• Alfa Romeo to return to BTCC grid in 2018 with Handy Motorsport
• Front-running squad officially unveils exciting plans with Italian marque
• Handy to field exquisite Alfa Romeo Giulietta model from next season
• Rob Austin ecstatic to be racing an Alfa Romeo touring car in 2018

Excitement in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship is at fever-pitch today, Sunday, 27th August, with the official confirmation Handy Motorsport is bringing the legendary Alfa Romeo brand back to the UK’s biggest and best motor racing series.

Making huge waves in the BTCC paddock, today’s announcement during the eighth race meeting of the current season at Rockingham in Northamptonshire marks a major development for top team Handy as it joins forces with the Alfa Romeo Dealer Council to reunite the championship with one of the globe’s most popular automotive marques.

The Swindon-based team, which is headed-up and owned by former BTCC driver Simon Belcher, will field a front-wheel drive Alfa Romeo Giulietta from the 2018 season forward which will be piloted, to great delight, by the squad’s hugely successful fan-favourite driver Rob Austin.

Behind the scenes, work on the project has been ongoing for some time and the completion of the deal for Handy to run the Giulietta model – which will contest the outright championship and Independents Trophy – comes through a partnership with the Alfa Romeo Dealer Council and is supported by the UK’s premier Alfa Romeo dealers. 

“It has been a long project to bring Alfa Romeo back to the BTCC, with many people working on this exciting development for some time – it’s incredible to have brought everything to fruition and an honour to be running the Alfa Romeo marque”, said team principal Belcher at the launch.

“Alfa Romeo is a passionate brand, steeped in heritage, and we have already started building our first bodyshell. Not only is this huge for Handy Motorsport, and fantastic for Alfa to have the latest Giulietta represented on the BTCC grid, it’s also massive for the BTCC as a whole.”

Synonymous with motorsport throughout its history, Alfa Romeo – which is owned by the FIAT group – hasn’t been represented on a BTCC grid since 2007 so with Handy Motorsport bringing the Giulietta into the championship from next year it is mouth-watering news for ‘Alfisti’ across the UK.

On two occasions Alfa Romeo has won the coveted BTCC title, the first with Andy Rouse in 1983 at the wheel of an Alfetta GTV6 and the second coming in 1994 with Italian ace Gabriele Tarquini piloting an Alfa Romeo 155.

Commenting on the news that an Alfa Romeo will return to the grid with Handy Motorsport, Alfa Romeo UK Dealer Council representative Peter James said: “It is fantastic to see Alfa Romeo return to the BTCC especially at such an exciting time for the brand. Alfa Romeo returning to the BTCC has been driven by the desire of the Dealer Council to see the marque back on the grid.”

Paul Doick, General Sales Manager for TH White Swindon, one of the Alfa Romeo brand centres, added: “I have known Simon [Belcher] for many years and we have been working together to deliver this project. I am confident now that working with Handy Motorsport will raise the brand awareness of Alfa Romeo and deliver incremental sales for the brand. There are very exciting times ahead…”

Today’s announcement marks another huge step forward for Handy Motorsport which has, since its debut in the BTCC in 2014, become one of the most popular and respected teams in the paddock – not least since joining forces with fan-favourite driver Rob Austin ahead of the 2016 season.

Initially running team boss Belcher for two seasons, following his graduation into the world of touring cars from the Renault UK Clio Cup where he was a two-time Masters Cup Champion, the team set out its intentions to become serious challengers when signing BTCC race winner Austin.

During his maiden season with Handy in 2016, Austin’s first year racing front-wheel drive in the championship, the Evesham driver secured the squad’s debut BTCC podium at Snetterton as well as Handy’s maiden Independents Trophy victory.

This season, Austin is currently just outside the top 10 in the overall championship and has one podium to his credit along with one pole position. In the Independents Trophy he has achieved one victory, three second places and four other podium finishes and is fourth in the class standings.

For Belcher, the move to an Alfa Romeo for 2018 again confirms the intent which Handy Motorsport has to become a consistent and regular podium finishing and race winning force in the BTCC and he says the partnership with the Dealer Council is the ‘next logical step’ for the team.

