Following rounds 25, 26 and 27, the Wrotham squad’s NAPA Racing UK entry has opened a healthy 42 point lead in the Teams’ Championship while reigning BTCC Champion Ash Sutton has moved five points clear at the top of the Drivers’ Championship. Motorbase Performance/Ford, meanwhile, is second in the BTCC Manufacturers/Constructors title battle.

Sutton initially took over the lead of the driver standings following an action-packed opening race, not least thanks to more selfless teamwork from Dan Cammish – just as he displayed at Thruxton. From fifth on the grid, Cammish made a good start and although slipping to sixth into lap two he moved up to fourth a couple of laps later as the action in the lead bunch became increasingly frenetic.

Sutton, who had slipped to ninth after a sluggish getaway, fought back through and by lap nine the two NAPA Racing UK Fords were sixth and seventh. After a mid-race Safety Car the pair ran nose-to-tail and on the final lap, at Brooklands, Cammish moved aside to allow Sutton to claim sixth and vital extra points – more crucial than ever with erstwhile series leader Colin Turkington not scoring.

Starting sixth and seventh for round 26, Sutton and Cammish immediately gained a place apiece off the line and Sutton then moved into fourth at the end of the first lap. Cammish, meanwhile, was shuffled back to seventh and remained there for the duration while Sutton challenged for third right to the finish, all the while having to soak up huge pressure latterly from title rival Tom Ingram.

Cammish started round 27 from second on the partially reversed grid, with Sutton starting fifth, but the former’s great start was badly hindered almost immediately when pole-starter Josh Cook moved sharply across to the right and Cammish’s Ford Focus brushed the pit wall.

Sutton was able to emerge through it all in second place at Becketts, with Cammish down to fifth, and Sutton remained there throughout for his 12th podium of the year. Cammish battled hard with Cook over fourth place on lap five and although gaining the position with some great determined driving, he was latterly edged to fifth by Jake Hill’s BMW on lap 18.

Apec Racing with Beavis Morgan’s Ollie Jackson experienced a mightily frustrating round 25, after a great qualifying run and a strong first few laps were compromised due to plenty of contact. Starting the race 13th, Jackson ran comfortably in the lead group and climbed to the cusp of the top 10 by lap four. After being put wide, though, and taking more contact he ultimately had to settle for 19th.

Race two went much more smoothly for Jackson, a fantastic drive from the 10th row of the grid almost delivering a deserved top 10 result. Slicing through the order superbly during the opening laps, by the fourth tour he was 12th and running brilliantly. Following the second of two Safety Car periods Jackson was 11th – due to Ricky Collard’s Toyota expiring in flames – where he stayed.

Round 27 was even better, Jackson moved up from 11th into seventh on a terrific opening lap and although passed by Tom Chilton into lap four Jackson managed to get ahead of Adam Morgan so remained seventh. Following the first of two Safety Car periods Jackson was challenged by Gordon Shedden and Jake Hill so slipped to ninth, but held off all other challengers to match his season best.

Osborne had a lot of work to do in race one from 26th on the grid but battled hard, and emerged from an incident-packed contest with a top 20 result just behind his team-mate. Gaining three spots on lap one alone, during the middle of the race the battle see-sawed but Osborne secured 20th with a couple of laps to go, and also his sixth top three result of the year in the Jack Sears Trophy class.

The start of round 26 didn’t go as intended for Osborne, dropping to almost the tail of the field after more contact not of his making. But from 27th place on lap three, he maintained his concentration and gradually worked his way back through to finish in 23rd position. In the final race he was again a magnet for contact from rivals, but eventually managed to bring his Ford Focus home in 21st place.

Oly Collins – Motorbase Performance Team Manager:
“Another great weekend as we get another step closer to the end of this season. There was some good teamwork on Saturday, the drivers and crews working together for a tow helped in qualifying which was important for this weekend. Then working together again in the races has ultimately given us a small edge over the competition going into the last weekend. In the BTCC the smallest margin can be just enough. As tight as it is, it’s awesome to be going into the final round leading the Drivers’ Championship and leading the Teams’ Championship. Now it’s our job to make sure it’s the same leaving Brands Hatch!”

