Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance driver Sam Tordoff secured a lights-to-flag victory in the opening Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship contest at Thruxton, after fellow front row starter Jason Plato fell foul of a drive through penalty having started the race out of position.

"I'm relieved as that's probably long-overdue – a bit of redemption after what happened here a few months ago," said Tordoff, who failed to convert pole into victory at Thruxton back in May. "It was one of the longest 16-lap races I've done! It probably looked like I was managing it from the pit-wall but it didn't feel like it!

"I was giving it everything. It's a great start from the team. I got the radio call about Jason (Plato) at the end of lap one and that was a big relief. Commisserations to him but rules are rules. We'll adjust for the weight now, start on pole and hang on!"

ITV cameras quickly picked up on Plato's Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall lining up ahead of his grid box as the green flag came to a close. Despite running side-by-side with Tordoff on the run down to the Complex after the lights went out, news soon filtered through of Plato's penalty and his challenge at the front was over.

Tordoff ran relatively untroubled until the finish but he was kept honest by the trio of Dan Cammish (Halfords Yuasa Racing), Adam Morgan (Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport) and Josh Cook (BTC Racing). When the quartet eventually reached the chequered flag after 16 laps of racing they were covered by a little over a second.

"We can score a podium... winning's the next bit!" enthused second placed Cammish. "We did a good job into turn two to keep it all in control with knocks all-round. I feel sorry for Jason (Plato) as that's happened to me before. We struggled for pace a little and we need to transform the car for race two.

"We're lacking where I need the car to be quick. I'm using every trick in the book and Adam (Morgan) was so fast through Church he was really hard to keep behind. I'm not hard on the team, they do a fantastic job. There comes a point where you've got to ask the question as to why you're not winning. We'll go back and work that out."

"I've got a nosebleed I'm that high up!" responded Morgan, after scoring his first podium since the opening weekend at Brands Hatch. "When things have been tough, these guys have never given up and it's just rewards – it’s another hard-earned yellow cap and trophy."

Team BMW's Tom Oliphant, Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing's Rob Collard and Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance's Rory Butcher took lonely fifth, sixth and seventh places respectively, whilst there was plenty of action behind them.

It was Matt Neal who came out on top in the tussle for eighth in a battle that included Chris Smiley, Ash Sutton, Andrew Jordan and Colin Turkington.

The BMWs of Jordan and Turkington, as well as the Subaru of Sutton, were at it as early as the first lap with the trio touching and swapping positions on the run around Thruxton's super-fast sweepers.

BTC Racing's Smiley later had his own bit of drama, sliding wide and into Butcher's Honda at the final chicane, and when the dust settled the Northern Irishman had to settle for tenth behind Sutton.

The pace of the BMW 3 Series' faded late on with title protagonists – Jordan and Turkington – finishing the race in 12th and 13th respectively.

2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Round 19 – Thruxton

1 Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance 16 laps
2 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.403s
3 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +0.714s
4 Josh COOK (GBR) BTC Racing +1.208s
5 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Team BMW +3.189s
6 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +4.660s
7 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +8.923s
8 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +10.562s
9 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +10.863s
10 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Racing +11.446s
11 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Team Toyota GB with Ginsters +12.883s
12 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +13.422s
13 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +15.118s
14 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +17.272s
15 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +18.034s
16 Jake HILL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +19.126s
17 Jason PLATO (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +22.321s
18 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +25.134s
19 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +25.337s
20 Daniel ROWBOTTOM (GBR) Cataclean Racing with Ciceley Motorsport +25.837s
21 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +27.670s
22 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +29.823s
23 Michael CREES (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +38.288s
24 Jack GOFF (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +38.454s
25 Rob SMITH (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +39.463s
26 Nicolas HAMILTON (GBR) ROKiT Racing with Motorbase +41.643s
27 Mark BLUNDELL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +46.446s
28 Sam OSBORNE (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +48.601s
29 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +1m04.720ss
30 Carl BOARDLEY (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +1 lap

Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance driver Sam Tordoff claimed pole position during today's Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship qualifying session at Thruxton, a feat he previously achieved at the same circuit earlier this season.

Tordoff took top spot when Britain's premier motorsport series visited Thruxton back in May, and the Yorkshireman proved that he's fast becoming a Hampshire speedbowl specialist by repeating the trick this afternoon.

