ThePitcrewOnline

Category: Touring Cars

  • BTCC Media Day – The Class of 2018 is unveiled at Donington Park

    All eyes were on Donington Park as the 2018 British Touring Car Championship was launched with the annual Media Day event.

    All the teams and drivers convened on the Leicestershire circuit as the cars were revealed and completed a four hour test session in the afternoon.

    It was a wet start to the day as the cars were revealed in the pit lane, and with some teams taking on new cars and liveries, it promised for quite the spectacle.

    Subaru were first to show off their 2018 challenger by virtue of drivers champion Ash Sutton. The Levorg was wheeled out alongisde Sutton’s team mates Jason Plato and Josh Price.

    2017 champion Ash Sutton with his Subaru Levorg.

    Tom Ingram’s Speedworks team were next, with their Toyota Avensis promising so much for the Independents champion, finishing third overall last season. Many are tipping him as a dark horse for this season’s title, and his car looked ready to go.

    The BMW team were next, with 2017 runner up Colin Turkington and Rob Collard unveiling their BMW’s before Andrew Jordan rolled out his Pirtek backed BMW, which sported a Red Bull-esque matte finish.

    The BMW squad for 2018.

    One of the most hotly anticipated cars to be seen was Rob Austin’s Duo Racing Alfa Romeo Gulietta. The fan favourite walked out with his new car with the historic name returning to the BTCC grid. It will be sure to invoke the days of Gabriele Tarquini of the 90’s for some.

    Rob Austin with his Alfa Romeo Gulietta.

    Halfords Yuasa Racing were next, with their brand new Honda Civic Type-R’s. Matt Neal returns with a new face next to him. Ex-Porsche Supercup driver Dan Cammish replaces Gordon Shedden for 2018.

    New Honda driver Dan Cammish.

    It was Wix Racing with Euortech’s turn next, with Jack Goff and Brett Smith unveiling their newly liveried yellow and black Honda Civics. Simpson Racing are also running under the Eurotech banner with Matt Simpson’s Civic being wheeled out too.

    The Eurotech Civic is unveiled.

    A team which promises a lot this season is the Shredded Wheat with Gallagher outfit. With Tom Chilton joining from Power Maxed Racing, James Cole coming from Subaru, and 2016 runner up Sam Torfoff returning to the sport in a Gard-X sponsored car. They’ve changed up the Focus ST to the new RS.

    Tom Chilton and James Cole with the Shredded Wheat Ford Focus RS being wheeled out.

    Ciceley Motorsport were next up, with Adam Morgan returning in his Mercedes A-Class. 2017 race winner Aiden Moffat remains with Laser Tools Racing. Meanwhile Ciceley added a third entry to their roster this season, with former Ginetta GT4 champion Tom Olliphant running a green A-Class.

    Tom Olliphant’s green Ciceley Motorsport Mercedes A-Class.

    BTC Norlin were next up, with Chris Smiley sticking with the team and 2011 Independents Champion James Nash replacing the retired Dave Newsham. The team have changed from the Chevrolet Cruze, to the Honda Civic for this season.

    The BTC Norlin team.

    Stephen Jelley’s Team Parker Racing have moved from a Ford Focus ST to a new BMW for this season. Sporting a fresh red, white and blue livery, the team will be hoping for big things this season.

    Stephen Jelley’s new BMW, having used a Focus last season.

    Power Maxed Racing went next, with new title sponsor TAG. The Vauxhall Astras will be driven by 2017 Jack Sears Champion Senna Proctor, and 2015 Jack Sears Champion Josh Cook, who moves from the Triple Eight team.

    Senna Proctor with the Power Maxed Astra.

    Team HARD unleashed their four very different Volkswagen Passat CC’s too. With four cars and three new drivers, only Jake Hill remains from last season. In come Bobby Thompson, Michael Caine, and 2017 Renault Clio Cup champion Mike Bushell.

    The fab four of Team HARD.

    AmD Tuning were last up, with their two Audi’s being joined by the Triple Eight MG’s, which AmD have bought out. In the Audis were Ollie Jackson and series newcomer Sam Smelt. While in the MG’s were returning driver Tom Boardman, and former Shredded Wheat driver Rory Butcher.

    The Audi half of AmD Tuning.
    The MG half of AmD Tuning,

    With the cars all unveiled and the grid complete, all eyes now turn to the season opener at Brands Hatch on April 7 and 8.

  • Would reviving the ToCA Computer Game series be a success?

    Would reviving the ToCA Computer Game series be a success?

    Do you ever get the feeling of instant nostalgia? You hear a certain song or visit a certain place, and all these fond memories flood your brain. Well how about nostalgia for a video game?

    Cast your minds back to 1997, and now renowned video game creators Codemasters release ToCA Touring Car Championship, a game based on the official 1997 season of the British Touring Car Championship. I get instant nostalgia whenever I play this game, the sound of the Super Touring era engines, the somewhat reassuring voice of Tiff Needell, and pure high octane racing.

    The question being posed here is; would a reboot of this once iconic franchise bear any fruit?

    The original game sold 600,000 copies in the UK and Europe, and helped propel Codemasters to huge success, with a huge stable of critically acclaimed racing games in its catalogue. These include the Colin McRae/DiRT series, the ToCA series, and of course the Formula One games.

