The Yorkshireman’s highly-anticipated return to the BTCC grid – following a year away in 2017 – has been a rollercoaster of ups and downs for the Team GardX Racing with Motorbase man, whose undeniable pace has been marred by a run of incredible bad luck throughout the series’ 60thanniversary diamond year.

Staying true to form, Tordoff delivered another strong qualifying performance in the striking #600 Focus RS. Setting a fastest lap time just 3 tenths off pole on the 2.43mile circuit, the Leeds-based racer claimed 7th on the grid, securing his place as the highest-performing qualifier from the 41 competitors of the 2018 season.

Starting his 150th BTCC race from P7, the JCT600-backed race made an excellent start, taking two places by the first corner. Regrettably, that reward was short-lived when he was pushed wide at Hawthorns, relegating the GardX Racing Focus down to 8th.

Tussles with both Moffat and Jordan followed as the laps unfolded. Tordoff did well to remain in the top 10 before selflessly relinquishing his spot to Motorbase team-mate Chilton on the final lap of the race to assist the team with their challenge for the Independents’ title, and crossed the line in 11th.

Race 2 was a classic BTCC season finale door-to-door encounter as the overall Titles were decided. Coming under relentless pressure for the safety-car interrupted 17 lap contest, Tordoff eventually brought the battle-scarred #600 Focus RS home in 14th – adding to his weekend points tally.

The climax of the season brought Tordoff a final chance to shine. A radical set-up change to the GardX-car paid dividends for the team, unlocking the full potential of the Ford. Storming to 9th off the line, Tordoff quickly scythed his way through the charging pack on the opening laps and a brave lunge on Proctor as the pair raced through Clearways was repaid with a 6th place spot.

Setting the fastest lap time of the race on lap 7, he crawled all over the bumper of Ingram’s Toyota as he hunted down a top 5 finish but was unable to find a way past the Speedworks driver and had to settle with 6th as the final flag of the season dropped.

“We finished the day well but it’s been a troublesome weekend;” said Tordoff. “We didn’t really have the pace in races 1 and 2 and didn’t quite optimise everything on the car. Whilst the car was quick over 1 lap in qualifying, in the races it was quite difficult.

“We picked up some damage in race two which destroyed the front left tyre so we didn’t really get the benefit we should have running on the soft tyre. That explained our drop backwards from what was initially looking like a good finish and could have potentially put us in the draw for the reverse grid.

“We did some daring things with the car in terms of set-up for race 3;” added the Yorkshireman. “The car was fantastic in that race. We were suddenly in the race and able to attack. I was pretty miserable after race two, so it was nice to end on a high.”

In spite of enduring a less-than-ideal comeback year in the BTCC, Tordoff ends the season in a credible 11th place in the overall Championship Standings with 1 race win and podium under his belt. He also ends the season as the highest-placed qualifier on the grid, with an average position of 6.09.

Having amassed an impressive 3 Independent race wins and 10 podiums, the 29-year-old sits 5th in the Independent Drivers’ Championship, with Team GardX Racing with Motorbase 11th overall and 6th in the Indy Teams’ points.

Tordoff concluded; “It’s been frustrating. A season of ifs, buts, and maybes, but it’s just not fallen our way for lots of reasons. We can take a lot of positives to take from the year though. The car is super-fast over 1 lap and I‘ve really enjoyed driving for Motorbase.

“It’s scary how fast the year has gone. It’s a nice environment to race in, the RS has a huge amount of potential and there’s a big wish list to push the car forward and hopefully improve things over the winter. There are lots of reasons to be positive for 2019.”

Final Championship positions: 
Overall:
Sam Tordoff – 11th – 202 points
Team GardX Racing with Motorbase – 11th – 198 points

Independent: 
Sam Tordoff – 5th – 292 points
Team GardX Racing with Motorbase – 6th – 304 points

The post Tordoff concludes BTCC comeback season with top 6 finish at Brands Hatch appeared first on Alliance Racing.

Heading into the last meeting of the year as outside contenders, the Kent-based squad narrowly missed out on both Independent Titles with a spirited performance on home soil, claiming 4 top ten finishes from the concluding three rounds of the UK’s premier racing series.

Saturday afternoon’s qualifying session was a Honda lock-out, with the Japanese marque securing the top 5 spots for Sunday’s opening race. In-spite of setting a time just 5 tenths off pole position, Tom Chilton was highest-placed of the 3 BTCC title challengers, claiming P15 with 57kg of success ballast on-board with team-mate James Cole close behind in P16.

An outstanding start from the Motorbase-men saw Cole make up an impressive 4 places off the line with Chilton also making up spots to move up to P12 by the first tour of the circuit. Holding off a fast-charging Turkington – Chilton delivered a first-class defensive drive to keep championship-winning BMW at bay. Contact on lap 10 between the duelling duo produced a heart-in-the-mouth moment for the championship battle, but Chilton held-strong with help from Motorbase stable-mates Cole and Tordoff to bring his #3 Focus RS home in P9; to keep his title hopes alive.

With a welcome return to form, Cole delivered a flawless drive to close off the top ten and collect a great haul of points for the Independent Teams’ championship campaign.

