Thruxton BTCC

Another year, another trip to Thruxton for the BTCC. The series has taken a bit of a hit from last year with a couple of teams gone and a fewer cars on the gird, but it now boasts Uber team BMR with former and current champions Plato and Turkington as well as young gun Smith and team owner Scott all in VW CCs. As usual we headed down the A303 early to get in and wander the paddock and hopefully grab some signed goodies. Learning my lessons from last year when Mr Grumpy and the Honda team were late out to the pitlane walk about I opted for the lower end teams. We missed a trick by being terribly British and forming a queue while the rest of the public snuck through the garages, despite being about 25 people back in the line the pitlane was full to the brim and all the driver queues massive within seconds. I managed a much better haul of posters from some cheery drivers and even a grid girl!











With the walkabout complete and not fancying the first MSA Formula single seater race (rebranded Formula Ford with wings) We headed deeper into the paddock on the hunt. The support package was minsu the Porsche GT3s but was still strong with two Ginetta series and the Clios along with the three BTCC rounds.











Out to the chicane we waited for the first Clio Cup round, it was instant action with lap after lap of bumping and bouncing as the line of French hot hatches jostled for places.









Soon it was time for the first of the BTCC rounds. With a VW on pole and heavy Hondas behind, we expected the Irish pole sitter to leap into the lead. Sadly he bogged down and was swamped, dropping down the gird, there was still plenty of action as cars left it to the last few yards to break into the chicane. With a blow out it was a Honda one two. Former F1 driver Martin Donnelly was racing right at the back in the Infiniti.

















Next up was the Ginetta Juniors, always a good laugh as the teenagers battle hard. A couple of nasty shunts in front of us proved how solid the cars are built, but through it all Sophia Floersch showed the boys hwo to do with a fantastic win.

















With the lunch break we took the opportunity to wander round to the complex for a change of scenery. The Ginetta GT4s starting the racing off. Long time GT racer Michael Caine collected the trophy after a late race pass.














Staying at the complex we waited for the second of the BTCC rounds. A clever bit of driving saw Plato on pole and onto a win. There was a clatter on lap one as a BMW wheel arch came adrift and a stranded Priaulx was at the back.



















We decided to give the single seaters a chance and stayed at the complex as their race got underway. Within a few laps we were on the walk back to the final chicane such was the processional nature of the racing.







We opted to stay at the chicane for the last three races, beginning with another Clio cup round. More bouncing over the kerbs and bashing greeted us.









A final Ginetta Junior race was the penultimate race of the day. Another great win for Sophia Floersch.











And then it was the final BTCC round. With a couple of fast cars starting from the rear. The WIX Mercedes of Adam Morgan soon got into a lead he kept to the end.













After last years success with wandered the paddock rather than sit in the queues to get out we headed under the tunnel to join the podium celebrations.









With trophies handed out the crowds moved on and we took the chance to walk the pitlane once more. My brother got roped into helping one of the mechanics by acting as bonnet prop!













We did a final sweep of the paddock to look for any interesting battle scars and found the remains of the huge qualifying accident from Saturday. Both drivers were walking wounded, the cars wrecks.











We watched as the sun dropped in the sky and Steve Ryder did his final piece to camera for ITV4, I need to watch it back and see if I appear in the background now!





With that we marched back to the carpark and joined the still vast 45 minute queue to get out. The BTCC is still in good health.

Steve.