    The ToCA series was great, the first two games focused completely on the BTCC, offering you arcade modes, hilarious cheat modes, and an enthralling championship mode. While later additions to the series would expand and offer players the chance to test various racing series’.

    The pitfalls of the first ToCA games were of course the limitations of software at the time. The PlayStation, god bless it, was revolutionary in the 90’s, but the graphics look a tad dated 20 years later. However with the new generation of gaming allowing for 4K resolution graphics, there’s so much scope for a hugely immersive BTCC themed game.

    There are many junior categories under the ToCA name, such as British F4 and the Ginetta Junior Championship. Imagine a career mode where you start at the bottom, in F4, fighting for the championship while being in the same paddock as the likes of Matt Neal, Jason Plato and Colin Turkington?

    Having to work up through the junior categories, impressing the big teams and working your way to the BTCC? The Formula One games are proof that Codemasters can do an immersive and rewarding career mode. Should they be able to obtain the licence to the ToCA series again, it could prove to be a hugely successful game.

    That all sounds great right? But the counter argument of this is; is there any need or demand for it?

    People who have fond memories of the original ToCA games are crying out for a revival of the beloved series, myself included. But with PC games such as iRacing and rFactor facilitating ‘mods’ to create any racing series they want to, does it render the need for a standalone BTCC game pointless?

    There are various ‘modifications’ to these games available, even one which replicates the 1998 season perfectly, with faithfully restored cars and updated graphics. Check out this video of the ‘mod’ in action by ‘sim racing’ YouTuber Jimmy Broadbent.

    Another possible issue is the global draw. Codemasters’ Formula One games are so successful because F1 is a globally watched sport, while Touring Cars are watched all over the world, thanks in part to the World Touring Car Championship, it is nowhere near as watched as the ‘pinnacle of motorsport’ that is F1.

    In spite of these possible drawbacks, the British crowd would lap up a game where they can throw these souped-up road cars round Donington, round Thruxton, round Rockingham with the hope of being BTCC champion.

    With the aforementioned career mode, and the ability to play online with friends, two things which the old ToCA games didn’t have, Codemasters could really resurrect the vintage franchise in a brilliant way!

  • The Factory – Alfa Romeo

    (c) Logo courtesy of and licensed to Alfa Romeo part of the Fiat Group

    In my second The Factory feature I will take a look at Alfa Romeo. I can feel the confusion from you the reader now at the fact that this feature is supposed to concentrate on current constructors in the world of racing. Alfa Romeo aren’t racing next year! Some cry – I wouldn’t be so sure about that. Read on…..

    It was in 1911 when Alfa Romeo first began to race competitively, the Targa Florio. Two years later they would finish second in the Parm-Paggio Berceto race with Nino Franchini.

    During the 1920s and 1930s Alfa Romeo received success, Giuseppe Campari would win at Mugello in 1920 with Enzo Ferrari finishing second in the Targa Florio that year also. There was another Mugello win the following year with Campari at the wheel and in 1923 Ugo Sivocci won the Targa Florio.

    Alfa Romeo wanted to press forward, they knew that they had to keep developing and improving to make their mark in the racing world and so in 1923 Vittorio Jano moved from Fiat to the factory to design their Grand Prix racing cars.

    In 1925 they would win their first world title, the first AIACR World Manufacturers’ Championship with wins at the European Grand Prix at Spa and the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

    The factory continued to be competitive moving into the 1930’s, in 1932 Tazio Nuvolari and Rudolf Caracciola won five Grand Prix’s between them, but it was in 1933 that Alfa Romeo would recall all its racing cars, close the factory doors and transferred all their assets, with the insistence of the Italian government, to Enzo Ferrari who was now running a privatised factory team called Scuderia Ferrari.

    With the cars moved to Ferrari Louis Chiron went on to win the French Grand Prix in 1934 and the Alfa car won 18 or 35 races in Europe. The Silver Arrows were beginning to outclass Alfa Romeo but Nuvolari did hit back by beating the Germans in the own backyard at the Nurburgring in 1935.

    Alfa Romeo commanded the Targa Florio, winning six times in a row during the 1930s and also taking the Mille Miglia, with the exception of 1931, every year from 1928 to 1938.

    With their 8C 2300 car, Alfa Romeo would also win the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1931 to 1934, moving them swiftly onto the sportscar scene.

    They developed their sportscar programme in 1963, taking class wins in races and developed a new 90 degree V8 engine, designed by Carlo Chiti and this was to compete with the dominant Porsche team. They raced in the World Sportscar Championship from 1967 to 1977 taking two world titles (1975 and 1977).

    As a Formula One constructor and engine supplier Alfa Romeo took two Drivers’ Championships (1950 and 1951) and would compete in F1 from 1950 until 1988. As a constructor Alfa Romeo pulled out of Formula One at the end of 1951, after their second title, but would supply F1 teams during the 1960s, with their V8 engine run by McLaren and March during the 1970s. Brabham took Alfa Romeo engines from 1976 until 1979 and they also supplied Osella from 1983 until 1988.

    They did re-enter Formula One as a constructor themselves from 1979 until 1985 and in 1987 had struck a deal to supply Ligier until Fiat took over Alfa Romeo and that contract fell through.

