[BTCC] Silverstone National, 23/24 September, Rds. 25/26/27

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Obviously you’d expect it around a short circuit, but 20 of the 24 Caterhams within a second in qualifying, so hopefully should be a bit closer than the Radicals!

https://www.barc.net/wp-content/uplo...sification.pdf

It really should be close, Caterhams nearly always produce fantastic racing.

Porsche Sprint Challenge managed 16 of 18 within a second (and the whole field was covered by 1.15 seconds). Mini JCWs had 17 of 19 within a second (18th place was 1.095 secs off pole, 19th 1.931 secs off pole).

Based off FP1 and FP2, I can't see all 27 BTCC cars covered by a second.

[hen henths]

Sutton about half a second off the pace in both FP1 and FP2. When this kind of thing happens I wonder if they're testing various setup changes. I'd be surprised if lack of hybrid was making that much difference.

[Heavyd123]

Or lord gow been tweaking boost for the final rounds….

[SSmith]

Originally Posted by hen henths

Sutton about half a second off the pace in both FP1 and FP2. When this kind of thing happens I wonder if they're testing various setup changes. I'd be surprised if lack of hybrid was making that much difference.

I think they may have been experimenting, but it could also be the way in which the Ford Focus makes its laptimes, perhaps mixed with the lack of hybrid and/or a lack of a tow.

As has been the case all season, the Ford Focus is not that quick in the speed traps/in a straight line - this is arguably where the regular (and IMO misjudged) calls for "reduce the boost" all fall flat on their face. The Focus seemingly makes its time in the corners (and some of that is the skill/bravery of the driver behind the wheel - Osborne isn't a terrible driver but look at where he has been all season). With Silverstone's long straights, perhaps the Ford just isn't working as well. Sutton has historically had a lack of form at Silverstone as well.

In terms of speed traps at Silverstone:
- In FP1 the Fords were 11th, 17th, 19th and 22nd at I1 and 20th, 21st, 22nd, and 23rd at the finish line.
- In FP2, the Fords were 14th, 19th, 22nd, and 24th at I1 and 13th, 19th, 20th, and 24th at the finish line.

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Obviously you’d expect it around a short circuit, but 20 of the 24 Caterhams within a second in qualifying, so hopefully should be a bit closer than the Radicals!

https://www.barc.net/wp-content/uplo...sification.pdf

Good to see the surname Lyall back on a BTCC meeting timesheet!

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Obviously you’d expect it around a short circuit, but 20 of the 24 Caterhams within a second in qualifying, so hopefully should be a bit closer than the Radicals!

https://www.barc.net/wp-content/uplo...sification.pdf

Top 7 finishing within a second, top 12 within two in the first race! (though may have been a safety car?)

https://www.barc.net/wp-content/uplo...sification.pdf

[Mike Harte]

And in the first part of BTCC qualifying, all 27 cars are within I1 second, and the first 10 are within 10 hundredths. That's close.

[Evantra]

So the one to end NAPA’s pole streak of all people… is Mikey Doble!! Not sure anybody expected that! Fair play, I assumed he’d be at the back this year but he’s done excellently all year. Good for him.

Wonder if the BTCC have a pole graphic for him!

[Robin Marriott]

Great result for Doble and the team. Considering its age they’ve really pulled it out of the bag with the car this year.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Robin Marriott

Great result for Doble and the team. Considering its age they’ve really pulled it out of the bag with the car this year.

Not taking anything away from Doble's achievement, especially as only the first 4 cars actually went faster in the shootout than in the main qually, but I do believe that the Astras have always gone well around the National circuit.

[Mike Harte]

I sincerely hope that the drivers keep to track limits better than they did during qualifying. Two drivers black flagged in Part 1, Collard and A.N.Other, and times deleted throughout the field on every lap.

[AnnoyedMoose]

Cammish questioning why they can use the green concrete at one corner and not the other. I sort of see his point but as long as you know in advance I don't really see it as an issue.

Totally agree on his point on how they are going to enforce it in the races with trains of cars going through. Not a chance they are going to be able to see if the car in the middle of a group is just over or not.

[Mike Harte]

Looks as though Race 1 is going to pretty wet, so I do hope that Ingram's team are fully prepared for that possibility.

[Evantra]

Seems like it is raining / wet at the moment.

[Evantra]

So Rowbottom was told to back out of his qualifying lap to make sure Sutton got through.

https://www.autosport.com/btcc/news/...ork-/10524826/

[porsche962fan]

well that's it for Turkington

[Robin Marriott]

I wouldn’t want to be Sutton or Ingrams strategists after this race.

[Matt K]

Has Sutton been on the right side of the strategy this year? My impression is he hasn't been this year at all.
If Hill wins R2 and Sutton fail to get points the title fight will become pretty close.
All in all the race was disappointingly boring. Huge shame for Doble.

[touringlegend]

Shame for Doble indeed but what was the Mis communication that led to it? I heard them saying they were allowing cars 2 laps to grid from pits, maybe he has taken that to mean 2 green flag laps.

It’s also a bit strange the race started with him still running on track. I would’ve thought there may have been an aborted start procedure ?

It could be officials thought he had pitted in the confusion of other cars pitting..

Also strange itv never picked up on him missing for so long

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

Shame for Doble indeed but what was the Mis communication that led to it? I heard them saying they were allowing cars 2 laps to grid from pits, maybe he has taken that to mean 2 green flag laps.

Don’t they sometimes do two laps under mixed conditions too? Perhaps that’s where confusion arose from.

[touring fan01]

Originally Posted by Evantra

Don’t they sometimes do two laps under mixed conditions too? Perhaps that’s where confusion arose from.

yes they did the two laps to the grid because of mixed conditions

[Sodemo]

What tyres did Turkington start on?

[redshoes]

Reminds me of Aiello at Silverstone 1999. Due to the change in conditions they did 2 laps to the grid, but because there were no team or marshals on the track he carried on for a third lap. He was sent to the back of the grid.

[Mike Harte]

Either Addison or Harvey said that the drivers were advised that there would be two green flag laps, however the race director then changed his mind, I assume, and they only were permitted just the one lap. A miscommunication somewhere along the line.

Peculiar in that the Porsches have been given two green flag laps.

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Either Addison or Harvey said that the drivers were advised that there would be two green flag laps, however the race director then changed his mind, I assume, and they only were permitted just the one lap. A miscommunication somewhere along the line.

Peculiar in that the Porsches have been given two green flag laps.

Porsches always get two green flag laps here and at Knockhill, due the the short lap, regardless of the weather.