The AmD-run Honda Civic Type R of Tordoff had steadily improved throughout the day, having ended the opening practice session down in P20. The 30-year-old fired his #600 machine into the top six during final practice, and then went even better with his stellar showing during qualifying.

Double BTCC champion Jason Plato will line-up on the front row for tomorrow's opener after the Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing star fell just 0.014s short of the ultimate pace. Plato – fresh from the enthralling battle for victory with Ash Sutton and Rory Butcher at Snetterton last time out – continues to grow in confidence, speed and understanding with his Vauxhall Astra and a first win of 2019 seems ever-closer.

Halfords Yuasa Racing's Dan Cammish is on an outstanding run of form – securing seven podiums from the last 12 races – and he will be nicely poised again from third on the grid tomorrow. Cammish has been one of the stars in recent rounds, but the Honda manufacturer squad surprisingly still searches for its first victory of the season.

Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport endured a challenging first half to its BTCC campaign, but the Mercedes team has enjoyed a resurgence since the mid-season break. An encouraging summer test at Snetterton was followed by an improved qualifying performance at the Norfolk circuit, and Adam Morgan’s has improved yet further here with the fourth fastest time at Thruxton.

Bath racer Josh Cook took fifth for BTC Racing, ahead of Rory Butcher – ensuring that both Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance cars were inside the top six. 

Team BMW's Tom Oliphant pipped Team Toyota GB with Ginsters' Tom Ingram to seventh, whilst BTC Racing's Chris Smiley and Hampshire man Rob Collard rounded out the top ten.

A trio of title contenders had to make do with results outside of the top order with Colin Turkington (Team BMW), Ash Sutton (Adrian Flux Subaru Racing) and Andrew Jordan (BMW Pirtek Racing) only managing 11th, 12th and 13th respectively.

Rounds 19, 20 and 21 of the 2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship take place around the UK's fastest circuit tomorrow. Tickets can still be purchased on the gate with a big crowd expected at the venue, whilst many more will watch the action live on ITV4 from 11:30.

Sam Tordoff said: "I'm really happy with that. After FP2 we were scratching our heads a little bit. The car was very different from where it was earlier in the season. We made some big setup changes and the car was good. It's quickly becoming my favourite track and we've given ourselves such a good chance for tomorrow. I should have won here in May and would have were it not for power steering failure. I'll be looking to put that right tomorrow."

Jason Plato said: "I loved that session. On that last run I was up and just bit a bit too much off into Church. I nearly got through and tightened up in the car, slid and and scrubbed off time. I got to the Chicane at the same time as my best and it was a bit too much. I'm good friends with the car at the moment and I've got the car almost where I want it. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow. We've got some real pace and I think we can fight for wins. It's going to be a good day."

Dan Cammish said: "That was a great session. I’d love to have my name in lights but I’m 0.070s off pole with 30kgs of success ballast on-board. If that weight’s not there we’re on pole. We made some changes after FP2 and I’m glad we stuck to our guns on that. The lap time was probably in there somewhere but you can easily overcook it here, especially at the last chicane. I was caught somewhere between not trying hard enough and overdoing it. I’m really happy with P3 and we can race from there."

2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Qualifying – Thruxton

1 Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance 1m15.876s (111.78 mph)
2 Jason PLATO (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +0.014s
3 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.073s
4 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +0.119s
5 Josh COOK (GBR) BTC Racing +0.235s
6 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +0.306s
7 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Team BMW +0.312s
8 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Team Toyota GB with Ginsters +0.364s
9 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Racing +0.399s
10 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +0.477s
11 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.484s
12 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.486s
13 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +0.505s
14 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +0.534s
15 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +0.553s
16 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +0.570s
17 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.615s
18 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.647s
19 Jack GOFF (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +0.679s
20 Jake HILL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +0.721s
21 Daniel ROWBOTTOM (GBR) Cataclean Racing with Ciceley Motorsport +1.030s
22 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +1.114s
23 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +1.195s
24 Nicolas HAMILTON (GBR) ROKiT Racing with Motorbase +1.383s
25 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +1.429s
26 Mark BLUNDELL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +1748s
27 Michael CREES (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +1.961s
28 Rob SMITH (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +2.013s
29 Carl BOARDLEY (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +2.082s
30 Sam OSBORNE (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +3.146s

Jason Plato hauled his Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra to the top of the timesheets in the final Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship Free Practice session at Thruxton.

