Silverstone points confirm season finale duo

Silverstone played host to the penultimate rounds of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship last weekend with both Colin Turkington and Jason Plato in contention for the 2016 championship title.  Between the pair they were looking for a good haul of points in order for them to be in a strong position for the final rounds some two weeks later.

Following Saturday’s qualifying session, Warren came out on top of the four Silverline Subaru BMR Racing drivers placing his Levorg 13^th on the grid after jumping up the order on his final lap from 21st.  Jason would line up for race one right behind him with James 23^rd so it was all to play for.  Unfortunately Colin was forced to start from the back of the grid following a penalty he picked up last time out at Rockingham, his third of the season.

All four made great getaways, but a tap from behind for the team boss Warren sent him into a spin that caused Jason to take evasive action leaving the boss stranded sideways on track allowing all of the chasing pack to pass.  He did however manage to get the car started again albeit down in last position but clawed his way back up to 21^st place before a puncture on the final lap forced him to retire from the race with great disappointment.

It wasn’t going to be an easy task for Colin following the grid penalty, but despite starting from the back of the grid he carved his way through the field, passing no less than 19 cars in the process, to finish in an outstanding 10^th place.

Jason dropped back down the order at the start but impressively fought a good fight and gained a number of positions back to finish in a comfortable point scoring position of 12^th.

James had a great start to his first race of the day and by the end of the first lap was up to an astonishing 17^th from 23^rd on the grid.  Unfortunately he too was forced to retire on the final lap with a front left puncture.

MG were initially awarded first and second positions although the final race result was amended due to the MG’s being excluded from the race and both Colin and Jason were promoted two places and up to 8^th and 10^th respectively.

Colin had a great start in the second encounter as did Jason, with both Subaru Levorgs running side by side into Beckets and then again into Luffield where Colin eventually stayed ahead in 8^th with Jason tucking up behind him in 9^th by the time the opening lap was complete.  Warren and James also made up places on the first lap into 23^rd and 24^th respectively. 

Colin and Jason then worked in formation picking off their targets one by one as they fought their way through the field into 4^th and 5^th places.  Warren made it up to 17^th before succumbing to his second puncture of the day finishing all the way down in 29^th with James securing 23^rd.  James also scored a point for setting the fastest lap of the race.  Andrew Jordan was victorious as he took the win in the Ford Focus.

For the final showdown of the day, Warren suffered more misery as he was unable to make it to the grid for the third due to an engine issue.

Colin doubled up with a second 4^th place finish after passing Jason on the final lap after the latter brought more misery to the team after he too suffered a puncture.  He managed to finish the race by limping across the line in 12^th place and still in a point scoring position after running fourth throughout the 22 lap encounter.  James brought the third and final Subaru Levorg home in 21^st.  Honda’s Gordon Shedden took the win.

There is just one event remaining this season with rounds 28, 29 and 30 of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship being held at Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit on the 1st and 2nd of October. 

Sam Tordoff currently leads the standings from the Honda duo of Shedden and Matt Neal.  With a maximum of 67 points up for grabs, there are a further 5 drivers who can mathematically still walk away with the 2016 championship title that includes Rob Collard, Mat Jackson, Andrew Jordan and our very own Silverline Subaru BMR Racing drivers Colin and Jason with just 58 points separating the top eight.

Warren commented “The number 39 crew experienced another tough weekend at Silverstone, the circuit really suits me as the racing lines are pretty much the same as when riding a superbike here unlike the other circuits where the car racing lines are so different.

“We managed a great qualifying result where we were the quickest rear wheel drive car which gave me a confidence boost for the race day on Sunday.  Starting from P13 in race 1 was an achievement for me, I was really looking forward to race with the front runners only to be knocked off the circuit on turn one. 

“Race 2 I had a puncture and then we didn’t manage to get the car out for race 3 due to a mechanical issue so all in all quite a rough day!

“As usual I am immensely proud of the team who work tirelessly and put every bit of effort in, also to James, Colin and Jason who work so incredibly hard to achieve the results that they have done this year so far, especially at Silverstone which was always going to be a very hard track for the Subaru’s to compete.

