Inside BTCC - Issue 17 - 2012 Season review

INSIDEBTCC.COM issue 17: nov 2012

PLUS - WE GO BEHIND THE SCENES ON TINTOP TUESDAY...

SHEDDEN CROWNED!

SCOT CELEBRATES FIRST BTCC TITLE...

BUMPER 72-PAGE END OF SEASON SPECIAL ISSUE!

SEASON REVIEW / FINAL RESULTS & POINTS / MUCH MORE...

S N O I T A L U T RA

CONG

N O I P M A H C C C T 2012 B N E D D E H S N O D GOR / R E R U T C A F U N MA R O T C U R T S N O C S C I M A N Y D / A HOND N O I P M A H C S M A E T Q i H G N I C A R A D N O H T N E D N E P E D N I N O I P M CHA N A D R O J W E R AND S M A E T T N E D N E P E D N I N O I P M CHA G N I C A R K E T R PI Inside BTCC

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WELCOME...

After 30 races full of action and drama, we have a new champion after Gordon Shedden became the third Scottish driver to lift the crown.

The Honda driver saw off the challenge of Matt Neal and Jason Plato at Brands Hatch to become champion for the first time at the end of a season where he won eight times – more than any of his rivals were able to manage.

Shedden wrapped up the title on a weekend where there were two new winners in the shape of Aron Smith and Frank Wrathall, while Neal also took a victory on his final weekend as champion.

This bumper edition of Inside BTCC – the biggest we’ve produced so far – looks back at how the championship title was won over ten actionpacked meetings and includes interviews with the key men involved in the title battles.

We speak to the new champion about his success while both Neal and Plato pay tribute to the man who beat them to the title.

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Plato however also has words of warning for his Honda rivals as MG already turns its focus towards the 2013 season.

Shedden wasn’t the only Honda driver to win a title at Brands Hatch so we also speak to Andrew Jordan on becoming the Independents’ champion, while there are also interviews with Wrathall and Rob Austin after tough seasons on track.

Away from the circuit, we go behind the scenes with Tin Top Tuesday, discover winter tyres with Dunlop and count down our top ten drivers from the 2012 season.

As usual, we also have the latest news from within the paddock and a full rundown on the results and points from the 2012 campaign.

If you want to get in touch, you can e-mail us on contact@ insidebtcc.com, follow us on Twitter at @InsideBTCC or join us on Facebook at Facebook. com/InsideBTCC Until next time…

Inside BTCC

S N O I T A L U T A

R G N O C

E H C S R O P

B G P U C A CARRER

g n i c a R e n li d e R – s w do M1 a A e O M R l P e , a B h PG Mic U C A R E R g R n A i C c a E R H C e S lin d POR e R – y h 2 rt M a A H l O A R P d , a P GB Ahm U C A R E R AR C E H g C n i S c R a R PO f f o –G f f o G55 G l l i P U W C R E SUP T G A T T E GIN N R I C L T E / H r C a I b M l l To – e 0 z 5 e G e r P B U l r C Ca PER U S T G A T g INET n i G c a N I R L E n H o ds r MIC a h c i R – ies EAMS v T a D P k U r C a R M SUPE T G A T T E GIN N I L E ng H i C c I a M R n o s Richard IO CUP

AIRASIA

L C K U T RENAUL

o r y P m a e T – OPHY f R f T o S T G N k A Jac P – ENTR U C O I L C ULT UK A N E R A I AIRAS o Team Pyr KIE CUP

– ROO P U C O I L T UK C L U A N E R cing a R n e AIRASIA T 0 –2 CUP k S o R o E C T S h A s Jo UP – M C O I L C K AULT U N E R yro A P I S m a e AIRA T her – c l e B n NSHIP o O I P M Sim A H NIOR C U J ort A T p T s E r o t GIN o M HC H – n o s t EAMS r T e b P o I H R S Charlie JUNIOR CHAMPION GINETTA otorsport Inside BTCC

Douglas M

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S T TEN

N O C

IN THIS ISSUE...

SHEDDEN LIVES THE DREAM The Scot joins BTCC winners’ row

6-7

HOW THE SEASON UNFOLDED Race-by-race: How Shedden claimed the title

8 - 19

TRYING TINTOP TUESDAY Behind the scenes on the BTCC’s radio programme

20 - 21

BRANDS HATCH REVIEW All the action from the final rounds of the season

22 - 27

SHEDDEN: IT’S BEEN A WHIRLWIND We get the new champ’s reaction a few weeks on

28 - 29

AUSTIN: IT HASN’T GONE OUR WAY Audi star looks to the future

32 - 35

WEEKEND WARRIORS We talk to some of the BTCC’s part-time stars

36 - 37

STAR’S BACK DUNLOP’S WINTER MESSAGE BTCC racers take to the snow

38

WRATHALL SIGNS OFF IN STYLE We catch up with Frank after his first BTCC victory

40 - 41

MORGAN SWITCHES TO FAMILY TEAM Back with NGTC Toyota in 2013

42

SMITH GETS FIRST NGTC RUN Motorbase gives young drivers a chance

43

JORDAN AIMS HIGH Going for the title in 2013

46 - 47

RIVALS PRAISE NEW CHAMPION Neal and Plato gracious in defeat

48 - 49

NEWS IN BRIEF Latest from inside the BTCC paddock

52 - 53

PLATO, MG VOW TO BOUNCE BACK More to come from Triple Eight outfit

54 - 55

OUR TOP 10 DRIVERS OF 2012 We rate the stars of the championship

56 - 60

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS Final 2012 BTCC standings

68 - 69

THE SEASON AS IT FINISHED Results at-a-glance

70 - 71

ABOUT INSIDE BTCC...

Inside BTCC is an independent publication that is in no way endorsed by, or affiliated to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship or its organisers.

Photos are credit PSP IMAGES (www.psp-images. co.uk) or JAKOB EBREY (www.jakobebrey.com) unless otherwise stated.

To get in touch, please email: CONTACT@INSIDEBTCC.COM. Written, produced and edited by Matt Salisbury and Matt Lamprell.

Front cover images: Main - Shedden celebrates (jakobebrey. com); Top right - Tintop Tuesday (Inside BTCC).

Back cover: Gordon Shedden (jakobebrey.com).

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Inside BTCC

SHEDDEN THE

LIVES DREAM

jakobebrey.com

Honda’s Scottish star adds his name to the list of BTCC champions at Brands Hatch...

When Gordon Shedden left Silverstone following the penultimate round of the BTCC with a 15 point championship lead, history suggested that the Scot would soon be celebrating his first title.

On only one occasion in the previous decade had the championship lead changed on the final weekend of the season and by the time the chequered flag dropped at the end of race two at Brands Hatch, the 33year-old had put enough daylight between himself and the chasing pack to ensure he couldn’t be caught.

The championship crown would have been the last thing on Shedden’s mind when the season got underway at Brands Hatch back in April, when fifth place with an ailing car in race one was followed by a retirement and an exclusion from the remaining two races.

Inside BTCC

From there on however, Shedden quickly established himself as a true title contender with a second place and two wins at Donington being followed by two more wins at Thruxton – where he was forced to fight his way through from 18th on the grid after an over-boost issue in qualifying.

Further victories at Oulton Park and Croft meant the Scot headed into the summer break just a point behind team-mate Matt Neal in the standings.

A dramatic practice fire in practice at Snetterton wasn’t the best way for Shedden to restart his campaign and exclusion from the final race of the weekend, again for an over-boost issue, meant he missed out on the chance of leading the way into his home round at Knockhill – although he would rebound from that to score two podium finishes on Scottish soil.

And then came Rockingham, and arguably the defining moment of Shedden’s season. Having secured a podium finish in race one, the Scot took advantage of an error from Andy Jordan to secure victory in a wet race two.

On the second lap of race three however, Shedden’s car suddenly snapped sideways while the Scot was heading around the circuit’s banked opening corner.

Had Shedden failed to catch the slide and gone into the wall, his race would have been over on the spot. But he not only managed to regain control, he also went on to win the race. It would give him a championship lead he wasn’t to lose.

Minimising his losses when Honda struggled at Silverstone, Shedden did what he needed to do at Brands Hatch to become the first Scottish winner of

the BTCC crown since John Cleland took his second title back in 1995.

“This is what I wanted to go racing for, but I never imagined I’d actually get here and win the title,” he said after climbing from his car at Brands Hatch.

“It’s just an amazing feeling. I came close last year and got a taste for it, and I was happy to see Matt win and for us to take a 1-2 for Honda.

This season the tables have turned but there are so many people who have been involved in making this happen. So many people had belief that we could do it and have been a part of this season; it’s just incredible.

“When the season got underway I had a complete shocker at Brands Hatch but we turned things around as the season went on and we learnt more about the car. When I’ve been running, I’ve been running quickly although we did www.insidebtcc.com

“We’ve pushed hard with the car and it’s worked for me, I really gelled with it.

Eddie [Hinckley], Barry [Plowman] and the team have done so much behind the scenes and I couldn’t have done it without the car underneath me.

“I think the celebrations now will go on until April!”

Shedden’s title success came on the back of eight wins over the course of the year and team boss Steve Neal admitted that the whole Dynamics squad was thrilled to have helped the Scot to achieve his dream.

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“I’m delighted,” he said.

“It’s an ambition we have had with Gordon for six years. He is the longest serving driver we have had at Team Dynamics aside from Matt, and I’m pleased for him to win the title and also for Honda for the result we have gained for them. Gordon is going to be the new Cleland in Scotland – although he doesn’t quite have John’s brashness. He is a really great guy and he deserves it.

“Gordon has always been

quick – he has just lacked a bit of experience and strategy. If you saw him after the first race [at Brands Hatch] he was in the doldrums as his car wasn’t right and he lost points to Matt. However, we got his car right and off he went to wrap up the title in race two.”

The fact that Shedden emerged on top of the title battle ahead of defending champion Neal also put to bed any talk that he wouldn’t be able to win the crown while

racing alongside the team bosses’ son.

“It’s been very emotional for all of us to see someone else win it as it’s always been said in the past that this is a family team built around Matt,” technical director Barry Plowman said. “This proves that the drivers have equal kit and an equal chance and Gordon has taken it.

“It’s great for Gordon to be champion. He’s been with us for six years and has got close before, and he had a shit start to the season this year here at Brands. But he came back, won eight races and has done a fantastic job.

“You have to say that a guy who has won so many races deserves to win the title and he has been head and shoulders above the rest in race wins.”

Inside BTCC

Pics: jakobebrey.com

have occasions when things conspired against us. I know how good our chassis has been, but at certain circuits, the boost regulations did hurt us.

Silverstone in particular was a difficult weekend for us to take as we were a sitting duck on the straights, but that is all forgotten now.

