Friday 4th May 2012

Pic of the Week: PH and the BTCC

Why Britain's top tin-tops are still worth watching

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You may be forgiven, given all our recent coverage of the DTM, for thinking that we've got some sort of downer on the good ol' BTCC.

Well, to prove that we still have plenty of love for Britain's premier tin-top series, today we bring you a POTW with a BTCC flavour.

So why these particular shots? Well, aside from the fact that the top one shows a thoroughly well-attended round at Brands Hatch the other week, they also both include the AmD tuning Golf, a car piloted this season by card-carrying PHer Ollie Jackson (aka The Wookie).

And although Ollie has racked up only a handful of points so far this season, he's definitely got some pace - in the first race at the super-wet Thruxton last weekend, he was sixth fastest. He also sat on pole for the third of the three Brands Hatch races, (all right, it was a result of a part-reversed grid, but you take what you can get).

So if you want to support a PHer in motorsport, you know who to cheer for next time the BTCC takes to the track (Oulton Park on 10th June, if you're wondering...).

Brands Hatch version
Traditional (4:3)
Computer widescreen (16:10)
TV widescreen (16:9)
Portrait (smartphone etc)

Golf version
Traditional (4:3)
Computer widescreen (16:10)
TV widescreen (16:9)
Portrait (smartphone etc)

[TobesH]

BTCC is fantastic at the moment. Thruxton in the rain was such a a cracking set of races.

[gforceg]

Good on him. I like the pic of the sideways Golf. Good action and sense of velocity.

Why no PH "skull and cross bones" on view?

[Defcon5]

Always been a fan of BTCC.

[Kwistof]

gforceg said:

Good on him. I like the pic of the sideways Golf. Good action and sense of velocity.

Why no PH "skull and cross bones" on view?

+1 Just enough space between the IC and Milltek stickers

[SimonSaid]

I was at Brands for Round One - it was absolutely incredible, some of the best live motorsport I've ever seen, period. Particularly watching Jason Plato carve up the field in the brand new MG!

For my money, BTCC is the most exciting major formula out there. Real cars, real racing, constant action - it's got it all, and head-and-shoulders above F1 for spectators. Especially at Brands - we sat in the Paddock Hill Bend grandstands, where you can see the cars 100% of the way around the track, due to the relief of the land and the track design.

Only annoying thing is the one-month break now before the next round. Why so long?!

[JulesB]

TobesH said:

BTCC is fantastic at the moment. Thruxton in the rain was such a a cracking set of races.

+1 It was a brilliant watch!

[Insanity Magnet]

JulesB said:

+1 It was a brilliant watch!

Took my 5 year old for his first taste of live motorsport. He loved it but had to give up due to the wind and rain, despite being almost completely covered in waterproofs and multiple layers.

Fortunately hadn't missed a huge amount when we returned home so he spent the rest of the afternoon glued to the box.

[CampDavid]

Would be good to see Pistonheads spending Haymarket's millions on getting a logo on the car...

[Riggers]

Kwistof said:

gforceg said:

Good on him. I like the pic of the sideways Golf. Good action and sense of velocity.

Why no PH "skull and cross bones" on view?

+1 Just enough space between the IC and Milltek stickers

Maybe because we have a bit of a chequered history with racing cars and the PH smiley. Remember this? http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...

Didn't go so well for Mr Mansell.... :-/

[CampDavid]

Riggers said:

Maybe because we have a bit of a chequered history with racing cars and the PH smiley. Remember this? http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...

Didn't go so well for Mr Mansell.... :-/

Ollie's a better driver than Mansell though. Ok, that's going a bit far, he's probably less of a prat through

[rm89]

Riggers, it was the 3rd race at Brands that Ollie had pole. I'm loving that sideways shot from Thruxton! Will be cheering on at Knockhill

[StoatInACoat]

Roll on Oulton Park! Thruxton rain and wind still hasn't faded from memory yet, I think my tent is still hanging in the garage drying and my car is still full of mud! After 3 years of tenting following as many rounds as we can the missus has decided that we WILL be getting a caravan now

Been following AMD since they started and Ollie is definitely making a very positive difference to the car this year compared to last season. Racing still awesome across (most) of the grid too.

[Riggers]

rm89 said:

Riggers, it was the 3rd race at Brands that Ollie had pole. I'm loving that sideways shot from Thruxton! Will be cheering on at Knockhill

Damn my crap memory! Duly changed!

[V8 FOU]

QED BTCC= brilliant DTM= deathly boring

The BTCC is the best series at the moment. WRC is beoming very boring, which is a shame. The racing from Thruxton was really good - and it was great to se the Ginetta and Porsche racing too.

PH should sponsor Monkey in a car to do this......

[Mark.]

Sounds like a few of us were at Thruxton - We had a great day and managed to stay dry too

First time at BTCC and certainly won't be the last.

Was going to go in the Cerbera, bloomin' glad I didn't as getting out the car park was mighty fun!

[Martin_Hx]

Always enjoy watching on track (plus support races !) or on the telly.

Didnt know we had a chap in the line up :-D

Roll.on oulton ! Usually the one I go to as its nearest !

[The Wookie]

CampDavid said:

Ollie's a better driver than Mansell though. Ok, that's going a bit far, he's probably less of a prat through

That's extremely generous

[The Wookie]

CampDavid said:

Would be good to see Pistonheads spending Haymarket's millions on getting a logo on the car...

I like your thinking, Riggers take note: 'millions'

[MG CHRIS]

Great picture of the golf proving you don't need rwd to go side ways. Been a brilliant start of the champonship great racing and great to see new cars on the grid espcially the MGs.

As for the long break comment above it's there for the teams and drivers to assess the season so far improve the car and give the teams a rest if you have a race every 2-3 weeks the season would be finished by august.
We have an even longer break in the summer mainly due to the olympics and tour de france.

[Riggers]

The Wookie said:

CampDavid said:

Would be good to see Pistonheads spending Haymarket's millions on getting a logo on the car...

I like your thinking, Riggers take note: 'millions'

Ha! If we can squeeze that out of Haymarket can I negotiate a cut with you?