    As a constructor, Alfa Romeo entered 110 races, winning 10. They attained 26 podiums, 12 pole positions and 14 fastest laps to go with their two world titles. Drivers to have raced for the team include, Nino Farina, Juan Manuel Fangio, Bruno Giacomelli, Mario Andretti, Andrea de Cesaris, Eddie Cheever and Riccardo Patrese.

    The factory has had major success in Formula Three, Michele Alboreto for example won the European F3 title in a March-Alfa Romeo and from 1980 to 1984 they won four consecutive Italian F3 titles.

    In 1989 Alfa Romeo entered IndyCar, the engine developed using the unraced Ferrari 637 indy car. They recorded no podiums, no poles and no race wins, eventually pulling out of IndyCar in 1991.

    They skirted with rally, the Giulietta won the 1958 1000 Lakes Rally, they also went on to secure victories in the Elba and Costa Brava rallies in 1975 winning the Group 2 category in the WRC Tour de Corse. They produced the GTV6, one of the fastest Group A rally cars, but this was reclassified as a Group B by the FIA at the end of the 1986 and was less competitive.

    It was in Touring Cars where Alfa Romeo found most of their success, taking numerous ETCC titles, Trans-Am Championships, BTCC, DTM and winning the Bathurst 12 Hour.

    Now part of the Fiat group, there has been much talk over the last few years of an Alfa Romeo return to Formula One, but nothing concrete and no deal with the FIA was forged to see the marque return.

    Alfa Romeo are now again competing in the new TCR Series where the Giulietta has taken race wins during the 2017 season.

    It is, however, returning to touring cars for 2018, be it through a dealer team entry. An Alfa Romeo Giulietta will once again be on the British Touring Car grid next season with Handy Motorsport. The front-wheel drive Giulietta will be fitted with a BTCC TOCA engine in its first season, but a bespoke unit could be developed in the future. The last time Alfa Romeo appeared on the grid in BTCC was 2007. It is not a full factory entry but Alfa Romeo’s 62 strong dealership network in the UK have been encouraged to support the project.

    So we have an Alfa Romeo, semi-factory, car back on the grid for next season. It is hoped that this is just the beginning of a return to racing for this historic marque. 

    “La meccanica delle emozioni” 

    Alfa Romeo has won the following major victories and championships:

    5 – World Championships (1925, 1950, 1951, 1975, 1977)

    11 –  Mille Miglia (1928,1929,1930,1932,1933,1934,1935,1936,1937,1938,1947)

    10 – Targa Florio (1923,1930,1931,1932,1933,1934,1935,1950,1971,1975)

    4 – 24 Hours of Le Mans (1931, 1932, 1933, 1934)

    17 – European Touring Car Championships (1966, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1976 (Divisions 1 and 2), 1977 (Divisions 1 and 3), 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)

    9 – Makes Championship

    4 – Drivers’ Championships

    10 – Italian F3 Championships

    10 – European F3 Championships (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990)

    5 – European F3 Cups

    7 – French F3 Championships (1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989)

    2 – German F3 Championships (1984, 1989)

    3 – Giro Automobilistico d’Italia (1954, 1988, 1989)

    2 – Trans-Am Championship (1966, 1970)

    1 – Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM) (1993)

    2 – British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) (1983, 1994)

    5 – Spanish Touring Car Championship (1988, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997)

    2 – French Touring Car Championship (1983, 1984)

    6 – Italian Superturismo Championship (1988, 1992, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004)

    7 – European Historical Gran Turismo Championships

    4 – European Classic Touring Car Championships

    3 – Bathurst Unique Fuel Championships 

    Neil Simmons

    Twitter: @world_racing

     

     

     

     

  • TCR Series One Off Event

    (c) Photo Courtesy Of TCR Europe

    Adria International Raceway, Italy – 28 / 29 October 2017

    TCR drivers from all over Europe are bound for Adria

    The 2017 TCR Europe Trophy will be awarded this weekend in a one-off event at the Adria International Raceway.

    Drivers who have raced in the various TCR series and championships all over Europe are eligible to take part in the Italian race meeting and those who have entered have been allocated Pre-Qualifying points based on the number of TCR appearances they have made during the season.

    The Adria International Raceway is located in the North-East of Italy, in the delta of the river Po, some 60 kilometres South of Venice. It was inaugurated in 2002 and has hosted a range of international races such as the FIA GT and ETCC and the DTM.

    It was there that TCR Italy ran the opening event of the current season, when Eric Scalvini won both races at the wheel of a MM Motorsport Honda Civic.

    The format of the TCR Europe Trophy will follow the same pattern as the TCR International Series, with two 30-minute Free Practice sessions on Saturday morning and the 30-minute Qualifying on Saturday afternoon that will be split into Q1 (20 minutes for all the competitors) and Q2 (10 minutes for the 12 fastest drivers in Q1). The two 60-kilometre races will be run on Sunday.

    Drivers will also have the opportunity to take part in three test sessions on Friday.

