Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com will bid to keep its Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship title challenge firmly on track this weekend when the series heads to Silverstone for the penultimate meeting of the year.
Tom Ingram currently sits third in the Drivers’ Championship but is just 18 points away from top spot as he arrives at a circuit where he has enjoyed huge success in his BTCC career to date.
Experienced team-mate Tom Chilton has endured a wretched run of form in the last two meetings after technical issues at Snetterton and race one contact at Thruxton left him unable to score in the last six races.
That was a particular source of frustration for the 37-year-old having shown improved pace at the wheel of his Hyundai i30 Fastback N, and he goes into the weekend hoping to turn his speed into three strong results on track.
Daniel Lloyd is also eager to challenge at the sharp end of the field at a circuit where he scored a brace of podium finishes last season.
This weekend will see Lloyd celebrate his 100th start in the series and like Ingram and Chilton, he makes the trip to Silverstone looking to challenge for silverware.
Trophies are also the goal for Jack Butel, who will be seeking to fight for top honours in the Jack Sears Trophy for the second weekend in succession.
Tom Chilton, #3 said: “Although the results on paper might not reflect it in recent rounds, I feel we’ve taken huge strides forwards with my car and it leaves me feeling confident going into this weekend. We have worked hard to get the car where I want - and need - it to be, and I now feel we’re in a position to benefit from the huge amount of effort that has gone in from the whole team.
“I know I’m going to Silverstone - which is a circuit I love and where I’ve won in the past - with a quick car that is more than capable of fighting towards the sharp end of the field. It’s been too long since I was last on the BTCC podium, and that is something I want to put right before the season comes to an end.”
Tom Ingram, #80 said: “I’m really excited about the weekend ahead as Silverstone is a circuit where I’ve always gone well in the past. People say it looks like an easy circuit when there are only really four corners and a few straights, but that actually makes it more of a challenge because the times are so close.
“Although we’re now getting into the business end of the season, I’m feeling really relaxed going into the weekend. We’ll just focus on doing the best job possible and as far as I’m concerned, it’s a case of maximum attack.”
Jack Butel, #96 said: “Winning the Jack Sears Trophy last time out was a huge boost to my confidence after a challenging season, and it was a massive relief to get some points on the board. It showed that we have the pace to fight well inside the top 20 and just needed to avoid some of the bad luck we’d faced in earlier rounds.
“I’m really excited about the prospect of going back to Silverstone as it was one of my most competitive weekends last season in terms of pace, where I was setting times that were similar to Tom [Ingram].”
Daniel Lloyd, #123 said: “I’m feeling both excited and optimistic about the weekend ahead, and head to Silverstone confident about being back at the sharp end of the grid. After the challenges I’ve faced in recent months, the goal for me now is to have a strong end to the season - particularly with Silverstone and Brands Hatch being two circuits where I’ve enjoyed success previously.
“On a personal level, I had a great weekend at Silverstone last year with the double podium, and given how strong the Hyundai was, I’m hoping to try and replicate those results.”
