[BTCC] Races 22, 23 & 24 - Silverstone, Northamptonshire - 30th August 2009

[gregc]

Good news - hope he has a better run this time out.

[Icebaby]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

Tom Onslow-Cole will be back in a Team AON Focus this weekend.

Does that not now confirm Morrison and the team did indeed part prior to Croft and that he will not be in the car anymore?

Good news for Tom OC, deserves the chance but the Focus is not a great car.

[touringlegend]

Probably, I did see Morrison at Knockhill talking with an AON team member so he obviously keeps his finger on the pulse..

[Sodemo]

Focus needs an engine re-think I think.

[JMeissner]

Team Silverline dominates first Silverstone practice:

http://www.touringcartimes.com/news.php?id=3883

[touringlegend]

Full times:

How did Onslow-Cole manage that?

Reid hasn't done too bad if you see Jelley is only 2 tenths up the road. I expect him and Herbert will be further up the times in FP2

[pinkd56]

Speaking of Johnny Herbert, He's got Orange Flames with a little Union flag under the head lights.

[redshoes]

Onsole-Cole third quickest in FP1 and 0.5s faster than Chilton

Maybe those engine problems have been solved

[Alfa Fan]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Onsole-Cole third quickest in FP1 and 0.5s faster than Chilton

Maybe those engine problems have been solved

I think they must have. Silverstone - and particularly the National layout - would punish a underperforming engine. Speed trap figures show them well in touch with the rest.

[M0T0RSP0RTDAN]

Good luck to Tom OC this week-end, one of fave drivers of late, deserves to have a permenant drive...hopefully with team Thorney next year.

[BootsOntheSide]

I didn't realise Aon had made such quick progress with the engine. Maybe it's worth persevering with the car into 2010 after all. I guess there's a story behind why Morrison isn't in the second car.

Great pity about CW/CVR. Would be good to see them back later, perhaps a single GR Asia car for Jones is realistic? Obviously there was more behind his absence at Knockill anbd Eaves' exit than we hoped.

[Hazard]

Onslow-Cole 5th in second practice as well, Chilton 6th. Herbert also gets into the top 10.

Looks like nothing's going to stop a Chevrolet pole though - 1st (Plato), 2nd (Jackson) and 4th (Nash) in practice two.

Qualifying up next.

[Last2LiftOff]

Ain't no Knockhill but, qualifying not normally broadcast live, I'm guessing, and 3 races broadcast live tomorrow?

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by Last2LiftOff

Ain't no Knockhill but, qualifying not normally broadcast live, I'm guessing, and 3 races broadcast live tomorrow?

Yeah. Race 2 will clash with the Belgian GP though - tough call.

[Craner Curves]

Those Chevys are ridiculously quick. Well the RML ones are anyway. Vauxhall really seem to be struggling, which surprises me, as despite having ballast, I thought that circuit would suit their cars.

Good time from Herbert in first practice, considering he'll be running with the extra 45kg on a car that's not aerodynamically suited to Silverstone's fast layout.

[Hazard]

Grid for Race 1

1 - Mat Jackson (2) - Racing Silverline - Chevrolet Lacetti - 1:00.259


2 - Robert Collard (11) - Team Airwaves - BMW 320si - 1:00.492


3 - James Nash (23) - Ray Mallock Ltd - Chevrolet Lacetti - 1:00.520


4 - Jason Plato (3) - Racing Silverline - Chevrolet Lacetti - 1:00.558


5 - Colin Turkington (4) - Team RAC - BMW 320si - 1:00.697


6 - Stephen Jelley (44) - Team RAC - BMW 320si - 1:00.732


7 - Jonathan Adam (12) - Team Airwaves - BMW 320si - 1:00.768


8 - Fabrizio Giovanardi (1) - VX Racing - Vauxhall Vectra - 1:00.869


9 - Tom Chilton (10) - Team Aon - Ford Focus ST - 1:00.969


10 - Anthony Reid (14) - Team RAC - BMW 320si - 1:01.020


11 - Matt Neal (5) - VX Racing - Vauxhall Vectra - 1:01.060


12 - Harry Vaulkhard (17) - Bamboo Engineering - Chevrolet Lacetti - 1:01.092


13 - Tom Onslow-Cole (6) - Team Aon - Ford Focus ST - 1:01.167


14 - Paul O'Neill (29) - Techspeed - Honda Integra - 1:01.274


15 - David Pinkney (55) - Team Dynamics - Honda Civic - 1:01.352


16 - Andrew Jordan (77) - VX Racing - Vauxhall Vectra - 1:01.431


17 - Johnny Herbert (45) - Team Dynamics - Honda Civic - 1:01.458


18 - Martyn Bell (15) - Techspeed - Honda Integra - 1:02.185


19 - Martin Johnson (63) - Boulevard Team Racing - Vauxhall Astra Coupe - 1:02.221