“We want to win, we have a great team and that passion runs deep in it”, added Belcher, “In an Alfa Romeo we will have a car which is born from that same passion and I am looking forward to this being an instrumental part of our team’s future. This is undoubtedly the next logical step for us and I am absolutely delighted to be able to announce this exciting partnership today.”

Hugely popular touring car ace Austin is, understandably, equally as elated as team boss Belcher to be working the with legendary Alfa Romeo marque as the beginning of another new chapter in his exciting and successful BTCC career.

“Driving an Alfa Romeo in the British Touring Car Championship next season? It doesn’t get much more exciting than that does it!”, said the multiple BTCC race winner, “I genuinely love the Alfa Romeo brand, I had an Alfa when I was younger and I loved that car. Early on, when Simon [Belcher] and I started talking before I joined the team, working towards this deal was part of the plan.

“Ever since my engineer Matt and I had the Audi, we talked about what we’d love to do working from a blank sheet of paper and that’s what we can do now with the Giulietta. We’ve always wanted this opportunity and we’ve got enough time ahead of next season to do this job properly. The car is well suited to the BTCC regulations, we’re going to build a work of art as much as a racing car!”

Welcoming the announcement, BTCC Series Director Alan Gow said: “What a great name to welcome back! Alfa Romeo has a great history in the BTCC, particularly having won it twice before, and everyone loves the Alfa Romeo brand. Handy Motorsport have been working on this project for the last couple of years and they’ve put their heart and soul into it.

“To have the support of the Alfa Romeo UK Dealer Council means a great deal to them and it means a great deal to me and everyone involved in the BTCC. It goes to show that the people at the sharp end in selling Alfa Romeos see the fantastic value in the BTCC. I’ve even lost count as to exactly how many marques we’ve got in this championship right now, which is also testament to the success of our regulations and the BTCC as a whole.”

Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship Series Director Alan Gow spoke to btcc.net following the official confirmation that legendary Italian marque Alfa Romeo is set to return to the UK’s biggest and best motor racing series.

Handy Motorsport's Simon Belcher and Rob Austin spoke to btcc.net following the official confirmation that the team is bringing the legendary Alfa Romeo brand back to the UK’s biggest and best motor racing series – the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. 

Adrian Flux Subaru Racing's James Cole has claimed a maiden Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship pole position after producing a fantastic late qualifying lap at Rockingham.

The 29-year-old has been in stellar form in recent weeks, having taken a series of top five finishes, but few could have expected a first ever BTCC pole for the Subaru star. Not only was Cole's lap a stunning pace-setter, but it was also the first ever qualifying top spot for a rear-wheel drive car at Rockingham.

Eurotech Racing's Jack Goff led the way for a significant period, but he eventually had to settle for second after Cole's hugely impressive flying lap.

Speedworks Motorsport's Tom Ingram vied for top spot with Goff in the early running, and seemed a likely candidate for pole position having earlier set the pace in both practice sessions. The Toyota driver was able to deliver his own solid effort during qualifying, but it was only good enough for third on the grid when the chequered flag fell.

Championship contenders Ashley Sutton and Colin Turkington were next on the timesheets, as the talented duo coped brilliantly with the ballast-laden Subaru and BMW respectively. Sutton even recovered from an earlier moment when he outbraked himself into turn two, and had to spin his Levorg back into action. 

Halfords Yuasa Racing's Matt Neal was seventh, ahead of MG Racing RCIB Insurance's Josh Cook. Power Maxed Racing's Tom Chilton showed well to seal ninth in his Vauxhall Astra, ahead of BTCC legend Jason Plato.

Reigning champion Gordon Shedden could only take 16th in his Honda Civic Type R, whilst fellow title protagonist Rob Collard struggled down in 20th in his Team BMW 125i M Sport.

The competitiveness of the session was once again there for all to see as 27 of the 32 competitors were blanketed by less than a second.

Rockingham will now host what is expected to be a pivitol triple header of races tomorrow, as the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship fight moves towards the final stretch. Rounds 22, 23 and 24 of the 30-race season will be contested around the 1.94-mile circuit with all the action being screened live and exclusively on ITV4 from 10:45. 