Plato – fresh from his exciting battle for victory with Ash Sutton and Rory Butcher last time out at Snetterton – continues to edge closer to his first win of 2019 and the double champion has fired out a warning around the UK's fastest circuit.

The morning session was run on a slightly damp track following heavy rain overnight, so Plato has proved to be the pace-setter in prime conditions after setting a 1:16.414s lap time, albeit still nearly a second shy of the current qualifying lap record.

"We're making a bit of progress and finding things with the car – understanding what makes it tick," said Plato. "We're getting it as I want it in terms of drive-ability. We're sussed in the wet but we're not quite there in the dry.

"There’s things we learned at the Thruxton test, our last visit here and at every round this year that we’ve applied and we're going in the right direction."

Team BMW's Tom Oliphant was looking to top a BTCC session for the first time in his career, before being relegated by Plato late on, but second still represented a good performance from the young 3 Series driver.

Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport endured a challenging first half to the BTCC season but the Mercedes team have had a return to form since the mid-season break. An encouraging summer test at Snetterton was followed by a much better showing at the Norfolk circuit during the race weekend, and Adam Morgan's pace looks set to continue here at Thruxton.

The Mercedes A-Class man claimed third ahead of Tom Chilton's Ford and Andrew Jordan's BMW.

It has been a relatively quiet morning for the AmD-run Hondas of Rory Butcher and Sam Tordoff, but the latter at least fired his Civic Type R into the top six during this session.

Team Toyota GB with Ginsters' Tom Ingram was seventh as he looks to follow up his Snetterton pole position and race one win with yet another solid haul of points in Hampshire.

The top ten positions were completed by Colin Turkington (Team BMW), Jack Goff (RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport) and Ollie Jackson (Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher).

Qualifying for Round 19 of the 2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will take place at 15:25 and will be streamed live via www.itv.com/btcc.

2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Free Practice 2 – Thruxton

1 Jason PLATO (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing 1m16.414s
2 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Team BMW +0.135s
3 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +0.241s
4 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +0.319s
5 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +0.406s
6 Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +0.449s
7 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Team Toyota GB with Ginsters +0.466s
8 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.532s
9 Jack GOFF (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +0.559s
10 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +0.667s
11 Josh COOK (GBR) BTC Racing +0.680s
12 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +0.696s
13 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.772s
14 Jake HILL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +0.871s
15 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +0.888s
16 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +0.890s
17 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Racing +0.901s
18 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.930s
19 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.942s
20 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.982s
21 Daniel ROWBOTTOM (GBR) Cataclean Racing with Ciceley Motorsport +0.982s
22 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +1.214s
23 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +1.380s
24 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +1.589s
25 Carl BOARDLEY (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +1.818s
26 Michael CREES (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +1.933s
27 Mark BLUNDELL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +2.153s
28 Rob SMITH (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +2.248s
29 Nicolas HAMILTON (GBR) ROKiT Racing with Motorbase +2.350s
30 Sam OSBORNE (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +2.548s

Halfords Yuasa Racing's Dan Cammish continued his solid form for by topping the opening Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship Free Practice session at Thruxton.

Cammish has scored seven podiums from 12 races since Britain's premier motorsport series made its first visit of the season to the Hampshire track back in May, proving he is one of the leading protagonists in this year's title race.

The Honda manufacturer squad is still searching for its first win of 2019, however, with Cammish and team-mate Matt Neal hoping to break their duck this weekend at what is often a favourable circuit for the Team Dynamics-run squad.

Yorkshireman Cammish clocked a 1:16.888s lap time on a damp but trying track this morning, which was enough to edge out Adrian Flux Subaru Racing's Ash Sutton and BTC Racing's Josh Cook.

"I enjoy driving in the sunshine," said Cammish. "It looked in and out weather wise all week but it's something I can't control and you've got to get on with it. I've become more confident in the rain over the years and I'm as good there as in the dry. So far, so good. The track's green and damp we had a lot of rain overnight. It got better but you can see from the times we're still some way away from where we were a month ago.

"We'll go out in FP2 and wring its neck a bit more. I'm coming off the back of some really good races now. I've had seven podiums in 12 and I think I've got all the ingredients. We've got a bit more weight on now but here it's less of a penalty. Fingers crossed!"

BMW Pirtek Racing's Andrew Jordan led the way until late on but eventually had to settle for fourth, ahead of the ever-improving Mercedes of Adam Morgan.

Neal was sixth in the other works-backed Honda Civic Type R with the Speedworks-run Toyota Corolla of Tom Ingram next up in the order.