“We now look forward to the season Finale at Brands Hatch to mark the end of our development season with the Subaru Levorg before a very comprehensive winter testing programme begins.”

James commented “Silverstone sadly was always going to be a circuit we would struggle at more than most. Considering our lack of horse power the team did a fantastic job all weekend. Yes a fastest lap in Race 2 was a very high positive from the weekend, but being able to use it to fight through the field is a different story. To get anywhere close in the races every lap has to be a qualifying lap, we are not able to manage our tyres over a race run, which lead to our two punctures in the first two races. We have such a good car through the corners, which is so important. The straight bits, maybe I’ll try pushing my foot down harder on the throttle next time, see if that help.”

Colin commented “I left Silverstone hugely satisfied after three strong finishes despite having to start the first race from the back of the grid.  An unexpected good haul of points at one of our toughest circuits means I go to the final meeting 37 points from the top of the table and still a contender for the championship.

“Making good progress early in the day and passing 19 other cars to finish 10th in race one was the perfect start and the key to my weekend. The grip on the circuit was unusually low, so we had to work hard to find a good setup, but thanks to my engineering team we did and I was able to keep progressing and take home another two fourth place finishes.

I now go into the finale still fighting for honours, albeit an outside bet. This is an incredible achievement for the whole team considering the tough start to the year and this being our first season with the Levorg.  My focus is already on Brands and I will keep the pressure on to see how far up the championship leader board I can get.”

Jason commented “Silverstone was always going to be a tough one for everyone at Silverline Subaru BMR Racing as it is a circuit which the lap time is heavily dependent on engine power and therefore straight line speed. To be so far off in qualifying taking into account the skill of the engineers, drivers and equipment at our disposal is beyond disappointing.

“Whilst we made progress in the races, this was mostly due to us overtaking cars that were experiencing tyre degradation issues. We are just so slow in a straight line it is almost impossible to mount an attack.

“My frustration hit a new high with a puncture on the last corner of the last lap in race three whilst in 4^th position.

“We have a car which is without doubt the class of the field in the corners. We need more power from the engine to be able to compete in the races.”

Red Bull Hardline 2016

8.30am, Sunday 18^th September. As the riders and teams walked onto the Red Bull Hardline site for the race day showdown cloud was hanging low over the valley, it made for some amazing pictures but the riders welcomed it more as an alternative to wind!

Tim Warwood and Adam Gendle were on the mikes welcoming the first fans but there was a palpable sense of expectation and a few tired faces  - none of the riders had slept much last night.

Course creator Dan Atherton said “ I’m nervous,  I think all the riders are nervous, last year we seemed to have more practice crashes , this year there were fewer crashes, but bigger crashes, it’s a shame that we have to go through that process, I didn’t sleep much last night – not sure anyone did. “

Gee had a crash in practice, he came off over a rocky outcrop, landing on his injured shoulder and had to stay down for treatment, Mark Wallace was waiting for a new bike so Qualifications saw just 12 riders take to the hill. 

The riders were clearly enjoying themselves with Sik Mik Hannah pulling three suicide no handers on the way down. Al Bond had a small crash near the end of the course but everyone made it down in one piece and the excitement began to ramp up off the scale.

Qualification results

Bernard Kerr 3.36.51

Adam Brayton 3.39.39

Ruaridh Cunningham 3.41.97

Taylor Vernon 3.43.69

George Brannigan 3.45.00

So to finals..

First up was Gee , the crowd weren’t expecting too much after this morning’s re-injury but Gee flew down in 3.35.97, a time that was faster than the winning qualification time and enough to keep him in the hotseat through the next 10 out of a total 14 riders.

Mark Wallace and Al Bond put in clean runs but came in after Gee, Graeme Mudd knocked his leg on his gear shifter and was scared coming into the Jeep Renegade jump that he wouldn’t have the speed, he cleared the jump and put in a clean run but wasn’t in contention, and then Dan Atherton was on course.

