Inside BTCC - Issue 27 - BTCC 2013 finale at Brands Hatch

INSIDEBTCC.COM issue 27: oct 2013

PLUS - THE TITLE CONTENDERS AHEAD OF BRANDS FINALE

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AN D R O SJ T LE U T P I L T U C HA TC B T N F I O E PO C 0 N 4 A T IS HER D T O G N N A HI C U O T N I H T WI SILVERSTONE REVIEW / TOM INGRAM / LAUREN’S COLUMN / MORE...

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WELCOME...

So finally, with 27 races down, just three remain to decide who will win the 2013 BTCC title as we head to Brands Hatch for Finals Day. Andrew Jordan almost has one hand on the championship crown having extended his lead at the top of the standings at Silverstone, but he can’t afford to relax with four other drivers waiting to pounce on any misfortune that goes his way.

In this issue of Inside BTCC, we look at how Jordan extended his advantage last time on a weekend where Jason Plato and Gordon Shedden shared the wins, while we also preview the weekend to come.

As part of that, we speak to the five championship contenders to get their view on what to expect from the season finale.

final rounds.

Thanks to a good weekend for Aron Smith at Silverstone, Lauren has decided to come out of hiding to give her latest insight on life at Airwaves Racing and there are ten quick questions with Welch Motorsport grid girl Natalie – as well as the latest BTCC headlines, results and championship standings.

As usual, you can follow us on Twitter at @InsideBTCC or give us a like on Facebook at Facebook.com/InsideBTCC. You can also get in touch with us via e-mail on contact@insidebtcc. com if you have any feedback or suggestions you want to send our way.

Until next time…

We also catch up with Tom Ingram after he wrapped up the Ginetta GT Supercup crown as he talks about a possible BTCC move and get the latest on the support classes ahead of their

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S T TEN

N O C

IN THIS ISSUE...

BRANDS HATCH PREVIEW Looking ahead to rounds 28, 29 & 30

6-7

THE CONTENDERS The top five - their seasons so far

8 - 19

SILVERSTONE REVIEW We look back at all the action from Silverstone

20 - 25

TOM INGRAM Ginetta GT Supercup winner aims for BTCC

26 - 29

LAUREN’S COLUMN The inside line on Aron Smith’s Silverstone success

30 - 33

BEHIND EVERY MAN Meet Welch Motorsport’s grid girl Natalie Clarke

34 - 35

LATEST NEWS Latest from inside the BTCC paddock

38 - 39

SUPPORT RACE ROUND-UP Latest from the support race paddock

44 - 49

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS Points tables after Silverstone

54 - 55

THE SEASON SO FAR Results at-a-glance

56 - 57

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 - Andrew Jordan (jakobebrey.com); Top right - Contenders (btcc.net).

Back cover: Grid girl (jakobebrey.com).

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BRANDS HATCH PREVIEW

LOOKING AHEAD TO ROUNDS 28, 29 & 30 After 27 races, the fight for championship glory in the 2013 BTCC season comes down to three races around one of the most popular circuits on the calendar as the series prepares to potentially crown a new champion for the second year in a row.

Against all expectations, Andrew Jordan managed to extend his lead last time out at Silverstone and now holds an advantage of 34 points going into Finals Day with a maximum of 67 available.

That lead is the biggest there has been going into the season finale since 2008, when Fabrizio Giovanardi was 44 clear of Jason Plato and went on to clinch the title for Vauxhall.

While four others have Inside BTCC

a mathematical chance of winning the title, the simple facts are that Jordan will be crowned if he can maintain the kind of form that has seen him finish in the top eight an astonishing 25 times in 27 races this season.

The only two occasions he has finished outside the top ten have come at Donington Park (where he was forced to pit mid-race to have grass cleared from

his radiator) and Thruxton (where he punctured while leading on the final lap), but on both occasions he was still able to score.

It means that Jordan is also seeking to join Matt Neal and Plato in going through a season with a 100 per cent scoring record, while just three points are needed to wrap up the Independents’ title.

Of the chasing pack,

Matt Neal is the closest challenger but he admits that he will need a major dose of luck on his side if he is going to become a four-time champion.

Neal has won on the GP circuit for the past two year but could face more problems from the hand injury he sustained prior to the Silverstone weekend and could end up being more focused on keeping defending champion Gordon Shedden at bay.

Shedden is just one point further back in the second of the factory Hondas after his unexpected win last time out at Silverstone but has been left to wonder what might have been – with five no scores meaning he needs a turn-around in fortunes to defend the title he won last year. A good starting www.insidebtcc.com

point would be for the Scot to win on the GP look for the first time; it’s still the only circuit on the calendar where he hasn’t won.

Colin Turkington and Jason Plato are the remaining two contenders but both are realistic enough to know that their title chances are little more than mathematical.

While they may have already conceded the title, the pair will be ones to watch on Finals Day, with Turkington trying to break into the top three in the standings and Plato

keen to try and repeat the stunning triple win he clinched in 2009 to end the season on a high for MG. Although all eyes will be on the fight for the title at the front, there is still plenty of play for elsewhere in the field – with a full grid of drivers all seeking to ensure they head into the off-season on a high.

Sam Tordoff should be able to secure an impressive top six championship placing given his 42 point advantage over the Toyota

BRANDS HATCH GP RECENT HISTORY 2012 Pole

Tom Onslow-Cole, BMW 320si

Race One

Matt Neal, Honda Civic

Race Two

Aron Smith, Ford Focus

Race Three

Frank Wrathall, Toyota Avensis

2011 Pole

Jason Plato, Chevrolet Cruze

Race One

Jason Plato, Chevrolet Cruze

Race Two

Jason Plato, Chevrolet Cruze

Race Three

Matt Neal, Honda Civic

of Adam Morgan, while the Ciceley Racing man will be eager to ensure that he stays ahead of Mat Jackson – who closed the gap to seventh down with another solid showing at Silverstone.

At the same time however, Jackson can’t afford to relax after Airwaves Racing team-mate Aron Smith closed to within 15 points of eighth place with his double podium at Silverstone. Smith is also well aware of what is needed to win on the GP loop, having taken his maiden victory in the corresponding meeting last year.

Rob Austin, Dave Newsham and Jeff Smith are amongst a raft of drivers who could end the year inside the top ten if results go their way, while Frank Wrathall – winner of the final round last year – will hope for a repeat to ensure that a difficult season ends on a high.

Amongst the S2000 runners, Lea Wood is already secure as winner of the Jack Sears Trophy and a triple success would make it ten successive victories to celebrate his title.

The Vauxhall man has only failed to win his class on two occasions since racing resumed at Snetterton, helped to an extent by the various issues to have faced Liam Griffin.

Griffin will hope to return to winning ways on home soil in what could be his BTCC swansong with the impending demise of the S2000 class, but don’t rule out the returning Shaun Hollamby as he brings the AmDTuning.com VW Golf back out for one final appearance in the series.