Ash Sutton – NAPA Racing UK, No.1:
“It’s like it’s been scripted all year hasn’t it, let’s be honest! It couldn’t be any tighter, you’ve got a great combination [at the top of the championship] of two front-wheel drive cars and a rear-wheel drive car. Brands is our home circuit for the team and we’ve had a mega weekend here, so I’m looking forward to Brands. We’re in a really good place with the car, the second half of the season I’ve felt at one with it. We’ve been able to dial it in, tweak it, chip away at it and it’s got us into the championship lead. I couldn’t have asked for any more going into the final round.”

Dan Cammish – NAPA Racing UK, No.9:
“This weekend reminded me of Oulton Park, we’ve been nicely well inside the top 10 all day but just not quite quick enough to mix it with the top four – we struggled to unlock that last little bit we needed. Race three was my big chance, it all happened so fast at the start and I think I did just brush the wall but Josh [Cook] apologised afterwards. Without that, it might have been different. I played the team role again in race one to help Ash [Sutton] and as a team we’ve scored really well with both cars, it’s been a great weekend again for NAPA Racing UK.”

Ollie Jackson – Apec Racing with Beavis Morgan, No.48:
“I could’ve done without the punt in race one, but we’ve had good pace all weekend and I’m finally starting to get a handle on this Hybrid car. Races two and three were very strong. In the last race, when [Tom] Chilton got in front I decided I wasn’t going any further forward – I’d been up in sixth or seventh at one point – so I was a bit more defensive and playing the team game there to keep the other guys behind. We’re definitely getting better rocking up with a car that just needs tweaks, not major changes. I’m definitely feeling positive for Brands.”

Sam Osborne – Apec Racing with Beavis Morgan, No.77:
“There was so much contact this weekend, smashing the steering about in all three races. It feels like the more racing room you give, the more they take advantage and just don’t care about driving into you. I always pride myself on being one of the cleanest drivers out there, so it’s frustrating when things happen like that. It is what it is though. We’re still not quite there coping with the extra weight of the Hybrid, it’s only little steps we need to make though until everything clicks.”

Motorbase’s home track, Brands Hatch in Kent, will host the BTCC season finale over the weekend 8th/9th October. Rounds 28, 29 and 30 will be contested on the full length Grand Prix Circuit.

2022 BTCC Drivers Championship
1st Ash Sutton, 345pts; 8th Dan Cammish, 184pts; 22nd Ollie Jackson, 33pts; 25th Sam Osborne, 1pt

2022 BTCC Manufacturers/Constructors Championship
2nd Motorbase Performance/Ford, 648pts

2022 BTCC Teams Championship
1st NAPA Racing UK, 522pts; 13th Apec Racing with Beavis Morgan, 40pts

2022 Jack Sears Trophy
4th Sam Osborne, 305pts

The post SUTTON MOVES INTO BTCC POINTS LEAD AT SILVERSTONE AND NAPA RACING UK TAKES ADVANTAGE IN TEAMS BATTLE appeared first on Alliance Racing.

Following on from his third win of the campaign last time out at Thruxton, memorably achieved in his 200th BTCC race, reigning champion Ash Sutton is second in the Drivers Championship ahead of the penultimate event of the year after accruing a big haul of points.

Only six points shy of current leader Colin Turkington, Sutton’s season in the No.1 Ford Focus ST is really beginning to come together and a record-equaling fourth BTCC crown is an increasing reality in his first year with NAPA Racing UK, and his first season since 2016 in a front-wheel drive car.

Team-mate Dan Cammish was finally able to cast aside the misfortune which had blighted the bulk of his season during the second visit of 2022 to Thruxton last month, and in the best way possible too with NAPA Racing UK’s maiden pole position and a superb lights-to-flag victory in race one.

In the second contest, Cammish aced the start again and was on course to make it two wins from two. But as the incredible team player he is, the three-time Porsche Carrera Cup GB Champion enabled Sutton to move through on the penultimate lap to take the victory and the vital extra points for his title bid. Cammish heads to Silverstone eighth in the standings and eyeing more success.