HOW THE 2012 SEASON UNFOLDED

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A RACE-BY-RACE LOOK AT SHEDDEN’S RUN TO THE TITLE

Inside BTCC

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Inside BTCC

1 - BRANDS HATCH

PLATO WINS FIRST TIME OUT FOR MG

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RACE 1: ROB COLLARD RACE 2: MATT NEAL RACE 3: JASON PLATO

Inside BTCC 10

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2 - DONINGTON PARK SHEDDEN GETS BACK ON TRACK WITH DOUBLE VICTORY

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RACE 1: MAT JACKSON RACE 2: GORDON SHEDDEN RACE 3: GORDON SHEDDEN

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Inside BTCC 11

3 - TH R U X T O N ANOTHER DOUBLE AS SHEDDEN FINDS HIS STRIDE

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RACE 1: MAT JACKSON RACE 2: GORDON SHEDDEN RACE 3: GORDON SHEDDEN

Inside BTCC 12

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4 - OULTON PARK

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RACE 1: MATT NEAL RACE 2: GORDON SHEDDEN RACE 3: MATT NEAL Inside BTCC 13

PSP Images

FIFTH WIN FOR SHEDDEN AS HONDA DOMINATE WITH NEAL DOUBLE

5 - CROFT

ONE APIECE FOR NEAL, SHEDDEN & PLATO IN YORKSHIRE

PSP Images

RACE 1: MATT NEAL RACE 2: GORDON SHEDDEN RACE 3: JASON PLATO

Inside BTCC 14

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6 - SNE T T E R T O N

QUALIFYING FIRE PUTS SHEDDEN ON BACK FOOT

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Inside BTCC 15

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RACE 1: JASON PLATO RACE 2: ANDREW JORDAN RACE 3: DAVE NEWSHAM

7 - KN O C K H I L L COLLARD WINS TWICE AS NEAL LEADS POINTS STANDINGS

PSP Images

RACE 1: ROB COLLARD RACE 2: ROB COLLARD RACE 3: DAVE NEWSHAM

Inside BTCC 16

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8 - ROCKINGHAM

RACE 1: JASON PLATO RACE 2: GORDON SHEDDEN RACE 3: GORDON SHEDDEN www.insidebtcc.com

Inside BTCC 17

Jamey Price

WET AND WILD BUT IT’S TWO MORE WINS FOR SHEDDEN

9 - S I L VERSTONE NEAL’S TITLE HOPES UP IN SMOKE AS PLATO WINS TWICE

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RACE 1: JASON PLATO RACE 2: MAT JACKSON RACE 3: JASON PLATO

Inside BTCC 18

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10 - B R A N D S H A T CH SHEDDEN CLINCHES FIRST BTCC TITLE AT WET BRANDS

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Inside BTCC 19

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RACE 1: MATT NEAL RACE 2: ARON SMITH RACE 3: FRANK WRATHALL

TRYING TINTOP TUESDAY Inside BTCC pays a visit to Silverstone to see Tin Top Tuesday radio show put together

MATT SALISBURY JOINS ALAN HYDE IN THE STUDIO FOR TOYOTA TINTOP TUESDAY

The phrase ‘organised chaos’ is one often overused, but when it comes to the BTCC’s radio show, Tin Top Tuesday, it couldn’t be more apt.

Hosted by Alan Hyde with assistance from the Tin Top Tuesday Twitter Totty (think a female version of The Stig when it comes to the mystery that surrounds her), the two-hour show following on from each round of the season has become a must-listen for touring car fans and has spawned some of the BTCC’s more alternative stars; including Yvan Muller’s donkey...

The show now has just celebrated its fifth series and continues to go from strength to strength.

Airing on Silverstone’s own radio station - which Inside BTCC 20

means it available to listen to online and on the move - and now sponsored by Toyota, Tin Top Tuesday provides a more irreverent look at the BTCC and looks more at the personalities that make the series what it is, rather than just focusing on what they do on track.

That is part of the reason why it works so well, and when the opportunity arose during a text message conversation to go behind the scenes at a recording, it was one we were more than happy to take up.

Those who follow us on Twitter or Facebook will

have seen the image we posted of the empty Brands Hatch paddock as we headed home after Finals Day and our comment of what an eerie place it was, and the same could be said for Silverstone just days later when we pulled up in the car park ahead of the show.

With none of the team trucks and hospitality units that had been there just weeks earlier and only a handful of cars belonging to those appearing on the show, it was a slightly surreal place.

The studio itself is based in the hospitality suites that overlook the ’old’ pitlane so it was here that we would spend two hours watching on and listening www.insidebtcc.com

in as the show played out.

The first thing that is obvious to see first hand is how at home Alan is in the studio environment.

BTCC fans are used to hearing him in his role in the pitlane, where he is armed with little more than a microphone and a clipboard to hold his paperwork.

As far as TTT is concerned however, it couldn’t be more different, with an array of screens keeping him up to date on what is happening and the mixing desk in front enabling him to ensure that things run smoothly.

With the clock ticking down to the start of the show, the first guests had arrived - Frank Wrathall and girlfriend Zara as well as ITV presenter Louise Goodman. Rob Austin and Will Bratt would www.insidebtcc.com

also arrive to take part, with the latter providing musical entertainment live from the studio.

The images available via our Facebook page show what went on behind the scenes but the two hours passed quickly and it wasn’t long before the show was off the air and everyone was heading off into the Northamptonshire mist.

Seeing the show go out first hand was an interesting experience, moreso because of the little interactions that went on between guests when they weren’t on air.

What was also interesting was seeing the Tin Top Tuesday Twitter Totty doing her best to avoid getting caught on camera as various Twitter feeds

were updated...

“We’ve had another great season on air and I have to thank everyone who listens in,” Alan said.

“When we first started Tin Top Tuesday, we thought we’d made a good little show but we never expected it to become as popular as it has been.

“It always surprises me how many people get in touch in the run up to the show and when we are on air and their involvement helps to make it what it is.

“It’s all about having fun after a race weekend and it’s great that fans feels the same.”

Tin Top Tuesday will be back throughout the 2013 season.

Inside BTCC 21

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SHEDDEN CLINCHES TITLE

GORDON SHEDDEN WINS HIS FIRST BTCC TITLE AS FRANK WRATHALL AND ARON SMITH TAKE FIRST WINS IN THE SERIES...

Inside BTCC 22

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SCOT SHEDDEN GETS THE JOB DONE HONDA YUASA RACING TEAM DRIVER CLOSES OUT TITLE WITH SECOND PLACE IN RACE TWO

Gordon Shedden

followed the BMW

then lost second to

clinched his first

through Paddock Hill

Andrew Jordan. By

BTCC title with a

Bend in second after

that point, Shedden

race to spare at

front-row started

had also moved

Brands Hatch.

Andrew Jordan failed

ahead of Plato into

to find grip under his

fifth position.

The Honda Yuasa

Honda’s front tyres.

Racing Team driver

There was a brief

finished fifth in the

Championship rivals

pause in the racing

first race, before

Shedden and Jason

when the safety car

second in race two,

Plato soon found

was deployed on

which was enough to

themselves together

lap five, allowing

clinch the honours.

on the track, with

the recovery of Ollie

Shedden passing the

Jackson’s VW Golf

MG when Plato ran

from the Druids

wide on lap two.

gravel trap.

Tom Onslow-Cole

At the front, it didn’t

Following the

started the race

take Neal long to

restart, Neal held

from pole position

get into the lead,

onto the lead

and led away from

passing Onslow-Cole

but came under

the line in slippery

at Paddock on lap

increasing pressure

conditions. Matt Neal

three. Onslow-Cole

from Jordan in

RACE ONE EBay Motors driver

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Inside BTCC 23

Pics: jakobebrey.com

MATT LAMPRELL REPORTS

second. However,

Shedden.

the reigning

Matt Neal third and

Shedden started

Smith and Neal.

Jason Plato fifth,

the race 18 points

champion held on to

Neal took the win,

that was enough to

ahead of teammate

The safety car

the lead and went

ahead of Jordan and

secure Shedden’s

Matt Neal and 20 in

greeted the pack

on to win for the

Onslow-Cole. Aron

first BTCC title.

front of Plato. As the

as they completed

fifth time this year.

Smith claimed fourth

red lights went out,

the first lap, with

place for Redstone

Following the race,

it was Tom Onslow-

Rob Collard and

With Neal at the

Racing, with

Shedden said: “I

Cole who made the

Will Bratt having

front and Shedden

Shedden in fifth and

can’t believe it.

best start and led

come together at

ahead of Plato, it

Rob Collard sixth.

That’s mental.

through Paddock for

Druids. It was an

was a case of how

Seventh place went

Thankyou so much

the first time. H e

incident that could

much Plato could

to Dave Newsham,

to everyone at

was trailed by Aron

have impacted the

limit the damage

ahead of Plato, Will

Honda and Team

to keep himself in

Bratt and Jeff Smith.

Dynamics. This is

contention for the title for at least the

what I started racing RACE TWO

for.

second race.

Gordon Shedden

“Everyone has

In the end, the

finished second in

worked so hard. This

MG driver had to

the race behind

is as much for the

settle for eighth

Redstone Racing’s

team as it is for me.

position, leaving him

first-time winner

It’s unreal.”

18 points behind

Aron Smith, but with

RACE RESULTS - TOP 10s RACE ONE 1 Matt Neal (NGTC) 31:27.137; 2 Andrew Jordan (NGTC) +0.526; 3 Tom Onslow-Cole (S2000) +1.040; 4 Aron Smith (NGTC) +6.698; 5 Gordon Shedden (NGTC) +11.082; 6 Rob Collard (S2000) +11.925; 7 Dave Newsham (S2000) +14.301; 8 Jason Plato (NGTC) +25.050; 9 Will Bratt (NGTC) +25.050; 10 Jeff Smith (NGTC) +27.407.

Fastest lap: Matt Neal (1:44.572) Independent winner: Andrew Jordan RACE TWO 1 Aron Smith (S2000) 35:56.647; 2 Gordon Shedden (NGTC) +2.615; 3 Matt Neal (NGTC) +4.489; 4 Andrew Jordan (NGTC) +4.979; 5 Jason Plato (NGTC) +8.829; 6 Frank Wrathall (NGTC) +9.503; 7 Mat Jackson (NGTC) +9.699; 8

Jeff Smith (NGTC) +13.835; 9 Lea Wood (S2000) +14.125; 10 Rob Austin (NGTC) +19.418.

Fastest lap: Gordon Shedden (1:44.571) Independent winner: Aron Smith RACE THREE 1 Frank Wrathall (NGTC) 26:41.205; 2 Matt Neal (NGTC) +6.893; 3 Gordon Shedden (NGTC) +6.980; 4 Andrew Jordan (NGTC) +7.065; 5 Aron Smith (S2000) +10.454; 6 Dave Newsham (S2000) +13.776; 7 Rob Austin (NGTC) +14.190; 8 Jason Plato (NGTC) +18.568; 9 Lea Wood (S2000) +18.834; 10 Tom Onslow-Cole (S2000) +20.277.

Fastest lap: Tom Onslow-Cole (1:44.927) Independent winner: Frank Wrathall

ONSLOW-COLE CLAIMS FINAL POLE Tom Onslow-Cole may not have been involved in the title fight at Brands Hatch, but that didn’t stop the eBay Motors driver from claiming his first pole position of the season.

Onslow-Cole was the last driver to cross the line at the end of the 30-minute session and used it to his advantage to edge out Andrew Jordan for pole position for round 28 of the 2012 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

The BMW driver went to the top of the times with just under 10 minutes of the session remaining.