Tom Oliphant and Colin Turkington ensured that all three BMW 3 Series' were inside the top ten – in eighth and tenth respectively – whilst Dan Rowbottom completed a good morning's work for the Ciceley-run Mercedes by claiming ninth.

The BTCC boys will be back on track at 12:05 for final practice, with the all-important qualifying session commencing of 15:25 - the latter being streamed live via www.itv.com/btcc.

2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Free Practice 1 – Thruxton

1 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing 1m16.888s
2 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.174s
3 Josh COOK (GBR) BTC Racing +0.195s
4 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +0.318s
5 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +0.379s
6 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.452s
7 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Team Toyota GB with Ginsters +0.483s
8 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Team BMW +0.549s
9 Daniel ROWBOTTOM (GBR) Cataclean Racing with Ciceley Motorsport +0.584s
10 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.668s
11 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.687s
12 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +0.696s
13 Jason PLATO (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +0.707s
14 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +0.747s
15 Jake HILL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +0.930s
16 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +0.939s
17 Jack GOFF (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +1.040s
18 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Racing +1.060s
19 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +1.166s
20 Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +1.212s
21 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +1.267s
22 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +1.290s
23 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +1.381s
24 Nicolas HAMILTON (GBR) ROKiT Racing with Motorbase +1.847s
25 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +2.000s
26 Carl BOARDLEY (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +2.021s
27 Rob SMITH (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +2.237s
28 Mark BLUNDELL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +2.625s
29 Michael CREES (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +3.252s
30 Sam OSBORNE (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +3.946s

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship and the TOCA support package have pitched up at Thruxton prior to a bumper weekend of motorsport action around the Hampshire speedbowl.

The famous WWII airfield was a hive of activity on Friday as the on-track action got underway with the Renault Clio Cup, British F4, Ginetta GT4 Supercup, Ginetta Juniors and Porsche Carrera Cup all holding practice sessions around the 2.4-mile circuit.

Meanwhile, the BTCC paddock has been gearing up for a second bite of the Thruxton cherry with Britain’s fastest racetrack having already hosted Rounds 7, 8 and 9 on a hugely successful weekend back in May.

Reigning champion Colin Turkington leads the standings as the UK’s premier racing series rolls into town for Rounds 19, 20 and 21, with practice and qualifying set to take place on Saturday.

The Northern Irishman is 36 points clear of team-mate Andrew Jordan, with the duo having accounted for ten victories out of a possible 18 this campaign in their new BMW 330i M Sports.

Jordan stood on the top step twice during the series’ previous visit to Thruxton, but Josh Cook also bagged a win and the BTC Racing ace from Bath should be quick again at a track that often favours Honda machinery.

The Halfords Yuasa Racing pair of Matt Neal and Dan Cammish will also hope to be among the front-runners come race-day, while the top six in the championship are covered by just 70 points as we head towards the business end of the season.

Meanwhile, Rob Smith and his EXCELR8 Motorsport Team caught the eye ahead of this weekend by popping to a local Kwik Fit centre in Andover to give the Draper Tools MG6GT a final once-over – and the video is well worth a watch on our Thruxton Circuit Facebook page.

Temperamental weather made track conditions difficult on Friday but a positive forecast for the weekend is set to encourage another huge crowd, with fans able to enjoy spectacular views from the circuit’s iconic banking and unparalleled hospitality in the state-of-the-art Thruxton Centre.

Off-track, there will be something for everyone with a variety of activities around the venue including skid pan rides for all ages, an extensive display of driving experience supercars and racing cars and a fantastic trade village to explore.

Tickets are available on the gate, starting at £17 for Saturday (qualifying) and £34 for Sunday. Teen tickets (13-15) are £5 for Saturday and £10 for Sunday, while Under-12s go free.

For further information, visit thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc or call 01264 882222.

For more information on Thruxton’s race meetings and driving experiences, visit www.thruxtonracing.co.uk

For season or individual race meeting accreditation, please e-mail: press@barc.net

BMW Pirtek Racing’s Andrew Jordan will look to enjoy another strong showing on-track when the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship returns to Thruxton this weekend (17/18 August) for the seventh meeting of the season.
 
Jordan was the man to beat when the series visited the high-speed Hampshire circuit back in May, securing a stunning double victory at the wheel of his West Surrey Racing-run BMW 330i M Sport.
 