After closing the gap to the Independent Drivers’ Title to 16 points and the Teams’ deficit to just 6 points, Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher headed into race 2 with high hopes. A frenetic race unfolded with plenty of door to door drama to keep the crowd on the edge of their seats.

Chilton – running on the soft option tyre – got off to a great start to take 8th on the opening lap.  Sadly, Cole got bogged down amongst the soft-tyre running pack and dropped down the order to P15. After enduring a 3-way battle with Independent rivals Ingram and Lloyd – Chilton eventually scythed his way up to take 6th at the chequered flag. Regrettably finishing just two places behind Ingram, but ruling him out of the Independent Drivers’ title fight as Turkington tied up the overall honours.

A scrappy mid-field struggle on the hard-option tyre kept Cole busy as he avoided multiple on-track forays to bring the #20 Focus RS across the line in P16 – just outside the points.

Starting from P5 by virtue of the reverse grid draw, all hopes were on a strong end to the season for the Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher pairing. With one eye firmly set on the Independent Teams’ Trophy, an 11 point gap to leaders Speedworks was a huge task for the Wrotham-based outfit to pull off in the final race of the year.

Carrying 33kg into the finale, Chilton stormed off the line to take 3rd and put himself into podium contention as the lead pack sprinted down towards Paddock Hill. With the race lead changing order as the laps unfolded, Chilton’s determination saw him hold position until lap 6 when Sutton’s Subaru stole past. A late, brave lunge on Austin’s Alfa on the closing lap came tantalisingly close to rewarding the Reigate-racer with a rostrum place, but sadly the move was just out of reach with the #3 Focus claiming 4th as the final flag dropped, with team-mate Cole picking up his 2nd points finish of the day in P14.

The weekend signed-off a convincing season for the Motorbase-run outfit. Tom Chilton ended his maiden season with the squad in 3rd place overall, with 1 race win and 5 podiums to his name, also claiming 2ndplace in the Independent Drivers’ standings.

Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher finished a credible 4th overall in the Teams Standings – as the highest-placed Independent Team – also claiming 2nd in the Independent Teams’ championship with the newly-developed Ford Focus RS marking a solid debut season with 2 Independent race wins and 11 podiums.

Quotes: 

Team Principal David Bartrum:  
“We came into this weekend with a chance of winning the Independents’ Teams and Drivers titles and a mega outsider on the overall championship, but to be honest that was always out of our reach. Our goal was to try and get Tom to secure 3rd and we achieved exactly what we set out to do. Overhauling Ingram in both championships was a big ask and getting close to Turkington was a step too far. We didn’t quite manage the Independent Teams and Drivers, but I’m very proud of our 4th place overall in the Teams standings and as the highest-placed Independent outfit behind the manufacturer teams.

“Overall I’m really pleased with how we’ve ended the year. We started the season with pretty-much a new car and a brand new driver line-up and with no continuation from last season. So, to come out of the end 3rd overall is a great result. It’s been a good end to the season. The team have worked hard this year; they’re like a well-oiled machine and have consistently delivered. I’m very proud of our achievements.

“Congratulations to Speedworks on their title wins. They are a great bunch of people, I know Christian and Amy well and I’m really chuffed for them. I’m envious as well, but pleased for them and also for Tom Ingram.”

Tom Chilton #3: 
“It’s been a fantastic year. Considering that we got off to a slow start, all the stars aligned. The team has been amazing, I just had to keep kicking the gears and scoring points. I’m a bit frustrated that I didn’t manage to win the Independents’ championship, that’s the only downer from the season. But if I’m honest, 3rd overall is epic. I’ve come off the back of finishing 3rd in the FIA WTCC against some of the best drivers in the world and come into the BTCC in its most competitive season and finished 3rd again.

“I do feel that we’ve had a lot of bad luck this year and I believe that with some more development we’ve got a fantastic package to take forward into next season. If we can finish 3rd with bad luck, what can we do when it all goes our way.

“I’m feeling very happy here at Motorbase and in the car. I love my team-mates to pieces, I owe James and Sam one and if they ever need me when it comes down to the wire like it did today, I will be there for them both, 110%.”

James Cole #20: 
“The second half of the season didn’t really go our way so our aim this weekend was to get back into the points and top ten where we believe we should be, and we managed to do that.  Being in a position to help Tom out in his quest for the independent title was a bonus as well. It was great for the team to know that we are all working together with the same aim.

“That feeling and continuity is one that I’m sure any team would love to keep. From a result perspective, we gained points this weekend which is no easy thing to do in this championship. Here’s to 2019!”

The post Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher signs-off in style at Brands Hatch season finale appeared first on Alliance Racing.

The 2012 British GT Champion and 2010 Carrera Cup GB runner-up will pilot the Kent-based outfit’s 2nd911 GT3 Cup Car for the final two races of the season. Running under the #300, Caine’s car will showcase a specially commissioned livery to celebrate the 300th Porsche Carrera Cup GB race, featuring the names and number of victories of every race winner since the series’ inception in 2003.