However, he nearly lost out to Jordan as the Pirtek Racing driver toppled him from the top of the times

after the chequered flag came out. Fortunately for Onslow-Cole, though, he followed Jordan across the line to reclaim the spot just a few seconds later.

Championship contender Matt Neal claimed third on the grid, ahead of Rob Collard in fourth and Jason Plato in fifth. Adam Morgan would line up sixth, with points leader Gordon Shedden down in seventh.

BTCC debutant Aaron Williamson claimed an impressive eighth place on the grid, ahead of Mat Jackson and Dave Newsham.

Good weekend: Gordon Shedden Claimed his first BTCC title.

Inside BTCC 24

Frank Wrathall Ended the year with his first BTCC victory.

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jakobebrey.com

title fight, with

gravel at Paddock

would be decided in

Plato tapping the

and Dave Newsham

the final race of the

back of Shedden

in the barrier on the

season.

and pushing the

run down Graham

Honda into Collard.

Hill. That brought

Fortunately, though, the title contenders were able to

title, ahead of Jason Plato in fifth. Sixth

Shedden crossed

place went to Frank

the line second to

Wrathall, with Mat

In the end, the

claim his first BTCC

Jackson seventh and

the safety car

crucial move was

title, with Matt Neal

Jeff Smith eighth.

straight back out

a pass by Shedden

in third. Andrew

Lea Wood and Rob

again.

on teammate Neal,

Jordan finished

Austin completed

moving from fourth

fourth, clinching

the top ten.

up to third.

the Independents’

continue.

The track was With Collard

becoming

out of the race,

increasingly slippery

With a handful of

Andrew Jordan

at this point, with

laps remaining,

was confirmed as

the rain continuing

Shedden had done

the Independents’

to fall. When the

enough. At the

champion.

race restarted for

front, Aron Smith

the second time, it

continued to the

A brief restart

was a question of

flag to claim his

followed on lap six,

whether Shedden

first victory, much

only for Dan Welch

could do enough or

to the delight of the

to end up in the

whether the title

Redstone Racing

Bad weekend: Jason Plato Missed out on the title at the final hurdle.

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team.

Rob Collard Had his sights set on Indy glory.

Inside BTCC 25

RACE THREE

In heavy rain and

Racing, with Dave

on a slippery track,

Newsham in sixth

Wrathall started

Wrathall had to

the race second

keep control of the

on the grid behind

race for the next 11

Redstone Racing’s

laps. However, that’s

Jason Plato ended

Mat Jackson but was

exactly what the

the season with an

slow away from the

young driver did as

eighth place finish

At the end of the

Constructors and

line and initially lost

he went on to take

after trying what he

30-race season,

the HiQ Teams

places. However, the

his first win in the

described as ‘some

Gordon Shedden

Championship,

Toyota driver was

series.

different settings’

is the 2012 Dunlop

while Andrew

Pics: jakobebrey.com

back up to second

stages.

third on 376.

and Rob Austin in

Lea Wood and Tom

Honda secured

seventh.

Onslow-Cole finished

a clean sweep of

ninth and tenth

title, taking the

respectively.

honours in the Manufacturers/

on his MG6. The

MSA British Touring

Jordan and Pirtek

by the time the pack

It was a mature

gamble failed to pay

Car champion, with

Racing secured the

arrived at Druids.

drive from Wrathall,

off as he dropped

408 points. Matt

Indepdents Trophy

with Matt Neal

down the order after

Neal finishes as

and Independents

Mat Jackson was in

keeping the pressure

running as high as

runner-up on 387,

Team Trophy.

the lead, but just

on in second place.

third in the early

with Jason Plato

as at Silverstone,

Wrathall brought

he retired from

the Toyota home

the lead with a

first, ahead of

throttle problem.

Neal, Shedden and

It happened on lap

Andrew Jordan.

four as he headed up the hill towards

Fresh from his first

Druids, handing the

victory in race two,

lead to Wrathall.

Aron Smith finished fifth for Redstone

Inside BTCC 26

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Inside BTCC 27

SHEDDEN: IT’S BEEN A MASSIVE WHIRLWIND

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Three weeks after lifting the title, championship winner Gordon Shedden tells Inside BTCC how it feels to be the British Touring Car Champion...

In the immediate aftermath of his title success, it was clear to see that Gordon Shedden was a happy man having become only the third Scottish driver to win the BTCC crown.

Some three weeks after that emotional weekend at Brands Hatch, Inside BTCC was able to speak to the Honda drive to see if his achievement had fully sunk in…

Inside BTCC: In the immediate aftermath of the season at Brands Hatch, you were almost lost for words at winning the title. Has it sunk in now?

Gordon Shedden: It’s been a massive whirlwind for three weeks since Brands Hatch. It’s been great and I’ve had so many people who have sent me a card, or a text or an e-mail to saw congratulations. I do chuckle to myself when people introduce me as the BTCC champion and it is a bit surreal to hear it, but I’m enjoying it.

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Inside BTCC: What has been the best moment so far? Was it lifting the trophy at Brands Hatch or was it when you got back home to Scotland and were able to reflect on what you’ve achieved?

Gordon Shedden: The actual weekend at Brands Hatch was incredible and it was all a bit mental to be honest. Getting the trophy and standing looking at in the garage and seeing some of the names that are on it was incredible and it was good to relax with the team on the Sunday night as there was a lot of pressure that had been lifted on the team. They produced a great car and I managed to pedal it to the title for them.

Inside BTCC: You’re the longest serving driver that Dynamics have had aside from Matt and it’s been a six-year journey to get to this point. There was a brief split a few years ago but what does it mean to you to have won the title for

them now?

other or anything like that.

Gordon Shedden: It’s great. For me, Dynamics is a family team and it shows any doubters that the equipment is equal and that we both have a fair chance of going for the title. Matt is a bloody high benchmark to aim for and it has taken me a while to get there, but luck went my way this year and it made a difference. Matt may have relinquished the title this year but I’ve made sure it has stayed in the family so to speak.

You have to remember that Matt started doing this back in the early 1990’s and has been at it for a long time and it takes a long time to come in and be able to match both his speed and his technical knowledge. I’m still learning from him and he has taught me so much.

A lot of drivers can come into the BTCC and be quick in a race, but to put 30 of them together takes some doing.

Inside BTCC: Was it important for you personally to show that you weren’t just a number two at Dynamics and could win the title?

Gordon Shedden: We’ve never had a number one or number two driver at Dynamics since I started.

The deal has always been that you go as quick as you can and you race for the team, but there have never been bits for one car that weren’t available for the

Inside BTCC: When you were competing in the Fiesta championship and when you first entered the BTCC in the old Production Class, did you ever think you would one day be doing interviews as the BTCC champion?

Gordon Shedden: It’s what I wanted to do and was the whole goal when I started out. Back then, it looked like it was going to happen and I would get to touring cars and then it didn’t happen. At one point it looked like it had www.insidebtcc.com

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then gone pear-shaped and there have been a lot of ups and downs to get to this point and you do go from the highs to the lows of wondering where the next step will be and how you are going to get back in a car.

The 2009 season was hard for me but to get back with Honda in 2010 was great and we’ve kept things the same for the past three years, which has been key to our success. The team has lived every lap with me this season and the title win is as much for them as it is for me.

Inside BTCC: When the chequered flag dropped at Silverstone last year, the season ended with you and Matt driving a car that was pretty much as perfect as it was going to be. To then start with a clean sheet of paper this season, how hard has that been?

Gordon Shedden: People need to remember that our car was brand www.insidebtcc.com

new this season. Yes, we might have started it a bit earlier than Triple Eight started the MG, but I think we did a cracking job and engineering wise, there were so many late nights to get our car out testing before the season got underway. But my car only ran for the first time a week before Media Day so it wasn’t like we were testing right from the end of 2011.

What we had was continuity of some fantastic engineers and two drivers who drive in a similar way. I drove the previous Civic in its first season back in 2007 and my input then was probably quite limited as it was only my second year and I didn’t understand what makes a touring car tick.

Now it is a different story and we benefitted from having two drivers who want similar things and who could help to accelerate the development of the car to make it as competitive as it was.

Inside BTCC: Did you find that the NGTC

Civic required a different style of driving with things like the added weight?

Gordon Shedden: It’s very different in terms of set-up and in terms of understanding what makes it tick, but it is still a front-wheel drive touring car. Both Matt and I would agree that when we first drove the car, there were some positive things about it but there were also some parts that we found widely different compared to what was an amazing car last year.

The 2011 car was awesome and so well hooked up, and it has taken us a while to get the new car to behave anything like last year’s car did. But once we did that, we took steps beyond that and have gone above and beyond what was a great car in 2011 to create something even better.

The car really is a potent weapon.

the benchmark car in terms of wins, but do you think you have realised its potential or is there more to come?

Gordon Shedden: I think we need to improve.

I know myself, and believe, that I have driven better this year than I have done before and I think Matt has as well. We’ve had to push each other so hard to get the best out of the car to stay ahead and it has been a constant challenge. We’ve been pretty equal all year and the cards ultimately fell in my favour.

I think there is more to come from the Civic and what we need a is a level playing field in terms of power next year as I think it was quite clear at some stages in 2012 that it was quite difficult for us.

Inside BTCC: You won eight times this year and the Civic became Inside BTCC 29

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“THINGS HAVEN’T GONE OUR WAY SO FAR - BUT THEY WILL!”

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Rob Austin opens up on a difficult second season for his Audi squad as it aims to take a step forward in the 2013 BTCC...

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There is little doubt that Rob Austin has established himself as one of the most popular figures in the BTCC paddock, although he endured a difficult season in 2012 with engine issues hampering his challenge.

A change of engine builder and a fresh approach from the Rob Austin Racing team as the season wore on saw some of the reliability issues resolved while the pace of the NGTC-spec Audi was clear to see in the closing rounds of the year.

However, as Austin explains, the 2012 season was one that was far from easy…

Inside BTCC: It turned out to be a character-building season again for the team in 2012.

How would you sum it up?

Rob Austin: It was tough. Things started out okay, and at the base level boost that we had at the start of the season, everything was going fine. At Brands Hatch, we weren’t even running that and we got some good results, which were quite www.insidebtcc.com

positive for us. We then went to Donington and things looked good again until we got to qualifying and turned the boost up to the maximum that we were allowed. We set the fastest first sector and then the engine blew up – and that was the beginning of the end for us.

The engine we were using simply couldn’t take the amount of boost we were able to run. It started to eat itself from inside and then we had the same engine issues at Thruxton, which was the worst weekend of my life – next to Brands Hatch last year. We’d sent the engines that had blown up back to Liechtenstein after Donington and they were both rebuilt and then put on a dyno – where they blew up again. It meant that all they had time to do was to put together an engine from what they had and send it back to us.

We thought we’d found a solution but the engines weren’t at their best because of the damage they had and it hurt us.

Since then, we have moved over to Field Motorsport to

do the engines and mapping but we almost gave up on this year at that point and started to focus on next year. We wanted to improve our reliability and have lost a lot of points in the teams championship because we have been breaking the seals on the engines so much. You are only allowed two engines and then you lose ten points, but we have broken the seals at every race meeting to try things and to increase reliability and strength, and also to improve performance as well.