James Cole said: "I did not expect that at all and until I was told at the end of the session I had no idea! I didn‘t want my team to tell me – amazing job by them, this is fantastic. I’m genuinely speechless! Given how we were in FP1 and FP2, if we got everything right for qualifying I was expecting to maybe get into the top ten but didn’t think we could do that! It always feels very, very good to be up there. Going into race one, here it’s about looking after your tyres and with a front-wheel drive car next to me, I’m looking forward to it! My confidence is up and what more of a boost can you get than that? It’s qualifying where we’ve been weaker at times and we’ve been stronger in the races, so I’m looking forward to it. Ask me in the morning how I slept!"

Jack Goff said: "It’s not too bad. I thought we had it with a minute to go but the front row’s still good. We were out of position at Knockhill so it’s nice to be up here again as it can be so difficult to pass cars when everyone’s running so closely. There are places to pass here but with a rear-wheel drive car ahead of me, I know it’ll be hard work – I know how fast they start, I had that experience last year over and over again."

Tom Ingram said: "I'm happy to be third, albeit slightly disappointed that we couldn't quite get onto the front row given the pace we showed in the two practice sessions. In that respect, it's a bit of a missed opportunity but nonetheless, it puts us on the inside line and it's a good place to start. The weight makes quite a big difference around here but we'll see what we can do tomorrow."

Ashley Sutton said: "I’m over the moon with that effort. I’ve got everyone behind me that needs to be behind me and as the second heaviest car on the grid (in terms of success ballast), I’m so pleased. It was the deepest I’ve ever dug for a lap. We were 0.4 seconds away at the start of the session so we made a couple of tweaks and it was just a case of giving it a big effort and seeing what we came up with. I’m over the moon for James (Cole). His driving’s come a long way this year and he’s deserved that. He’s done a sterling job."

Colin Turkington said: "That’s pretty solid for us all things considered. Rockingham is for sure one of the more difficult places to carry ballast. We need to sit down now and try and see what we can do for the race. The car’s working really well and it has been from the get go this weekend – good balance and pretty smooth so far. The 75kgs of ballast you get for leading the championship into a race weekend is equivalent to a passenger being alongside me. As much as you try not to think about it, as soon as you get in the car, everything seems more lethargic – even though it seems like it’s only a small percentage of the overall weight of the car. It’s incredible the difference it does make. That said, I prefer to have the points on the board and carry the weight. You’re keeping an eye on the guys running at the front of the championship. I’m very aware of who I’m racing and it might be a long day ahead tomorrow, but I’ll give it my best shot."

2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Qualifying – Rockingham

1 James COLE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing 1m23.187s (83.95 mph)
2 Jack GOFF (GBR) Eurotech Racing +0.048s
3 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +0.082s
4 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.121s
5 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.195s
6 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +0.198s
7 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.263s
8 Josh COOK (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +0.295s
9 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +0.382s
10 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.435s
11 Mat JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +0.467s
12 Josh PRICE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.481s
13 Aron TAYLOR-SMITH (IRL) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +0.485s
14 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +0.493s
15 Michael EPPS (GBR) TAG Racing +0.509s
16 Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.512s
17 Dave NEWSHAM (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.518s
18 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +0.550s
19 Ant WHORTON-EALES (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +0.564s
20 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +0.637s
21 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +0.674s
22 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +0.742s
23 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) Handy Motorsport +0.789s
24 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +0.814s
25 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.825s
26 Brett SMITH (GBR) Eurotech Racing +0.924s
27 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +0.970s
28 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +1.072s
29 Martin DEPPER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +1.112s
30 Will BURNS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +1.671s
31 Jake HILL (GBR) TAG Racing +1.796s
32 Stewart LINES (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport 2.333s

Tom Ingram doubled up by setting the pace in the final Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship practice session at Rockingham, as he had done in the earlier running around the 1.94-mile Northamptonshire circuit.

A warmer track temperature meant that overall lap times were slower compared to the opening session, but it was still Ingram leading the way in his Toyota Avensis. 27 cars were blanketed by less than a second in the fraught final preprations ahead of qualifying at 15:30 later today.