Motorbase and Caine have a long-standing relationship with the German marque. After initially joining the Carrera Cup GB grid in 2004, Motorbase competed at the very top of the Championship for seven seasons, notching up an impressive 26 race wins in that time – the third highest of any team in the championship’s history.

Having driven for David Bartrum’s squad from 2009-2014, 49-year-old Caine amassed a total of 14 Carrera Cup GB race wins, ending the 2010 season as Vice-Champion before going on to claim the 2012 British GT Championship title with Motorbase in the Porsche 911 GT3R.

“I remember the Carrera Cup GB from the beginning;” commented Team Principal David Bartrum. “Obviously we weren’t there from the very start. We joined in 2004 in the 2nd year as a team and had a great run through to 2011 with many successes along the way.

“It’s a fantastic series and to think it’s got to 300 races so quickly and we’ve been a part of quite a few of those is quite something. With it falling at our home circuit, we felt obliged to do something a little bit special to mark the occasion. It felt right to bring one of our old Carrera Cup drivers Michael Caine back for the occasion.

“It’s great to look at all of the race winner’s names on the roof of the car, and to see just how many past and present Motorbase drivers are on there. It’s been a big piece of our team’s history and it’ll be nice to be able to celebrate with them.”

Newmarket-based Caine added; “It’s a fantastic opportunity for me to be able to jump in the Motorbase car this weekend. We’ve always joked about me retiring in a pair of Motorbase overalls and this meeting is the last race of the season so who knows!

“I have a great affinity with the team and also the Carrera Cup. I love the racing in the TOCA paddock and it’s great to be able to stay a part of that. The #shredded livery really comes to life on the Porsche and it looks like the best car on the grid. It’s a great tribute to the history of the series and I’m very proud to be a part of the 300th race celebrations.”

The Wrotham-based team arrives at the iconic GP circuit in a fighting second place position in the Pro-Am Championship standings.  22-year-old rookie Dan Vaughan has made an impressive showing on his debut season, collecting 5 race wins and 8 podiums from 14 appearances and heads into the final two races of the year just 7 points adrift of current leader, Seb Perez.

“We’re in with a chance of the Pro-Am title with Dan Vaughan. He’s done a really good job this year;” added the Team Boss. “Despite what some have been saying, Michael is not there to interfere with the championship in any way. I’m wishing Dan a good weekend. If he keeps his head down and keeps doing what he’s been doing all year so should come out of it well. Dan’s done a sterling job this year to be in the title fight in his first year in the Porsche and in my mind it’s a job well done, whatever the result this weekend.”

The final two rounds of the 2018 Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship take place on the world-famous Brands Hatch GP Circuit on September 29/30. Qualifying for round 15 – the 300th Carrera Cup GB race – takes place at 13.05-13.35 on Saturday 29th September, with Sunday 30th September hosting the final title-deciding races of the season at 10.40 and 16.40.

Live timing for all sessions is available via: https://www.tsl-timing.com/event/183903 with live race-day coverage on ITV4, ITV4HD and via itv.com/hub/itv4 from 10.30 – 18.30.

The post Caine returns to Motorbase Performance to commemorate 300th Carrera Cup GB Race appeared first on Alliance Racing.

Tom Chilton leads the Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher charge for the Motorbase-run outfit. Heading into the final three races in 3rd place in the overall standings, he still poses a mathematical threat to title challengers Turkington and Ingram and although on paper the crown is Turkington’s to lose, Chilton is determined to keep the pressure on the lead duo until the final flag drops.

A battle that is well within his reach though, is the highly-coveted Independent Drivers’ Title – where the 33-year-old sits just 20 points off leader Ingram – with a maximum of 60 available from the three races. The Independent Teams’ Title is also set to go right down to the wire, with Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher in a strong 2nd place to Speedworks Motorsport and just 10 points adrift heading into Sunday’s title-deciding triple-header.

With the Motorbase Performance workshop less than 5 minutes away in nearby Wrotham, Brands Hatch is a firm favourite of the squad. The team has celebrated more wins at its local circuit than at any other track over the years and with two titles within its grasp, David Bartrum’s squad is eager to add to that tally as the Ford Focus RS nears the end of its impressive debut season.

Oly Collins Team Manager said; “The final is here! We’re excited to be one of only 3 cars in the title fight. It may be a long shot but we’ll be giving it our all and as we know, anything can happen in the BTCC. We’re in a very good position in the Independent Titles’ fight and can hopefully bring some home advantage to the final round this weekend in our own backyard!

“It’s been a great debut season for the RS this year and 2018 has been a year the whole team can be very proud of. A season of highs and lows and key turning points has become typical in the BTCC and this year has delivered exactly that!”

Driver quotes: 

#3 Tom Chilton: 
“I think the top 3 guys in the championship are going to be hurt really badly by the weight in qualifying. We’re carrying 57kg into qualifying and race 1 with our nearest rivals behind only on 39kg, which is a big drop in weight. With that in mind, the others could all look like heroes on Saturday afternoon.

“It’s going to be a very exciting end to the season. I think the BTCC will see the best of me this weekend. I’m going for it.  As soon as I get a sniff of something I’m gone, and although it’s a long shot I can see the overall title within reach so I’ll be pushing hard. This is my 12th year in the BTCC and 16th year in touring cars so I know exactly where I need to be and what I need to do so I’m feeling confident. I’m looking forward to spraying champagne on that podium on Sunday night!”

