BTCC Championship battle heads to Thruxton

With the racing at Donington Park now finished the BTCC heads to Thruxton in two weeks time for Rounds 10, 11 and 12 on the 18th May. The circuit, the fastest in the UK, presents drivers with a unique challenge as the head around the fast, sweeping back corners at full throttle before having to slow the cars suddenly for the two chicanes where action aplenty is usually seen.

Last weekend at Donington saw SEAT’s Leon TDI finally show some of the speed that its sister cars in the World Touring Cars have been displaying, with both Jason Plato and Darren Turner taking a win apiece. However VX Racing limited the damage that the Spanish maruqe could inflict with its drivers also putting in some strong performances, most notably from Tom Onslow-Cole securing a podium in each race and championship leader Fabrizio Giovanardi taking win number 3 of the season.

There was action throughout the field last time out, with Tom Chilton and Mat Jackson being involved in a race one incident putting them both out, whilst other drivers fell by the wayside with several large accidents from Matt Allison, Rob Collard, John George and Erkut Kizilirmak, whose impact with the barriers put paid to his hopes of starting race three.

Form favours the more streamlined cars at the super fast Thruxton circuit, and the results have supported this throughout the years. Dan Eaves became the first driver to win all three races in a weekend back in 2005 at the track, and in 2006 the Honda Integra’s were again strong for Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal. This year’s Integra racers Mike and Andrew Jordan will be hoping this works in their favour. The VX Racing Vectra’s have also proved formiddable around the Hampshire circuit, with Fabrizio Giovanardi winning 4 out of 6 races at Thruxton last year thanks to the Vectra’s top end grunt.

Things could be set to change for 2008, however, as the SEAT Leon TDI’s begin to gather their stride. The Turbo diesel engine is known for being faster in a straight line, as Turner and Plato proved at Donington by being routinely fastest through the speed traps. With the team having had several races to get to the bottom of any early-season issues they will be hoping for a strong result in two weeks time.

Tickets are on sale now for the Thruxton meeting, and are available here. Tickets are £9 for Saturday, £22 for Sunday or £32 for the whole weekend if purchased in advance. Please note that if you wish to visit the paddock areas then an £8 tickets must also be purchased.

Spectating is available between the two chicanes at the end and start of the lap, and one of the best views is available from the Campbell, Cobb and Seagrave complex of corners. The first corner Allard also provides a good view of the start of the race, whilst spectating at the Club chicane will allow you to view the last of the late brakers into the final corner. It is recommended that you take sun screen to the circuit as if the weather is clear there will be long periods of exposure.

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