Speedworks Motorsport man Ingram has been one of the quickest drivers throughout the 2017 BTCC campaign, but a mid-season slump had seemingly put paid to his championship hopes. A win at Knockhill last time out, however, has reignited his title charge and positive results here could once again see the 26-year-old back in the mix.

"I don’t know if the circuit’s changed but we were the best part of three to four tenths slower than we went in FP1," commented Ingram. "It is hotter now and the circuit seems to have taken a step back. It’s all about managing the tyres here. We know it’s a case of nursing them which from our point of view as drivers is difficult, as you have to balance trying to go as fast as you can with managing the rubber."

Rockingham is a happy hunting ground for Ingram and was the venue for his first ever BTCC podium back in 2015.

"I’ve always gone really well here though," he concluded. "I’ve always got on really well with the place in everything I have ever driven. If we can continue this weekend as we finished at Knockhill, I’ll be happy."

Honda machinery held second, third and fourth places on the timesheets in FP2 as Independent runner Jack Goff edged out the manufacturer-backed duo of Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal.

Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo's Mat Jackson claimed fifth ahead of an impressive run from Laser Tools Racing's Aiden Moffat.

Ant Whorton-Eales backed-up his earlier encouraging showing by taking seventh in the AmD Audi. The rookie claimed his first ever BTCC top ten finish at Knockhill earlier this month, and the reigning Renault UK Clio Cup Champion looks to have solid potential again at Rockingham.

Adam Morgan proved the potency of the Mercedes A-Class with eighth, whilst the Subaru pairing of Jason Plato and Josh Price completed the top ten placings.

2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Free Practice 2 – Rockingham

1 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport 1m23.277s (mph)
2 Jack GOFF (GBR) Eurotech Racing +0.088s
3 Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.164s
4 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.199s
5 Mat JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +0.238s
6 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +0.302s
7 Ant WHORTON-EALES (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +0.317s
8 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +0.354s
9 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.394s
10 Josh PRICE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.420s
11 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.430s
12 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +0.437s
13 Josh COOK (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +0.482s
14 Aron TAYLOR-SMITH (IRL) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +0.496s
15 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +0.528s
16 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.561s
17 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +0.576s
18 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +0.605s
19 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +0.637s
20 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.647s
21 Michael EPPS (GBR) TAG Racing +0.700s
22 Dave NEWSHAM (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.709s
23 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +0.794s
24 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +0.843s
25 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) Handy Motorsport +0.872s
26 James COLE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.894s
27 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +0.910s
28 Jake HILL (GBR) TAG Racing +1.071s
29 Martin DEPPER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +1.094s
30 Brett SMITH (GBR) Eurotech Racing +1.135s
31 Will BURNS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +1.140s
32 Stewart LINES (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport NO TIME

Speedworks Motorsport's Tom Ingram has set the benchmark in the opening free practice session at Rockingham, following on from his return to winning ways at Knockhill last time out.

The young Toyota star – a three-time race winner this season – was the only man to dip into the 1m22s time bracket, whilst Adam Morgan and Ashley Sutton completed the top three order.

Eurotech Racing's Jack Goff  and Ant Whorton-Eales in the AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts Audi made for a youthful looking front five, and Ollie Jackson confirmed AmDTuning.com's potential by bringing his Audi S3 home in sixth.

BTC Norlin Racing looks set to continue its recent run of good form as Dave Newsham claimed seventh in his Chevrolet Cruze. The Inverness-based racer took a trio of top ten finishes for the impressive rookie outfit in Scotland earlier this month and the squad could be targeting its maiden podium here in Northamptonshire.

MG Racing RCIB Insurance's Josh Cook made a welcome return to the top ten after a difficult sequence of results, whilst the experienced Jason Plato and Rob Austin completed the leading order.

"Not a bad way to start the weekend," said Ingram. "We've still got some work to do to get the car to where we want it to be, but it's encouraging to be there or thereabouts."

"Rockingham should suit everyone – neither front-wheel driven or rear-wheel driven cars really have an advantage, just given the layout of the circuit, so we're hopeful we can be up there."