Pole

Tom Chilton, Ford Focus

Race One

Tom Chilton, Ford Focus

Race Two

Tom Onslow-Cole, Ford Focus

Race Three

Mat Jackson, BMW 320si

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2010

2009 Pole

Tom Chilton, Ford Focus ST

Race One

Jason Plato, Chevrolet Lacetti

BRANDS HATCH GP STATS

Race Two

Jason Plato, Chevrolet Lacetti

LENGTH

2.30 miles

Race Three

Jason Plato, Chevrolet Lacetti

2013 RACE LAPS

15

RACE DISTANCE

34.50 miles

LAP RECORD (QUALIFYING)

1min31.604secs (Tom Chilton, 2010)

LAP RECORD (RACE)

1min32.619secs (Jason Plato, 2011)

MOST WINS (1991-)

7 – Jason Plato

2005 Pole

Dan Eaves, Honda Integra

Race One

Dan Eaves, Honda Integra

Race Two

Jason Plato, SEAT Toledo

Race Three

Rob Collard, MGZS

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Andrew Jordan holds the advantage heading into the title deciding races at Brands Hatch. But it’s close for second - we take a look at how the contenders’ seasons have unfolded...

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ANDREW JORDAN Team: Pirtek Racing Wins: 6 Second: 4 Third: 2 Poles: 2 Points finishes: 27 Retirements: 0 Points: 378

Points mean prizes – and for that reason Andrew Jordan heads to Brands Hatch as the hot favourite to secure his first BTCC title.

This is the season when the Pirtek Racing man has come of age, having taken more wins this year than he had in his previous five in the championship.

The only driver to have picked up points in every race this season, Jordan’s ability to consistently score is the main reason why he takes a potentially decisive to Brands Hatch – with his lead going into the finale being the biggest seen since 2008.

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Even when things didn’t go to plan - such as at Donington Park where he was forced to pit, and Thruxton where he punctured on the final lap while leading – Jordan brought his car to the finish in the points.

Having focused on the championship from the first race of the year, the 24-year-old will now hope to take the points needed to become one of the youngest title winners in series history.

What the man himself says: “I expected to have my lead cut at Silverstone, so have to have come out of that weekend with a larger lead is something I’m really pleased with, and something I’m surprised by.

“When I get to Brands Hatch, my approach for Saturday will be the same as ever and I’ll be aiming to be as quick as I can be as it’s a circuit I love.

“In terms of the racing, I need to see where I am and where the others are and decide what approach to take. I’ll see what risks I need to take, and if the right thing to do is to play it safe, then that is what I’ll do.

“It would mean a huge amount to me to wrap up the championship title, as that is what me and the team have worked hard for. Hopefully we can seal the title and get the job done.”

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MATT NEAL Team: Honda Yuasa Racing Wins: 4 Second: 4 Third: 4 Poles: 0 Points finishes: 25 Retirements: 1 Points: 344

For Matt Neal, one meeting seems set to cost him the chance to become a four-time BTCC champion on Finals Day, with his wretched weekend at Rockingham looking likely to be the moment that cost him the title.

Having failed to score in the opening round, the Honda man went on a run that saw him inside the top six in every other race during the first half of the year – ensuring that he once again topped the standings heading into the summer break.

His battle with Jordan for top spot was shaping up to be a classic as the young charger closed in when racing resumed, but Rockingham would prove to be the race day where anything that could go wrong did go www.insidebtcc.com

wrong.

His total of just eleven points that weekend was the lowest weekend score of any of the title contenders all season, and it means Neal is now reliant on Jordan hitting trouble if he wants to join Andy Rouse as only the second four-time BTCC champion.

What the man himself says: “Silverstone was one of those days that I hadn’t looked forward to going racing because of the problems with my hand and because of the speed differential of the cars – so I was glad to get to the end with the results we had.

“I have nothing to lose going into the finale and if I come out of it finishing in fifth place,

then it’s no skin off my nose.

It’s all or nothing really and the pressure is on Andy, not on the four of us chasing him.

“Of course the pressure he faces isn’t as high as if the points were tighter, but the title is his to lose. We shouldn’t feel any pressure and we want to finish with a podium.

“It shows how strong it’s been at the top that two of us won’t even make the end of season podium. We should have a quick car for Brands Hatch and the MG will be stronger than it was last year when it was wet.

Colin is also going to be right on the pace so it promises to be interesting.”

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GORDON SHEDDEN Team: Honda Yuasa Racing Wins: 4 Second: 6 Third: 6 Poles: 1 Points finishes: 22 Retirements: 1 Points: 343

It seems likely that Gordon Shedden will be forced to hand over his BTCC title at the same circuit where he won it last year – but the Scot won’t be giving up his crown without a fight on Finals Day. The Scot sits 35 points down on Jordan going into the weekend and will need luck on his side if he is to defend the title, but luck is something that the Honda driver hasn’t always had on his side in 2013.

While he has more podium finishes – 16 – than any of the other contenders, Shedden also has the lowest number of points finishes, having failed to score on five occasions.

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A disqualification at Brands Hatch, a clash with Plato at Thruxton, a puncture at Oulton Park and an engine failure at Knockhill (the latter being his only DNF) have all played a part in Shedden being on the back foot, with the failure to match Jordan’s consistency ultimately proving to be key.

“You can never give up in this game. After Knockhill, Matt was 27 points ahead of me and after Rockingham, he was four points behind; so a turnaround is possible. However, while you never wish bad luck on anyone, I suspect it will have to strike Andy for us to have any kind of chance.

What the man himself says: “It was unexpected to come away from Silverstone with a win and I wouldn’t have put a lot of money on it, but the car came alive on the Soft tyre in race three and it kept me in the hunt. The gap to Andy heading to Brands Hatch isn’t ideal but fair play to him; he has scored points in each and every round.

“Hopefully our cars will be more competitive at Brands Hatch than they were at Silverstone so we can all race each on track.

I go into the weekend with the intention of winning and have great memories from last year but I’m realistic about my chances at the same time.

“I’ll be fighting tooth and nail to the death.”

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COLIN TURKINGTON Team: eBay Motors Wins: 5 Second: 3 Third: 2 Poles: 1 Points finishes: 25 Retirements: 1 Points: 330

On the back of the disappointment he suffered at Silverstone, Colin Turkington admits that he will need a miracle if he is to take his second BTCC title at Brands Hatch, although the eBay Motors man remains in contention – mathematically at least – on the back of a hugely impressive season.

Returning to the series for the first time since winning the 2009 title, and with an all-new car, the Northern Irishman started in the back foot with an accident in qualifying for the first round but went on a scoring run that would go right through to Round 21 at Knockhill – where it was only ended by an exclusion for over-boosting.

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Turkington and the new NGTCspec BMW, but it is the potential results he lost that are the reason why the 31-year-old is an outsider.

Well documented clashes with Jordan and Shedden at Snetterton cost him dear as did the collision with Mat Jackson at Silverstone that saw Turkington lodge his first retirement of the season.

Without those incidents, Turkington probably still wouldn’t have topped the standings heading into Finals Day, but he’d have had a more realistic hope of celebrating his return with some championship silverware.

What the man himself says: “We knew we were going to struggle for straight line speed

at Silverstone but it looked good going into the final race.

The reverse grid gave me a chance to some big points, and then someone who wasn’t in contention for the title took that chance away.

“Mathematically you can say that I’m still in contention for the championship title but as far as I’m concerned, my hopes are now over. Even without the incident at Silverstone, it was going to be a huge challenge to overhaul Andy and the gap now is too big for me to overturn in a weekend.

“While our car is good, it isn’t going to be significantly quicker than the Hondas or the MG so I go to Brands Hatch chasing wins and hoping for a place inside the top three in the championship.

That is realistically my aim.”