    TCR in Adria – The event at a glance

    Lap distance: 2.70 km

    Race distance: 23 laps

    Start: Standing

    Grids: Determined by the Qualifying results (Q1+Q2) with top 10 reversed for Race 2

    Timetable

    Saturday, 10:00/10:30 – Free Practice 1

    Saturday, 12:00/12:30 – Free Practice 2

    Saturday, 15:00/15:35 – Qualifying (Q1 + Q2)

    Sunday, 12:35 – Race 1

    Sunday, 14:35 – Race 2

    all times: GMT +2 until Saturday; GMT +1 from Sunday

     

    How Drivers’ and Team’s Trophies will be awarded

    Two TCR Europe Trophies will be awarded at Adria; one for Drivers and one for Teams.

    Drivers’ scoring system

    – Pre-Qualifying: 1 point per event will be allocated to each Driver who took part in any   TCR event during the 2017 season, up to a maximum of 5 points

    – Qualifying: points will be awarded to the first five drivers classified in the Qualifying session according to the following scale:

    1st: 5 points; 2nd: 4 pts; 3rd: 3 pts; 4th: 2 pts; 5th: 1 pt

    – Races: points will be awarded to the ten drivers classified in each Race according to the following scale:

    1st: 25 points; 2nd: 18 pts; 3rd: 15 pts; 4th: 12 pts; 5th: 10 pts; 6th: 8 pts; 7th: 6 pts; 8th: 4 pts; 9th: 2 pts; 10th: 1 pt

    Teams’ scoring system

    – Races: points will be awarded to the best two cars of each team classified in each Race according to the following scale:

    1st: 25 points; 2nd: 18 pts; 3rd: 15 pts; 4th: 12 pts; 5th: 10 pts; 6th: 8 pts; 7th: 6 pts; 8th: 4 pts; 9th: 2 pts; 10th: 1 pt

    Eight brands to be represented at the TCR Europe Trophy

    The Adria International Raceway will welcome drivers and teams coming from no less than nine different series.

    Eight brands of car manufacturers will be represented: Alfa Romeo, Audi, Honda, Hyundai, Peugeot, SEAT, Subaru and Volkswagen.

    Files and Altoè pair up at Target Competition

    Target Competition fields the strong duo of Josh Files and Giacomo Altoè at the wheel of two Honda Civic cars.

    Files is aiming for a third TCR title in the current season after winning both the Middle East and Germany crowns (the latter for the second consecutive year), while his 17-year old teammate Altoè has established himself as one of the most competitive young drivers with brilliant results in the International, Benelux and Italian series.

    One Peugeot 308 for Aurélien Comte

    Two weeks ago at Le Castellet, Peugeot Sport showed for the first time the new 308 TCR that will be racing from next year. However, even without the full TCR kit, the Peugeot 308 Racing Cup car has already won TCR races in the Benelux and 24H series.

    The twisty circuit of Adria will suit the French cars that will be in the experienced hands of Aurélien Comte, who classified fifth in the TCR Benelux with three race victories.

    Buri and Kangas come from the North

    Fellow Finns Antti Buri (Audi RS3 LMS) and Olli Kangas (SEAT León) will race under the banner of LMS Racing.

    Buri comes fresh from a successful campaign in TCR Germany that saw him claiming one race victory at the Nürburgring and finishing a brilliant eighth in the Drivers’ championship.

    Far less experienced than his teammate, Kangas has competed in the maiden season of TCR Scandinavia.

    Together, they have won the 12 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, final round of the 24H Touring Car Endurance series a few weeks ago.

    A Russian duo for Innocenti-AMG Motorsport

    TCR Russia competitors Lev Tolkachev and Denis Grigoriev will race in two SEAT León DSG cars run by the Innocenti-AMG Motorsport team.

    Grigoriev was classified tenth in the Russian series, claiming his maiden TCR victory in Race 1 at the Smolensk Ring; his teammate Tolkachev ranked 13th in the final standings.

    Engstler Motorsport enters the youngest team

    The age of the two drivers entered by the Liqui Moly Team Engstler adds up to just 38 years. Luca Engstler (17) and Florian Thoma (21) form the youngest team that will compete for the TCR Europe Trophy.

    And yet, they have already shown their potential. After winning his maiden touring car race at Dubai in the TCR Middle East series, Engstler was crowned Junior champion of TCR Germany. Also a rookie in touring cars, his Swiss teammate Thoma made a sensational debut in TCR Germany, winning the second race in the season’s opener at Oschersleben. Engstler and Thoma will race two Volkswagen Golf GTI cars.

    An Alfa Romeo Giulietta for Luigi Ferrara

    Italy’s V-Action Racing Team will run a Romeo Ferraris-built Alfa Romeo Giulietta for Luigi Ferrara.

    The 35-year old from Bari is an experienced driver who has already had different occasions of sitting at the wheel of TCR cars. Ferrara has driven the V-Action Giulietta twice this year, in the German and the Italian series (at Hockenheim and Monza respectively), showing the potential of the Italian car.

    TCR Ibérico champion joins with a Volkswagen

    During the last weekend, Francisco Abreu was crowned the first champion in the TCR Ibérico series.

    Winning two of the four races of the final event at Portimão in the Team Novadriver Volkswagen Golf GTI cars, Abreu was able to close the gap from the previous leader Francisco Mora to clinch the title. He also finished second in TCR Portugal behind Mora.