#20 James Cole: 
“I’m full of positivity going into the final rounds of the season. Like every year in the BTCC we’ve had our ups and downs but before you know it, it’s over. You almost have to take this round as reflection of the year, take a step back and enjoy it as for the next six months you’ll be wishing for the start of the season again.

“My job this weekend is to help Tom and the team in any way that I can in their title aims. I’m just going to enjoy the round as if it was the first and hopefully get the results that will make the offseason a lot more enjoyable and end the season on a high note.”

The 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season finale takes places on the 2.43mile Brands Hatch GP Circuit on September 29/30. Saturday (September 29) hosts two free practice sessions at 09.30 and 12.05 before the all-important 30-minute qualifying session at 15.20.

Sunday’s (September 30) title-deciding three BTCC races are scheduled for 11.35, 14.25 and 17.15 with live full race day coverage broadcast on ITV4, ITV4HD and online at itv.com/hub/itv4 from 10.30 -18.30.

Live timing for all sessions is available at: https://www.tsl-timing.com/event/183903

Live streaming of Saturday’s qualifying session is also available via: www.itv.com/btcc/qualifying-live

The post Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher hunting hometown glory at BTCC season finale appeared first on Alliance Racing.

Leading a stunning Motorbase 1-2 ahead of his team-mate Tom Chilton in the Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher Focus RS, The GardX-backed racer claimed his maiden race win of the season in race 1 – writing history as the 15th different winner of 2018 – a new championship record before going on to collect a further podium in race 2.

Having consistently out-qualified the rest of the 31-strong-grid all year, the Yorkshireman’s efforts were finally rewarded with his 1st pole position of the season during an incredibly close session on the 1.64 mile National Circuit layout – notably the Ford RS’ first pole position since 1990.

Fighting for his first win of the season, Tordoff held off an early challenge from Collard’s fast-starting BMW before coming under pressure from Chilton in the closing laps. With his eyes firmly set on claiming that elusive first win however, an unassailable drive saw him hold-fast to bring the #600 Focus RS across the line in P1.

Tordoff’s excellent tyre management paid dividends in a dramatic race 2. In-spite of carrying the maximum 75kg of success ballast on-board the #600 Focus, an excellent defensive performance from the Yorkshireman secured 3rd as the flag dropped – marking his 2nd podium visit of the day.

A tough task awaited the Leeds-based driver in race 3. After an excellent start off the line, Tordoff -running on the sub-optimal hard-option tyre with 57kg of ballast – was immediately swamped by the lighter charging pack and dropped down to P6 after being forced to take evasive action to avoid a run-in with an errant Simpson on the opening lap. From there, it was a case of damage limitation as the laps unfolded with the Team GardX Racing with Motorbase Focus collecting another strong haul of points in 12th.

The excellent weekend’s results have propelled Tordoff into the top 10 in the overall standings and up to 5th place in the Independent Championship with Team GardX Racing with Motorbase having moved up to 11th overall and 6th in the Indy Teams’ positions heading into the season finale on the world-famous Brands Hatch GP circuit on September 29/30.

Quotes:

Team Principal David Bartrum: 
“An absolutely fantastic set of results. I am so pleased for Sam and the whole team this weekend, finally getting the results that they deserve. Starting with pole in qualifying and then to follow up with two podiums is everything we’ve earned this year.

“Sam has been by far the unluckiest driver on the grid this season and he’s promised a weekend like this so many times this year. A great team effort and a great drive in race one gave him that elusive victory and then to follow it up with another podium in race 2 with full ballast around here shows what he can do. We can now go to Brands with heads held high and hope to do the same again.”

Sam Tordoff #600: 
“1st pole, 1st win and a podium on full ballast – there are lots of positives to take away from this weekend. We’ve come away from here with a great points haul and finally got that monkey off our back with the first win in the bag.

“We came into the weekend not best pleased with how the season had gone, but this is what we’ve worked hard for. The car has been fast all year but we’ve not had the luck before now. But we delivered when it mattered and that’s what counts.

“There’s a sense of relief for sure that we’ve finally delivered the perfect result in qualifying and then followed that up with the win and a podium. My favourite circuit, Brands Hatch GP, is up next. We go there ballast free so I have expectations of being on pole again and hopefully we can follow that up with another win to end the season on a high.”

The post Team GardX Racing with Motorbase returns to winning ways at Silverstone appeared first on Alliance Racing.

The Motorbase-run squad heads to the acclaimed ‘Home of British Motor Racing’ track in winning form, straight off the back of Tom Chilton’s race 3 win at Knockhill which propelled the Kent-based squad right back into fighting position for the Independent Teams’ and Independent Drivers’ titles with just 6 races remaining.

13-times-BTCC race winner Chilton is also within mathematical reach of the overall Drivers’ Crown with the Reigate-racer in 6th place overall as the BTCC enters the business end of the season on the National Circuit layout.