Over the winter we have a step forward to take with our new engine builder and they are doing a good job, but it has taken us all season to get there and we have only really been able to achieve proper reliability from the engines since Snetterton.

It’s a real shame because the pace has been in the car all season but the engine issues let us down.

I think we showed our pace at Brands Hatch and would have won the third race without an overheating issue from about the fifth

lap that meant we went backwards. We had the pace at Croft despite the reliability problems and then from Snetterton we hit the reset button and took a new outlook on things.

It’s been productive as we restructured and made things work for us, although we’ve been unlucky with our results. We what need is some more money to go testing and throw tyres at the car to get the best set-up that will allow us to qualify better. We also need more wet testing as well but in the dry we are as quick as anyone in a race as we showed at Rockingham and at Silverstone. I’m proud that that is now a consistent thing, we just need to work on the other factors.

Inside BTCC: How tough have the past two years been for you because you came into the BTCC as a new team to the series with the concept of NGTC and a car that was going to cost a certain amount. We’ve seen those costs rise and you’ve had to fund that without manufacturer backing and without a big sponsor, so Inside BTCC 33

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how difficult has it been?

Rob Austin: It’s been huge. We don’t have manufacturer backing and have struggled for sponsorship but we have invested a lot into the programme ourselves. Each change promises to be the last change, but then you need to do something else and its difficult as you have to find the money to get on track and show that you are progressing to attract drivers and sponsors. It has been painful at times, such as at Brands Hatch last year for our first race. We were let down by our initial engine builder and we also should have received the car ready to run a month before the Media Day. In the end, it clearly wasn’t going to get done so we dived in and did the best we could to get the car out – you wouldn’t believe what we went through.

We’d done two all-nighters at GPRM but hadn’t got the engine - it hadn’t even been run, although the engine builder was confident that it would be on the pace Inside BTCC 34

when it ran. The car was built and then I drove the truck up towards Stockport to get the engine, but midway up on the journey, the propshaft broke. We unloaded the car out of the truck on the side of the road and a very good friend, who I owe a lot of favours to, came out with his wife’s car and a mate’s trailer. We dismantled the car and took the bumpers off to get it in the trailer and carried on to Stockport.

They couldn’t get the engine running when we got there and we needed help from Cosworth who were at Brands Hatch, so we thought we’d go there and then use Ginetta’s rolling road. We were on our way down there, and as my mate had done me a huge favour in lending me his wife’s car, I thought I’d brim the tank for him as the least he deserved was full tank of petrol. That was okay, apart from the fact the car was a diesel. I’d not slept for three days so it was understandable! We then had to drag the car back out of the trailer at

the side of the road and my mate then turned up with the truck that had had the propshaft replaced and I left him at the side of the road with his diesel car full of petrol waiting for The AA. I finally got to Brands Hatch and it was just madness.

In the end though, the engine just let us down and even if it had worked, the car just wasn’t ready and we missed out. Gradually from that point onwards it got easier and even though things haven’t always gone our way, we now have a car that is quick and reliable.

We just need to work out qualifying and get a wet set-up as we know what we are doing with the car and now are just fine-tuning, which is a nice position to be in.

Inside BTCC: Do you think you’ve almost gone under the radar a bit this season and that you are making more progress than people may realise?

Rob Austin: I think we are stronger than people realise for

sure. What we did last year, everyone seems to put it down to huge boost, which simply wasn’t the case – we have more boost this year than we have then.

The progress we’ve made this year has been good.

Rockingham is a good example. We came through from 12th or 13th into the top six and were running behind Matt Neal before stuff went on that I wasn’t impressed about and it resulted in me being taken out. We might have only ended up ninth after coming back through the field, but in clear air as I worked my way back, we had the quickest car on the circuit – we just didn’t get the fastest lap of the race as the tyres had gone.

You really have to look at the timing sheets to see the pace we had in that race and to notice the potential we showed.

Plato walked that race and we were quicker than him at times and when we weren’t quicker than him, we weren’t far behind.

Silverstone was the same. www.insidebtcc.com

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I’d come through from 17th to fifth and the reverse grid actually hurt me as I was moved back for race three.

We were quick again and just half a tenth off Plato, so if me and Dan [Welch] had gone together in that final race, we could have got ahead of [Nick] Foster and Plato wouldn’t have caught us. My biggest regret this year is that move on Dan at Silverstone as I think one of us would have won that race. We had the pace.

The potential is there. It isn’t intended to be under the radar and it will come good for us. It’s been the same for Frank Wrathall to an extent. He’s had a torrid year and the car has potential but it didn’t come together until the last round. I’m sure he will admit there was some luck involved in that race, but there have been other times when he has deserved more than he has got. I don’t want to take anything from him in getting the win, but things haven’t gone our way like that. I’m sure it will.

Inside BTCC: www.insidebtcc.com

You had a new sponsor at Brands Hatch, which you hope will lead to more. How important is to now get a sponsorship deal in place for next year that will allow you to go into 2013 with two cars that you know will be there for the season?

Rob Austin: It’s hugely crucial. It’s everything for us and without that, it ain’t happening. It’s a bit like playing a game of Jenga. If you don’t have the bottom piece in place then you can’t stack the tower up and can’t start the game.

We need a sponsor and have been working hard to find one. The roof scheme we did was well received and all sorts of people are now talking to us after we changed our attitude to things and looked more at what we could do with social media and things like that.

With Wix, we were talking to them for next year and they are involved next year at some level. We offered then a deal for the final round because we thought

it would look cool as a NASCAR and they jumped at the opportunity. They were over the moon with their investment before we even got to the circuit and when we go there, it was a pissing wet day and we failed to achieve what we wanted to, but they still had a fantastic day. We then had the car at Top Gear Live and they have been over the moon with things.

We need to see what level there involvement is for 2013, but we are hopeful about next season and we are still looking for people to sit alongside them. We also need to find a sponsor for Will, because I think Wix will be on my car and we then have the second car to find backing for.

come from everyone as you always find bits and bobs but we aren’t talking seconds now – we are talking about tenths and they are the most difficult thing to find. We still have weight to lose and some tweaks we want to do aero wise but there isn’t that much more to come.

Inside BTCC: We’ve asked other teams how much they can find in their cars and Ian Harrison for one thinks they have found 30 per cent out of the potential in the MG - so far so how much do you think is to come from the Audi?

If Ian thinks there is 70 per cent more to come from the MG, then I don’t see that myself. However, they are ahead of us and if they have that much more to come then it’s great, as we should be able to find 110 per cent from the Audi…

If you look elsewhere, Dynamics really optimised their package well with the Honda, which they should do as they have every resource available to them. That isn’t me being resentful but they have the right budget, the right drivers and Barry Plowman does a bloody awesome job there – I have a lot of respect for him.

Rob Austin: Clearly there is more to Inside BTCC 35

Bob Knightley

WEEKEND WARRIORS

If it wasn’t for ‘weekend warriors’ then chances are most of the teams on the BTCC grid wouldn’t be able to go racing, with limited budgets meaning they rely heavily on volunteers who give up their free time to help out.

During the season finale at Brands Hatch, Inside BTCC caught up with two of those volunteers to find out how they got involved and what they do to assist their teams.

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Andrew Brooks – AmDTuning.com What is your role within the team?

I look after all the tyres and am there to make sure that they are ready for every session. I have to make sure the pressures are set and that both the slick and wet tyres are prepared in case they are needed.

After a session, I’ll also Inside BTCC 36

make sure the pick-up is removed from the tyres so they can be used again.

It’s a pretty straightforward job to do – you just have to make sure you get your head around where the tyres have been on the car and where they are going to go when you are swapping tyres around. We have a number system and a spreadsheet plan to keep check of where each tyre has been on the car and

We speak to two of the BTCC team members who give up their free time on race weekends to get involved…

how many laps it has done.

What is your day job?

I sell cheese! I have a shop in Malvern and we sell about 70 or 80 different cheeses, most of which are local and English. We also sell a wide range of cooked meats and deli products as well as things like jams, teas and coffees.

So how did you get involved in motorsport?

I was in the bar with my mate at Thruxton one year and got talking to Martyn Bell who was looking for some people to hand out goodies for him. In the end, a group of us ended up giving out 22,000 Sunshine bags so if you have one of those, it probably came from me!

After that, I got involved with Tech-Speed where I showed an interest in the tyres and my mate Keith showed me how it worked.

Then this season, I moved over to AmD. What is the best part of being involved?

It’s the whole atmosphere that there is in the paddock and the people you get to meet. We have a great bunch of guys in the team at AmD and I enjoy being with them on a race weekend and getting away from the day job. During the week, I scrape cheese in the shop and then on a race www.insidebtcc.com

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Andrew is offering BTCC fans the chance to enjoy a discount on any gifts purchased in the run up to Christmas.

Simply visit www. cheeseboardmalvern. co.uk and use the discount code btcc2012 when ordering to get 10% off your purchase. The code will be valid until 15 December.

Joe Brown – MG KX Momentum Racing What is your role within the team?

I was asked to help out for some of the events this season where they had a large number of guests and my role was to drive the buggy in the paddock to help the team’s drivers and guests get one from place to another, and generally help to look after the guests who are with the team on a race weekend.

especially on race day as there is a lot going on. I have to make sure I meet the helicopter on time when Jason arrives, and it can be difficult trying to locate guests at the gate when they arrive because of the crowds that are coming in to see the action. You also find there isn’t much time to get a break as it’s always so busy!

What is your day job?

I work on copy control in the advertising department of a publishing company and I also build

radio-controlled cars. You might have seen some of them in the paddock in recent seasons; I’ve done a model of the VW Golf for the past two years.

and that is why I was then asked to help out MG when needed. I’ve also done some bits and pieces at club level racing as well.

So how did you get involved in motorsport?

I’m a huge fan of motorsport and was a member of YourRacingCar. com. I told YRC boss Hannah that I could do a better job of packing the van than she could and got told to get on with it!

It all started from there in the BTCC paddock, helping out with YourRacingCar,

What is the best part of being involved?

I just love being part of the team, but the main thing I like is helping to introduce the BTCC to new guests who might not have been to watch the racing before. Seeing their faces light up when they hear the fans cheering on the cars on track is very rewarding.

On a personal note, I do miss sitting with my friends to watch the racing but at the same time, I know that I’m a small part of what they have come to see and what is keeping them entertained. That’s what keeps me coming back and I love it.

It can be a tough role, www.insidebtcc.com

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weekend, I go and scrape tyres instead!

STARS BACK DUNLOP’S WINTER MESSAGE Four of the top stars from the BTCC help Dunlop promote its winter driving message in a special snow event...

Newly-crowned BTCC champion Gordon Shedden was one of the star names to help Dunlop launch its winter safety campaign at an event at the Tamworth Snowdome in Staffordshire.

Shedden was joined by Honda team-mate Matt Neal, Dynojet’s Frank Wrathall and RAR driver Rob Austin for the event, which aimed to show the reasons why drivers would be wise to consider fitting winter tyres to their cars as temperatures tumble.