Dan had been so nervous all week, not only for his race run but for all of the other riders. Once he was on course he looked totally relaxed and super-stylish, it wasn’t the fastest run, enough for 13^th on the day but Dan was very happy.

He said  “ All these guys have come off a World Cup season so for my run I knew I couldn’t compete for speed but I just wanted to have fun, to find my flow and I did that so I really enjoyed it. “

Mik Hannah was still having fun too, he was unable to resist another no-hander to finish, crossing into second , enough for an eventual 6^th.

Eddie Masters had a good run – crossing into third, then it was into the top 5 with George Brannigan crossing into 2^nd in 3.39.14 enough for eventual 5th

Our Trek Factory Racing team-mate 19 year old Taylor Vernon  finished his run with a cheeky whip enough for 9^th today Taylor said “ I was so scared, I did enjoy it , through being scared but it was a bit of a leary ride! I rode like a squid in the middle – just happy to be down!”

Last year’s winner Ruaridh Cunningham was 1.21 from Gee at split 1, 2.03 back at split 2  but he flew through the bottom section and the crowd went crazy as he crossed into the hotseat in 3.34.86  - over a second up on Gee.

Ruaridh said “ That was a wild run, I lost quite a bit of speed out of the woods and it made me angry – I had to talk to myself and say that’s not how you ride this! It’s been a blast”

Adam Brayton was fast, but not quite as fast as Ruaridh,   into 2^nd. Then fastest qualifier Bernard Kerr was on course, Bernard had said that he was here to win and he made good on his promise, a second down on Gee’s first split time but ahead of Ruaridh he stayed in the green at split 2 and crossed in 3.32.46 – Winner of the third Red Bull Hardline. By 2.4 seconds.

Finals Results

I Bernard Kerr 3.32.46

2 Ruaridh Cunningham 3.34.86 +2.4

3 Adam Brayton 3.35.50 +3.04

4 Gee Atherton 3.35.97 +3.51

5 George Brannigan 3.39.14  +6.68

So the final word of the day has to go Dan who said “ It was an honour to have these riders come from all over the world to ride this event and to be able to ride with them, it’s so good to see these guys I’ve raced with my whole career on our local turf, it inspires me to keep progressing the event. “

Red Bull Hardline Final Rider List

1 Ruaridh Cunningham

2 Joe Smith

3 Bernard Kerr

4 Adam Brayton

5 Al Bond

6 Gee Atherton

7 Graeme Mudd

8 Mick Hannah

9 Dan Atherton

10 George Brannigan

11 Brook Macdonald

12 Eddie Masters

13 Mark Wallace

14 Taylor Vernon

Dan, Gee & Rachel Atherton to join Silverline at the Cycle Show

Dan, Gee and Rachel Atherton of the Trek Factory Racing Downhill Team to visit The Cycle Show.

Dan, Gee and Rachel Atherton in association with Silverline Tools will be at Birmingham’s NEC arena on Saturday 24^th September for a Q&A on the main stage followed by autograph signings at the Silverline Tools stand F50.

The Atherton siblings are the fastest family on two wheels and the most awarded in the history of the sport. Rachel’s perfect 2016 season with a clean sweep of the World Cup Series topped by a World Champs win cements her and the team’s place in the history books.

Atherton, 28, is on an unprecedented winning streak, with 13 consecutive World Cup wins, including the unbeaten 2016 Series, and now her second consecutive world title, the fifth of her career. The World Champion had already sealed the 2016 World Cup crown in Canada last month but won in Andorra on Saturday to end the World Cup season unbeaten.

Also at the show will be six times British and double World Champion Gee Atherton and big brother Dan Atherton, himself a World Cup winner “one of the world’s greatest bike handlers”, Enduro World Series rider and renowned Red Bull Hardline track builder.

    

Long term sponsors and official tool supplier to the team, Silverline Tools will host an autograph signing session on their stand following the Q&A which is set to start at 12:30

For more info contact marketing@silverlinetools.com

Rachel wraps up a perfect season at World Champs in Val di Sole

Rachel takes the World Championships 2016, Val di Sole, and it’s a great showing for the Brits with 1, 2 in the Mens.

