedden (52) leads the pack to victory, meanwhile Plato and Collard fall foul of each other.

Mat Jackson and Gordon Shedden shared the wins in today’s three highly-charged Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship races at Leicestershire’s Donington Park circuit. But it is Jason Plato who, despite a crash, still leads the points table as Britain’s premier motor racing series heads south for its next three races at the fastest circuit on the calendar, Thruxton in Hampshire, on the weekend of 28/29 April.

 

Plato had given his MG KX Momentum Racing MG6 a first-ever pole position in Saturday’s qualifying session. But he could only finish fourth in today’s first race behind Jackson’s Redstone Racing Ford Focus ST and the Honda Yuasa Racing Team Honda Civics of Shedden and team-mate Matt Neal.

 

Shedden then led home Neal in race two for a dream 1-2 result for the factory Honda squad with Jackson following in third. It also meant the season’s first five races had each been won by a different driver, while Neal now took over the championship lead after Plato crashed out in a tangle with Robert Collard’s eBay Motors BMW.

 

In race three Jackson crossed the line in first ahead of Plato and Shedden. But officials then demoted Plato to third with a time penalty after they judged he had unfairly bumped Shedden off the track at the final bend. Officials also later excluded Jackson from the results after it was discovered his car had exceeded the permitted turbo boost limits, meaning the Warwickshire driver had to be content with just the one win on home ground.

 

His exclusion also meant Shedden inherited the victory ahead of Plato and a jubilant Tony Gilham who, in his Team HARD. Honda Civic, had achieved a maiden top three result as well as his first maximum score in the Independent Drivers Trophy. Plato also moved back to the top of the standings as Neal, the reigning Champion, span out of the race in a clash with Pirtek Racing Honda driver Andrew Jordan.

 

Oxford racer Plato, aiming for a third BTCC title in 2012, commented: “It’s been a very topsy-turvy day for me. The speed of the MG was clear for all to see with that brilliant pole position lap but then things just didn’t go our way in the races. My crash was just a racing incident but then to drive through from 17th to finish on the podium in race three again underlined just how special the MG is and I believe it will fly at Thruxton.”

Worcestershire’s Neal said: “Everything was going great until race three – a third in race one and then a great result for Honda in race two. But race three showed just how quickly it can all change in the BTCC and now I find myself chasing Jason again as we go to Thruxton. But the main thing is we’re still right in the hunt and my Honda won’t have quite so much success ballast to deal with as his MG around there.”

Following a torrid opening round two weeks ago at Brands Hatch, Fife ace Shedden, who becomes the first driver to win twice in 2012, has vaulted to sixth in the championship. He said: “I feel we’ve got our just rewards today despite Jason’s best efforts! The Honda has been fantastic all weekend around Donington and that’s a great sign for Thruxton where again having a good car in high speed corners counts for a lot. It’s the perfect way to bounce back after Brands Hatch and my championship is now back on track.”

Jackson was left to rue what might have been, saying: “Losing the win in race three is a big blow but a win and a third in the first two races are still two very good results. It’s shown we’re capable of taking it to factory teams and I’m going to Thruxton fully intent on rattling their cages again.”

 

Meanwhile Honda/Dynamics and the Honda Yuasa Racing Team respectively have moved to the top of both the Manufacturers/Constructors and HiQ Teams championships. Jordan and his Pirtek squad have also increased their leads in the Independent Drivers and Teams title races.

 

Elsewhere a number of teams and drivers were penalised by officials at Donington Park. MG KX Momentum Racing, Rob Austin Racing and Thorney Motorsport all received verbal warnings for moving their cars into their pit garages without permission before the session had ended. Chris James received an official reprimand and 2 penalty points on his competition licence for an on-track incident in race one plus, later, a further 3 penalty points and a £1000 fine for using abusive language and behaviour within the venue. Jeff Smith, Dave Newsham and Andrew Jordan received verbal warnings for on-track incidents. Jason Plato received a 2-second penalty for gaining an unfair advantage on-track. Mat Jackson was excluded from the results of race three for a technical infringement.

