Rds 1-3: Brands Discussion

[ATF]

Works cars to the fore in free practice 1:

1 James THOMPSON SEAT Leon 49.064
2 Jason PLATO SEAT Leon 49.229
3 Tom CHILTON Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch 49.271
4 Fabrizio GIOVANARDI Vauxhall Sport Hatch 49.303
5 Gavin SMITH Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch 49.350
6 Gordon SHEDDEN Honda Integra 49.367
7 Matt NEAL Honda Integra 49.464
8 Mike JORDAN Honda Integra 49.509
9 Colin TURKINGTON MG ZS 49.585
10 Robert COLLARD MG ZS 49.856
11 David PINKNEY Honda Integra
12 Jason HUGHES MG ZS 50.483
13 Mark PROCTOR Honda Civic Type R
14 Martyn BELL BMW 320i E46 51.969
15 Fiona LEGGATE Vauxhall Astra Coupe 52.041
16 Mark SMITH Alfa Romeo 156 1:00.090

[Hazard]

Yep...BTCC 2006 - The corporations strike back!

1st - 10th less than a second though (all RAC's, Dynamics, VXR & Seat's)

I don't think Vauxhall will be too glad to lose the manufacturers war to Seat though - especially to two drivers that were on their 2001 payroll!

[ATF]

Originally Posted by Hazard

1st - 10th less than a second though (all RAC's, Dynamics, VXR & Seat's)

Don't forget Mike Jordan doing a solid job there in 8th! He's the true independent in that lot, hope he can give them some stick tomorrow!

[luke]

I wish Thompson wasn't just doing the 6 rounds, I know world touring cars is more important, but still.

[touringlegend]

I don't need to say I'm glad with that. But I'm a bit suspicious that Matt Neal isn't showing his true speed until qualifying.

[touringlegend]

Free Practice 2 Times


Highlights from session

• Smith set quickest time then had minor bump after car failed to turn in at Clearways
• Thompson's engine was shut down after he reported rattling noises
• James Kaye has a blue, silver and yellow Civic this year out for it's first laps.
• Mark Smith unable to compete FP2 in is Alfa due to gearbox gremlins

[cos]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

[*]James Kaye has a blue, silver and yellow Civic this year out for it's first laps.[/LIST]

Just seen a couple of photos of the Civic at btcc.net - looks a bit like someone's sploshed som yellow paint over the Barwell civics from a few years back!

[ATF]

Chilton on pole ahead of his new best friend JP and then Jimmy T, Turks, Gio, Smith, Shedden, Jordan, Collard and Kaye rounding out the top 10!

[touringlegend]

Chilton's time was 0.033 seconds slower than the lap record set by Muller in 2001.

Himself and Plato are the only drivers to get into the 90mph average lap speed.

Should make for an interesting scrap between the two of them..

[Hazard]

Yep, the two guys winding each other up in the press on the front row.

The other Seat just behind, and the other Vauxhall's filling row 3.

Neal, Bell & Mark Smith setting no time (Neal crashed then suffered brake problems) so will all start from the back.

[touringlegend]

Here's how Matt Neal ended up after his brake's failed on him:

Courtesy of www.btcc.net (sequence of images in their gallery)



Neal said he had to put the car into a spin to try and slow it down before hitting the barriers.

[E46]

It seems Leon is a better car for BTCC tracks than Toledo, isn´t it?

[touringlegend]

I think the Toledo is faster in a straight line but that's about it - always thought it was a large cumbersome looking car in the BTCC.

[luke]

Damn those pit babes are hot....

[thebullet]

The first round of the British Touring Cars is today at Brands Hatch, should be a good one.

The Grid:


1 Tom CHILTON

2 Jason PLATO

3 James THOMPSON

4 Colin TURKINGTON

5 Fabrizio GIOVANARDI

6 Gavin SMITH

7 Gordon SHEDDEN

8 Mike JORDAN

9 Robert COLLARD

10 James KAYE

11 David PINKNEY

12 Mark PROCTOR

13 Jason HUGHES

14 Fiona LEGGATE

15 Matt NEAL

[luke]

I like Giovanardi but why is he cutting everyone off on the straights? driving into them.

[luke]

Great to see Thompson win again on his return. Matt Neal did great from last to 4th.

[Steve Gibson]

After a long winter it seems the usual suspects and a few friends still think the BTCC is "Stock Car Racing"
When will they be made to clean up thier act!

[E46]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

I think the Toledo is faster in a straight line but that's about it - always thought it was a large cumbersome looking car in the BTCC.

First race for the new SEAT and first win. You seem to be correct.

[EvilPumpkin]

Indeed - perhaps you'd like to discuss it in our Touring Cars forum......

[luke]

I'm disgusted with the amount of dirty driving today. Ok a bit of rubbing and bumping here and there but why drive into someone in a straight and take them off? This has happened many times today. Many people just driving into people, look at paddock hill bend.

[E46]

Why was the race redflagged?

[Phoenix1]

Race red flagged as Neal was still in the car for a while. Think they wanted to make sure he was okay. Looked like he slowed/braked early. No fault of Collard and Collard has never shoved anyone in the past.

I presume ITV/Motors are wrong and Neal is 3rd though as red flag goes back one lap or did they get round again before the red. I did no think they did?

[thebullet]

Sorry didnt realize there was 1

[J-C]

Collard pretty much drove Neal off the circuit at Silverstone last year after a similar sort of move from Neal beforehand. This looked more of the same, the red mist descended and a bad accident ensued. If Collard retains his position I will be amazed.

Frankly, it's the sort of thing that's been on the cards in the BTCC for a long time, and hopefully will spark a clampdown on driving standards, which have been atrocious in the last year or so.