It’s the perfect end to the perfect season and her fifth World Championship (4th as an Elite)! In the Men’s Elite our “adopted” rider Trek’s Charlie Harrison put in a great run for 14th!!

In a break from World Cup traditions World Champs doesn’t feature a qualifying round so riders take to the hill in reverse order of their UCI Ranking. 

In timed training Rach scored first place in 4.20. 191 despite a mistake in the top section but Tracey Hannah  (2nd in the rankings) was just 0.59 seconds behind , French rider Myriam Nicole was in 3rd (9.7 seconds back with Brits Manon Carpenter and Tahnee Seagrave 4th and 5th respectively, 10 and 12 seconds back. 

The weather has been dry in the run up to todays Finals and  the track was rougher and more blown out than the riders had ever seen it before. The track is ridiculous steep, technical and even though there’s barely any pedaling it’s a massive test of fitness. 

First up of the top 5 was Pompon, starting uncharacteristically early after a broken collar bone this season depressed her expected place in the World Cup rankings, she was up 12.6 seconds at the first split, which increased to 23 seconds up by split 2 , she crossed in 4.23.301 ( 3 seconds outside Rach’s time yesterday and 25.7 seconds clear of the field.) 

With 4 riders left on track Tahnee Seagrave was straight on the gas, she made it through the first turns with a lot of speed but she was 13.16 back by split 1, 20 secs down by split 2,  back 22 seconds 4.45
Then Tracey Hannah was on course, she in touch 4.11 back at split 1 that had stretched to 7 by split 2, crossing into 2nd . 

Manon Carpenter went down hard in the first turn when her front wheel was grabbed by the dust. 

Rachel must have seen her GB team-mate go down but she didn’t look like she was taking it any steadier just 0.637 ahead at the first split 3.154 at the second, there was a heart stopping moment as she almost stalled in the dust but she held it and crossed the line 3 seconds clear of the field. 

Rach said “I cant believe it, I felt sure that Tracey would go faster she’s been riding so well in the dust, I’m still nervous talking to Peaty and he’s up at the top ready and waiting to sweep, and I was thinking oh no – he’ll be sweeping me!!  The track was so mad, like a controlled fall all the way. But this feeling now it’s the greatest, I want everyone to experience it. Thanks to everybody who’d helped me and supported me – I couldn’t have done  it without you all."

In the Men’s race  the team and fans were gutted that Gee’s injured shoulder prevented him from racing but there was plenty to get excited about as our former team-mate and Atherton Academy graduate Belgian’s Martin Maes took early lead, and later our adopted shredder Trek’ s Charlie Harrison also went into the hotseat, he had a great result – 14^th place overall and 3^rd fastest through the speed trap.

GB’s Laurie Greenland smashed into the lead by a massive 8.5 seconds from Jack Moir, then his team –mate Bernard Kerr (Gee’s last minute replacement) put in a great run to slot into 2^nd, Greg Williamson crossed into 3^rd so with 12 riders left on track it was an all GB podium – until Frances’ Florent Payet crossed into 2^nd!

Into the top 10 and JGB’s Josh Bryceland, Marcelo Villegas Guttierez, Connor Fearon and Remy Thirion couldn’t get into contention, then Defending Champion Loic Bruni had a rear flat, it didn’t stop him tearing down the track but he couldn’t challenge the top boys. .

Even Greg Minnaar looked to be experiencing difficulties, he pulled back some time on the lower section, enough for an eventual 7^th.

Danny Hart was on full gas straight out of the start-gate. He was up at the first split, and stretched this to around 2.5 seconds, crossing into first by 2.927.

Only Troy Brosnan and Aaron Gwin were left on course. Troy was back at the first split and continued to lose pace, enough for 4^th today

Then Gwin was  in the start-gate and the crowd held their breath for the man who has won more on this course than any other. But a slight mistake resulted in his rear wheel exploding, he came off his bike and DNF. So it was more celebrations in the British camp with a 1, 2 for Hart and Greenland with Florent Payet taking the bronze.