The double victory kick-started an impressive run of seven podium finishes in twelve races and that run of form has brought the 2013 title winner right into contention for championship honours, with the Midlander returning to Thruxton sitting second in the championship standings behind WSR team-mate Colin Turkington.
 
Currently 36 points behind the Northern Irishman, Jordan will hope to close the gap to his rival at a circuit where he has traditionally performed well in the past.
 
Jordan has secured pole at Thruxton on three occasions in the past, the most of any current driver, whilst his double win earlier in the year means he has now taken eleven podium finishes at the circuit – more than 15 percent of his career total.
 
“We were strong when we went to Thruxton earlier in the year and I feel we are going back with a car that is better now than it was then,” said Jordan. “It’s changed quite a bit because we’ve been picking up more data every time we have been on track and constantly making improvements.
 
“Of course I have to carry some weight into the weekend this time around but even with that onboard, I’m confident that we can be strong and I’m heading for Thruxton with the aim of trying to win some races.
 
“With four rounds to go, I need to try and outscore Colin this weekend to close the gap in the standings. At this stage of the season, every single point is vital and I have to make sure I maximise what is available this weekend to eat into his advantage.”

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship is set for a second visit of the season to Hampshire’s Thruxton Circuit next weekend (17/18 August), with Colin Turkington the man with the target on his back as Rounds 19, 20 and 21 approach.

Reigning champion Colin Turkington notched up another consistent performance at Snetterton to pull a further three points clear of nearest rival and stablemate Andrew Jordan, though the chasing pack – spearheaded by Josh Cook in the BTC Racing Honda – is far from out of the equation. The standings’ top six drivers sit within 70 points of one-another. With 67 points on offer at each of the four events to come, there’s plenty of scope for it all to change – and quickly.

Honda machinery has arguably proven to be the most suited to the high-speed sweepers at Britain’s fastest race track having taken victory in 13 of the last 27 rounds there – including via Cook himself back in May. That said, the BMWs were strong first time around. Jordan capitalised with a pair of victories as the outfit caught everyone on the hop out of the blocks with its trio of new-build 3 Series’ fresh out of the workshop just a week before the curtain-raising event of 2019 at Brands Hatch. 

Those unable to make the trip will be able to catch the action on qualifying and race-day, live and exclusively via the championship’s long-term broadcast partners, ITV Sport, with an eight-hour programme of the best motor racing action in the country to be screened live on ITV4 next Sunday. The BTCC is in rude health, illustrated by ITV’s year-on-year live broadcast figures for the championship seeing a 14 percent rise.

The BTCC enjoys exclusive television bragging rights in 2019, as the only major motorsport series to be broadcast on a leading UK free-to-air television network. All ten race weekends are screened live on ITV4, the ITV Hub and streamed via itv.com/BTCC with six hours of programming at every race-day this season.

THRUXTON: 17/18 AUGUST

Qualifying LIVE: Saturday 17 August
ITV.com/BTCC from 1520

Raceday LIVE: Sunday 18 August
ITV4 & ITV4 HD 1130-1815
ITV4+1 1230-1915
ITV Hub 1130-1815
ITV.com/BTCC 1130-1815

Highlights: Saturday 24 August
ITV4 & ITV4 HD 1030-1200
ITV4 +1 1130-1300
ITV Hub Available anytime for the next 30 days

Highlights: Sunday 25 August
ITV4 & ITV4 HD 0725-0900
ITV4 +1 0825-1000

Highlights: Wednesday 28 August
ITV & ITV HD 2345-0100

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship returns to Thruxton Circuit this weekend (17/18 August) for its second high-speed visit of 2019, and local star Rob Collard has his sights set on podium celebrations at what he predicts to be another BTCC blockbuster show.
 
Collard might be one of the BTCC’s elder statesmen at 50 now, but the Hampshireman shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. That much was clear from his fourth-place finish amongst the 30 high-calibre contenders – some of the fastest drivers in the country – at Snetterton two weeks ago.
 
Indeed, Collard has 15 race wins to his name in the UK’s premier motorsport series – one of which came at Thruxton two years ago – and he sped to a top ten double on home soil earlier this season. Buoyed by his strong form last time out behind the wheel of his Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra, the Eversley man is aiming to keep the ball rolling in front of family and friends this weekend.
 