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JASON PLATO Team: MG KX Momentum Racing Wins: 6 Second: 3 Third: 1 Poles: 3 Points finishes: 23 Retirements: 3 Points: 329

The rank outsider heading to Brands Hatch, double champion Jason Plato is arguably the one to watch on track – given he goes into the weekend with no aim other than to win races.

dramatic fire at Oulton Park and then fuel pump failure and a roll at Snetterton robbed him of valuable points and it means that Plato will need the biggest of turnarounds to win the title for a third time.

finish well, keep developing the car and if we can win some races, it will be good. We know the car will be strong if it’s dry as the circuit is similar to Oulton Park where we were quick.

Despite his double success at Silverstone, Plato remains 49 points down on points leader Jordan and knows that he could repeat his triple success of 2009 and it still not be enough.

What the man himself says: “We might have won two races at Silverstone but we have no chance of the title. Every round counts in this championship and you cant afford DNFs. We’ve had too many and if you add up the times when things went wrong that shouldn’t have done, we’d be leading.

We’re not, and while you can say that mathematically I am still in contention, it’s not about the title for me now; I’m just here to win races.

“I know how to win three races around the Brands Hatch GP circuit as I’ve done it before but even if I win all three races again, it probably won’t be enough. I need other drivers – and not just one – to have a disaster, which is possible, but not likely.

The reality is that Plato has been one of the quickest men on track, as seen by the fact that he has the best qualifying average heading into Finals Day. However, misfortune on race day - including three DNFs, and four no-scores in total - have cost him dearly in the championship.

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“If I can’t win the title, then I don’t care if I come second, third or tenth in the championship, so I want to

“Bagging a second or third place finish is pretty irrelevant so there’ll be no point in me saying ‘I’ll settle for second’ when the racing gets underway. The message to anyone else is that I have nothing to lose and if you want to race me at Brands then you best be careful, because I’m on a mission.”

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THE RACE IS ON

SILVERSTONE LEAVES JORDAN SITTING PRETTY WHILE RACE FOR SECOND PLACE HEATS UP

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PLATO WINS TWICE AT SILVERSTONE ANDREW JORDAN EXTENDS POINTS LEAD HEADING TO SEASON FINALE AT BRANDS HATCH Two wins for Jason Plato couldn’t prevent Andrew Jordan from taking another huge step towards his first BTCC title at Silverstone.

The Pirtek Racing star has the championship firmly within his grasp, leading the points standings by 34, with just the three races at Brands Hatch remaining.

RACE ONE After taking pole position on Saturday, Jason Plato successfully converted his qualifying position into victory in the opening race.

Plato led an MG KX Momentum Racing one-two as teammate Sam Tordoff followed him across the line www.insidebtcc.com

in round 25 of the 2013 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

Despite a disappointing start, Plato led for the duration of the race and eased to his 79th victory in the series.

Tordoff had to overcome the faststarting rear-wheel drive BMW of Colin Turkington to reclaim second place after a couple of laps, but then settled into second behind his teammate. Tordoff had made the move before the safety car was deployed at the end of lap three. The decision came after Will Bratt, Nick Foster and Andy Neate collided on the entry to the pit straight and the latter two were

left stranded in the gravel trap opposite the pitlane.

After starting ninth on the grid, Matt Neal made healthy progress in the early stages of the race, climbing to sixth by the time the safety car was called into action. However, his hopes of closing the points gap to championship leader Andrew Jordan were slim, as the Pirtek Racing driver was just behind on the track.

When Neal passed Frank Wrathall to go fifth on lap nine, Jordan followed him through. However, Neal managed to gain an advantage in the latter stages, by passing eBay Motors pair Rob Collard and Colin Turkington, who Inside BTCC 21

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MATT LAMPRELL REPORTS

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in turn kept Jordan at bay.

In the second half of the race, Plato and Tordoff opened up an advantage at the front, with more than three seconds back to Neal in third. The MG pair went on to claim their third onetwo of the season in dominant fashion.

After the race, Jason Plato said, “Like at Oulton Park, we’ve hit the sweet spot with the car this weekend.

We’ve got to score as many points as we can this weekend.

The championship isn’t over until it’s over, but I need an epic weekend this weekend.

“If we have a very strong day today and Andrew has a bit

of hiccup, you just never know. I’ve won three races before at Brands Hatch GP circuit, and we know our car’s good there…you just never know.”

Matt Neal finished third, but had to fend off a last corner charge from Colin Turkington after his Honda started to run short of fuel.

Behind Turkington in fourth, Rob Collard claimed fifth place and Andrew Jordan finished sixth.

Seventh place went to Adam Morgan, while Airwaves Racing pair Aron Smith and Mat Jackson finished eighth and ninth respectively. Dave Newsham completed the top ten.

RACE TWO The second Silverstone race brought Plato’s 80th win in the BTCC. Just as in the first race, Plato led away from the line and was still in front when he reached the chequered flag.

However, he did have to fend off a hardcharging Andrew Jordan as the Honda driver continued his championship challenge.

1 Jason Plato (NGTC) 26:58.881 / 25 Laps; 2 Sam Tordoff (NGTC) +1.477 secs; 3 Matt Neal (NGTC) +6.072; 4 Colin Turkington (NGTC) +6.080; 5 Rob Collard (NGTC) +6.453; 6 Andrew Jordan (NGTC) +7.114; 7 Adam Morgan (NGTC) +7.511; 8 Aron Smith (NGTC) +8.206; 9 Mat Jackson (NGTC) +8.494; 10 Dave Newsham (NGTC) +9.227.

Independent winner: Colin Turkington.

Fastest lap: Jason Plato (58.888 secs).

RACE TWO 1 Jason Plato (NGTC) 26:52.786 / 25 Laps; 2 Andrew Jordan (NGTC) +0.244; 3 Aron Smith (NGTC) +0.410; 4 Sam Tordoff (NGTC) +2.054; 5 Colin Turkington (NGTC) +4.818; 6 Matt Neal (NGTC) +7.314;

It was lap seven before racing could get underway again, but there were

changes at the front almost straight away, with Sam Tordoff passing Turkington for second. On the soft tyres, Andrew Jordan made his pace pay immediately as he also edged out Turkington. Within a couple of laps, Jordan had also passed the first of the MGs that was in front of him to go second.

Colin Turkington started fourth on the grid and made it through to second by the first corner, passing Sam Tordoff and Rob Collard.

As his been the case

RACE RESULTS - TOP 10s RACE ONE

in so many races this year, an early safety car period prevented the race picking up momentum. This time, it was contact between Frank Wrathall and Rob Austin that brought the action to a temporary halt.

7 Gordon Shedden (NGTC) +7.525; 8 Dave Newsham (NGTC) +7.780; 9 Dan Welch (NGTC) +9.626; 10 Mat Jackson (NGTC) +12.553.

Independent winner: Andrew Jordan.

Fastest lap: Andrew Jordan (59.056 secs).

RACE THREE 1 Gordon Shedden (NGTC) 23:07.578 / 23 Laps; 2 Aron Smith (NGTC) +2.045; 3 Matt Neal (NGTC) +3.710; 4 Mat Jackson (NGTC) +4.935; 5 Andrew Jordan (NGTC) +5.647; 6 Dave Newsham (NGTC) +5.920; 7 Jason Plato (NGTC) +6.412; 8 Adam Morgan (NGTC) +6.737; 9 Jack Goff (NGTC) +7.241; 10 Dan Welch (NGTC) +7.581.

