BTCC 2014: Oulton Park

Alan Taylor is our latest BTCC writer; here's his report from another action packed round

Our latest PHer BTCC report has been filed from the weekend’s action at Oulton Park – a big thanks to Alan Taylor for his story which you can read in full below. Click the links to read previous PHer reports from Andy Swift at Donington and Jon Spriggs at Thruxton.

After a five-week break, the 2014 British Touring Car Championship headed up the country to Oulton Park over the weekend. For the first time since the Super Touring era, the full version of the track would be used. This seemed all the more appropriate when one of the support races would see these monsters return to the billing for the first time in 14 years. Colour me excited.

Just a typical day in the BTCC field!

Saturday saw a tricky qualifying session for the current NGTC cars on a drying track. Colin Turkington’s BMW 125i was on pole for race one (despite 27kg of success ballast) with Jason Plato’s MG sitting next to him. On the second row was Rob Collard in another of the three 125is with Gordon Shedden’s Civic Tourer behind him in 4th. Reigning champion Andrew Jordan seemed to be struggling with his ballast from the previous round, the extra 45kg contributing to his lowly 12th place on the grid.

Come Sunday, crowds poured into the circuit no doubt helped by the warm weather and bright sunshine. After the drivers’ autograph session (not something I’d wager you get in F1) you could feel the atmosphere ramping up for the first race. As the BTCC cars headed out onto the circuit for the first time on Sunday, the air was thick with the sound of air horns and the smell of brakes getting up to temperature. Anticipation was building leading to an almost festival-like experience around the track.

To be expected from the rear-wheel drive BMWs, both made a cracking start that the surrounding front wheel drive cars couldn’t hope to match. Plato moved across the track in an attempt to block Shedden, only to have Collard’s BMW blitz past him into second place. As to be expected from the BTCC, contact is never too far away. Hunter Abbott’s Audi A4 collected Warren Scott’s Vauxhall Insignia as they entered Hislops for the first time, the crowd gasping as it unfolded in front of us. Thankfully both cars were able to continue, albeit a lot further down the pack.

Dominant BMWs were always in the mix

As the race continued, the BMWs fortified their position up front. Although Plato was able to keep Collard and Turkington in sight, there was no chance for him to get any higher than third. Further back, Jordan slipped back a couple of places to 15th while Matt Neal struggled to get past Alain Menu, eventually getting past his Passat CC on the final lap. In the end it was Turkington, Collard and then Plato across the line with Shedden in fourth, Neal 13th and Jordan way down in 15th. The NGTC rules certainly make for close racing, while the turbocharged engines do a good impression of distant artillery fire on the overrun, chucking out flames from the side pipes like a Group A Sierra Cosworth from the 80s. Nice.

After the Ginetta Juniors and Clio Cup, both great series in their own right, plus a little walk around the pits trying not to dribble on a stunning Zakspeed Mk2 Escort, it was time for BTCC race two. With the grid decided by the results from race one, the BMWs made another lightning start to maintain their positions from flag to flag. Behind them, the ever popular Rob Austin managed to squeeze Sherman (his Audi A4) between Plato and Shedden up into third place. If you think a BTCC start looks spectacular on TV, try standing next to it as the cars pop and bang against the limiter before the lights go out, rasping into the distance like a hoard of giant angry bees.

Though not always as they would have liked

Hislops chicane would be the site of another incident on lap five, Alain Menu punting Fabrizio Giovanardi off the circuit. Although he gained a position, Menu’s team mate Aron Smith was able to overhaul the experienced ex-champion in a move that would prove pivotal to race three. On lap eight Andrew Jordan was able to get a run on Dave Newsham in order to claim back one of the places he had already lost from being pushed wide at Cascades by Menu on the previous circuit. As the door was open, Jack Goff tried to get past in his Mercedes only to shove Newsham off into the barriers. Although this led to the safety car being deployed, the finishing order was still a BMW 1-2 with Austin in third. This was to change after a stewards’ enquiry later, a pass made by Austin on Collard just before the yellow flags was deemed legal promoting Austin to second. The stewards also decided Menu’s challenge on Jordan was a little too robust, changing their positions around to give the upper hand to the current champ. Time away from the BTCC has clearly not eroded Menu’s competitiveness, it’s good to have you back Alain!

After learning about Dunlop’s commitment to BTCC at their tyre truck (they will fit 600-700 tyres over the race weekend and are already developing tyres for 2016!), the heavens opened leaving the track sodden and Super Touring race postponed. It was therefore time for the third and most action packed BTCC race of the day in tricky drying conditions. This and the reverse grid made for an exciting race with several cars including Matt Neal spinning off at the start of the race. As the safety car pulled off, Mat Jackson lined up for a challenge into Cascades but out-braked himself, leading to a massive tankslapper across the grass. After an impressive recovery, Jackson’s Focus fought back to ninth.

Changeable conditions made it challenging

There was more drama as Collard tried a bit of demon late braking on Shedden only to go straight on at Hislops. Collard allowed Plato back past to avoid penalty and continued the race managing to get back past the MG legitimately. Up front the VW Passat CC of Aron Smith kept good pace, fending off Gordon Shedden and compressing the front runners. Collard was next to spin with some help from Jason Plato ensuring the BMW domination at Oulton Park was over. In fifth, Rob Austin was kept busy by the other MG6 of Sam Tordoff who was never too far from the Audi’s rear bumper for the rest of the race. As the track dried, Plato was able to catch and pass Turkington through Old Hall Corner only to run wide and let the BMW past.

Plato was up to his old tricks soon after though, giving Turkington a little tap to get past on the inside and then use the MG’s superior traction to make the pass stick. All these little battles helped alleviate the pressure on Smith and helped towards the first win for the Restart Racing Team. Although Plato caught up to Shedden, he was unable to pass. Turkington held onto fourth while Austin kept fifth to give his best weekend of the season. These leave Turkington at the top of the driver’s table closely followed by Shedden then Plato in fourth and Collard fifth.

To round the day off, the Super Tourers were given their second race of the weekend. Having grown up watching the BTCC and playing TOCA Touring Cars, it was an amazing experience to see a whole grid of these iconic tin tops running at race speed. These money no object machines were joined by the Zakspeed Escort mentioned earlier and a few Group A BMW M3s to give an aural and visual treat that will stay with me for a very long time. This was definitely the perfect end to fantastic day’s racing, roll on Croft!

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Jimmm

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