Finn Iles took the Junior Men’s win for Canada and Alessia Missiaggia the Junior Women’s for Italy.

Results

Men’s Elite

1 Danny Hart GB 3.32.484

2 Laurie Greenland GB 3.35.411 +2.927

3 Florent Payet FR 3.37.531 +5.047

4 Troy Brosnan AUS 3.38.573 +5.877

5 Bernard Kerr GB 3.39.123 +6.089

14 Charlie Harrison USA 3.47.636 =15.152

Women’s Elite

1 Rachel Atherton  GBR 4.20.187

2 Myriam Nicole  FR +3.114

3 Tracey Hannah  AUS +

4 Marine Cabirou FR +24.507

5 Tahnee Seagrave + 25.299

Rachel Atherton Wins Every Round of the UCI MTB Downhill Series!

Rachel Atherton has won the 7th round in the UCI MTB World Cup Round 7 in Andorra, simultaneously securing her 13^th consecutive World Cup victory, the Series Overall title and a clean sweep of 2016 World Cup victories – a feat never before achieved in the sport!

Youngest rider Taylor Vernon showed true grit when he took the early lead, despite riding with a broken nose and a LOT of bruising after a horrific looking practice crash and Gee only decided to race at last minute after re-injuring the shoulder that he’d struggled with since Fort William. He cruised down the hill for a few final points in the Series but he was never going to be in serious contention today.

The women were up first. As Rachel took to the track she had already been confirmed winner of the 2016 World Cup Series with 12 consecutive World Cup wins under her belt – 6 out of 6 rounds so far in the 2016 Series.

In the run up to the race Rachel had been suffering from a bad back and had qualified in 3^rd place. The champion rider had talked about perhaps easing up a little to preserve her back for next week’s World Champs but there were no signs of her doing anything of the sort as she tore out of the start gate. Could she make it lucky 13 wins in a row and a clean sweep of World Cup wins? 

When Rachel came on track Manon Carpenter was in the lead with Tahnee Seagrave sitting in 2^nd, a brave run despite a punishing fall in yesterday’s qualis. From the first split it was clear that Rachel just couldn’t hold back, whatever her stated intention! She was almost 4 seconds up on Carpenter by split 1 and continued to pull away, tearing into the hot-seat a staggering 8.8 seconds ahead , her time 4:52.783

Only Tracey Hannah and local star Myriam Nicole were left on the hill. Tracey rode a good race to cross into 2^nd in  4:59.351. Then all eyes were on Pompon, she was 2^nd by 3 seconds at the first split but had dropped back to 4 seconds gap at the second and  the gap had widened to almost 7 seconds by the final check. It was clear that she wasn’t going to match Rachel, she crossed into 3^rd, about 1.5 seconds behind Tracey.

Rachel had won the day, taken a clean sweep of the Series and yet another record!

After she’d recovered a little bit Rachel said: "I cannot believe it! I totally thought it would never happen, I thought for sure Tracey or Pompon would beat me after qualis was so close” I just made some massive changes to my suspension, the opposite of what I had been doing all week, and I tried really hard making my bike stick to the ground and really using the steepness of the track to help me instead of being scared of it!! I am beyond over the moon and to have the perfect season is a testament to the hard work that goes in from the whole team and of how the team have kept my head together when I've been too nervous!"

In the Men’s race Taylor had qualified 73^rd, he put in a storming run of 4.26.025 to take the hotseat and stayed there for a significant time! Enough for an eventual 26th, his Best World Cup place ever, and 50^th in the overall rankings.

From the start it was clear that Gee wasn’t going to be in the race, his careful run ended with a puncture in the lower section, enough for 60^th but crushingly it left him just 3 points short of a top ten ranking in the overall standings for the first time since 2005 when he was just 20 years old.