Silverstone has been a happy hunting ground for the Motorbase-run Ford Focus in past seasons and after securing its maiden race win last time out in Scotland; all eyes are on this year’s RS model to see if the upgraded machine can snatch a repeat performance this coming weekend.

“Historically Silverstone has suited the Focus in recent years;” commented Team Manager Oly Collins. “We’ve enjoyed some good results here and after our win last time out we’re hungry for more silverware as we near the end of another season.

“The independent title looks set to go down to the wire with a good battle, and we’re in contention for the Teams’ and Drivers’ Titles. Both are very tight and we’re right up there with a very strong chance. We’re also within a shout of the Overall Drivers’ Title with Tom, but we really need some other results to go our way for that to be a possibility. This being the BTCC though, anything can happen so I wouldn’t want to call it just yet.”

“At this stage in the season it’s pretty simple though; we’re looking at the top step. As usual, qualifying will be key, and as tight as ever. With such a short lap it will be very close and critical to get that one lap nailed. As has been shown so many times this year – your race 1 grid place can make or break your whole weekend.”

Driver quotes: 

#3 Tom Chilton: 
“The last time I was at Silverstone in a Ford Focus I won, very much like Knockhill.  After taking the win last time at Knockhill I’m hoping that follows through this weekend and we make the top step again. I really need to get another win in the bag to keep my championship alight for the last round.

“It’s so close around there, last year there was just 8 tenths of a second from pole to 32nd which is the closest I’ve ever known in the BTCC. I do think the success ballast will really hurt us in qualifying though. Even if it’s only 3 tenths of a second off, that could mean 15 cars on the grid.

“If we can get into the top 10 in qualifying I’ll be very happy and we can try and work our way through and make the reverse grid work for us again. At Knockhill we went from 17th to 1st in race 3, which shows that anything is possible in the BTCC.” 

#20 James Cole: 
“I have great fun memories of Silverstone when I think of my time with Motorbase there back in 2015 in the Focus ST. It’s where I got my first reverse grid pole and it was a really good meeting for the team. 

“As I’ve said at recent rounds, I just want to get back to where we were in the first half of the season and to get some consistent results and points finishes. Our car should be good around there, we’ve got a fantastic mountune engine which will help us round Silverstone and I’m looking forward to getting back to where we should be.”

Rounds 25, 26 and 27 of the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship get underway at Silverstone Circuit on September 15/16. Saturday 15th September plays host to two 40-minute free practice sessions at 09.25 and 12.05 ahead of the afternoon 30-minute qualifying session at 15.15-15.45.

All three BTCC races take place on Sunday 16th September, with each 22 lap race on the 1.64mile circuit scheduled for 11.15, 14.40 and 17.20. ITV4, ITV4HD will feature live race-day coverage from 11.15-18.30, with live online streaming available via the ITVHub.

Live streaming of Saturday’s qualifying session is also available via: https://www.itv.com/btcc/qualifying-live with live timing from all sessions available at: https://www.tsl-timing.com/event/183703

The post Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher eyes the prize as BTCC prepares for Silverstone showdown appeared first on Alliance Racing.

Chilton’s 2nd place podium finish was part of a commanding opening race performance that saw the Motorbase Performance outfit claim its first 1-2 finish since 2010, with stablemate Sam Tordoff taking the top step honours at the ‘home of British Motor Racing.’

After showing early pace during Saturday’s free practice sessions, Chilton stated his intent as a championship challenger with a P3 grid spot in an incredibly close qualifying session – securing a 2nd row start for his #3 Ford Focus RS – just 0.047 off pole position. Placing 17th in the #20 Focus, James Cole was just tenths off the top lap with less than a second separating the top 29 cars on the grid.

Carrying 33kg of success ballast into the weekend opener, Chilton made a lightning start off the line, moving quickly to take advantage of Collard’s wide manoeuvre heading into Copse to steal into 2nd on the opening lap. Quickly catching his Motorbase team-mate Tordoff for the read lead, Chilton kept the pressure on the GardX-man for the entire race to follow him across the line in P2 – recording his 5th podium of the season and claiming an all-important additional point for fastest lap.

Regrettably Cole’s strong start in the opening race and promising pace – which looked set to deliver a top 10 place – was short-lived after contact on lap 14 dropped him down the order, resulting in a frustrating P21 finish.

Running on the sub-optimal hard tyre with 33kg on board the #3 Focus, race two quickly became damage limitation for Chilton. Putting up an excellent defence over the 22 lap contest, the Reigate-racer battled against the lighter pack – eventually crossing the line in P13 – just missing out on the reverse grid draw. A similar story unfolded for Cole in the #20 Focus.  Also on the Dunlop option tyre, the 30-year-old had fought his way to P17 on the opening lap before taking another unwarranted hit on lap 7, which dropped him to the back of the grid.

Weight-free and back on the favoured prime tyre Chilton got an excellent jump off the line, breaking into the top 10  on the opening lap, before setting his sights on chasing down the lead pack. After scything past Tordoff and Collard to take 5th, the Gallagher-backed racer took his 2nd fastest lap of the day. With a safety car called into play on lap 9 allowing the field to bunch up once more, Chilton headed into a multi-lap four-way battle for a podium spot. Picking up damage on his rear right as he tussled with Cook on the penultimate lap, the #3 Focus RS took a solid P6 finish as the flag dropped.