Independent winner: Aron Smith.

Fastest laps: Adam Morgan (58.876 secs).

PLATO ON POLE AT SILVERSTONE Jason Plato claimed pole position for round 25 of the 2013 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Silverstone.

The MG KX Momentum driver set a best time of 58.210 around the 1.6 mile Silverstone National circuit, to claim pole ahead of teammate Sam Tordoff.

Championship leader Andrew Jordan could only manage 10th on the grid, while Colin Turkington took fourth, Matt Neal ninth and Gordon Shedden 15th.

It was a session where most of the top times were set in the first half, with changes later on coming further down the order and as a result of drivers losing their times.

Adam Morgan, Dan Welch, Gordon Shedden, Will Bratt, Tom OnslowCole and Liam Griffin all lost their best times for exceeding the track limits.

In addition, Frank Wrathall was stripped of all his times after his Dynojet Toyota failed its rideheight test.

Jason Plato said, “There was a bit left in the tank – I could have gone quicker.”

Behind front row sitters Plato and Tordoff, Dave Newsham was third fastest, ahead of Turkington and Wrathall.

Sixth went to Jack Goff, while Adam Morgan and Rob Collard start seventh and eighth respectively.

Neal and Jordan complete the top ten on the grid for the first race.

Good weekend: ANDREW JORDAN Another step closer to his first BTCC title.

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JASON PLATO Up to 80 wins in the series, and back into contention for second in the championship.

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Jordan eventually got his nose in front of Plato, but never one to admit defeat, Plato fought back. The MG got back in front and there was minor contact between the pair that left Jordan with damage to the rear of his Honda and tyres rubbing on bodywork.

The Plato-Jordan battle also gave the impressive Aron

Smith an opportunity to close up on the leading duo. The Airwaves Racing driver had worked his way up from eighth on the grid and was now on the tail of Jordan.

The three cars were nose-to-tail as they started their last lap, and any of them could have ended up winning the race.

Ultimately, Plato held on to take his second win of the day and Jordan settled for second – and an increased lead in the championship.

Plato said, “That was a brilliant race. We knew the soft tyre had the advantage through the quick

corners. I had to go really defensive to stop him getting past me. Our car’s good at Luffield; it’s good at the slow corners. It was key to not give in and to keep fighting.”

manage seventh place, with Dave Newsham, Dan Welch and Mat Jackson rounding out the top ten.

Andrew Jordan commented, “I didn’t come out on top, but it was a good touring car race. I could see Jason was struggling with the weight.

When I had smoke coming off the tyres, I thought it was time to settle for it and take second.”

Gordon Shedden won the final race of the day at Silverstone, but it was Andrew Jordan who emerged

Matt Neal started from pole position thanks to the reverse grid, but it was Colin Turkington who took the lead at the start, once again making the most of his BMW’s

Aron Smith filled the final step on the podium, ahead of Sam Tordoff, Colin Turkington and Matt Neal. Gordon Shedden could only

Bad weekend: COLIN TURKINGTON Victim of another rear-end tap on the BMW.

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RACE THREE

on top, extending his championship lead to 34 points with just three races remaining.

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For Jordan, the next ten laps were spent climbing over the back of Plato’s MG6.

At times, it looked like a battle from early in the season rather than one involving a driver who surely now has the title within his grasp.

ROB AUSTIN Disappointing follow-up to his first BTCC win.

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rear-wheel drive power off the grid.

marked the turning point in his race.

Neal came under early pressure from MG KX Momentum’s Sam Tordoff and the pair made contact on lap two that ended with Tordoff spinning and rejoining down the order. That incident allowed Aron Smith through into second place and Shedden into third.

Just a few corners after the restart, both Shedden and Smith had passed Turkington. It was to get worse for Turkington and his hopes of taking a second BTCC title. He came under pressure from Matt Neal, who in turn was followed

by Mat Jackson. As Turkington tried to hold on to fourth place with just over a lap remaining, he was the victim of contact that left his 1 Series crabbing around the track and into retirement.

Within a few laps, Shedden had passed Smith to claim second, but looked to have quite a task to catch race leader Colin Turkington. The BMW driver won’t have been pleased to see the safety car boards as he reached the end of lap 12.

It was just a brief pause in the race to allow a piece of debris to be removed from the track, but it was enough to wipe out Turkington’s lead and Inside BTCC 24

Meanwhile, Shedden had opened up a gap at the front, with Aron Smith in second.

That was the way it stayed through to the chequered flag, with Matt Neal joining them on the podium after Turkington’s demise.

Jackson claimed fourth place, ahead of Jordan in fifth and Dave Newsham in sixth.

Jason Plato finished seventh to keep his title hopes alive – mathematically, at least. Adam Morgan, Jack Goff and Dan Welch completed the top ten.

The results at Silverstone mean that five drivers are still in with a chance of claiming the 2013 BTCC title at Brands Hatch, but Jordan’s 34 point lead over

Matt Neal leaves him in good shape to join the BTCC’s elite.

After the race, Jordan said, “I’m pleased to end up fifth. I had a number in my head in terms of points that I wanted to leave here with and that was 15.

I thought Colin was going to be strong.

We’ve done that and we’ve actually increased the lead.

Let’s see if we can go to Brands and seal it.

“A lot can happen yet though. There’s still three races to go...”

Gordon Shedden

said, “I’m not quite sure where that came from. The guys have worked so hard all day. The car just came alive on the soft tyre. It’s an absolutely awesome feeling. The Dunlop soft tyre seems to have made a big difference here. You can brake much later.

“Andy’s got it sewn up unless he does anything daft now.

But then I didn’t expect to win a race at Silverstone National circuit, so let’s see what happens at Brands Hatch.”

Andrew Jordan has 378 points, with Matt Neal second on 344 (34 behind; there are 67 points available at Brands Hatch. Gordon Shedden sits third on 343, Turkington fourth on 330 and Plato fifth on 329.

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Inside BTCC 25

INGRAM AIMS TO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE...

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Triple Ginetta title winner seeks to make BTCC graduation for the 2014 season

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Tom Ingram insists he is ready for the ‘massive challenge’ of putting together a deal to graduate to the BTCC for 2014 on the back of his title-winning Ginetta GT Supercup campaign.

Ingram successfully wrapped up a third Ginetta title in four years during the opening race of the weekend at Silverstone, with his tenth win of the year being enough to put him out of reach of his rivals.

Win number eleven then followed in race two as Ingram maintained an astonishing run of form that has seen him finish on the podium in 22 consecutive races – meaning the JHR man has already bettered the points tally used to win the title for the previous two seasons.

It means the Brands Hatch www.insidebtcc.com

season finale will be a weekend of celebration for the 20-year-old, who can now start thinking about the next stage in what is already proving to be an impressive career.

“I’m massively pleased with the way this season has gone,” he admitted in the Silverstone paddock when the dust had settled on his championship success. “It’s been a really successful year and it all goes back to the hard work we did last winter to make sure that we had a car that was capable of winning races and that could fight for the championship.

“This has been a real team effort and it’s great for me to be going into the final rounds knowing I’ve already wrapped up the title, but its also great for the boys on the team who have worked so hard on the car this year.