20 - John George (50) - TH Motorsport - Honda Integra - 1:02.272


Car Graphics Courtesy of Andy Blackmore Design | Spotter Guides

[Craner Curves]

As I expected, Chevrolet dominance. Be interesting to see if Collard can get the jump on the three of them. Turkington will be pleased with his efforts. Jelley's done exactly what he needs to do as well.

I see Team RAC have some BMW Efficient Dynamics branding on the rear quarter. This must be what Dick Bennetts was referring to about them making it possible for Reid to join the team.

[Jon411]

Reidy didn't do a bad job at all considering he hasn't raced the car before and he is only 3 tenths off Turks.

I can see some fun going on after the start with the Chevrolets and Collard, just hope Plato doesn't try and send one up teh inside of Turks anywhere stupid

[touringlegend]

Solid enough qualifying for RAC that could bode well for the race. I thought the BMW teams said this circuit wouldn't suit them - they're all in the top 10!

[M0T0RSP0RTDAN]

Top VX position is 9th ! Expected slightly better.

[redshoes]

Qualifying was red flagged about half way through the session when Herbert stopped on the circuit at Becketts. I believe something broken on the rear suspension as he claimed to have lost all steering control.

Haven't checked the speed trap numbers but visually the Focuses look much more on the pace. Turkington and Chilton were following each other for a good few laps and there wasn't much to chose between the two.

Good result by Collard, fastest of the BMW, a little unexpected even by himself. He gets a lot of stick from some people but easy to forget that he's actually can be a really quick driver.

A little ironic that Team RAC draft in a third driver to support Turkington and Jelley puts in one of his best qualifying results all year. Maybe that was just the kick up the Anthony Reid Supporters Equipe he needed.

And finally and totally non-BTCC related.... Vulcan flypast

[touringlegend]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Good result by Collard, fastest of the BMW, a little unexpected even by himself. He gets a lot of stick from some people but easy to forget that he's actually can be a really quick driver.

He's proved he can be quick before, it's just that old red mist when he's in a pack and he seems to start driving the car beyond it's limits.

[Icebaby]

Quote..I see Team RAC have some BMW Efficient Dynamics branding on the rear quarter. This must be what Dick Bennetts was referring to about them making it possible for Reid to join the team.


I guessed BMW had a role in bringing in the third car, it does suggest this was financial support.

17th for Herbert pretty much where I expected him, Reid did well but the Vauxhalls are way off in qualifying trim, advantage Turkington.

I do see the Chevys working together, it could well be Plato's weekend.

[gregc]

Looking like a BMW/Chevy benefit tomorrow then, unless Gio can do manage a minor miracle. Suitably impressed with the improvements to the Focus, I must admit I was really expecting them to struggle at this circuit, so credit is due for the engine work. Shame to see Paul a bit off the pace, also thought Johnny H was making decent progress through the practice sessions, unfortunate to get mechanical failure in qualifying.

Originally Posted by redshoes

And finally and totally non-BTCC related.... Vulcan flypast

That was bloody awesome - amazing machine! Actually, what surprised me was that there was some sort of aerobatic display going on for pretty much the whole afternoon. The Spitfire and Hurricane were very cool. Hopefully we'll get the same tomorrow.

[mattt]

Originally Posted by redshoes

And finally and totally non-BTCC related.... Vulcan flypast

Originally Posted by gregc

That was bloody awesome - amazing machine! Actually, what surprised me was that there was some sort of aerobatic display going on for pretty much the whole afternoon. The Spitfire and Hurricane were very cool. Hopefully we'll get the same tomorrow.

I was standing on the grid during it and it was immense.

There is the World Aerobatics Championship going on this weekend aswell so that is the reason for all the aeroplanes flying around. But unfortunately that ended today so whether there will be anything tomorrow - i doubt there will.