Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship squad Rich Energy BTC Racing is aiming to keep up its table-topping form at Oulton Park this weekend (11/12 June) as championship leader Josh Cook plans to add to his quartet of victories in 2022 so far.
As well as Cook leading the chase for the Drivers’ crown, the Brackley-based outfit sits on top of the Independent Teams’ table after three of the ten events of the season, with team-mates Jason Plato and Jade Edwards edging closer to their own major breakthroughs.
Cook goes into the weekend with limited use of the new hybrid system due to his championship position but is going to the venue in an attacking mood.
“Even though I am leading the table, it is too early to be conservative and look at the points situation,” said the Bath racer. “We still need to be gunning for wins and trying to maintain at least a 30-point average across each race weekend. It’s all about victories and podiums.
“Oulton is a driver’s dream and, although I might be giving away time on the straights to the other cars that have their allocation of hybrid power, it means I can simply focus on getting the most out of the car in the fast corners and make up my time that way. It will be more of a pure challenge for me, and that is something I love.”
Plato scored his first top-six finish of the season last time out at Thruxton and rates this weekend’s Cheshire track among the best in the UK.
“It’s one of my favourite tracks and I am really fired up for the three races this weekend,” added Plato. “My pace has been strong across all the weekends so far this season and I am getting more and more familiar with the car. I feel the little intricacies of the car more now and I am homing in on nailing it.
“Josh is driving at a world-class level at the moment and using all of his experience with the car, and I am learning the tricks all the time. Going to Oulton, I genuinely feel I am going to be on the button there. If I can qualify in the front two rows, there is no reason I can’t be winning. I feel I am on the verge of something big.”
Jade Edwards expects her Honda Civic Type R will prove the perfect weapon around the 2.23-mile circuit and is going to the event on the front foot.
“Historically the Civic has been fast at Oulton, and the track provides a challenge that I really enjoy. It is one of the longer tracks, and nailing a perfect lap there is always difficult,” added the 32-year-old. “Who knows, we might get some typical British summer weather too, and that is something that would also play into my hands.
“We know the Honda is well suited to the track and I am going to build on the positives that I have had so far this season and look to climb up the order. Points has to be the target and I will be aiming as high as I possibly can.”
Coverage of this weekend’s event will be live on ITV from 1210 on Sunday through until 1510. ITV4 will carry the rest of the day’s action from 1505, while qualifying on Saturday will be streamed live at itv.com/btcc.