 

2012 Dunlop BTCC Drivers’ Points after Donington Park (round 2 of 10):

1. Jason Plato, 84 points

2. Matt Neal, 80

3. Andrew Jordan, 76
4. Robert Collard, 71

5. Gordon Shedden, 69
6. Mat Jackson, 60

 

Manufacturers/Constructors’ Points:

1. Honda/Dynamics, 168

2. MG/888, 160

HiQ Teams’ Points:

1. Honda Yuasa Racing Team, 146

2. Pirtek Racing, 129

3. eBay Motors, 112
4. Redstone Racing, 104

5. MG KX Momentum Racing, 93

6. Team ES Racing.com 54

Independent Drivers’ Points:
1. Andrew Jordan, 98

2. Robert Collard, 80

3. Mat Jackson, 70
4. Jeff Smith, 69
5. Tom Onslow-Cole, 59

6. Dave Newsham, 56

 

Independent Teams’ Points:

1. Pirtek Racing, 102

2. Redstone Racing, 92
3. eBay Motors, 91

4. Team ES Racing.com, 75

5. Team HARD., 65

=6. Speedworks Motorsport & BINZ Racing, 46

*All points remain provisional

Jason Plato takes Donington Park Pole

Jason Plato on his way to Pole position at Donington Park

Points leader Jason Plato will line up in pole position on the grid for the first of tomorrow’s three Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship races at Donington Park.

 

Plato’s new MG KX Momentum Racing MG6 set the fastest lap early in this afternoon’s qualifying session before rain thwarted his rivals’ chances on the swooping Leicestershire track.

 

It was the 36th pole of Plato’s illustrious career – achieved, significantly, in a car carrying maximum success ballast – and the former double Champion from Oxford was ecstatic.

 

“This is one of the most satisfying of all,” he enthused. “We knew the rain was coming so popped in a fast lap early on, but what a result for the team and this car. It is still very new to racing but we got a win out of it on its debut at Brands Hatch and it just gets better and better.”

 

Fife’s Gordon Shedden will start alongside Plato from second on tomorrow's grid – his best lap in his Honda Yuasa Racing Team Honda Civic was just 0.054s adrift of Plato’s pole time. His Honda team-mate Matt Neal, the reigning Champion from Worcestershire, was third.

Shedden commented: “I had a few hairy moments out there – that is the maximum I could achieve with the car. But I’m on the front row so can’t complain too much given the problems I had at Brands Hatch.”

Neal added: “Even though my car has slightly less ballast than Jason’s the gap to him is still three tenths of a second. We have no more left in the tank. We need Jason to make a mistake tomorrow and he doesn’t make many of those.”

 

Another Honda driver, independent Andrew Jordan – one of the local favourites from Lichfield – was fourth in his Pirtek Racing Civic. He was one of the few drivers to improve his position as the track started to dry slightly in the session’s closing stages – another was Robert Collard who moved up to fifth in his eBay Motors BMW at the expense of Warwickshire ace Mat Jackson’s Redstone Racing Ford Focus ST.

 

Tomorrow’s three races will be shown live during a mammoth seven-hour broadcast from 11.00am-6.00pm on ITV4 and ITV4 HD as well as the www.itv.com website.

 

BTCC Qualifying, Donington Park, 14 April 2012 (provisional)

1. Jason Plato (GBR), MG KX Momentum Racing/MG6, 1m10.604s

2. Gordon Shedden (GBR), Honda Yuasa Racing Team/Honda Civic, +0.054s

3. Matt Neal (GBR), Honda Yuasa Racing/Honda Civic, +0.307s

4. Andrew Jordan (GBR), Pirtek Racing/Honda Civic, +0.464s

5. Robert Collard (GBR), eBay Motors/BMW 320si, +0.467s
6. Mat Jackson (GBR), Redstone Racing/Ford Focus ST, +0.601s

7. Dave Newsham (GBR), ES Racing.com/Vauxhall Vectra, +0.701s

8. Rob Austin (GBR), Rob Austin Racing/Audi A4, +0.718s
9. Jeff Smith (GBR), Pirtek Racing/Honda Civic, +0.839s
10. Aron Smith (IRL), Redstone Racing/Ford Focus ST, +0.964s

MG heads to Donington

Plato and Neate head back into the thick of the action in their MGs - hoping to replicate success at Brands Hatch

The MG KX Momentum Racing team head to Donington Park this weekend for the second instalment of the 2012 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). It was a fairy-tale start to the championship last time out at Brands Hatch and the Triple Eight run squad are looking to keep the momentum going at the Leicestershire venue.

As the premier four-wheeled British Motorsport series, the BTCC is acknowledged to be tough and unforgiving and so to arrive at the first round of the championship with a brand new, un-tested car was a challenge, even for a team with the race winning pedigree of Triple Eight Race Engineering. The team’s quality shone through though, as the new MG6 performed admirably and defied the odds to take victory in the hands of Jason Plato on its first appearance at a race weekend.