2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Free Practice 1 – Rockingham

1 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport 1m22.995s (84.14mph)
2 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +0.161s
3 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.375s
4 Jack GOFF (GBR) Eurotech Racing +0.494s
5 Ant WHORTON-EALES (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +0.555s
6 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +0.570s
7 Dave NEWSHAM (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.622s
8 Josh COOK (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +0.632s
9 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.659s
10 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) Handy Motorsport +0.718s
11 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +0.759s
12 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.774s
13 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.780s
14 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +0.824s
15 Jake HILL (GBR) TAG Racing +0.829s
16 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.832s
17 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +0.837s
18 Josh PRICE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.839s
19 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +0.898s
20 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +0.922s
21 Aron TAYLOR-SMITH (IRL) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +0.928s
22 Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +1.006s
23 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +1.093s
24 James COLE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +1.128s
25 Mat JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +1.184s
26 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +1.299s
27 Martin DEPPER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +1.345s
28 Brett SMITH (GBR) Eurotech Racing +1.361s
29 Will BURNS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +1.478s
30 Michael EPPS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +1.586s
31 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +1.600s
32 Stewart LINES (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +2.794s

More to follow...

Team BMW heads to Rockingham this weekend aiming to maintain its advantage at the top of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, with the West Surrey Racing-run squad topping the Drivers’, Teams’ and Manufacturers’ points tables.

Drivers’ Championship leader Colin Turkington has taken three wins and 10 podium finishes this year and was a double-winner at the unique part-oval Northamptonshire venue in 2014 in his BMW 125i M Sport on his way to the Drivers' crown.

The Northern Irishman’s position at the head of the title battle, however, means he has to carry the maximum 75kg success ballast into the weekend, creating an extra challenge for practice, qualifying and the opening race.

“Knockhill was a very challenging weekend with the weather and with just how close the competition was, so it was very good to score three podiums to climb to the top of the championship," said Turkington.

"Of course, that means I come to Rockingham with the heaviest car ballast-wise, and this presents its own challenges. But the BMW is one of the best-handling cars in the BTCC and this should give me a very good chance of scoring big points and maintaining the championship lead.”

Team-mate Rob Collard lies fourth in the points table with one win and seven podiums to his name. The Hampshire racer is the only driver to have scored points in every one of the 21 races held in 2017 and is aiming for another big score this weekend. Collard carries 48kg ballast and has taken three BTCC podiums at Rockingham, including a third last year, from 18th on the grid.

“As a circuit, Rockingham is technically very demanding," said Collard. "The section of oval we use is very wide and provides great overtaking opportunities while there are plenty of tight areas that should allow the BMW to play to its strengths.

"I’m fourth in the championship and still right in the thick of the title battle and year-on-year my results with the 125i M Sport have been improving here. Last year I finished third from 14th on the grid, so I’m confident of showing strong pace again and scoring more good results.”

BMW Pirtek Racing aims to bounce back from a tough event at Knockhill and challenge for the top step of the podium this weekend.

Andrew Jordan, who lies seventh in the championship, has a strong record at Rockingham. He has finished on the podium five times in the past five seasons at the circuit and claimed a double victory in 2013 on his way to that year's BTCC title.

“I’m pretty confident of being close to the front at Rockingham, especially after the kind of lap times we were able to produce at Knockhill with the same 27kg ballast in the BMW," said Jordan.

"Unfortunately, circumstances meant we couldn’t turn that speed into the results we deserved, but if we can have a trouble-free weekend, I’m sure we can be on the podium.

"Rockingham is a challenging circuit with a good blend of fast, sweeping corners and tight, twisty sections. This makes judging the set-up pretty tough and that’s where having an experienced team like WSR behind me should pay off.”

WSR, which claimed its 250th BTCC podium at Knockhill last time out, is a five-time winners in the series at Rockingham.

Dick Bennetts, Team Principal, added: “We’re leading all three championships, which is a credit to the hard work from everybody at WSR and our engine tuner Neil Brown Engineering this year.

"Historically we’ve had mixed results at Rockingham, but we’ve won there three times in the last three years, so there’s a clear trend that we’re getting towards the BMW’s sweet spot at what’s a very tough circuit to judge the set-up for.

"The plan is to have Colin, Rob and AJ right in the hunt this weekend and to stay on top for the trip to Silverstone.”