    Team WRT with Maxime Potty’s VW Golf

    While Team WRT is in the best position to win a second consecutive TCR International Series title in conjunction with Leopard Racing, the Belgian outfit is also one of the top seeds in the TCR Europe Trophy.

    The young Belgian Maxime Potty will be at the wheel of the team’s single Volkswagen Golf GTI at Adria. Last weekend at Assen, Potty won the final race of TCR Benelux, securing third place in the championship standings.

    Endurance specialists come from Spain

    It has been a very successful season for Monlau Competición as the Spanish team has clinched the TCR class title in the 24H Touring Car Endurance Series with a SEAT León DSG car.

    At Adria, Monlau Competición wants to prove they are also capable of shining in sprint races and have entered the León for their best driver, José Manuel Pérez-Aicart. Experienced and quick, the 35-year old from Castellón boasts an impressive record, including titles in the Spanish GT Championship and the SEAT Supercópa.

    Bulgaria’s Plamen Kralev to race his Audi

    Bulgarian Touring Car specialist Plamen Kralev will compete in the TCR Europe Trophy with his Kraf Racing Audi RS3 LMS car.

    Kralev, who switched to touring car racing three years ago after several season in GT and Formula 2, has successfully taken part in both TCR Italy and the FIA European Touring Car Cup with his Audi, ranking fifth and ninth in the two series respectively.

    Hyundai and Subaru cars will be ‘transparent’

    Two cars have been accepted to take part in the TCR Europe Trophy under temporary homologation forms: the Hyundai i30 N and the Subaru WRX STI.

    Therefore they will be ‘transparent’ as far as the race results are concerned.

    BRC Racing Team will run the Hyundai that will be driven by Touring Car legend Gabriele Tarquini; only a few weeks ago the Italian racer gave the Korean car its first victory on its maiden appearance, in the TCR International Series at Zehjiang.

    The Subaru entered by Top Run Motorsport is the latest development of the WRX STI TCR that was successfully raced by Stefano Comini in the TCR Italy events at Imola and Monza. As Comini is not eligible to race at Adria (being amongst the top ten in the International Series) the team has still to name his replacement.

    Full live coverage from Adria International Raceway

    Fans will be able to follow live on the Internet the whole action of the TCR Europe Trophy at Adria on www.europe.tcr-series.com and www.tcr-series.tv according to the following timetable.

    Saturday, 09:55 – Free Practice 1, timing and streaming

    Saturday, 11:55 – Free Practice 2, timing and streaming

    Saturday, 14:55 – Qualifying, timing and streaming

    Sunday, 12:20 – Race 1, timing and streaming

    Sunday, 14:20 – Race 2, timing and streaming

    (all times local)

     

    Neil Simmons

    Twitter: @world_racing

  • Guerrieri Given WTCC Factory Drive

    Photo (c) Alexandre Guillaumot / DPPI

    Double race-winning privateer Esteban Guerrieri has been rewarded for his hugely promising maiden FIA World Touring Car Championship season with a factory drive at WTCC JVC/KENWOOD Race of Japan this weekend.

    Argentine Guerrieri will stand in for Tiago Monteiro at Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team after Monteiro was advised by doctors to remain at home in his native Portugal to continue his recovery from the effects of a high-speed testing accident in Spain last month.

    The 32-year-old is in his first full season in the WTCC in a Campos Racing Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1 and has notched up wins in Morocco and China. After 14 rounds, he’s seventh in the overall standings and fourth in the WTCC Trophy for independent racers. Campos Racing has given the move its full support and has signed ETCC prize-winner and rising star Kris Richard as Guerrieri’s replacement for the Twin Ring Motegi weekend.

    “We are very happy to be part of Esteban’s success and we are delighted he has got this opportunity with a factory team,” said Campos Racing’s Ruben Espin. “Although we were hoping he could continue his push for the WTCC Trophy with our team, one of our main goals was to help Esteban develop as a WTCC driver in the hope that one day a chance like this came along. Now it has, we are really pleased for him because it’s richly deserved after all his hard work and outstanding on-track performances. He will continue to be part of the Campos Racing family and we wish him all the best for WTCC Race of Japan this weekend. Our focus will now be on helping the next young talent to join our team, Kris Richard.”

    Having excelled in single-seater racing in the past against current F1 stars Lewis Hamilton, Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel, Guerrieri was the fastest driver of all when he made his WTCC debut in his homeland in August 2016 and was chosen by a selection of WTCC journalists as their rookie of the year as a result.

    “I was sorry to hear that Tiago would not be able to race this weekend, but I’m extremely excited to have been given the opportunity to join Honda for Motegi and to drive a factory car in the WTCC,” said Guerrieri. “I’d also like to thank Campos Racing for their positivity throughout this process and to everybody who has helped in making my move to Honda possible. Motegi is a new circuit for me and I’ve never even driven the Civic WTCC, so I’m aware that there’s a lot to learn, but I’m confident that I can do a strong job of helping Honda in the Manufacturers’ championship and supporting Norbi’s [Michelisz] Drivers’ title ambitions.”

    Guerrieri will get his first taste of Honda Civic WTCC power during Free Practice 1 and Twin Ring Motegi on Saturday afternoon, when he will sample the track for the first time. He will also make his debut in the Manufacturers Against the Clock (WTCC MAC3) team time trial when he joins new team-mates Norbert Michelisz and Ryo Michigami in the Tour de France-inspired contest. Honda heads Volvo Polestar in the FIA World Touring Car Championship for Manufacturers by five points.