“It’s been a tough season against some tough competition and with Carl [Breeze] coming back to defend the title, we always knew this year was going to be a huge challenge.

That is why we worked so hard to make sure that got every tenth out of the car and when we haven’t been able to win, I’ve made sure I’ve scored the maximum amount of points possible. Our consistency has been the key factor in the success we’ve had.”

When the season got underway on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit in the spring, it was defending champion Breeze and young Spaniard Pepe Massot who shared victories in the first two races of the campaign.

When Ingram took the flag fourth in that second race, few would have

predicted that it would be the final time he wouldn’t take to the podium, with his win in race three kickstarting the run of top three finishes that he will now seek to maintain back at Brands on the full GP circuit.

“After the opening round at Brands Hatch, I knew it was going to be tough,” he said. “With fifth and fourth in the first two races, I thought ‘Christ this is going to be difficult’, but then I won race three and all of a sudden, the consistency came.

“I think it was when we got to Thruxton that it really struck me that we had a chance of winning the title. I knew we had strong pace, but that was where the work we had done to improve the set-up on the car started to pay off. That was the weekend where I started to think it could be our Inside BTCC 27

year.”

While one option now for Ingram would be to continue to pursue a career in sportscars, he has instead set his sights on a move into touring cars.

Having been on the pace immediately when he tested Pirek Racing’s Vauxhall Vectra back in 2010 after winning the Ginetta Junior Championship, Ingram has already given an indication of what he could do if given a chance at the wheel of a BTCC machine with his challenge now being to raise the budget needed to secure a place on the grid next year.

“Ginetta have been a huge help to me and my career would have ended if it hadn’t been for their support,” he Inside BTCC 28

said. “The backing from Lawrence Tomlinson and the guys has been brilliant and there aren’t many manufacturers, and especially British ones, who provide the kind of ladder that they do for young drivers coming through.

“At the same time though, this is the stage in my career where I have to decide on what the next step is. I’ve said all along that I want to race in the BTCC and that is what got me racing in the first place. I have the opportunity now to make the move and that is what I want to pursue.

“There is a lot of hard work to do and it is going to be a massive challenge, as the last four years of budget combined is what I will need for a season in the BTCC. That is a bit

of a worry as we’ve had to scrimp, save and make some big sacrifices to get to where we are now.

Raising treble what we needed for this season is a scary prospect but it is a good challenge and one I hope we can rise to.”

Ingram’s position as a member of the KX Akademy will lead to immediate speculation that the Triple Eightrun MG team could be his preferred option for 2014 if he is to make the step up the BTCC, but he insisted he wasn’t pinning all his hopes on one team as he looks to the future.

say where I will end up because I simply don’t know.

“The only thing I can say for certain is that I want to be with a top team and don’t want to be in the BTCC just to be an also ran. I want to be with a team that will allow me to challenge for podiums and wins and whether that team is MG, Motorbase or WSR, I just don’t know.

We’ll have to wait and see what happens over the winter.”

“There are a lot of options open to me,” he said.

“For people looking from the outside, MG would obviously be a good option because of the KX Akademy, but there is a lot going on and I couldn’t www.insidebtcc.com

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Inside BTCC 29

LAUREN’S COLUMN...

Lauren’s column returns after Aron’s successful Silverstone weekend...

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You might have noticed I’ve been a bit quiet recently after a few rough weekends but at Silverstone, things came good – so I thought I’d better provide another update…

But where do I even begin?

Silverstone was one of those weekends that reiterates why we go racing in the first place. One moment summed up the entire weekend up for me, and that was as both Aron and myself walked into the Airwaves Racing hospitality after race two. The place spontaneously erupted into applause. I obviously welled up a tiny bit, while Aron awkwardly waved it off. Yes, I said waved it off (he is real cool like that.)

Rockingham was such a tough weekend for Aron, as nothing seemed to go his way. However, in true Aron fashion, he somehow never dropped his head.

I think full credit needs www.insidebtcc.com

to go to Mat for his performance that weekend.

What a lot of people wouldn’t see within a team is the internal driver rivalry. I don’t care what anyone says, a lot of the times you have to disregard what other teams are up to as there are so many additional variables, but team-mates are constantly comparing themselves to one another.

Aron and Mat have always had a great relationship.

However this really came into play this year. You can see it both on and off track and although Rockingham was difficult for the Smith clan, Mat absolutely nailed it and it was great to see him up there representing Airwaves Racing.

While Rockingham was kind to Mat, Silverstone will be the weekend that I for one will look back on with some seriously fond memories. Aron qualified 13th, yet got out of the car absolutely buzzing.

Both him and Geoff, his

engineer, described the car as near perfect! Aron knew this was going to be a great weekend, and with the way he spoke about it, you would swear he had just qualified on pole.

That’s one of the things that really impresses me about him. He always has faith in himself, regardless of what others may say looking from the outside.

I don’t want to go through a lap-by-lap analysis of what happened on race day, but I think we all got a glimpse of the true Aron that I know.

All the rocky times that have occurred up to this point in the season were totally eclipsed by what he achieved.

Race two is where it all started happening, but for a short moment, panic struck after Aron came over the radio to report some damage due to some first corner shenanigans with Mr Newsham. Like any other race, I have a bit of prediction in my head as to how he’ll do, so once he got

into the top six I was happy.

But then we all watched on as Aron got to show his true colours…

I have known Aron since his very first year in Clios.

My cousin, Jonathan Fildes raced along side him, and I remember him describing Aron as having some seriously good natural ability, but said he needed some experience behind him. Here we are now, six years on.

After a few years in Clios he began to make racing look effortless. I watched race two on the screen in the garage, and I could see Aron doing his thing, making clean and strategic moves on his rivals one at a time – just like he did back with Team Pyro in the Clios.

Finishing right behind Jordan and Plato, Aron brought the Airwaves Racing car home in third.

I believe that once again he showed he is capable of challenging the big names, and realistically, these are Inside BTCC 31

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the names that he grew up idolizing. It would be so easy for Aron to still hold a grudge about a certain incident last year, but he was the first person to get out of the car and say how good a race it was between Jordan and Plato ahead.

That’s the type of thing I would never be able to do - mainly because I’m pretty much a bitter old woman!!

At this point in the weekend, I’m ready to pack up and go home. Race three seems irrelevant to me, as we’ve already got to have some glory. But let me tell you, that isn’t the case within the Airwaves Racing team!

Despite having one of the best races of their season, the entire team were straight back into a debrief to establish what could be improved. Aron was optimistic as ever and his main opinion before the race was ‘sure it’s my best grid slot of the weekend’.

Sure forget the fact that Inside BTCC 32

you’re now carrying 27.5kgs of success ballast and the only front runner on the standard tyres. Never mind those disadvantages!

In true Aron fashion, he came out of the box fighting and immediately settled into second behind Shedden, after somehow managing to get by Turkington. No biggie, not as if these are the championship protagonists and he’s just a pretender! One of the first things Aron said to me after the race was ‘I finally get another Sampson sticker!’

Forget finishing second and winning the Independents; he was happier about a little sticker he gets from David for his door!

On a race weekend Aron always has to have some sort of guard up to act professional, but once we get into the hire car on the way to the airport he opens up to me once again. I’m somewhat paraphrasing here, but I can remember him remarking that there

was a point in race three with a couple of laps to go as he sat in the wheel tracks of the 2012 champion with a three-time champion behind him that a realization set in of what was being achieved.