“Thruxton is just a great circuit – one at which practically every driver looks forward to competing – and it’s fantastic that we have the opportunity to race there twice this year,” he enthused. “It’s probably actually the track I’ve driven the least in the UK due to limited testing opportunities, which makes it even more of a pleasure when we do get to drive there.
 
“It’s an undiluted challenge full of old-school charm – a really fast, flowing circuit that truly stretches drivers’ commitment and bravery to the limit, which ultimately is why we all do this. You also need to use your head as much as your right foot at Thruxton; its unique nature means that if you push too hard, too soon you will destroy your tyres in the first few laps – tyre preservation is equally as important as out-and-out speed. As we’ve seen in previous years at Thruxton, it really is never over until it’s over.
 
“It’s great having the local support behind me for the weekend, and Thruxton always generates exciting racing, with plenty of action at the Complex and Chicane in particular and fantastic viewing from the banking and on the big screens.
 
“We’ve struggled a bit for consistency this season and circumstances have conspired against us on occasion, but Snetterton offered more of a reflection of our true pace so hopefully we can keep that momentum going and score some good points. We were fast at Thruxton earlier in the year, and obviously it would be brilliant to reach the podium again on home soil.”
 
Alongside the headline-grabbing BTCC, a jam-packed schedule of high-octane support series – comprising the F4 British Championship, Ginetta Junior Championship, Renault UK Clio Cup, Ginetta GT4 SuperCup and Porsche Carrera Cup GB, the latter appearing at Thruxton for the first time in five years – will ensure the action remains red-hot from lights-out to chequered flag.
 
Off-track, there will also be a variety of activities around the venue including skid pan rides for all ages, an extensive display of Thruxton’s driving experience supercars and racing cars and a comprehensive trade village to explore. There will additionally be evening entertainment in the Thruxton Centre on both Friday and Saturday.
 
Tickets for the BTCC’s visit on 17/18 August can be purchased on the gate, starting at £17 for Saturday (qualifying) and £34 for Sunday (race day). Children aged 13-15 get in for £5 on Saturday and £10 on Sunday; accompanied children aged 12 and under will be admitted free of charge.
 
For further information or to buy tickets, visit thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc-aug or call 01264 882222.

For more information on Thruxton’s race meetings and driving experiences, visit www.thruxtonracing.co.uk

For the second successive season, Cobra Sport AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing can today announce the launch of a money can’t buy competition to win a road-going version of the car being used in this season’s Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.
 
Following on from a highly successful competition last year that saw one lucky winner walk away with an MG6 GT, the team will give away a road-going replica of the Honda Civic being raced in 2019 by Rory Butcher and Sam Tordoff.
 
The prize will be provided by joint title sponsors AutoAid and RCIB Insurance, whilst West Thurrock-based AmD Tuning will add a range of special upgrades before the car goes to its new home, including a new set of tyres provided by long-time BTCC supplier Dunlop.

How to enter:

A number of competitions will take place through AutoAid and RCIB Insurance’s social media channels from the next round of the season at Thruxton, with the respective winners all securing a pair of VIP Hospitality tickets to join the team at Brands Hatch for the final race of the season.
 
Over the course of the Brands Hatch weekend, a special Scalextric shootout will take place at the circuit to determine which of the competition winners secures the ultimate prize and wins the car.
 
To be in with a chance of winning the Honda Civic, potential entrants will need to follow both AutoAid and RCIB Insurance Racing on Facebook and Twitter using the accounts below, where the various qualifying competitions will take place.

AutoAid:
www.facebook.com/autoaidbreakdown
www.twitter.com/autoaidbreakd
 
RCIB:
www.facebook.com/RCIBInsuranceRacing 
www.twitter.com/RCIBRacing

Shaun Hollamby, Cobra Sport AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing Team Principal, said:
“When the idea was created to give away the MG last year, the reaction from race fans was fantastic and it proved to be a hugely successful campaign for everyone involved.
 
“When AutoAid and RCIB Insurance suggested running a similar competition this season as part of our on-going partnership, it really was a no-brainer and we’re excited to now launch the 2019 version to win a road-going version of the Honda Civic.
 
“The Civic is a fantastic base car to work with, and it will undergo a number of upgrades at our workshop before going to its new owner.
 
“We’re sure that fans will embrace the competition in the same way they did twelve months ago, and we look forward to meeting the various winners when we get to Brands Hatch to see who gets to drive away with the main prize.”
 