Just before 32nd place qualifier Adam Brayton came on track the long expected storms broke over Vallnord, conditions up top soon got super wet and slippery but the woods stayed dry, complicating tyre choice. Carnage ensued! Josh Bryceland had a big off in the woods, Brook Macdonald flatted, Mick Hannah made a mistake up top and Bernard  Kerr stalled in the bottom sector. Into the top ten and Minnaar made experience count to go into the hot seat in 4:16.409. He didn’t stay there long as seventh place qualifier, Redcar’s own Danny Hart blasted through in 4:13.611. 

Luca Shaw and Ferran Jorba Prats  crashed out, Pierron couldn't get into contention  and then there were only three left on the hill.  Local rider Remi Thirion was disappointed to be twelve seconds off the pace, Aaron Gwin only had to score a top 80 to take the overall today, he took it easy to post 55^th and clinch the series title, Troy Brosnan had a spill but recovered to cross into 20th leaving Danny Hart the winner of his third consecutive World Cup by a convincing 2.7 seconds.

Results

Women’s Elite 

1 Rachel Atherton Trek Factory Racing DH 4:52.783

2 Tracey Hannah Polygon UR 4:59.351 + 6.568

3 Myriam Nicole Commencal/Vallnord 5,00.757 +7.974

4 Manon Carpenter Madison Saracen Factory Team 5:01.594 +8.811

5 Tahnee Seagrave Transition Factory Racing/FMD 5.04.876 +12.093

Men’s Elite 

1 Danny Hart Ms Mondraker team 4:13.611

2 Greg Minnaar Santa Cruz Syndicate 4:16.409 +2.798

3 Loic Bruni Specialized gravity powered by SRAM 4:16.995 +3.384

4 Alexandre Fayolle Polygon UR 4:18.933 +5.322

5 Connor Fearon Kona factory team DH 4:19.176 +5.565

26 Taylor Vernon Trek Factory Racing DH 4.26.025 +12.414

60 Gee Atherton Trek Factory Racing DH 4. 37.164 + 23.905

Overall World Cup Standings Men

1 Aaron Gwin 1252

2 Danny Hart 1226

3 Troy Brosnan 1031

11 Gee Atherton 528

50 Taylor Vernon 199

Overall World Cup Standings Women

1 Rachel Atherton Trek Factory Racing 1700

2 Manon Carpenter Madison Saracen Factory Team 1140

3 Tracey Hannah Polygon UR 1130

4 Tahnee Seagrave Transition Factory Racing/FMD 1015

5 Emilie Siegenthaler 630

In the Overall Team Standings Trek Factory Racing DH missed out to MS Mondraker by one point.

Pics Sven Martin 

Subaru storm through the field at Rockingham

It was a weekend of highs and lows for Silverline Subaru BMR Racing at Rockingham over the weekend for rounds 22, 23 and 24 of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

Qualifying on Saturday afternoon was red flagged half way through the session when the weather made a turn for the worse plunging the circuit into the darkness of thunder, lightning and torrential rain.  Jason Plato was one of the many drivers that endured an off track excursion before the session was delayed for ten minutes allowing the rain to ease and the track to be assessed before the second half of the session recommenced.  

As the track improved with every lap Jason brought his car home in 4th albeit with damage after another incident. Colin set the 5th quickest time making it two Subaru’s in the top five with James and Warren qualifying in 17^th and 18^th determining their grid position for the first of Sunday’s three races.  Pole Position went to Gordon Shedden in the Honda.

With the weather having greatly improved for race day on Sunday, the crowds flocked to the Northamptonshire circuit to witness the drivers battle it out for points as the championship draws ever closer to the end of 2016 season.

Race One was a fantastic start to the day with both Jason and Colin making up a place on the opening lap resulting in the first podium of the weekend for Jason in third position and Colin just behind him in 4^th, that also secured us the Manufacturer Trophy for Subaru.  Both James and Warren received contact on the opening lap forcing them both down the order.  James finished the race in 22^nd with Warren making a great fight back through the field from 30^th to finish in a very respectable 19^th.  Pole sitter Shedden took the win.