This has always been Aron’s dream and I think Silverstone was the first time he really got to feel a sense of belonging in the championship. Yes he has visited the podium numerous times now, but to be able to do what he did at Silverstone off the back of a not so hot qualifying performance proves his ability tenfold. It’s these types of memories that’ll stay with us forever. After all this is just as much my dream as it is his now!

I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sadness that the season is coming to an end. We’ve had some rather ‘trying’ times but when its good, there is nothing like it. Airwaves Racing have made Aron into the touring car driver that he is today.

Nearly two years ago, a dorky Clio Cup driver turned up at their doorstep and now they’ve made him into a geeky Touring Car driver. For this, I don’t think they get the recognition that they deserve. They’ve moulded him into the driver that he is today and I even thank them for that. Shoulderless Oly and the friendly giant that this David Bartrum; I will forever be in your debt for providing me with such an annoying Aron!

On another note I want to thank each and every one of you for reading this (even if it’s just you Matt and my mum). It means an awful lot to me that you showed your support.

Hopefully you’ll hear more of my ramblings during the 2014 season when Aron once again tries to take over the world!

X n e r u La www.insidebtcc.com

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BEHIND EVERY MAN...

The saying goes that ‘Behind every man there is a good woman’ – but the opposite could be true in the BTCC paddock.

In the latest feature in Inside BTCC where we fire ten quick questions to the girls who bring some glamour to proceedings on a race weekend, we catch up with one of the lovely ladies from Welch Motorsport…

Name Natalie Clarke Team Welch Motorsport with Sopp + Sopp How long have you been involved in motorsport?

Since January 2010. I was with with YourRacingCar.com for two years and this is my first season as a BTCC grid girl.

How did you get involved?

I was a Leyland grid girl at the charity karting event in 2010 and it went from there Were you a fan of racing before?

Honestly…only F1 What is the best thing about being involved?

The people. Working in the BTCC is like having an extended family with the team, other grid girls and the fans. The mechanics at Welch Motorsport are great; it’s like having lots of big brothers!

What is the worst thing about being involved?

When the weather isn’t great. I can handle the cold, just not the gale force winds!

Do you have another job away from the paddock?

I do, but if I told you what it was I’d have to kill you as it’s really not that exciting!

What car do you drive?

A VW Beetle Convertible Who is your favourite driver - outside your own team?

Rob Collard. He’s a real cheeky little chappy!

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NEWS IN BRIEF | NEWS IN BRIEF | NEWS IN BRIEF

Hill returns in Rob Austin Audi Jake Hill will return to the BTCC for Finals Day after agreeing a deal to race the second Rob Austin Racing Audi A4.

The teenager made his debut in the series at Croft in Addison Lee Motorbase’s S2000-spec Ford Focus – taking a Jack Sears Trophy win in the process – but will be competing in an NGTCspec car for the first time.

Hill’s entry will be under the Exocet Racing banner thanks to support from the fuel additive manufacturer.

“This is undoubtedly the biggest break of my career – the chance to drive a race-winning NGTC car in Britain’s premier motor racing championship and at its biggest event of Inside BTCC 38

the year,” he said. “It’s a one-off for now – it’s the finale, after all – so it’s important to grab it with both hands and make the most of it.

season as part of its junior programme and has tested its Vauxhall Insignia at both Snetterton and Brands Hatch in recent months.

I’d love to score some points. It’s a toe in the water for 2014 so three solid races would be fantastic.”

“Exocet as well as Rob and WIX Racing are also putting a lot of faith in me so I want to repay that. I’ve visited the workshop and seen what the atmosphere in the team with Exocet and WIX on board is like – it’s just a great place for a driver to be.”

The 26-year-old will now make his first appearance in the series at the wheel of the RCIB Insurance Racing car that Howard Fuller drove at both Rockingham and Silverstone.

AmD Golf returns for last hurrah

Barley added to Team HARD. roster Tom Barley will become the tenth driver to compete with Team HARD. when he debuts in the series at Brands Hatch.

Barley has raced for the team in the VW Cup this

“The car is the most incredible machine I’ve ever driven and my two test days have gone really well,” he said. “I’ve loved every minute of it and I plan to do the same this weekend. Of course it’s important that it’s an enjoyable weekend for my guests and me but I also need to show what I can do.

“It will be a hard task but

The AmDTuning.com Volkswagen Golf will return for the season finale after team boss Shaun Hollamby elected to give the car one final outing before the expected demise of S2000-spec cars in the series.

Hollamby himself will be at the wheel of the car, which has undergone a full rebuild since the last time it appeared on track at Croft during the summer.

“This is the end of a four year journey with the Golf and it’s kind of appropriate that we go full circle with www.insidebtcc.com

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NEWS IN BRIEF | NEWS IN BRIEF | NEWS IN BRIEF

me back behind the wheel on its final weekend,” he said. “I’ve not been racing this season so will be a little rusty when practice gets underway, but I don’t think it will take me long to get back up to speed and I’m really looking forward to it.

“On track Lea Wood has been a deserving winner of the Jack Sears Trophy this year as he’s been the most consistent driver and he won’t be easy to beat, but I’m confident that we can challenge him for class honours.”

Designed and built by Team Dynamics, the 109 horsepower machine is geared to achieve 133mph and can do 0-60 in just under four seconds – while still being able to cut grass.

“One of the key challenges is that this has never been done before, to our knowledge, and so there are few learnings to call upon,” Dynamics team manager Peter Crolla said.

Honda’s MeanMower set for public bow

“From an engineering perspective, retaining the look of the mower, and the ability to still cut grass were the biggest challenge.”

Honda’s unique MeanMower will make its public debut at Brands Hatch, with an appearance due to take place during Sunday’s lunch break.

The debut of the MeanMower comes twelve months after eBay Motors completed a demo run on Finals Day with the Milk Float it created to beat the

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Guinness World Record for fastest float in the world.

MINI drivers wait on BTCC test Five drivers from the MINI Challenge face an anxious wait to decide if they will win the chance to test Triple Eight’s MG6 GT.

Harrison on Sunday morning.

We will also be offering the chance for drivers interested in the MINI CHALLENGE for 2014 to test MINI CHALLENGE spec cars from both the JCW and Cooper Classes.

In a new initiative introduced this season, each race winner won a lottery ticket that earned them an entry into a draw to take part in the test, which is scheduled for 14 November at Silverstone.

Chris Smiley (9 wins), Jake Packun (6 wins), Chris Smith (2 wins), Lee Allen (2 wins) and Jono Brown (1 win) are the quintet who are in contention for the prize, which will be drawn by Triple Eight boss Ian Inside BTCC 39

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Inside BTCC 43

SUPPORT RACE ROUND-UP

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We look back at all the action from the support race paddock at Silverstone...

Inside BTCC 44

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GINETTA GT SUPERCUP alive.

As expected, Tom Ingram was able to wrap up the Michelin Ginetta GT Supercup crown at Silverstone, and can now look forward to a weekend of celebration on Finals Day at Brands Hatch.

Breeze could still be caught in the battle for second, but realistically he will end the season as runnerup while Matt Nicoll-Jones went a long way towards securing third after outscoring Mark Davies by 30 points at Silverstone.