Cole made excellent progress in the final race of the day, making up an impressive 8 places from his starting grid position in the #20 Focus, regrettably still falling short of the points-scoring zone in P20.

The weekend’s results have launched Chilton back into the overall BTCC title fight heading into the season finale at Brands Hatch in two weeks’ time. Currently lying 3rd in the Championship standings, the 33-year-old sits just 30 points off 2nd placed Ingram and is still mathematically in the running for the overall honours with 67 points still up for grabs from the remaining three races.

Both Independent’s Titles also remain within reach, with Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher 2nd in the Teams’ standings, whilst Chilton holds his 2nd place position in the Drivers’ points as the squad heads to its home circuit for final rounds on September 29/30.

Quotes:

Team Manager Oly Collins:
“A fantastic set of results today. Tom had a mega drive in race one to follow Sam home, despite carrying 33kg of success ballast into the weekend. A great result for the whole team. He delivered another great drive in race 3 which keeps him in the Championship fight, and especially in the Independents’ which will now go down to the wire at Brands Hatch.

“I felt for James today, he was having a great run in race one closing in on the top 10 and was taken out through no fault of his own. For it to happen again in race two just ruined his weekend and was a case of what could have been. We now look forward to the final showdown at Brands Hatch with one of our cars again being in the title showdown.”

Tom Chilton #3:
“I’m really happy with how this weekend has gone. We’ve scored a lot of points and moved up to third in the championship, which is great. We’ve been quick all weekend, right through from free practice to qualifying in P3 carrying 33kg is nothing to be sniffed at around here.

“Race 1 was a fantastic result for Motorbase. I managed to finish 2nd behind my team-mate Sam [Tordoff] and was really happy to be on the podium spraying champagne together. Race 2 was the double-whammy with the hard tyre and weight so it was always going to be painful so it was a good result.

“I got a blinding start in race 3 and overtook from the word go. We were challenging for another podium, unfortunately, Cook tapped me and damaged my rear right which dropped us back and I lost quite a bit of time because I couldn’t see from the smoke. I had a great scrap at the end but sadly lost a place on the closing lap. I have to be happy with the weekend overall though, leaving Silverstone third overall and 2nd in the Independents.”

James Cole #20:
“A tough weekend that sadly didn’t go to plan.  We didn’t maximise the capability of the car in qualifying and even though it was such small margins, unfortunately around here that means a lot of positions. We gained 5 places at the start of race 1 and were looking good for a top 10 finish before being taken out. That put me to the back for race 2 on the hard tyre which was the wrong tyre to have to try to come through the pack. I got taken out again as a result of someone else’s accident in race two and managed to fight back in the final race but it was too little too late to make a difference. If I’d have finished in the top ten in race 1 then it could have been a completely different story.

“I have to congratulate my team-mates Tom and Sam on a great weekend, and fantastic set of results for the team. Hopefully, we can get all three cars up there together at Brands Hatch.”

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The post Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher reignites BTCC title tilt at Silverstone appeared first on Alliance Racing.

Celebrating a victorious return to the top step of the podium at the eighth meeting of the season, the relentless rainfall did little to dampen Chilton’s spirits with the Gallagher-backed racer battling his way from a mid-pack start to take his first BTCC race win since 2011, and second Independent win of the season.

The weekend was a slow-burner for the Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher duo. Following a super-competitive qualifying session that saw over half of the grid beat the previous lap record, Chilton was the highest-placed Motorbase driver in P15 – in spite of being less than half a second off pole – with James Cole placing 22nd for the first of Sunday’s three races.

Passing Lloyd’s Honda on the opening lap in the extreme wet conditions, Chilton held his nerve in the safety car interrupted race and continued to scythe his way through the mid-field to eventually take P12 at the flag. With a tough task ahead of him on the notoriously difficult circuit, Cole endured a tough battled from a less-than-ideal qualifying place, picking up damage to bring the #20 Focus RS home in P24.

Race two was a dramatic affair. After two safety car incidents in treacherous racing conditions, the contest was finally red-flagged after just 20 laps. Chilton made an excellent start off the line and had managed to work his way into the top ten by the first tour of the circuit, moving up to 8th by lap 12 before the race was ended. James Cole was still embroiled in the mid-pack scrap and struggled to progress but managed to make up 4 places to finally cross the line in P20.

With the leading two cars excluded from the race results due to ride-height infringements, the Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher driver’s positions were promoted to P6 and P18. Chilton’s amended result proved to be the turning point of the weekend, placing the #3 Ford Focus RS onto pole position for the final race of the weekend.

Determined to capitalise on his fortuitous position, Chilton stormed off the line and had built up a decent lead to Morgan in the opening laps. A fast-charging Turkington however soon made light work of the Mercedes and had closed the gap to Chilton down to less than half a second by the mid-way point of the race. A defensive masterclass followed, with Chilton holding off the two-time BTCC champion’s BMW for the final six laps in a thrilling closing battle. The 33-year-old’s determination and race-craft delivered the perfect end to the day for the Motorbase squad – claiming the 1st outright race win for the Ford Focus RS on its debut season.