Race Two wasn’t such a great affair as both Jason and Warren suffered damage on the opening lap forcing Jason into retirement and Warren two laps down in 23^rd.  Colin also tumbled down the order after getting caught up in the second corner mayhem and then subsequently had a spin which he impressively controlled avoiding the concrete wall.  He recovered to finish the race in the final point scoring position of 15^th.  James excelled making up ten places and was the lead Silverline Subaru BMR Racing driver finishing in 12^th and adding to the impressive tally of manufacturer points for Subaru.  When the flag fell it was BMW’s Sam Tordoff who crossed the line for the win.

There was further retirement for Warren in Race Three after an electrical issue with one of the engine control boxes failing.  James brought his car home in 18^th whilst teammate Jason had a superb race through from the back of the grid and up to 10^th. Colin once again showed off his outstanding driving skills making his way up to the 3^rd and final spot on the podium, his 8^th of the season, from 15^th on the grid.  Aron Smith took victory in the BKR Volkswagen making it an incredible twelfth driver to stand on the top step of the podium during 2016.

All in all a mixed bag for the team but some very crucial points scored.  Colin is now 48 points off the leader Sam Tordoff with Jason 11 points adrift of Colin.

The championship now heads into its final two events the first being at Silverstone in three weeks’ time on the 17^th and 18^th September for the penultimate rounds.

Colin Turkington said “I come away from Rockingham pleased with my performance but frustrated at what could have been.  My aim before the weekend was to close the points gap to the leaders but unfortunately I was unable to do it.  That said I didn't lose any ground and I'm still determined to give it my best shot over the final two meetings. 

“The car was fast in all conditions and even in the most extreme conditions in qualifying we were seriously competitive.  Banking a solid fourth place finish was a good start to the day, but unfortunately things unravelled in race two with two separate incidents, one of which saw me spearing backwards towards the wall at over 200kph!

“Race three was one of the best I can remember in some time as I moved from a lowly fifteenth grid position onto the podium.  Once again the Subaru was on rails and I was able to slice my way through the field and demonstrate just how good our package is at the moment.  I've got to start the first race at Silverstone from the back of the grid due to picking up two penalties at Rockingham for minor rule infringements, but I'm never one to shy away from a challenge.”

Jason Plato said “To summarise the weekend we were a bit unlucky in race one and then also for race two as in hindsight I could have won that.  The Race two crash at turn two affected my weekend.

“I was pleased with race three and managed to get up the order, although I didn’t officially overtake anyone they all crashed out, I found it difficult to overtake due to the fact that we were too slow in straight line.

“Rock on Silverstone!”

James Cole said “Unfortunately, boost issues were the limiting factor to my Saturday. A sensor problem in both Free Practice One and Two had a serious impact on qualifying preparation, not getting a single lap in Free Practice Two. The small bit of running in Free Practice One showed we had top ten pace.

“Qualifying was without question the most challenging conditions I've ever driven a race car in. Driving around an oval in a thunder storm certainly gets the blood pumping! 

“Race One pretty much ended before it started. Sadly first lap damage due to idiotic drivers is now becoming the norm in BTCC. I sound like a broken record but finishing the first lap of Race One with the rear wheels pointing in different directions isn't what you would hope for. 

“Race Two thankfully was a lot better and moving up through the field was fun. The cars pace in clear air was fantastic and having better lap times on the hard tyres than many of the cars in the top ten was very encouraging. 

“In Race Three I was again on the receiving end of constant contact before eventually getting spun out. 

“What I take away from the weekend is, a bad Saturday is very hard to recover from. In Races two and three the pace of my Subaru was more than good enough to stay comfortably inside the top ten. I just need to focus on qualifying inside that top ten where there is respect between the drivers and driving standards are rarely an issue.  

“It goes without saying the wonderful job Team BMR do to deliver such a great car.  Any frustration I have is as much for them as it is for me. "

To learn more about the Subaru Levorg sport tourer, visit www.subaru.co.uk.

Written by Maddy Turner

Photos by MJP Media