Two more wins in his home event made it eleven for the season and put him out of reach of closest rival Carl Breeze, who was powerless to keep his title defence

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The gap between the two now stands at 35 points, but Academy Motorsport man Nicoll-Jones can’t afford to relax given that Davies

was the star of the weekend in the corresponding meeting last year, where he took two wins on his first outing in a G55.

Pepe Massot and Rob Boston round out the top six and are both within striking distance of Davies, sitting 14 and 18 points behind respectively.

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Ingram crowned

PORSCHE CARRERA CUP GB Meadows seeks to wrap up the crown Michael Meadows will seek to wrap up the Porsche Carrera Cup crown on Finals Day having edged ahead of Jonas Gelzinis last time out at Silverstone.

The fight for overall honours is a two-way affair, but three drivers remain in contention for third place, with 19 points covering Rory Butcher, Dan Lloyd and

Dean Stoneman.

Butcher currently holds third spot and has been one of the form men in recent meetings, but the pair behind won’t make it easy; with the real possibility that the battle between the trio could also impact on the championship battle.

heated battles with his Redline Racing teammate Dan De Zille, with George Brewster joining the pair in a three-way fight for race wins in the finale.

In Pro-Am1, Victor Jimenez secured the title last time out at Silverstone after some

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In the see-saw battle between the two, Meadows moved 17 points clear with a first and second place in Northamptonshire and

will go into the season finale as hot favourite to take the title, although he will be well aware of the fact that on more than one occasion this season, he has lost a healthy lead in the standings.

Inside BTCC 46

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Scott seeks to wrap up second Harrison Scott will seek to wrap up second spot in the Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain at Brands Hatch, which would allow him to join champion Dan Cammish in earning a BTCC test with Motorbase.

Scott was one of three drivers to taste victory at Silverstone after Cammish elected to stand down and will go into the season finale

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with a lead of 64 points over Juan Rosso – with a maximum of 93 still to play for.

Rosso himself will be eager to wrap up third spot with a 42 point advantage over Sam Brabham, who currently sits fifth but should move ahead of the absent Nico Maranzana.

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FORMULA FORD GB

Camren Kaminsky behind.

The latter pair both won at Silverstone but Abbott’s consistency – he’s the only driver to have scored points in every race – mean he still holds the advantage going into the final rounds.

Behind Brabham a three-way fight then having developed between James Abbott, Jayde Kruger and

Inside BTCC 47

GINETTA JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP Junior field set for final battle With Harry Woodhead having wrapped up the title at Rockingham, it was the turn of Keith Donegan to shine at Silverstone as he moved towards securing the runnerup slot in the Ginetta Junior Championship.

Donegan won both races in the penultimate meeting of the campaign and with

Inside BTCC 48

Will Palmer enduring his worst weekend of the year, the Douglas Motorsport man will take a 45 point lead over Palmer into the season finale and will start the final two rounds as favourite to take second spot.

Outside the top three, an interesting battle is in prospect for the remaining places inside the top six, with Tom Jackson in fourth just four points clear of

James Kellett, with Ollie Chadwick only eleven clear of Jack Mitchell in the fight for sixth.

Jackson and Chadwick are the only drivers in the top six still to win this season, so winning weekend this time around would go a long way towards cementing their respective championship positions.

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RENAULT UK CLIO CUP Files looks to take Clio crown Josh Files moved closer to the Renault UK Clio Cup title with another strong weekend at Rockingham, which leaves him 40 points clear – with dropped scores taken into account – ahead of this weekend.

The Clio field didn’t race

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at Silverstone, with Files now hoping to wrap up the title ahead of defending champion Paul Rivett, who goes into the weekend having all but conceded the title on the back of a tough Rockingham weekend.

Belcher, Graham Field and Lee Pattison will go all-out for Masters Cup success in what is realistically a threeway fight for the crown.

Elsewhere, Files will also seek to wrap up the Graduate Cup title ahead of James Colburn, while Simon

Inside BTCC 49

2013 BTCC CALENDAR

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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

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Inside BTCC 53

2013 BTCC POINTS DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP

MANUFACTURER/CONSTRUCTOR

1

Andrew Jordan

378

1

Honda/Dynamics

861

2

Matt Neal

344

2

MG/Triple Eight

791

3

Gordon Shedden

343

4

Colin Turkington

330

5

Jason Plato

329

1

Honda Yuasa Racing

662

6

Sam Tordoff

250

2

MG KX Momentum Racing

560

7

Adam Morgan

208

3

eBay Motors

493

8

Mat Jackson

188

4

Pirtek Racing

493

9

Aron Smith

173

5

Airwaves Racing

370

10

Rob Austin

154

6

Ciceley Racing

207

11

Dave Newsham

148

7

Speedworks

181

12

Jeff Smith

132

8

WIX Racing

150

13

Tom Onslow-Cole

129

9

PPCGB.com/Kraftwerk Racing

118

14

Rob Collard

121

10

Welch Motorsport

75

15

Nick Foster

98

11

RCIB Insurance Racing

73

16

Frank Wrathall

70

12

Dynojet

72

17

Dan Welch

69

13

Rob Austin Racing

25

18

Jack Goff

42

14

Addison Lee Motorbase

15

19

Will Bratt

32

15

Wheel Heaven/Houseman

13

20

Ollie Jackson

24

16

Team BMR Restart

4

21

James Cole

11

17

IP Tech Race Engineering

1

22

Michael Caine

8

18

AmDTuning.com

0

23

Lea Wood

8

19

BTC Racing

0

24

Liam Griffin

6

20

M247 Racing

0

25

Howard Fuller

6

21

Finesse Motorsport

0

26

James Kaye

5

27

Robb Holland

3

28

David Nye

3

29

Kieran Gallagher

3

30

Aiden Moffat

2

31

Warren Scott

1

32

Chris Stockton

0

33

Andy Neate

0

34

Joe Girling

0

35

Aaron Mason

0

36

Jake Hill

0

37

Mike Bushell

0

38

Paul O’Neill

0

39

Andy Wilmot

0

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TEAMS CHAMPIONSHIP

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2013 BTCC POINTS INDEPENDENT DRIVERS