    François Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Events, the WTCC promoter, said: “We’re very pleased that Esteban’s talents have been rewarded with a factory drive in Japan. He will have a lot to adapt to in a short space of time but there is no doubting his ability.”

    Neil Simmons

    Twitter: @world_racing

  • Motorbase Performance Looking At TCR

    Photo Courtesy Of Motorbase Performance

    Motorbase Performance Team Principal David Bartrum has confirmed that his Wrotham-based squad has taken delivery of the latest Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR machine to arrive in the UK, and is now evaluating available options for an extended TCR campaign in 2018.

    The multiple championship winning outfit has most recently run in-house built NGTC cars in the BTCC and has an illustrious track record in its 13 year history; winning titles in the British Touring Car Championship, British GT and Porsche Carrera Cup as well as taking multiple wins internationally whilst competing in the Blancpain Endurance Cup and Gulf 12 hours.

    Team Boss David Bartrum believes that the move into TCR perfectly fits into Motorbase’s portfolio as the former-racer looks to expand his squad’s championship campaign for next season, replacing the highly successful GT programme that has run for the past 5 years.

    “TCR has grown quite significantly over the last two seasons, and it’s impressive if you look at what its achieved in a short space of time;” commented Bartrum. “It’s not just about the UK series; globally the format seems to work well. When you look at the various domestic championships running and the 24 hour series, TCR is a very competitive and attractive package and as an international racing team we want to be a part of that as it grows.”

    “It fits the bill perfectly for us since winding down our GT programme;” added Bartrum. “It opens up a lot more opportunities for us as a team as we now have a stable of cars that we can take all over the world, we’re no longer limited to just the UK market which is a downside of the BTCC. Motorbase has already proven itself to be competitive in Europe and the Middle East in the GT world and we’re keen to do the same again in Touring Cars.”

    The squad’s newly acquired Golf GTI’s maiden shakedown takes place at Brands Hatch today (Wednesday, 18th October) with the team working through an initial test programme before opening up packages to potential drivers and partners for the 2018 season in the coming weeks.

    “We’re open to look at all available options for next season;” Bartrum explained. “I’m excited to see which drivers are out there with the potential and budget to work with us whether in the UK, Europe or further afield. 2018 is looking like a very interesting season for TCR and I’m looking forward to seeing where it takes us.”

    Neil Simmons

    Twitter: @world_racing

  • BTCC – Rule Changes & 60 Mile Race

    Heading into the 2018 season TOCA and BTCC have made two announcements. One relates to the rule changes for the 2018 season and the other marks a special championship race to mark the 60 year anniversary.

    Here are the announcements from BTCC:

    Rule changes agreed for 2018 BTCC season

    A number of rule changes have recently been ratified by TOCA that will take effect from the opening round of the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship:

    Increase in driving standards penalties

    – Fines will be increased, with a significant additional championship fine applied on top of any MSA fine.

    – From next year a ‘strike’ will last for 12 months from the date applied, rather than just the same season (This then brings them into line with the 12 month penalty points system on MSA race licence).

    – Strikes gained during a 12 month period will result in the following penalties;

    3rd strike – back of the grid

    4th strike – one race ban

    5th strike – two race ban

    6th strike – three race ban

    7th strike – banned from the championship for the rest of that season

    – A relatively minor but straightforward on-track incident, involving and affecting only two cars, that can be simply rectified by swapping their finishing positions post-race (or which has already been fully redressed within one lap by the offending driver) will not necessarily constitute a ‘strike’.

    3rd race grid draw

    The partial reverse-grid draw will now extend to 12 ……i.e. the reverse-grid draw will be from positions 6-12 (rather than 6-10).

    Jack Sears Trophy

    Eligible drivers will be those that have never scored an outright podium position.

    Any driver subsequently scoring an outright podium during the season, will be ineligible for the JST from the next season.

    Boost adjustments

    If needed, these will take place once per season – at around the mid-season point – as was done in 2016.

    Driver changes

    A team is now permitted a maximum of two permanent driver changes per season (previously one).

    Mandatory Driver and Team manager regulations tests

    A driver or Team Manager cannot take part until they have successfully passed a mandatory regulations test.

    60 mile BTCC showpiece to take place at Snetterton in 2018

    A special ‘Diamond Double’ race has been announced as part of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship’s 60th anniversary diamond jubilee celebrations in 2018.

    The third race at Snetterton on Sunday 29 July will be an extended 60-mile contest, with all cars competing without any success ballast and with double championship points on offer.

    Furthermore, there will be a separate qualifying session on Saturday 28 July for this showpiece race, with all cars qualifying at their base weights.

    The 2018 season will still comprise of 30 races across ten weekends, with all other races following the regular format as per recent seasons.

    Snetterton – also well known for the BTCC Night Race in the 1990s and 2000s – has long been a staple of the summer calendar for race fans and this exciting addition is set to add yet further fever to the festival atmosphere.

