This week the Official BTCC website is kicking off its Weekend Wrap-Up series, looking back at how the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship took shape by reliving all the action from each event!
Thruxton's season opener delivered a trio of enthralling races back in May, with BTC Racing's Josh Cook securing a double victory, but it was Jake Hill that would leave the Hampshire venue on top...
BTC Racing’s Josh Cook claimed a memorable double triumph as the 2021 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship blasted into action at Thruxton on 8/9 May.
Reigning champion Ash Sutton won the final contest in his Laser Tools Racing Infiniti Q50, but it was MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square’s Jake Hill who left the high-speed Hampshire venue with the early championship lead after the Kent driver scored an impressive podium hat-trick.
Cook had to work hard for the win in the curtain-raiser as he slipped past pole-sitter Sutton and Team BMW’s Colin Turkington after last season’s top-two drivers clashed on the opening lap of the new season.
Racing got off to an enthralling start – as you’d expect in the BTCC – and Cook initially seemed to lose out as his Honda Civic Type R bogged down from second on the grid.
Sutton held the lead down into the Complex for the first time, with Turkington and Cook’s #66 machine running side-by-side immediately behind. As Sutton braked into the right-hander he was clipped by Turkington’s BMW 330i M Sport, and the reigning champion’s Infiniti was tipped into a spin.
Cook made the most of an opportune moment as he slipped into the lead, with the rear-wheel drive BMWs seemingly struggling for early grip. Turkington had by now dropped to fourth – behind Cook, Tom Ingram’s Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com Hyundai and Hill – whilst Tom Oliphant’s BMW was spinning to the rear of the field.
The opening lap drama was far from over, however, with the most dramatic moment still to come as Ollie Jackson’s MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square Ford Focus wriggled through one of the quickest parts of the circuit.
Three-time champion Gordon Shedden was unable to avoid the rear of Jackson’s Ford and the Halfords Racing with Cataclean car was subsequently speared across the track and into the unfortunate Hyundai i30N of Chris Smiley.
Heavy impact with the barrier followed for Shedden and the safety car was immediately deployed.
Cook kept his powder dry following the restart, as did Ingram, whilst Hill’s #24 Ford Focus completed the podium despite coming under race-long pressure from Turkington.
Bath-born Cook eventually took a more straightforward victory in the second contest, but not before a couple of significant incidents punctuated proceedings.
The Ford Focus of Andy Neate (Racing with Wera & Photon Group) made contact with Glynn Geddie’s Cupra Leon (Team HARD. with Autobrite Direct), whilst Jade Edwards’ Honda (PHSC with BTC Racing) was also collected as the cars ran through turn one for the first time.
All three cars made heavy contact with the barrier, as the Team HARD-run machine of Geddie barrel-rolled to an eventual standstill. The drivers involved were thankfully unharmed in the accident, but the race was immediately halted by a red flag.
The restart got underway in a similar fashion when the Toyota Gazoo Racing UK car of Rory Butcher slammed into a tyre-stack after a high-speed run through Noble, as the Scotsman battled with Hill and Ingram.
The second race of the season gradually settled, but not before pole-sitter Cook had slid through the Complex into Ingram’s Hyundai i30N, although both cars were able to continue relatively unscathed.
Cook held P1 from start to finish and was joined by the perfect rear-gunner in the shape of BTC Racing team-mate Dan Cammish, who ensured that Hill had to settle for third – albeit securing a second impressive podium of the day for the Ford Focus man.
Sutton then splashed to a first victory of the season as the weather fell his way during a frenetic wet-dry-wet bout at the UK’s fastest circuit.
The Laser Tools Racing star was in fighting form throughout the day following two recovery drives and had already scythed his way to the front early in the reversed-grid encounter, as the vast majority of the field chose to run on Goodyear wet tyres.
Hill, Team BMW’s Oliphant and Smiley proved to be exceptions to the rule in terms of tyre choice, and when conditions improved after just a handful of laps it looked as if the trio had played a masterstroke.
The Ford Focus of Hill was particularly quick at mid-distance as he carved his way back through the order and eventually passed Sutton’s Infiniti Q50 for the lead on lap ten.
Incredibly, no sooner had Hill hit the front than the rain began to fall again on the high-speed Hampshire circuit, giving Sutton the opportunity to come back for the victory in the latter stages.
Hill was now hanging on to second with both Jason Plato (Adrian Flux with Power Maxed Racing) and Gordon Shedden (Halfords Racing with Cataclean) closing in on the final lap.
The trio went three-wide as the chequered flag fell and it was Plato who had snatched second from Hill by just 0.070s, with Shedden only 0.166s further in arrears.
It was yet another valiant effort by Hill and he was duly rewarded with the championship lead following his podium treble during this exciting season-opening weekend at the 2.36-mile circuit.
Cook’s double success left him one point off the summit of the standings, whilst Plato’s trio of top six finishes was good enough to see the series returnee hold third in the order.
Motorbase Performance/Ford enjoyed an early advantage for Manufacturers’/Constructors’ honours, whilst BTC Racing topped the Teams’ table.
Cook would become the leading Independents’ driver with Adrian Flux with Power Maxed Racing topping the Indy Teams’ order.
Racing with Wera & Photon Group’s Sam Osborne enjoyed a consistent run to the overall Jack Sears Trophy triumphs, with Sutton heading the Wingfoot Award following his pole position on Saturday afternoon.
Head back to the btcc.net on Thursday for the next instalment in the Weekend Wrap-Up series, as we head to Snetterton's 300 circuit to relive all the action from Norfolk!