Although there is no legal requirement in the UK to fit winter tyres, an increasing number of drivers are electing to fit the rubber to the their cars to improve safety in the winter months, with a softer compound tyre helping to produce more grip when temperatures drop below seven degrees.

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Dunlop’s latest winter tyre, with Wintersport 4D, features a unique design that gives more grip than the other tyres in Dunlop’s winter range – which have already taken numerous awards.

A video presentation during the Tamworth event made that point clear, with a live action demonstration that showing exactly how good winter tyres perform.

Two identical Honda Civics were taken onto the twelve degree incline that is the main ski slope to see how they would perform, with one fitted with the Wintersport 4D and the other running on standard Dunlop summer tyres.

The winter tyre-shod car went right to the top without any issues,

whereas the standard tyre struggled to get any grip on a flat surface before it even reached the slope.

All four touring car stars took the chance to try the tyres for themselves, with all four getting up the slope on the winter tyres but failing miserably on the standard rubber.

“Safety is paramount in motor sport, but should be out on the public roads, too,” Shedden said. “These tyres prove why insurers are now very enthusiastic about people fitting them.

They save motorists and their insurer money and could just save people’s lives.”

Insurers are now keen to see drivers make use of winter tyres after the cold snaps seen in recent years led to a huge increase in claims from people who had been involved in

accident caused by the conditions.

Statistics from the Met Office have shown that the UK weather between October and March is now ‘ideal’ for winter tyres, which can be stored during the summer months at special tyre hotels that are springing up around the UK. Having seen what the winter tyre was capable of, Shedden, Wrathall and Austin took part in three toboggan races down the slope – taking a win apiece.

Videos of each of the three races, and one showing the performance of the winter tyre, can be found on our Facebook page with further information on the Wintersport 4D on DunlopTyres.co.uk

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WRATHALL SIGNS OFF IN STYLE Having impressed many with his performances on track in 2011, big things were expected from Frank Wrathall in his second season of competition in the BTCC but the 2012 campaign turned out to be a challenging one for the Dynojet man.

Despite showing impressive speed - such as at Snetterton where he stormed to pole position - Wrathall went into the final weekend of the season having managed just two podium finishes at the wheel of his Toyota Avensis and with his focus on trying to secure a top ten championship position.

Heading to Brands Hatch, Wrathall had already established himself as one of the top qualifiers on the grid although ironically, Brands Hatch would see him pick up his worst qualifying result of the campaign as he could only manage 14th spot after running into car problems.

Having been forced out of race one on Finals Day after Inside BTCC 40

a move from Andy Neate at the final corner put the Avensis man into the gravel, Wrathall came through well to sixth in race two and that set him up well to benefit from the reverse grid in race three.

Despite a slow getaway, Wrathall held on around the outside at Paddock Hill to stay ahead of Jason Plato’s MG and then took advantage of an issue for Mat Jackson to take an unassailable lead out front.

It meant Wrathall ended the year with the win he had craved all season and was enough to take tenth overall from the grasp of eBay Motors man Nick Foster.

“The season turned out to be one that was very up and down,” Wrathall admitted. “We had a mega meeting at Thruxton to secure a podium finish and then Snetterton was also good. Getting pole position there showed the speed we had in the car but we struggled at times over the course of the season for numerous reasons, and

After a difficult second season in the BTCC, Frank Wrathall realised his potential with a crucial victory in the final race of the year...

it meant that we headed to Brands Hatch having not really done ourselves justice.

“To end the season with a win was brilliant both for me and the team, and we couldn’t have asked for more. We’d struggled a bit in race one even before being taken off, but we improved the car a lot for race two and coming through to sixth place there was key as it showed the speed was there. Okay, we benefitted from the reverse grid to be on the front row in race three but once I was at the front I was able to settle into a rhythm and pull away.”

Wrathall’s bid for success in 2012 had come with a completely new car after the Dynojet squad built up a completely fresh car for his second season, and while it ultimately took time to get the best from the package, the victory went some way towards relieving some of the pressure that Wrathall had been putting on himself.

“There are times when we’d almost forget that the car this season was a new car,” he said. “We’d have problem and would be looking back at what happened in 2011 and would wonder why we weren’t getting the same kind of result on track. On the whole however, I think we have proved that the new car is quicker than the old one was and the work we put in has paid off and put us in a good position as we look to 2013.

“Getting the first win under my belt has lifted some of the pressure that we put on ourselves to be successful.

If I’m being honest, we would have been disappointed if we’d got to the end of the season with just a pole position and two podium finishes to show for our efforts; we would have felt we’d underachieved.

Now we have that victory, some of the pressure has been lifted and hopefully there will be many more to come!”

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MORGAN SWITCHES TO FAMILY TEAM

Adam Morgan has confirmed that he will return to the B TCC next season, albeit not with the same Speedworks team that ran him in 2012.

Morgan will instead race for the family-run Ciceley Racing squad that carried him to the 2011 Ginetta GT Supercup crown, with the team being reformed to run him in his second season in touring car competition.

Morgan’s father Russell has purchased the Toyota Avensis chassis that was raced by Frank Wrathall in 2011 from Dynojet Racing, with the Ciceley squad now set to build up the car in time for preseason testing.

looking forward to it,” Morgan said. “This is a family team and everyone likes really to get stuck in and to help out. We will be organising every aspect of every race weekend ourselves and that is something that we all enjoy doing. Obviously it’s a bit of a step up to touring cars, but we are going to give it a go: it all worked really well for us in 2011 in Ginettas.

“It’s a shame to be leaving Speedworks: they are a great bunch of lads and despite my not having had the best season’s racing they have been great at helping me out and keeping me focused and committed, so I really want to say a massive thank-you to them.

“Now we are going to crack on and hopefully

get the Toyota ready well before the season starts so we can get out testing.

We would really like to get everything done well in advance and get five or six days of testing in the bag so that we are fully prepared and ready to go, and hopefully we can then hit the ground running.

“This year was a challenging one for me. I learned a great deal about the car and about set-up.

I believe I showed that I have the pace to compete in the top ten. Now it is all about now getting the results.”

“We have a lot of work to do and a lot of stuff to sort out, but it should be great and I am really Inside BTCC 42

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SMITH GETS FIRST NGTC RUN

Aron Smith has had his first taste of the NGTC-spec Ford Focus he hopes to race next season in a test at Brands Hatch.

Smith drove Motorbase’s S2000-based Ford all season and took his first victory on Finals Day to cap an impressive first full campaign.

The Irish driver was able to drive the NGTC car over the course of two days at the team’s home circuit and was impressed by its performance.

“As soon as I got into the NGTC I could immediately feel the difference from the S2000,” he said. “It’s got so much more grip, and as good as the car is in its current set up, you can tell that it’s still only running at about 70 per cent of what it’s capable of.

“I have no doubt that with some more testing and development over the winter, the Motorbase NGTC has the potential to beat the Hondas and MGs and win the Championship in www.insidebtcc.com

2013, and I’m working very hard to secure a deal to be in it!”

Rookie pairing sample Motorbase Ford While Smith was driving the NGTC Focus, two rookie drivers were on track at Brands Hatch after being given the chance to sample the older S2000 Ford by Motorbase boss David Bartrum.

Jake Hill and Tom Grainger both spent time at the wheel of the older Ford during a day of running at the Kent circuit, with Bartrum saying he was pleased to given them the chance to sample the car.

“We’ve given a couple of young drivers, at different stages of their careers, a chance to sample a touring car,” he said. “We’re a Kentbased team and these are two young lads from Kent.

Tom is starting out and Jake is battling to climb the racing ladder – neither of them is short of talent, just finance.

“They’ve both been a joy to work with; they’ve listened and followed instructions very well and done exactly what was asked of them. It doesn’t mean they will be touring car drivers for us next season, but it will give them an association with the team and it will give them experience of racing at that top level that they wouldn’t necessarily get elsewhere.”

on the track and the S2000 has been mega! I’ve loved every minute of it and can’t thank David and the team enough.”

Hill is no stranger to the Motorbase team or to BTCC fans, having spent recent years competing on the TOCA package in both Ginetta Juniors and the Ginetta GT Supercup.

“To be honest, I thought the test was a bit of a wind up!” he said. “When David said if you win the Metro Cup I’ll give you a test in the touring car I thought he was joking! It’s been an amazing experience, and one I never dreamed that I would get.

“Hardly anyone gets the chance to drive a touring car so I feel very privileged and grateful to David Bartrum and Motorbase for giving me this opportunity,” he said. “Considering this is my first time in a front wheel drive car, I’m quite pleased with how it’s gone!

Everyone in the team has been really professional and helpful; Aron’s helped me massively with the car and Mat’s been giving me advice

Grainger meanwhile has been working with Motorbase on a voluntary basis two days a week while studying for a Motorsport Engineering qualification alongside a campaign racing in the MG Metro Cup.

“The test went really well, it was my first time ever on slicks and driving a car with a sequential gearbox so it took a little getting used to.

It was a bit weird actually being in the car though; I’m usually the one taking the wheels off - not driving it!”

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JORDAN AIMS HIGH

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For Andrew Jordan and Pirtek Racing, the aim for 2013 is overall honours after wrapping up the Independents Championship...

Having shown his speed from the moment he first joined the grid back in 2008, Andrew Jordan finally secured some championship silverware on Finals Days when he wrapped up the 2012 Independents’ title.

The Pirtek Racing man went into the season finale on top of the Indy standings ahead of Rob Collard and Mat Jackson and wrapped the title up with a race to spare when Collard was forced out of the second race at Brands Hatch following an accident on lap one.

In total, Jordan took eight Independent victories alongside an overall win at Snetterton to beat Collard to the title by 69 points while he also ended the campaign fourth in the overall standings having retained a slender chance of the championship right up to Finals Day. However, with the Independents title having been the target at the start of the year, it was a case of mission accomplished for Jordan in his first season at the wheel of the NGTC-spec Honda Civic.

“I’m relieved to have done it more than anything,” he said.

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“We did what we needed to do at Brands Hatch and got what we wanted at the end of it. I think the first race was the key moment for me as I knew after that that the title was pretty much secured.

We’d had a tough weekend at Silverstone so it could have been a lot easier than it was, but when the first race was done, we knew it was there for the taking.

“The whole team has done well this season but there is always room for improvement and I think the aim for next year has to be to go for the overall title. You always have to aim for more than you have achieved already.”

Andrew’s championship success was a moment of huge proud for father Mike, who was once again responsible for overseeing the Pirtek Racing programme from the pit wall.

Having committed early to an NGTC programme, Pirtek was able to benefit from a close working relationship with the works Honda squad and Jordan Sr was understandably delighted with the end result after a campaign where he felt Andrew had come of age.

“I’m over the moon,” he said,

“and it shows that it was absolutely the right thing for us to do to go with the Honda. We were lucky that Pirtek committed to us for two years as it gave us the stability to go to the bank and borrow the money to buy the Honda and it also means we start in a good position next year with the car. There have been times when it has been difficult with the boost equalisation but everyone has their own story on that and at the end of the day, we have won the championship.