Mike Joseph, AutoAid & RCIB Insurance Managing Director, said:
“We are very excited to be able to launch the 2019 version of the competition we ran with such success twelve months ago, and would like to thank AmD and Scalextric for once again helping to pull it all together.
 
“I’m sure that fans will get behind the competition and will embrace the opportunity to win a truly one-off prize. Hopefully the competition will prove to be as exciting for fans off-track as the action we have seen on-track this season, and would like to wish everyone who enters the very best of luck.”

Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport’s Adam Morgan endured a frustrating time back at Snetterton, with his Mercedes-Benz A-Class showing improved pace despite him suffering a bout of poor luck that compromised his results.
 
After a positive mid-season test session at Snetterton, Morgan headed to Norfolk in positive mood and was an encouraging ninth fastest in the all-important qualifying session.
 
From ninth on the grid for the opener, he made a good start and was running confidently in the top ten on the Dunlop soft tyre, battling his way up into eighth place, but, on lap six, an issue with his gearbox forced Morgan to retire. He said: "I placed the car down into second gear at turn two, I heard a bang and then a rattle and then my race was over. We needed a new gearbox for race two and that put us at the back of the grid. I was really disappointed because the pace we had was looking good and we were running in the leading pack.”
 
For race two, Morgan lined up 28^th on the grid with a huge task ahead of him. However, his competitive spirit shone through as he blasted up to 18^th place, working his way through the traffic in uncompromising form. A delay when he became tangled up with Stephen Jelley’s BMW cost him time and meant that he picked up some damage, but he continued to push and hauled his dog-eared Mercedes-Benz to 18^th place.

“I made a good start but then there was a bit of contact on the way to the first corner when four of us went side-by-side and that was a bit tight!" said Morgan. "I caught up to a battle with Stephen Jelley, Josh Cook and Senna Proctor all involved and it was hard to get through that quickly and then there was more contact which turned around Stephen. I had to try to avoid him and picked up some damage, which bent the steering, but also it damaged the radiator and the cooling system so that meant that I needed to finish rather than look at any heroics after that. It was frustrating because the car went really well early on but it’s a legacy of being at the back: you are in jeopardy with all the traffic around you.”
 
For race three, the A-Class lined up 18^th on the grid. However, despite starting on the fringes of the points and feeling optimistic for a solid result, more bad luck was waiting to ensnare Morgan. The damage in race two had been repaired with a spare radiator pack, but the car was running hot and that temperature rise caused the power steering to trip. Hanging on to the car without power steering became increasingly difficult and Morgan decided that it was best to retire – forced into parking the car from 16th.
 
“It just wasn't our weekend – again," he added. "The final race was affected by the damage in race two, really. The positives are that we worked hard on set-up, learnt a few things and made steps forward, so I can take that to Thruxton this weekend, especially as we have raced there already this season and have data to measure against. There are reasons to be buoyed by Snetterton but it is so frustrating for all of us in the team to come away with damage and little tangible to show for it. We'll fight on, though!”
 
The second Ciceley car, running under the Cataclean Racing with Ciceley Motorsport banner, of Dan Rowbottom qualified mid-grid, 17^th, and ran up in 13^th in the first race, battling with Ash Sutton’s Subaru. Rowbottom was unable to get by, and was backed up into Chris Smiley’s chasing Honda. That dropped Rowbottom to 15^th but he was still able to secure a second points finish of the season. A first lap clash with Aiden Moffat’s Infiniti Q50 shattered a front-left wheel rim and Rowbottom was unable to limp the car to the pit lane without causing further damage, forcing retirement from race two while a gearbox issue stopped his progress in race three despite good initial pace.
 
 “Our race reports are getting harder and harder to write each week,” said Norman Burgess, Commercial Director of Ciceley Motorsport. “We as a team have endured a terrible year, we are a top 10, even a top five team historically, and absolutely nothing is working for us so far this year, it’s so frustrating.

"Our guys have worked tirelessly on the two cars this weekend and results just haven't come our way, again. Both Adam and Dan drove really well and certainly had the pace to score better points finishes.

"We picked up damage that then had mechanical consequences later down the line and when we reflect on the weekend, it is clear that the pace from both of our cars isn’t being represented in the results.

"We will analyse the gearbox issues that we had, but also look at the positives of the pace and set-up on the cars and push forward to Thruxton. Our Mac Tools, Cataclean and other team supported guests all enjoyed the spectacle and the action provided by the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship and we look forward to bouncing back this weekend in Hampshire...”