INDEPENDENT TEAMS

1

Andrew Jordan

446

1

Pirtek Racing

471

2

Colin Turkington

389

2

eBay Motors

427

3

Adam Morgan

290

3

Airwaves Racing

356

4

Mat Jackson

260

4

Ciceley Racing

316

5

Aron Smith

250

5

Speedworks

273

6

Dave Newsham

223

6

WIX Racing

259

7

Tom Onslow-Cole

207

7

PPCGB.com/Kraftwerk Racing

240

8

Jeff Smith

200

8

RCIB Insurance Racing

186

9

Rob Austin

198

9

Welch Motorsport

183

10

Rob Collard

185

10

Dynojet

155

11

Nick Foster

177

11

Wheel Heaven/Houseman

131

12

Dan Welch

125

12

Addison Lee Motorbase

76

13

Frank Wrathall

117

13

Rob Austin Racing

66

14

Jack Goff

87

14

Team BMR Restart

62

15

Ollie Jackson

71

15

IP Tech Race Engineering

39

16

Will Bratt

65

16

AmDTuning.com

24

17

Lea Wood

42

17

M247 Racing

24

18

James Cole

39

18

Finesse Motorsport

3

19

Warren Scott

22

19

BTC Racing

0

20

Howard Fuller

22

21

Liam Griffin

21

22

Michael Caine

13

1

Lea Wood

23

David Nye

13

2

Liam Griffin

6

24

James Kaye

11

3

James Kaye

2

25

Andy Neate

9

4

Joe Girling

1

26

Robb Holland

8

5

David Nye

1

27

Aiden Moffat

7

6

Jake Hill

1

28

Mike Bushell

5

7

Warren Scott

0

29

Kieran Gallagher

5

8

Aaron Mason

0

30

Joe Girling

4

9

Aiden Moffat

0

31

Andy Wilmot

4

32

Jake Hill

3

33

Chris Stockton

0

34

Aaron Mason

0

35

Paul O’Neill

0

www.insidebtcc.com

JACK SEARS TROPHY 16

Inside BTCC 55

2013 BTCC RACE RESULTS 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

Gordon Shedden

19

DSQ

2

1

3

2

25

3

1

3

2

17

3

2

4

Matt Neal

21

4

1

3

4

3

1

1

2

6

4

4

2

4

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

8

DNF

DNS

DNF

DNF

DNF

15

12

12

13

13

15

10

NC

11

9

6

14

Tom Onslow-Cole

14

DNF

16

13

10

6

3

2

4

15

11

DNF

10

3

12

Mat Jackson

20

7

10

12

13

9

7

15

7

7

20

19

DNF

DNF

13

Aron Smith

9

DNF

11

11

8

7

9

10

5

DNF

14

10

14

12

9

Jake Hill

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

18

17

DNF

11

14

12

NC

15

11

14

DNF

11

14

9

DNF

17

11

DNF

6

DNF

8

7

DNF

DNF

15

19

DNF

23

12

9

20

13

DNF

David Nye

18

DNF

17

23

DNF

DNS

22

21

18

22

22

NC

21

15

DNF

Rob Austin

3

DNF

DNF

14

DNF

DNS

19

18

DNF

13

8

5

13

14

11

Will Bratt

12

DNS

14

25

19

14

18

22

17

17

13

6

15

18

DNF

James Kaye

15

12

DNS

19

DNF

DNF

DNF

DNF

19

-

-

-

DNF

19

DNF

Aiden Moffat

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Michael Caine Rob Collard

Dan Welch Frank Wrathall

Dave Newsham

DNF

9

DNF

9

7

DNF

8

12

9

8

6

14

DNF

9

5

Nick Foster

NC

10

13

17

16

15

24

16

13

12

15

8

4

7

8

James Cole

DNF

13

DNF

22

18

17

17

14

14

18

17

13

19

DNF

15

Andy Wilmot

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Howard Fuller

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Kieran Gallagher

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Chris Stockton

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Colin Turkington

8

8

9

8

9

1

6

11

10

5

3

2

1

1

2

13

DNS

NC

18

14

16

12

9

DNF

16

DNF

12

16

DNC

DNF

Adam Morgan

7

6

4

5

5

5

10

8

12

9

7

3

11

8

DNF

Robb Holland

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Warren Scott

22

15

DNF

26

DNF

19

DNF

DNF

21

DNF

DNS

DNF

DNS

DNS

DNS

Lea Wood

16

DNS

DSQ

24

17

DNF

21

20

16

19

18

DNF

22

16

16

Andy Neate

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Mike Bushell

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Ollie Jackson

10

DNF

DNS

16

NC

DNF

16

17

DNF

24

16

15

DNF

DNS

DNF

Aaron Mason

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

21

DNF

DNS

-

-

-

Jeff Smith

5

3

7

10

11

10

5

6

6

11

10

18

12

10

10

Jack Goff

Paul O’Neill

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Liam Griffin

17

11

15

20

DNF

DNF

20

DNF

DNF

20

19

16

-

-

-

Andrew Jordan

2

2

6

2

1

13

11

4

3

4

5

1

6

5

3

Sam Tordoff

4

5

3

6

6

4

4

7

8

2

21

7

7

21

7

Joe Girling

DNS

DNS

18

21

DNF

18

23

DNF

20

-

-

-

DNS

DNS

DNS

Jason Plato

1

1

5

4

2

8

2

5

22

1

1

DNF

5

20

6

Inside BTCC 56

www.insidebtcc.com

2013 BTCC RACE RESULTS 16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

Gordon Shedden

3

7

1

2

3

DNF

4

2

5

11

7

1

Matt Neal

9

2

8

7

5

2

14

DNF

7

3

6

3

Michael Caine

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Rob Collard

10

DNF

9

6

4

3

7

DNF

DNF

5

DNF

12

Tom Onslow-Cole

12

9

17

13

13

DNF

DNF

9

12

15

DNF

13

Mat Jackson

8

4

2

12

9

7

2

4

4

9

10

4

Aron Smith

6

3

3

10

DNF

15

13

15

13

8

3

2

Jake Hill

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

17

DNF

20

DNF

11

6

DNF

DNS

DNS

13

9

10

Dan Welch Frank Wrathall

DNF

10

11

14

12

DNF

10

13

DNF

14

DNF

DNS

David Nye

20

DNF

18

DNF

21

14

21

21

19

-

-

-

Rob Austin

15

14

12

3

2

4

3

1

9

12

DNF

17

Will Bratt

NC

16

DNF

20

DNF

10

DNF

DNS

DNF

22

12

DNF

James Kaye

DNF

DNF

DNS

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Aiden Moffat

-

-

-

21

DNF

DNS

-

-

-

21

14

19

Dave Newsham

18

8

DNF

11

10

DNF

8

7

8

10

8

6

Nick Foster

14

12

10

16

14

8

11

12

14

DNF

13

11

James Cole

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Andy Wilmot

-

-

-

-

-

-

18

20

18

-

-

-

Howard Fuller

-

-

-

-

-

-

17

17

DNF

17

11

15

Kieran Gallagher

-

-

-

22

20

13

-

-

-

-

-

-

Chris Stockton

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Colin Turkington

4

6

6

1

1

DSQ

6

3

2

4

5

DNF

Jack Goff

11

DNF

DNF

-

-

-

9

14

DNF

DNF

15

9

Adam Morgan

7

5

4

5

DNF

9

DNF

11

11

7

DNF

8

Robb Holland

21

15

14

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Warren Scott

DNF

DNS

DNS

DNS

16

DNF

19

18

17

16

DNF

16

Lea Wood

19

13

15

19

19

12

20

19

16

20

16

20

Andy Neate

22

17

16

-

-

-

DNF

DNS

DNS

DNF

17

18

Mike Bushell

-

-

-

18

17

DNF

-

-

-

-

-

-

Ollie Jackson

16

11

13

15

15

11

15

16

15

19

DNF

DNF

Aaron Mason

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Jeff Smith

13

DNF

19

-

-

-

12

10

10

18

DNS

DNS

Paul O’Neill

-

-

-

DNF

DNS

DNF

-

-

-

-

-

-

Liam Griffin

DNF

DNF

DNF

17

18

DNF

DNF

DNF

DNS

DNF

DNF

DNS

Andrew Jordan

5

1

7

8

6

1

1

8

1

6

2

5

Sam Tordoff

1

18

5

9

8

DNF

16

5

6

2

4

14

Joe Girling

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Jason Plato

2

DNF

DNF

4

7

5

5

6

3

1

1

7

www.insidebtcc.com

28

29

Inside BTCC 57

30