    Alan Gow, BTCC Series Director, said:

    “We are delighted to confirm this special extended race as part of the BTCC’s diamond jubilee celebrations. As well, there will be a number of additional activities to celebrate our 60th anniversary throughout 2018 which will be revealed over the next few months. We believe this 60-mile race, roughly double the distance of a normal BTCC encounter, will add a further sporting twist to what will be a fantastic and memorable season. I am sure our loyal teams, drivers, venues, officials, sponsors, partners, marshals and of course our fans will share in this excitement, making the Snetterton race weekend an unmissable event in 2018.”

    The 2018 season will begin on 7/8th April at Brand Hatch.

    (c) photographs courtesy of BTCC

    Neil Simmons

    Twitter: @world_racing

  • BTCC Showdown – It all comes down to Brands!

    BTCC Showdown – It all comes down to Brands!

    It’s been a titanic season of touring car racing, with 12 different winners across the season so far, it all comes down to the last meeting of the season at Brands Hatch to see who will be crowned 2017 champion.

    For one man he’s been there and done it, Colin Turkington has won the title twice, in 2009 and 2014, and in his first season back at WSR after leaving Subaru, he could make it a hat-trick. However, his rival has come from almost nowhere to be in prime position to take an unlikely maiden title.

    Ash Sutton was a rookie last season, winning the Jack Sears Trophy, and having moved from MG Racing to the Adrian Flux Subaru team, taking a spot vacated by Turkington, he sits atop of the championship with just three races left to run.

    It’s been a corking season, with more shocks than a low budget horror movie, there have been surprise winners, wildcard racers and some stars of tomorrow have emerged amongst the veterans and the elite.

    This all begun with independent Tom Ingram taking the first win of the season at Brands Hatch Indy. Ingram was no stranger to the top step, having won twice in 2016, but the Speedworks driver has taken four wins this season and sits fourth in the table. Though he has a mathematical chance, it would take something special for the 24 year old to take the title.

    Subaru took on a four car team this season, continuing with the Levorg GT estates. While these remind many of the Volvo 850 estates which Rickard Rydell rinsed around, it’s a young Englishman doing the winning this time round.

    Ash Sutton came into the season as a young protégé, in the same team as BTCC legend Jason Plato, Sutton has emerged as the main man in Warren Scott’s team. Taking his first win from pole at Oulton Park, Sutton has been consistent and quick, taking wins at Oulton, Croft, two at Snetterton, Knockhill and Rockingham.

    He holds a slender lead over Turkington heading into the finale, only ten points separating them, and while anything can happen in the BTCC, this title is Sutton’s to lose. As the reigning Jack Sears Trophy winner, he’s proved that the rookie championship does have a purpose.

    This is proved by 2017’s rising star, Senna Proctor. The 19 year old, driving with Power Maxed Racing this season, has shone, and at some times outshadowed his vastly experienced team mate Tom Chilton. He has secured the Jack Sears Trophy championship already with Brands still to come. He will be encouraged by the progress Sutton has made in his second season.

    With the title finely poised, Turkington and Sutton will be looking to keep their cars in one piece, while the chasing pack will be sure to get stuck in, with places and championships yet to be won. Brands Hatch is the classic circuit, and has seen some stellar moments over the years, but neither of our title protagonists will want to risk losing any ground, as one slip, could prove vital.

  • BTCC Title Race Gathers Pace

    Tom Ingram (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Avensis

    Bank holiday crowds set for enthralling Rockingham encounter

    It’s all-change at the top of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship heading into Rockingham (26-27 August) for Rounds 22, 23 and 24 of the 2017 campaign, with Team BMW’s double champion Colin Turkington holding prime position atop the Drivers’ standings with three events to go.

    The trip to Northamptonshire is often a pivotal one as drivers fight to stamp their authority on the title or make their move to put themselves in the shakeup for the biggest prize in British motor sport, but is a shift in power already underway?

    The pendulum swings

    A week ago at Knockhill, reigning champion Gordon Shedden had to settle for damage limitation, as he and Honda contended with the rear-wheel drive might of the BMWs and Subarus – well suited to the stop-start ups-and-downs of the Scottish circuit. Home hero and triple champion Shedden had to make use of his local knowledge to notch a podium, as he battled through to hold onto a net third in the championship tally, 12 points down on new leader Turkington.

    Rory Butcher (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo Ford Focus

    The Ulsterman has launched himself to the fore with consistency over recent rounds – that trait a must for any prospective champion. Five podium finishes from the latest five races sent a shot across the bow of his immediate rivals. Team BMW team-mate Rob Collard is also racking up points round-by-round, leaving him well-placed in fourth. In fact, Knockhill was the first event this season where the Hampshireman had failed to make the podium, though he’s the only man to have scored points in every encounter this year.

    Senna Proctor (GBR) Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra

    Form man Ashley Sutton, of Adrian Flux Subaru Racing, notched a race two win to cement his status as the man in form with a high of five victories to his name this season. That latest followed a first of the season for rejuvenated BTCC legend Jason Plato, who believes his squad have finally found the ‘gremlin’ that has hampered his progress since an accident on the opening Brands Hatch weekend.

    Sutton harbours second in the overall running just four points shy of Turkington, and while Plato will be going all-out to reach an unprecedented 100 wins in the series, he will be doing what he can to help Subaru and Sutton as the title fight heads towards its conclusion.