Unfortunately, Cole’s woes continued with the 30-year-old entangled in the back-marker traffic and the #20 Focus RS dropped back a couple of places to end the day in P22.

The weekend’s results have helped to reinstate Chilton’s stake in the Championship title fight – moving him back up into 6th place overall and closing the gap on the Independent Drivers lead. Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher has also consolidated its 4th place position in the overalls Teams’ Championship – as the highest-placed Independent Team – and has closed the gap to the current Indy Teams’ leaders to just 4 points with 6 rounds remaining.

The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship heads to Silverstone – ‘the home of British Motorsport’ – in three weeks’ time for the penultimate meeting of the year on September 15/16.

Quotes:

Team Manager Oly Collins: 
“That’s a fantastic result which pays back the whole team for all the hard work behind the scenes. Tom was mega in the wet today and that first win for our Focus RS was exactly what he and the team deserved. We’ve had a strong car all year but for whatever reason we’ve just not been able to convert it to a win until today.

“It’s a super competitive Championship and you just can’t underestimate what it takes to win races. It keeps us in the hunt for the title. Now we’re hungry for more with 6 races left!”

#3 Tom Chilton: 
“I knew I had to get the perfect start because I had Turkington behind me in the RWD drive and I did! Thankfully I didn’t make the same mistake from Rockingham and I kept the lead for the whole race. I knew that I had the car underneath me and with the experience from all of my years racing here it paid off. It was a really big fight at the end, with Turkington coming through but we had such a good car.

“All credit to the team giving me the car to do the job. Starting from 15th on the grid was tough but it just shows you that if you keep your nose clean and with a little bit of luck you can come through to take a win.”

#20 James Cole: 
“Congratulations to Tom on his win. It was a fantastic effort from the whole team and he drove really well to take that win.

“I think overall the result doesn’t show it, but we have found some improvements in the car which we can take forward to Silverstone. Some more consistent running is what we need, and to have two days of the same weather would be lovely. We’re upbeat for Silverstone, it’s a great circuit that should suit our car really well and it can’t come soon enough.”  

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The post Victory for Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher at Knockhill appeared first on Alliance Racing.

Team Shredded Wheat with Gallagher heads North of the border this coming weekend as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship arrives at Knockhill Racing Circuit in Fife for its annual Scottish appearance (August 25/26).

Just three race meetings remain in the battle for the highly-covered BTCC crown, and with over 200 points still up for grabs, this weekend will play a vital role in keeping the Motorbase-run squad’s title hopes alive as the season enters its final stages.

With 4 podiums already under his belt, Tom Chilton currently lies tied on points for sixth in the Driver Standings, and is just 7 points off 4th place heading into the weekend. The 33-year-old is also within striking distance of the Independent lead as he looks to close the gap at the top of the championship and claim Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher’s maiden win of the season.

After securing six top 10 finishes in the opening four meetings, James Cole has struggled to unlock the full potential of the RS in recent rounds. However, the 30-year-old is optimistic that the tight and twisty nature of the Scottish track will play to the strengths of the Ford’s chassis and signal a return to the strong form shown at the start of the season.

Team Manager Oly Collins commented; “Knockhill is an awesome challenge for the drivers, engineers and the whole team. We know the Focus has been quick this season and we’re looking to convert that pace into results this weekend.

“With such a short lap it will be as close as ever, and qualifying will be the key to unlocking the chances of a strong weekend. Tom is well placed in the Championship and we’re looking to build on that with only 3 meetings left. James also needs a turnaround weekend and change in fortunes to make sure that we stay in title fight.”

The unique and much-loved circuit has become a firm favourite for the Kent-based Motorbase outfit in recent years, with the previous Ford Focus ST model taking a fifth win of the season in 2016 and a commanding double podium celebration the year before. Chilton also has a winning past with the blue oval on the picturesque circuit, having taken pole position and a win here in the Ford Focus back in 2011.

Driver quotes: 

#3 Tom Chilton: 
“Last time I raced at Knockhill in a Ford Focus was back in 2011, which saw me qualify in pole position and go on to win the race. It would be great if we could repeat history again this weekend.

“I’m gutted I lost a potential win at Rockingham last time out and can’t believe how disappointed I felt with only a 3rd and a 10th. The car has a lot of potential and I need to make sure we maximise the most of what we have this weekend, as I can really feel that win is getting ever so closer. 

“I love racing at Knockhill and can’t wait to be back on two wheels having fun again.”

#20 James Cole: 
“Knockhill is unlike any other circuit that we race on in the BTCC. If you like rollercoasters, you’ll like Knockhill! I think it will suit our car. We’ve been consistent this season, apart from the last couple of rounds where we tried something different. We’ve learnt a lot from that though and can adapt that to what we already have and get back to a car that can challenge in the top 5 and push for podiums.

Live streaming of Saturday’s qualifying session is also available via: https://www.itv.com/btcc/qualifying-live with live timing from all sessions available at: https://www.tsl-timing.com/event/183703

The post Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher on the hunt for highland glory appeared first on Alliance Racing.