“If I’m being honest, I think this season has been the most complete he has had in the BTCC. Frankly his pace over a single lap has always been blinding but he just couldn’t grasp at first that the races were longer than his Rallycross ones were; there were four and half minutes whereas this is 25 minutes and he was trying too hard to get stuff done quickly.

“I doubt he will get much faster and in qualifying, I would seriously put him up against anyone in the same car. He has also improved when it comes to developing into a Matt Neal kind of character, where you know when you need to push and when you don’t want to stick

you nose in.”

As a team, Pirtek Racing also wrapped up the Independents’ team title ahead of Redstone Racing and eBay Motors and the team boss said the aim now had to be to challenge for overall honours next year.

“I guess it has to be,” he replied when asked if the main championship was the target for 2013. “We headed into the final round this season knowing that we weren’t going to win the overall title unless Gordon, Matt and Jason took each other off in every race and we took three wins, but we now have to aim for overall honours after winning the Independents.

“We want to defend out Indy title but also make a push for the overall championship although we know it won’t be easy against a team like Dynamics with the experience that they have. However, the team I have around me are brilliant and are great to work with. Working with these guys makes this job a pleasure.”

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TITLE RIVALS PRAISE NEW CHAMPION

Matt Neal and Jason Plato praise Gordon Shedden on the back of his title success...

Defeated duo Matt Neal and Jason Plato have both praised Gordon Shedden after the Scot added his name to the list of BTCC champions on Finals Day. The trio had all gone into the Brands Hatch weekend with a chance of becoming champion but it was Shedden who would come out on top – extending the 15 point lead he held before the weekend to take the title by 21 points.

Twelve months previously, Neal had beaten Shedden to the title at Silverstone before admitting he almost felt bad for lifting the championship at his team-mate’s expense.

The Honda duo had been closely matched all season before Neal’s title bid fell apart at Silverstone, where he failed to score in any of the three races.

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Despite a strong performance on Finals Day, Neal would end the year second but admitted he was delighted to see Shedden clinch his maiden crown.

“Bar Silverstone I had a great year,” he said. “I was an outsider going into the finale. Flash and I have been nip and tuck all season and I knew it would be a tall order.

We stole a few points in the first race but gained weight for race two and I couldn’t have done much more. I had a first, a second and a third at the final meeting but Silverstone killed me – that is the long and short of it.

“However, I’m over the moon for Gordon; I find it easier to take this year with him winning it than I did last year.

He really deserves the

championship as he has been quick all year, but he has also been humble at the same time.

“Flash is a good teammate but is also a good mate, and its great to see him win the title as a friend.”

Heading into Finals Day, Shedden’s closest challenger in the points had been Plato after the MG man took a double win in the penultimate meeting of the year at Silverstone.

Despite scoring more pole positions than anyone else, and being second to Shedden in terms of race wins, a number of retirements would cost the 2001 and 2010 title winner dear.

However, like arch-rival Neal, Plato was full of praise for the new

champion.

“Gordon is a bloody good driver and he deserves to win this year,” he said. “It’s funny as if you look back at any season in motorsport and see who has won the championship, there are always some iconic moments that stand out.

“Gordon has produced some of those moments this year, which is the sign of someone at the top of his game. They are moments we’ll look back at in 20 years time and remember so I’m really chuffed for him. He’s put a proper campaign together this season and when it comes to fighting for the title in future, he will be a pain in the arse until the day I retire! But we’ll have him next year…”

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Bennetts calls for NGTC clarification WSR chief Dick Bennetts has reiterated his call for clarification about the NGTC regulations as his team continues to evaluate its options for the 2013 season.

The team emerged as the best of the S2000 runners this season running under the eBay Motors banner, with Rob Collard fifth overall and the team beaten only

by Honda in the HiQ Teams’ Championship.

Bennetts has made no secret of his desire to go down the NGTC route next year, with one of the team’s BMWs having already been sold and the remaining two on the market.

However, he admits that there needs to be ‘leeway in the regulations’ when it comes to the development of a rear-wheel drive car built to the Next Generation rules – with his preferred option being to run BMWs again in 2013.

That comes despite the fact that the Audi A4s run by Rob Austin Racing have been developed to run with rearwheel drive. www.insidebtcc.com

“Our aim is to build NGTC cars, three of them, for next season,” he said. “However, to do that we need to find some more money, and we also need some clarification on the regulations.

“Our concern surrounds the fact that there needs to be more leeway in the regulations for a rear-wheel drive car. Everyone can see that the rules were based on a Toyota [with the Avensis having been the prototype model developed by TOCA - ed] and those rules have been adopted by another team in order to build a rearwheel drive car.

“From what we can see, we do not plan – and will not – build a car like that as it is wasting money. There needs to be leeway to build a proper NGTC car with rear-wheel drive and not one that has to fit rules that aren’t designed for it.”

joined the grid at the start of 2011 with Motorbase, finishing 21st in the championship last year and then taking the same position this year despite missing the events at Snetterton, Knockhill and Rockingham.

In all, Griffin took part in 51 races, with a best finish of eight at Oulton Park earlier this season.

“2012 has been a tough season for me, but I was glad to finish the last round at Brands on a bit of a high in what were very tough conditions,” he said. “To be part of the BTCC has been a dream come true. It’s a great championship and unbelievably competitive; it’s not until you race that you realise just how good these guys are!

Liam Griffin has elected to call time on his BTCC career after two seasons.

“Despite never really achieving the competitiveness that I had hoped for, I’ve had a great time being part of the BTCC over the last two seasons, but this was never going to be a career move for me and the time’s now right for me to move on to something a little more gentlemanly.

The former VW Cup and Porsche Carerra Cup GB racer

“Motorbase and Redstone Racing have been a fantastic

Griffin calls time on BTCC career

team to be involved with, everyone involved is passionate about the team and there’s a genuine camaraderie that I’ll miss.

I’ve watched them grow as a team over the past three years into one of the leading teams in the BTCC. “They have one of the best drivers in the championship in Mat Jackson and also probably the most talented youngster in Aron Smith, and with the addition of the new NGTC Focus, I have no doubt that they’ve a genuine chance of winning the Championship and I wish them all the very best of luck.”

Hughes bows out with points finish Griffin wasn’t the only driver to end his BTCC career at Brands Hatch, with Tony Hughes also competing in the series for the final time.

The Speedworks driver finished in the points on eighth occasions over the course of the season – including in the final race of the season – and took a best finish of twelfth on home soil at Oulton Park.

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for the past two seasons, is eager to try and help put together a deal for Paul O’Neill to race the car next year after he impressed in outings at Croft and Knockhill this season.

who won on two occasions at the wheel of his Vauxhall Vectra in 2012, became the fifth winner of the award after Mat Jackson, Paul O’Neill, Shaun Hollamby and Frank Wrathall.

“I wanted to prove to myself that I could cut it amongst some of the best drivers in the country,” Hughes said.

“Following a tough first season of development, we got some proper mileage under our belts and worked on the set-up on the car. Add to that the experience that I’ve gained and my pace has developed as a result.

Newsham was presented with the Fans Trophy during the Brands Hatch weekend by fan Charlie Jobson, who was one of those fans to vote fro the former Clio Cup champion.

“It’s a shame I never quite made it into the top ten, as I’ve always said it would have been like getting on the podium for me. I set out on this journey wanting to prove to myself that I could compete at the highest level of British motorsport, and I reckon in the end I’ve done ok.”

Newsham takes Fans Trophy Dave Newsham has taken the Fans Trophy award as voted for by visitors to the official BTCC website.

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“I’m delighted but also stunned,” he said. “To have one of motor sport’s most passionate and knowledgeable bunch of fans anywhere in the world pick you as their favourite is a real honour.

“The trophy will be sitting very proudly alongside any trophy I’ve ever won in a race!”

Official season review goes on sale The official BTCC season review DVD has gone on sale ahead of its release later this month.

The twin-disc offering will run to more than seven hours and tells the story of how the 2012 title was won after another dramatic season of

competition.

S2000 drivers to fight for Jack Sears Trophy

“Ultimately the driver with the most ‘cups’ will be awarded the Jack Sears Trophy at the end of the season – named, fittingly, in recognition of not only a great double BTCC Champion but also the BTCC’s first ever Champion (in 1958),” series boss Alan Gow said. “To receive the trophy from a true legend like Jack will be a real privilege for the winner…”

Drivers using S2000 cars next season will do battle to secure the Jack Sears Trophy after series bosses elected to honour the man who won the first ever championship crown.

Sears himself, who won a second title in 1963 to add to the crown he won in a dramatic tie-break event at Brands Hatch in 1958, said he was honoured to have the trophy named after him.

While NGTC-spec cars will become the dominant force next year, S2000 cars remain eligible to compete in the series albeit without the performance parity they enjoyed in 2012.

“It’ll be 55 years since I won my first title and 50 since I was fortunate enough to win it a second time – I feel very honoured that the championship wants to create a trophy in my name after all these years,” he said. “It’s certainly a championship that values its heritage.

Fans of the BTCC can benefit from a special deal on the Duke Video website, where using the promotional code BTCC12 will bring the cost of the DVD down to just £14.99.

Free delivery is also included.

Series bosses had previously announced that they would present a cup to the highestfinishing S2000 runner in each race next year and it has now been confirmed that whoever wins the most cups over the course of the season will then pick up the Jack Sears trophy at the end of the year.

“The cars of course have improved hugely in that time and the S2000s have provided great entertainment and variety. It’s good to retain a type of car that has been successful and I’m sure, even though smaller in numbers in 2013, the www.insidebtcc.com

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Series revises boost regulations Revisions are to be made to the boost regulations in place in the BTCC for 2013 with the unanimous agreement of the competing teams.

A lap-time based adjustment will again be used next season but with some tweaks to the system compared to the one that was used during the course of 2012.

The amount of change, either or up down, will be reduced from the current level to ensure there aren’t such radical changes from one event to the next, while the adjustments will now apply to an individual team or driver (which is still to be determined) rather than to a model of car.

Series bosses will also look into the frequency in which adjustments are made as opposed to the two-event rolling average currently www.insidebtcc.com

used.

“As with almost any regulation, particularly new ones, they are ‘tweaked’ based on experience gained – and that’s exactly what we are doing here,” series boss Alan Gow said. “As well, with S2000 cars now not having strict performance parity, the baseline boost levels on NGTC cars can increase and thus the profile of the calculation can alter.

“All the teams endorsed that the fundamental aspect of using the lap time analysis was the right way to go, but that we should refine those three areas in particular.

In the coming weeks a working group, comprising a representative cross-section of the teams, will finalise those exact details.”

Dunlop to bring in new tyre Dunlop will bring in a new soft compound tyre for the 2013 season in a move which will add a fresh strategic element to the racing action.

Each team running an NGTCspec car will have a set of the new softer compound tyres which must be used in one of the three races on a weekend, with teams

nominating which race they will run the tyre in prior to qualifying.

Special markings will show when the tyre is being used, although the first time rival teams will be aware is when a car heads onto the grid.