    “I’ve had a right good kicking this year, and it’s just nice to take another step forward towards being competitive again,” said Plato. “It’s not just the winning it’s about being competitive and it’s nice to be there. I’m pretty awful to be around when things aren’t going well – this is my life.

    Ashley Sutton (GBR) Team BMR Subaru Levorg

    “We had a complete change of the differential and the car’s a different machine now. We think we’ve found the gremlin and I’m just so happy to be competitive again.

    “I’m going to start enjoying myself. I think the 100 wins might be doable (he currently stands on 96). I’m playing myself back into the game and I could have been a bit more robust with Ash but what would have been the point?

    “He’s got stuff to crack on with. I’m not going to give up wins, because I’m not going to take a financial penalty. But anything other than a win – he can have it! That is the way it goes and I’d expect that in return.

    Gordon Shedden (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing Honda Civic Type R

    “I will play it honestly and nothing would give me more pleasure than to see Ash crack it and if I can help, I will. I have Ash at the forefront of my mind, most definitely.”

    Speedworks Motorsport’s Tom Ingram made a long-awaited return to the top step of the podium after his start to the season had earmarked him as the early benchmark. Bad luck has conspired against the Toyota man in recent rounds, though at 61 points shy of the summit with more than 200 points still to play for, he’s not done yet.

    Colin Turkington (GBR) Team BMW BMW 125i M Sport

     

    All three BTCC races on Sunday, 27 August – and the day’s other races – will be broadcast live and in high definition on ITV4. Those in attendance at the circuit can stay in touch with the commentary and live timing from every session, available at btcc.net/live throughout the weekend.

    Advance tickets can be booked online at www.rockingham.co.uk or via the hotline on 01536 500500 (option 1), until midday on Friday 25 August. Weekend passes cost £38, Sunday race day tickets are £30 and Saturday entry price is just £12.50.

     

    Neil Simmons

    Twitter: @world_racing

    Photographs: Copyright © 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Media Office

  • Interview With Matt Neal

     

    An Interview With Matt Neal

    He made his BTCC debut at Silverstone in 1991 and has competed in 600+ British Touring Car races, has 60 wins, 16 poles, 49 fastest laps and is a 3-time BTCC Drivers’ Champion and 6-time Independent Drivers’ Champion. He has raced in Australia and Europe and was awarded the Autosport National Driver Of The Year in 2005 and 2011.

    What is your favourite circuit?

    In the UK Brands Hatch – Been a good hunting ground and is more old school. Overseas either Bathurst or Nordschleife. 

    Who was your motor racing idol?

    Nigel Mansell – He was always a fighter.

    Who would you regard as your toughest opponent?

    My team mate Flash (Gordon Shedden).

    Do you have a pre-race ritual/superstition and if so, what is it?

    I have lots, I am annoyingly superstitious. 

    Is there a race or series you never competed in, but would like/have liked the opportunity?

    Not having done Le Mans is a regret, but I ain’t done too badly so I’m not complaining.

    What is the best race you have been involved in? For what reason?

    Bathurst 1,000km 1998, we almost won it as complete outsiders and underdogs, so it was what we all achieved together.

    Personal Racing Number? What is yours and the meaning behind it?

    Used to go with 5 as felt it was lucky and Mansell was always red 5, currently I’m 25 because that’s how long I’ve been racing, plus I had a big win years ago running as 25.

    What was the best piece of advice given to you in your racing career?

    A calm sea does not make a skilled sailor.

    Who is the funniest person or your best friend in racing?

    Steve Thomas is one of my best mates, his laugh is infectious.

    Considering drivers over all-time and series’, if you were a team principal, which two racers would you have in your team if you owned one?

    Current drivers, Flash and Tom Onslow-Cole

    Touring car fans will be familiar with you commentating on the WTCC, is this an area you would move into in the future and what do you enjoy about it?

    It’s ok I enjoy it and the people I do it with.

    How did you get into motor racing, what ignited that spark to race?

    All I ever wanted to do from a child was race, as soon as I could drive at 17 I bought a motocross bike and trailer as cheapest thing to get into for biggest adrenalin rush, raced that for 4 years then my Dad got me into a car simply to get me away from bikes and went from there.

    Who would you say has had the biggest influence on your racing career?

    My Dad without doubt.

    British Touring is gaining more and more exposure recently (and rightly so) but is there anything you would like to see happen in the media to improve this?

    I’d like a two driver race back like in Australia be fun and add another dimension, although that’s not exactly media related.

    Outside of racing, how do you relax, what are your hobbies or favourite other sports?

    I’m away so much it’s lovely to go home and spend time with the family. But mountain biking, martial arts and training I keep myself pretty busy.

    If you could invite 4 famous people (dead or alive) for dinner and drinks, who would they be?

    JFK, Elvis, Adolf Hitler and the Queen, just be really interested on each of their takes on life.

    Who is your favourite artist or band?

    Paul Weller is pretty cool and has some absolute classics all through his career.

    And finally…….If you could give advice to anybody (in racing or in life), what would they piece of advice be?

    Get a good education and make sure you have a good exit strategy because more don’t make it than do.

    This interview took place last year and I would like to thank Matt for taking the time out to answer these questions and wish him the very best for the remainder of the season.

    Neil Simmons

    Twitter: @world_racing