Debutant and home hero Rory Butcher enjoyed a strong start to his Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship career at Knockhill, securing Jack Sears Trophy honours and sealing two of Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo's three top ten finishes over a tumultuous weekend's racing for the Wrotham-based outfit.

The Motorbase-run outfit looked to extend its Independents' lead at the Scottish circuit though an early retirement for Mat Jackson derailed the squad’s plans, before a spirited fight back from the Mat Jackson, Martin Depper, and new boy, home hero Rory Butcher salvaged five points-scoring finishes to help keep the Independent Champions' hopes of retaining the title alive.

Starting in very wet conditions, qualifying saw Jackson in second for over half of the session before a sudden change in track conditions saw the grid scramble across to slicks. Unluckily - in spite of briefly taking provisional pole - Jackson was caught on the wrong side of the tumbling times in the closing minutes and slipped back to 12^th, ahead of team-mates Butcher in 25th and Depper in 31st.

Sunday’s opening bout was a difficult one – Jackson suffered a mechanical issue during the warm-up lap and was forced to watch the race from the pits whilst his Motorbase crew raced to repair the stricken machine. Butcher survived his maiden BTCC run relatively unscathed after being forced off-track on lap 15. The move cost him three places, but the 30-year-old did well to recover back to 25th whilst laden with 45kg of late entry ballast. Depper followed in 27th.

A first corner melee enforced a restart in race two. Butcher and Depper both got caught up in the incident with the majority of the grid having to take evasive action. Butcher’s number six Focus picked up damage but the extended red flag period allowed the team to complete repairs and the Scotsman re-joined for the restart.

Ballast-free and running on the soft tyre, Butcher delivered a sterling drive – charging through the pack as the laps unfolded, leading the way for team-mate Depper who followed the Fifer as the pair carved their way up the order. Butcher eventually came home a creditable tenth in only his second outing in the BTCC. Depper also tallied good points with 12th spot. Jackson’s race-craft saw the Warwickshireman make up 14 places to take 17^th at the chequered flag.

The fairytale ending looked to be on for Butcher in his own back-yard when he lined up second for the finale. His initiation continued apace, with the Scotsman experiencing the full force of the fierce door-to-door racing that the championship is famed for – including a memorable duel with reigning champion, and brother-in-law, Gordon Shedden. Butcher dug deep and after losing places in the opening laps, battled hard to take ninth at the flag.

Butcher’s brace of top ten finishes earned him the Jack Sears Trophy honours as the highest-scoring rookie from the weekend – no mean feat on his maiden outing.

The final race of the day saw Jackson's best finish of the weekend, seventh. Another solid performance from Depper was also rewarded with 12th – his second points finish of an encouraging meeting.

This left Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo second in the Independent Teams' Standings, just 10 points shy of current leaders Speedworks Motorsport– but now having moved up into sixth in the overall Teams' Championship standings. Despite a difficult weekend, Mat Jackson retains second in the Independent Drivers’ standings and eighth in the overall championship.

“Coming into my first BTCC weekend in a brand new car, there’s no way I would have expected to come away with two top ten finishes!" said Butcher. "We had good pace in practice but then coming through, we didn’t really get the best out of qualifying.

"I got beaten up quite a bit in race one which was an eye-opener! I managed to get my elbows out and fight my way into the top ten in race two which got us on to the front row and it was awesome racing with all the guys at the front, especially my brother-in-law Gordon [Shedden].

“I think this weekend has been amazing considering that the car has just been built. The guys have put in an amazing amount of effort. We only shook the car down for the first time on Wednesday and survived all three races and to come away with some points and 100 percent finishing record this weekend is mega.

“Massive thanks to David [Bartrum], Alex from DUO and the guys at Shredded Wheat for giving me this opportunity. Also to the fans for being so good and showing so much support for me this weekend, it definitely fired me up!”

It's all-change at the top of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship heading into Rockingham (26-27 August) for Rounds 22, 23 and 24 of the 2017 campaign, with Team BMW's double champion Colin Turkington holding prime position atop the Drivers' standings with three events to go.