“This set of softer compound tyres is part of each driver’s normal 16 per-meeting Dunlop tyre allocation, so there is no increase in the amount of tyres used,” Gow said. “The real twist is that prior to qualifying they must nominate the actual race in which they are going to use them the next day – in that way they won’t be able to use them to merely make up for a poor qualifying or race performance, for example.

“It’s sure to provide some fascinating race day strategies, as each team won’t know what their opposition are doing until they head out onto the grid.

“All our teams enthusiastically supported this new regulation at a recent meeting and I’m sure the spectators will love this new element. I’d like to thank Dunlop for its technical expertise in helping to add yet another exciting dimension to our races.”

If the race in which the driver has elected to use the ‘softs’ is wet, they must use them in the next available dry race on that same day.

The tyre cannot be used in qualifying.

Three strikes and you’re out A new penalty rule will be brought in in 2012 to try and improve driving standards.

Any driver handed three penalties for on-track driving infringments – from a reprimand upwards – will be given an automatic six place grid drop, which will be taken at the next available opportunity. A similar grid drop will again come into play if a further three penalties are picked up.

Rob Collard, Jason Plato, Jeff Smith and Andrew Jordan would have picked up a grid drop if the rule had been in place in 2012.

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Jakob Ebrey

S2000 runners will continue to put on a great show for the public. I very much look forward to presenting the trophy to the deserving winner next October on Finals Day at Brands Hatch – scene of my first title all those years ago.”

PLATO, MG VOW TO BOUNCE BACK

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Jason Plato and the MG KX Momentum team vow to beat Honda to the 2013 BTCC title after missing out on 2012 honours...

Jason Plato has vowed to win a third BTCC title next year after failing in his bid to overhaul Gordon Shedden for the crown on Finals Day at Brands Hatch.

The MG driver arrived in Kent as Shedden’s closest challenger in the points thanks to a fine double victory at Silverstone, which brought him to within 15 points of the Scot ahead of the final three races of the year.

While confidence was on a high ahead of the meeting - on a circuit where Plato had famously won three times in a day back in 2009 while driving a Chevrolet Lacetti – rain on race day would prove to be his undoing, with the MG6 GT unable to match the Honda Civic in the wet conditions.

The end result was that

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Plato could only take a best finish of fifth on Finals Day as he slipped to third in the standings but there was still a sense of pride for the 2001 and 2010 champion at the performance shown by the Triple Eight-run car, which wasn’t even in a position to run at the annual Media Day just weeks before the season opener but would go on set five pole positions and secure six wins.

“I’m really proud of the whole team this season,” he said. “We came into this season with a last minute job, no testing and we went out and won on our debut. The only person who managed to win more races than us is Gordon Shedden, I scored more pole positions than anyone else and even though we had more mechanical failures than our rivals, we were still in

with a shout when it came to Finals Day. “In all honesty, while we talked a big game with you guys in the media on the Sunday morning, we knew we were knackered when it was wet as we haven’t managed to get the car working in those conditions, but overall I’m happy with how the season panned out.

“What we have to take away from 2012 is that we have engaged with the fans better than anyone else in the paddock, have brought in a new manufacturer and we have the best sponsors in the business – including Tesco who are a big brand, have had a great year and are already looking forward to 2013.”

While the MG has become a proven race winner this season in Plato’s hands,

the same can’t be said for team-mate Andy Neate, who endured a more troubled campaign in the sister car. That however is down in no small part to the fact that the team has only been able to show a fraction of what the car is capable of – with team boss Ian Harrison insisting that Triple Eight is ‘probably only 30 per cent there’ in unlocking the potential that lies within.

“There are tons still to come,” Plato agreed.

“What you have to remember is that the car wasn’t developed in a wind tunnel, didn’t have a CFD programme on it and has done little in the way of testing. We have only deviated from the straight and narrow a little bit which you just can’t do; you have to explore all of the little avenues. What we have done this season is the best we could do

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in the time we had, and we have got the car into a position where it is a pretty quick in the dry, although it’s still a bugger to drive if I’m being honest and that is why Andy has struggled with it a bit.

“We know there is work to be done in the wet but the potential is there. The team of people we have are clever enough and skilled enough to turn the MG into a championshipwinning car and what we have done this season with the tools at our disposal is nothing short of remarkable.

“I’m very confident about the future. You saw peoples faces at Silverstone – they were quaking in their boots and quite rightly so. We now have to get the car sorted in the wet and if we do that, they better be

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worried…”

Plato’s run to third place in the championship came despite him failing to finish no fewer than six times over the course of the campaign – a penalty that it was ultimately too hard for him to overcome.

While clashes with Rob Collard at Donington and Aron Smith at Knockhill led to two of those retirements, the other four all stemmed from mechanical failures – three of which prevented him from even starting a race and one, at Silverstone, which robbed him of what looked like being a certain victory.

That, team boss Harrison insists, is something that can’t be repeated next year if Plato is to launch a bid for a third title, with plenty to be done over the winter to ensure the team

hits the ground running in 2013.

“I’m very proud of the team and I’m proud of the way in which all of our sponsors have supported us,” he said. “Jason was a key player in pulling all this together and it’s been good. The crew has worked diligently and in that respect, we couldn’t have done more. We don’t understand the car, especially in the wet, and we need to sort that out, as we don’t have a handle on it in those conditions.

“However, we have been let down by engine issues in key areas and there were three weekends where we had to sit out racing. If we hadn’t had those issues, it might have looked a bit different. If, if, if; it’s a big word, but when they are things you have no direct influence over,

you cant ignore them. If we’d started those races and got seven points from each, and hadn’t been forced out while leading at Silverstone, we might have wrapped the championship up.

“We’ve had a snap-shot of the potential in the MG this season but we have a lot to do over the winter.

We’ll work hard but you don’t know how good your car is until you get on the grid for race one and see what your rivals have done. There are always things that you wish you had done, or which you had done differently and minimising the amount of times we have to ask ourselves those questions will help determine how quick the car is next season.”

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OUR TOP 10 OF 2012...

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With the season at an end, we count down our top ten drivers from the 2012 British Touring Car Championship The 2012 BTCC season turned out to be one full of drama as Gordon Shedden became champion for the first time after 30 action packed races at nine circuits around the UK. There were plenty of highlights and lowlights for the 28 drivers who raced over the course of the season but with the racing at an end, it’s time for us Inside BTCC 56to count down our top ten drivers of the year‌ www.insidebtcc.com

10. Tom Onslow-Cole

Team: eBay Motors Championship position: Sixth – 281 points Wins: 0 Returning to the team that gave him his BTCC debut, Onslow-Cole ended the season as the highest-placed driver not to taste the victory champagne despite taking to the podium on seven occasions. Although he started the season with a third place finish in race one, it took time for TOC to get fully comfortable with his return to rear-wheel drive and he was unlucky not to get at least one win. His pole on Finals Day was impressive while seven fastest laps showed the speed was there.

9. Frank Wrathall

Team: Dynojet Championship position: Tenth – 173 points Wins: 1 With a new car for his second season, Wrathall found himself effectively starting with a fresh sheet of paper in 2012 but there was little doubt that the pace was there – as seen by the fact that he ended the year as the fifth best qualifier and took a pole as impressive as any seen all season at Snetterton. Race days would prove to be frustrating however with just two podium finishes – at Thruxton and Snetterton – before the final race of the year, where he secured his breakthrough victory. It meant a top ten championship finish, although the Lancashire racer will hope for more in 2013.

8. Mat Jackson

Team: Redstone Racing Championship position: Seventh – 274 points Wins: 3 Jackson looked like he could be a real title contender in the opening rounds of the season, taking impressive victories at Donington Park and Thruxton (and losing another win at Donington due to a boost issue). However, as the season reached the half-way point, it had become apparent that the NGTC-spec cars had hit their sweet spot sooner than the Motorbase squad had expected, with the team building up its own car for Jackson to race in the second half of the year. As a result, his job then switched to developing the car for 2013 with an impressive weekend at Silverstone given an indication of what is to come.

7. Dave Newsham

Team: Team ES Racing Championship position: Ninth – 202 points Wins: 2 There were raised eyebrows when Newsham decided to team up with 2011 backmarkers ES Racing for his second season but it proved to be a wise move after the team acquired proven cars in the ex-Triple Eight Vectras. Showing his media day pace was no fluke with pole at Brands Hatch for the opening round, Newsham was unlucky to be taken out by Plato while dicing for the lead. Despite one of the smaller budgets on the grid, there were six podium finishes in all including Snetterton and Knockhill, where he made the most of the reverse grid to clinch a pair of impressive wins. www.insidebtcc.com

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6. Aron Smith

Team: Redstone Racing Championship position: Eighth – 204 points Wins: 1 If the season had started at Knockhill, Smith would have been a true contender for honours. The Irish racer had taken just one top six finish prior to the trip to Scotland but in the final twelve races of the year, he would bring his S2000-based Ford him inside the top six on nine occasions. Having battled to a breakthrough podium at Silverstone, his performance in race two on Finals Days - where he secured his maiden win - marked him out as one to watch for the future.

5. Andrew Jordan

Team: Pirtek Racing Championship position: Fourth – 346 points Wins: 1 The qualifying averages showed Jordan’s real strength in 2012, with Plato the only man to be ahead of the Pirtek Racing driver at the end of the year. Indeed, Jordan only failed to qualify on the front two rows on two occasions all season but could only convert that to one victory.

The youngster raced strongly throughout the campaign however, most notably in the first half of the year when he was only outside the top six on three occasions. Although he remained in title contention throughout, Jordan’s main focus was on the Independents’ championship, which he successfully wrapped up on Finals Day.

4. Rob Collard

Team: eBay Motors Championship position: Fifth – 303 points Wins: 3 Collard’s best season to date in the BTCC ended with him fifth in the championship having emerged as the top driver to be running an S2000-based car. From the outset, he was on the pace with WSR’s newlyturboed BMW and won first time out. Strong starts were a given all season with the rear-wheel drive car although he wasn’t always able to build on those starts as the team struggled to get the same performance from the 17 inch tyres that the NGTC runners could get from their 18 inch rubber. Knockhill showed Collard at his best as he qualified on the front row and won twice with a showing he felt was the strongest of his career.

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3. Matt Neal

Team: Honda Yuasa Racing Championship position: Second – 387 points Wins: 5 As defending champion, Neal was the man everyone else wanted to beat going into the new season and there was little surprise to see the Honda man emerge as one of the championship contenders. Things started well when he became the first driver to win with an NGTC car and four other wins would follow in what turned out to be a nip and tuck battle with Shedden at the top. Neal was vocal on his views on boost levels but ultimately it would be a disastrous weekend at Silverstone that would end his chances as he failed to finish any of the three races and dropped out of contention.

However, he was still happy at the season’s end having seen his close friend Shedden crowned.

2. Jason Plato Team: MG KX Momentum Racing Championship position: Third – 376 points Wins: 6

Plato’s switch to Triple Eight with the MG6 came at such a late stage that there was no in-depth testing programme before the season started, but that didn’t stop him from launching a bid for the crown. Although he won at Brands Hatch in just the second race for the car, it was in the second half of the season that the MG really came to the fore – albeit only in dry conditions. Finals Day was a sign that more work is needed in the wet, while a series of technical issues prevented him from possibly beating Shedden to the crown. There is little doubt however that the Plato/MG combination will be strong in 2013.