The seventh meeting of the season delivered mixed fortunes for the Motorbase-run squad. After a strong start for Chilton with a third placed podium and a further top ten finish, unfortunately James Cole suffered a difficult opening two races and the duo ended the weekend on a low note, recording DNFs for both Ford Focus RS machines after opening lap contact.

Starting from P7 for Sunday’s opening race, Chilton made a lightening start off the line charging up into 2nd place as Cammish and Tordoff collided coming into the first hairpin – bringing out the first safety car of the day.  With the imminent threat of rain, Chilton held position on the restart from Sutton’s fast-charging Subaru. A defensive masterclass from the Gallagher-backed driver held off the reigning BTCC champion for an incredible 8 laps before he eventually succumbed, dropping back to take third at the flag and claim the team’s 4th podium of the season.

Having trialled a new set-up on the #20 Focus in qualifying, Cole had a tough ask to move through the pack from P25. The Liverpool-backed racer did well to avoid the opening lap melee and survive the mid-field tussles to bring RS home relatively unscathed in P19.

Race two was a classic BTCC elbows-out scrap. Wrestling with 57kg of success ballast on-board, Chilton got bogged down off the line and struggled to keep pace with the lighter horde. After a big side-ways moment and contact on lap 5 that dropped the #3 Focus RS down the order, the 33 year-old battled his way back through to claim 10th.

Cole endured his own fight in the mid-pack during the safety-car interrupted race. After contact on the opening lap dropped him back to 29th, he managed to pilot the #20 Focus back through the tight pack to make up an impressive 10 places to take a credible 19th as the flag dropped.

With the reversed grid draw slotting Chilton into pole position for the final race of the day, the odds looked good for a 2nd podium visit of the day. Running on the less favourable Dunlop option hard-compound tyre – just as the intermittent rain returned – the Reigate-racer got a superb start off the line and had built up a decent gap to Simpson’s following Honda. Disaster struck however as they headed into the first hairpin with the #3 Focus sliding wide on the greasy track before being collected as it re-joined the track; causing race-ending damage and the halting the team’s hopes of a maiden race win of the season.

With numerous other cars caught out in the changeable weather conditions, Cole’s day was also brought to an abrupt early end. Having avoided the first turn chaos, the 29-year-old was ruled out of the running after suspension damage from a heavy side-ways shunt at the chicane – leaving Cole to rue what might have been from a very a challenging weekend.

In spite of the mixed results and missed opportunities, the weekend’s results have helped to improve the squad’s position in the series’ standings. Tom Chilton has moved up into 7th place overall and 2nd in the Independent Drivers Championship. Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher has also jumped up to 4th in the overall Teams’ standings – as the highest placed Independent Team – and sits just 25 points off the leaders in the Independent Teams’ Championship, with 9 rounds remaining.

Knockhill in Fife in the next on the calendar for Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher, as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship enters its closing stages for rounds 22, 23 and 24 on the August bank holiday weekend (August 25/26).

Quotes:

Team Principal David Bartrum: 
“I’m not sure how else to describe this weekend – other than yo-yo! Tom did a good job in qualifying to get P7 and to go on and get that podium in race 1. The second race was tough all round but we stayed in fight and we were looking good for a strong finish to the day with the reverse grid draw.

“I actually thought our luck might have been changing after getting draw on pole. The extra green flag laps gave us more time to get some heat into the hard tyres as the rain came and then it was all over by the first corner!

“Highs and lows all weekend. We qualified well, we raced well, the car has the pace but yet again it just hasn’t gone the way it should have gone. It’s very frustrating but we’ll lick our wounds, get the cars sorted and try again in Scotland.”

#3 Tom Chilton: 
“We nearly had 2 more podiums this weekend. Sadly we only managed one in the end, but I guess it’s quite nice to be disappointed with a podium!

“I got a cracking start in the last race but then I got massive oversteer on the banking, went wide and then the contact ended our race. The team have done a great job this weekend. We’ve developed the car again and moved up in the Championship. 

“I’m gutted for everybody that I didn’t get a 2nd podium and that magical win.”

#20 James Cole: 
“Since Snetterton, myself and my engineer James Mundy have been developing our car in a different direction. We had a car that was great in the first half of the year, but we tried to push to see if we could improve our results and challenge for wins. Sadly it didn’t work, and after qualifying it was apparent that we weren’t going the right way to get the best result at the moment, so we went back to what we knew.

“Sometimes to take a step forward you end up taking a step back. We found some improvements in the car but it’s a lot harder to drive and actually in hindsight going back to what we knew at the start of the season was the right thing to do. We went back to that for race 1 and the car felt good. Unfortunately we got caught up in accidents again in all three races and it dropped us out of any points contention. Making radical changes in the mid-season is a risk and unfortunately it didn’t pay off for us. To be 6 tenths off in qualifying when the field is competitive is as is it this year, comes back to bite you.

“The Motorbase crew did a great job on the car, and I have to say a big thank you to the mechanics for putting the changes in place. I’m just sorry that it didn’t pay off. But without risk, there is no reward.”

The post Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher powers through to take 4th podium at Rockingham appeared first on Alliance Racing.