The trip to Northamptonshire is often a pivotal one as drivers fight to stamp their authority on the title or make their move to put themselves in the shakeup for the biggest prize in British motor sport, but is a shift in power already underway? 

The pendulum swings
A week ago at Knockhill, reigning champion Gordon Shedden had to settle for damage limitation, as he and Honda contended with the rear-wheel drive might of the BMWs and Subarus – well suited to the stop-start ups-and-downs of the Scottish circuit. Home hero and triple champion Shedden had to make use of his local knowledge to notch a podium, as he battled through to hold onto a net third in the championship tally, 12 points down on new leader Turkington.

The Ulsterman has launched himself to the fore with consistency over recent rounds – that trait a must for any prospective champion. Five podium finishes from the latest five races sent a shot across the bow of his immediate rivals. Team BMW team-mate Rob Collard is also racking up points round-by-round, leaving him well-placed in fourth. In fact, Knockhill was the first event this season where the Hampshireman had failed to make the podium, though he's the only man to have scored points in every encounter this year.

Form man Ashley Sutton, of Adrian Flux Subaru Racing, notched a race two win to cement his status as the man in form with a high of five victories to his name this season. That latest followed a first of the season for rejuvenated BTCC legend Jason Plato, who believes his squad have finally found the 'gremlin' that has hampered his progress since an accident on the opening Brands Hatch weekend.

Sutton harbours second in the overall running just four points shy of Turkington, and while Plato will be going all-out to reach an unprecedented 100 wins in the series, he will be doing what he can to help Subaru and Sutton as the title fight heads towards its conclusion.

“I’ve had a right good kicking this year, and it’s just nice to take another step forward towards being competitive again," said Plato. "It’s not just the winning it’s about being competitive and it’s nice to be there. I'm pretty awful to be around when things aren't going well - this is my life.

"We had a complete change of the differential and the car's a different machine now. We think we've found the gremlin and I'm just so happy to be competitive again.

"I'm going to start enjoying myself. I think the 100 wins might be doable (he currently stands on 96). I'm playing myself back into the game and I could have been a bit more robust with Ash but what would have been the point? 

"He's got stuff to crack on with. I'm not going to give up wins, because I'm not going to take a financial penalty. But anything other than a win - he can have it! That is the way it goes and I'd expect that in return.

"I will play it honestly and nothing would give me more pleasure than to see Ash crack it and if I can help, I will. I have Ash at the forefront of my mind, most definitely."

Speedworks Motorsport's Tom Ingram made a long-awaited return to the top step of the podium after his start to the season had earmarked him as the early benchmark. Bad luck has conspired against the Toyota man in recent rounds, though at 61 points shy of the summit with more than 200 points still to play for, he's not done yet.

The championship is renowned for its unpredictability and fierce competition with ten drivers representing six different manufacturers taking to the top step in the 21 rounds so far. A host more still are waiting in the wings for their chance to pounce.

Rockingham is somewhere hopes can be further fuelled or all but extinguished. Either way, a weekend of enthralling action around the 1.94-mile circuit will entertain a huge crowd, and many more watching on television via ITV4, with the big guns hoping their particular title aspirations remain intact.

Timetable and Tickets
All three BTCC races on Sunday, 27 August – and the day’s other races – will be broadcast live and in high definition on ITV4. Those in attendance at the circuit can stay in touch with the commentary and live timing from every session, available at btcc.net/live throughout the weekend.

The support series on the TOCA package are also guaranteed to thrill, with a double-digit total of races set to entertain the crowds. Renault UK Clio Cup, F4 British Championship and the Ginettas will all be appearing, making for a jam-packed weekend of truly unmissable racing.

Advance tickets can be booked online at www.rockingham.co.uk or via the hotline on 01536 500500 (option 1), until midday on Friday 25 August. Weekend passes cost £38, Sunday race day tickets are £30 and Saturday entry price is just £12.50.
 
Rockingham prides itself on providing access to all motorsport fans, and those who are registered disabled can apply for a complimentary admission ticket for their carer, while children aged 15 and under get in free.
 
As always at Rockingham, all tickets include access to a grandstand seat offering panoramic views of the entire circuit, the pit garage roof and race paddock, which means there are no hidden costs. Gates open at 0800 on both days.