Despite this unprecedented debut success, the Banbury based team are not resting on their laurels. With the proof that their new car has race winning performance, the team have re-doubled their efforts to ensure that the MG6 is fully prepared to undertake its next challenge; the undulating Donington Park circuit, where this weekend MG KX Momentum Racing will again look to fight it out right at the front of the field.

Jason Plato, MG KX Momentum Racing #99:

“What a fantastic start to our 2012 BTCC Campaign, I am really looking forward to this weekend; I have a hunch that the flowing nature of the circuit will perfectly suit my MG6. Donington Park is one of my favourite tracks. The team have been working so hard to get us in tin top condition and I'm confident we can keep the momentum flowing! “

Andy Neate, MG KX Momentum Racing #44:

“The opening race weekend of the series was tough for me and lady luck certainly didn’t seem to shine. Donington is a new chapter though and there were signs of encouragement throughout the weekend at Brands, meaning I’m optimistic I can take a step forward this weekend. “

Ian Harrison, MG KX Momentum Racing Team Principal:

“Brands Hatch was an exceptional debut weekend for the team, but we’re realistic and know that there is a lot of hard work ahead and they certainly won’t all be like that. It’s fantastic for us to be in the first two garages and be leading the series at this stage of the season, but it’s where we are after the last round, not the first that I’m focussed on.“ 

BTCC heads to Donington Park

I'm sure that this sort of Sponsor hunting has been recently employed in F1

The famous East Midlands circuit of Donington Park will host the region’s biggest motor racing event of the year this weekend (14/15 April) when the stars of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship arrive for the latest three races of their action-packed season.

For tens of thousands of fans from its huge surrounding catchment area – including the cities of Birmingham, Derby, Leicester and Nottingham – the picturesque parkland circuit’s spectacular swoops have conjured up some of the BTCC’s most memorable and controversial moments down the years.

Tickets for Donington’s big BTCC race day (Sun 15 April) remain priced at just £25 if booked in advance from the official www.donington-park.co.uk website or the hotline 0844 873 7343 while admission for accompanied children aged 15 and under is FREE for the whole weekend. All admission includes access to the teams’ paddock and a specially organised pit lane autograph session with the BTCC’s star drivers.

And after the sensation of the opening three races at Brands Hatch, Kent the timing for Britain’s premier motor racing championship to make its annual visit to Donington could not be better.

Neal is out to continue his success in the new Civic

Worcestershire’s Matt Neal and Rob Austin, Staffordshire’s Andrew Jordan and Warwickshire’s Mat Jackson were all big points’ scorers at Brands Hatch and will surely be out for glory at their home circuit on the first weekend after Easter. Indeed, reigning Champion Neal from Droitwich Spa got the defence of his crown off to a flying start with a victory in his Honda Yuasa Racing Team’s brand new Civic racer.

Double Podium at Brands for Jordan gives the Litchfield driver something
high to aim at

Lichfield’s Jordan was twice on the podium with a pair of second places in his Pirtek Racing Civic while Pershore’s Austin and Henley-in-Arden’s Jackson were never far away from the top three places in their Rob Austin Racing Audi A4 and Redstone Racing Ford Focus respectively.

Plato made sure the MG made it's mark on the BTCC at Brands Hatch,
Repeat at Donington?

But out-scoring them all on the day and giving the iconic MG name a winning return to the BTCC was double Champion Jason Plato in his new MG KX Momentum Racing team’s MG6. It is Plato who will arrive at Donington holding a slender points advantage over Neal and then Jordan with Austin in fifth and Jackson eighth. Significantly in fourth is eBay Motors BMW ace Robert Collard who also won at Brands – his first victory since Donington in 2009.

Made in Derbyshire!

Furthermore Donington is also a ‘home event’ for the BTCC’s two privateer Toyota teams, Dynojet and Speedworks Motorsport – the Avensis model they both race originated from the manufacturer’s successful plant in nearby Burnaston, Derbyshire. Proton, Vauxhall and VW are also represented on the grid meaning no fewer than nine different car makes for enthusiasts to cheer.

In addition to three bumper-to-bumper BTCC races, a high-profile supporting bill from the Ginetta GT Supercup, Ginetta Junior, Porsche Carrera Cup and Renault Clio Cup categories will add to the value-for-money entertainment during the weekend. On the Clio Cup grid will be Nicolas Hamilton – brother of British Formula 1 hero Lewis Hamilton.