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NUMBER ONE.

GORDON SHEDDEN Team: Honda Yuasa Racing Championship position: First – 408 points Wins: 8

With more wins than anyone else in 2012, few would argue that Shedden wasn’t a deserving champion although the Scot certainly didn’t have an easy ride to his first championship crown. The Honda man suffered more than his fair share of bad luck – such as at Snetterton where his car caught fire in practice – but he battled back from anything that was thrown at him with a series of strong performances on race day. Six of his wins came in the first half of the year, including fine doubles at Donington and Thruxton, while the second half of the campaign was all about picking up the points needed to see of his challengers. A popular championship winner, don’t be surprised if Shedden’s name appears on the title trophy again in future.

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directory a who’s who of btcc on twitter...

BTCC DRIVERS Matt Neal Mat Jackson Aron Smith Rob Collard Frank Wrathall Dan Welch Rob Austin Will Bratt Dave Newsham Nick Foster Howard Fuller Paul O’Neill Adam Morgan Tony Gilham Tom Onslow-Cole Robb Holland Lea Wood Andy Neate Tony Hughes Gordon Shedden Andrew Jordan Jason Plato

@MattNealRacing @mat_jackson @AronSmith_ @CollardRob @FrankWrathall @BTCCDanWelch @RobertoAustini @WBrattRacing @NewshamRacing @NickFos44109596 @HKFRacing @PaulONeill29 @AdamMorgan33 @TonyGilham @TomOnslowCole @RobbHolland3 @TeamWoodRacing @AndyNeate @TonyHughesBTCC @GordonShedden @AndrewJordan77 @JasonPlato

AND A FEW MORE...

Official BTCC Inside BTCC Tin Top Tuesday Alan Hyde Talking Point ITV Toby Moody Richard John Neill Tim Harvey Unlap Brands Hatch Oulton Park Snetterton Silverstone Rockingham Knockhill Croft Thruxton Donington Park

@DunlopBTCC @InsideBTCC @TinTopTuesday @AlanHydeStudio @TPBroadcasting @ITVtouringcars @TobyMoody @richardjneil @TimHarvey7 @unlap @Brands_Hatch @Oulton_Park @SnettertonMSV @SilverstoneUK @RockinghamUK @krcircuit @Croft_Circuit @thruxtonracing @DoningtonParkUK

BTCC TEAMS Honda Yuasa Racing MG KX Momentum Racing Redstone Racing eBay Motors Welch Motorsport ES Racing Rob Austin Racing Speedworks AmDTuning.com Pirtek Racing Thorney Motorsport Toyota MG

Inside BTCC 66

@HondaRacingBTCC @official888race @RedstoneRacing @ebaymotorsbtcc @WelchMotorsport @teamESracing @RobAustinRacing @SpeedworksMS @AmDessex @andyjordanBTCC @ThorneyMS @ToyotaBTCC @MGMotor

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2013 BTCC CALENDAR 30-31 March, Brands Hatch Indy 20-21 April, Donington Park National 4-5 May, Thruxton 8-9 June, Oulton Park Island 22-23 June, Croft 3-4 August, Snetterton 300 24-25 August, Knockhill 14-15 September, Rockingham 28-29 September, Silverstone 12-13 October, Brands Hatch GP www.insidebtcc.com

Inside BTCC 67

RACE FOR

FINAL 2012 BTCC CHAM

DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP

MANUFACTURER/CONSTRUCTOR

1

Gordon Shedden

408

1

Honda/Dynamics

902

2

Matt Neal

387

2

MG/Triple Eight

722

3

Jason Plato

376

4

Andrew Jordan

346

5

Rob Collard

303

1

Honda Yuasa Racing

738

6

Tom Onslow-Cole

281

2

eBay Motors

607

7

Mat Jackson

274

3

Pirtek Racing

509

8

Aron Smith

204

4

Redstone Racing

502

9

Dave Newsham

202

5

MG KX Momentum Racing

446

10 Frank Wrathall

173

6

Team ES Racing.com

242

11 Nick Foster

164

7

Dynojet

166

12 Jeff Smith

157

8

WixRacing.co.uk

126

13 Rob Austin

122

9

BINZ Racing

122

14 Lea Wood

116

10

Speedworks

121

15 Dan Welch

79

11

Team HARD

100

16 Andy Neate

79

12

Welch Motorsport

85

17 Tony Gilham

71

13

AmDTuning.com

71

18 Ollie Jackson

61

14

Thorney Motorsport

19 Adam Morgan

50

20 Will Bratt

38

21 Liam Griffin

37

22 Paul O’Neill

36

23 Chris James

26

24 Howard Fuller

16

25 Tony Hughes

14

26 Robb Holland

6

27 Aaron Williamson

2

28 John Thorne

0

Inside BTCC 68

TEAMS CHAMPIONSHIP

3

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THE TITLE

MPIONSHIP STANDINGS INDEPENDENT DRIVERS

INDEPENDENT TEAMS

1

Andrew Jordan

425

1

Pirtek Racing

475

2

Rob Collard

356

2

Redstone Racing

466

3

Tom Onslow-Cole

343

3

eBay Motors

461

4

Mat Jackson

338

4

Team ES Racing

326

5

Aron Smith

257

5

Dynojet

259

6

Dave Newsham

247

6

Speedworks

254

7

Nick Foster

239

7

BINZ Racing

228

8

Frank Wrathall

236

8

Team HARD

220

9

Jeff Smith

222

9

WixRacing.co.uk

199

10

Lea Wood

178

10 Welch Motorsport

163

11

Rob Austin

172

11 AmDTuning.com

162

12

Dan Welch

122

12 Thorney Motorsport

13

Ollie Jackson

115

14

Tony Gilham

111

15

Adam Morgan

83

16

Chris James

77

17

Liam Griffin

72

18

Tony Hughes

72

19

Will Bratt

64

20

Paul O’Neill

46

21

Howard Fuller

31

22

Robb Holland

17

23

Aaron Williamson

6

24

John Thorne

5

www.insidebtcc.com

19

Inside BTCC 69

THE SEASON

RACE-BY-RACE RESULTS FOR THE 2012 DUNLOP 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

Matt Neal

2

1

7

3

2

DNF

10

5

2

1

5

1

1

Mat Jackson

7

4

DNF

1

3

EXC

1

3

6

5

DNF

7

8

Aron Smith

DNF

DNF

8

8

9

11

7

8

14

DNF

16

DNF

10

Liam Griffin

14

12

11

DNF

DNF

14

DNF

17

12

DNF

8

DNF

14

Rob Collard

1

6

6

10

8

4

4

7

7

3

14

6

2

13

9

14

7

5

4

3

12

17

9

DNF

12

DNF

8

6

4

DNF

DNF

Frank Wrathall

DNF DNS

Dan Welch

17

11

DNF

Rob Austin

8

5

5

Will Bratt

/

/

/

/

/

/

DNF

9

3

7

4

11

Dave Newsham

DNF DNS DNS DNF

18

13

/

/

/

5

/

/

/

8

DNF

11

9

DNF

2

6

18

DNF

10

DNF

DNF

11

12

14

14

11

9

6

8

18

Nick Foster

9

Howard Fuller

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

Aaron Williamson

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

Paul O’Neill

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

17

15

13

DNF

DNF

DNF

DNF

15

Adam Morgan

DNF DNS

DNF DNS DNS

DNF DNS DNF

DNF DNC DNF

Tony Gilham

18

13

10

14

7

3

11

9

DNF

DNF

11

10

12

Robb Holland

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

Tom Onslow-Cole

3

10

DNF

5

10

9

8

13

10

DNF

9

3

7

Lea Wood

11

15

9

DNF

15

10

9

12

8

10

7

5

13

Andy Neate

12

14

14

16

12

DNF

16

16

DNF

7

DNF

DNF

6

Ollie Jackson

13

8

DNF DNC DNS DNS

12

15

15

11

15

15

11

Tony Hughes

16

16

15

DNF

16

15

DNC

19

16

13

12

14

/

5

DNF

EXC

2

1

1

6

1

1

4

1

4

3

10

7

4

13

6

5

13

11

9

12

DNF

DNF

17

16

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

6

2

2

6

5

6

DNF

10

5

2

2

DNF

4

Chris James

15

DNF

12

17

DNF

13

15

DNS

17

DNF

13

13

16

Jason Plato

4

3

1

4

DNC

2

3

2

4

DNC

3

2

DNC

Gordon Shedden Jeff Smith John Thorne Andrew Jordan

Inside BTCC 70

DNS DNS DNS

DNF DNS

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IS OVER

P MSA BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP 14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

2

4

4

4

8

7

8

3

6

2

2

DNF DNF DNF

DNF

12

8

6

4

5

DNF

10

4

4

6

DNF

1

14

10

6

4

6

8

DNF

6

5

3

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

9

1

1

9

5

11

11

DNF DNF 14

DNF

5

5

8

15

2

5

7

17

10

5

17

12

3

7

12

18

DNF

/

/

12

16

EXC

10

8

/

DNF DNC

DNF DNS DNS

25

26

27

28

29

30

1

3

2

2

DNF

7

DNF

4

9

4

1

5

DNF

13

DNF

19

13

14

13

4

2

3

6

DNF

19

5

12

DNF

12

6

1

DNF DNF

12

DNF

12

/

/

/

DNF

8

14

16

/

/

/

9

16

10

5

5

EXC

17

10

7

/

/

/

/

15

13

DNF

13

9

DNF

12

8

1

11

10

1

12

15

DNF

2

3

DNF

7

DNF

6

11

13

13

8

5

7

10

10

9

6

10

4

15

14

13

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

14

12

16

11

DNC

11

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

14

DNF

13

/

/

/

6

4

6

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

20

14

10

10

DNF

11

DNC

9

11

16

14

8

12

11

DNF

13

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

DNF

14

17

DNF

14

14

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

6

2

6

7

2

2

2

5

8

14

7

10

6

5

3

15

10

19

DNF

9

9

13

13

/

/

/

9

16

15

11

9

9

9

9

15

12

15

DNF

12

15

7

DNF

14

12

18

DNF

13

12

DNF

15

14

/

/

/

DNC

8

8

14

DNC

16

DNF

11

11

15

DNF DNF

DNF DNF

DNF DNF

DNF DNF

DNF DNF

DNF DNF

DNF DNF

DNF DNS /

/

DNF DNS

DNF DNF DNF DNF DNC

16

/

/

16

16

16

/

/

/

15

17

17

15

17

17

20

17

15

1

6

7

2

EXC

3

3

DNF

3

1

1

7

7

6

5

2

3

13

11

10

11

11

14

9

2

DNF

13

DNF

8

11

10

10

8

17

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

4

3

3

1

5

9

7

4

2

7

4

DNF

9

7

2

4

4

16

17

13

DNF

16

13

18

15

12

18

16

18

7

1

DNF

11

DNF

1

3

DNF

1

8

5

8

DNF DNF DNF 1

www.insidebtcc.com

3

3

DNF DNF 3

1

Inside BTCC 71