Such was the points haul last time out in the NAPA Racing UK camp, the highest scoring team at Thruxton, the squad is second in the BTCC Teams Championship. Motorbase Performance/Ford is also second in the Manufacturers/Constructors Championship.

Ollie Jackson and Sam Osborne will both be pursuing consistent points finishes at Silverstone for Apec Racing with Beavis Morgan, with Jackson looking to build on the strong drive to 14th place achieved in the last of the Thruxton races and also the season-best ninth place he secured during the previous race meeting at Snetterton. He is, of course, a former BTCC race winner at Silverstone.

Osborne had an unfortunate conclusion to the Thruxton weekend, with contact on lap two pitching his Ford Focus ST into retirement. While somewhat frustrated with the event’s results, as Thruxton is one of his least favoured tracks he is now relishing the trip to Silverstone where he will be targeting a return to the outright top 15 for the first time since the BTCC first visited Thruxton back in May.

Oly Collins – Motorbase Performance Team Manager:
“With two race meetings to go this is the time you have more than one eye on the championship standings. We had an outstanding weekend last time out at Thruxton, with multiple wins and podiums with both NAPA cars, and that’s put Ash right in the mix at the top end of the title fight. Hopefully we can replicate that form at Silverstone and make sure we go into Brands Hatch with a really good chance. Silverstone is always so close on times with such a short and relatively simple lap. We’ve been strong there in the past so we’re looking forward to seeing what the weekend will bring! The teamwork throughout the whole crew is very evident this year and that’s a big help when you’re in this position.”

Ash Sutton – NAPA Racing UK, No.1:
“I’m looking forward to Silverstone this weekend. We’re getting down to the climax of the season now and I’m relishing what lies ahead. Three wins in as many events means we head into the weekend with some real momentum behind us, and despite Silverstone being a completely different challenge to Thruxton I’m confident we can be in the mix. The car is feeling awesome so let’s get after it and see what we can do.”

Dan Cammish – NAPA Racing UK, No.9:
“I am feeling confident for Silverstone, we actually turned a corner at Snetterton but you just had to look a bit deeper. Then we turned up at Thruxton, put it on pole, won race one and had the speed to win race two. Winning a BTCC race is a huge achievement, so to give the [race two] win away like we did at Thruxton shouldn’t be underestimated. As a team we’re fighting for three titles though, so it was the right thing for me to do. It’s all about the bigger picture for NAPA Racing UK and Motorbase, not just this year but going forward. I’m excited ahead of Silverstone and looking forward to it.”

Ollie Jackson – Apec Racing with Beavis Morgan, No.48:
“Looking forward to Silverstone, traditionally the car has been strong there and I’ve usually been competitive. We’ve been getting stronger and stronger in the second half of the season as our understanding of the car builds, so hopefully this is the one where we crack it and get back up into the top 10. Quali is the key so that’s what we’re going to be focusing on. If we get lucky on the reverse grid I could bring back some silverware, or perhaps even repeat my win!”

Sam Osborne – Apec Racing with Beavis Morgan, No.77:
“I always look forward to racing, so looking forward to Silverstone! Since Thruxton I’ve spent some time on the sim, refining things, and it should be mega close in qualifying – just a couple of tenths lost and you’re way down the grid. Ash and Dan have their cars in a really good place, so we’ll try to work from their base and challenge for the top 10 – that’s always my aim. I think it’s achievable, there’s been a lot of ‘shoulda, coulda’ this season so we just have to make it all come together.”

Opening free practice for the touring cars will get underway at 09.25 on Saturday, 24th September, with the second session beginning at 12.05 ahead of qualifying at 15.05 – the latter to be streamed live at www.itv.com/btcc

On Sunday, 25th September, round 25 of the BTCC season will start at 11.40, round 26 will follow at 14.25 and round 27 will conclude the on track action at 17.10. All three races will be streamed online and screened live on ITV4.

2022 BTCC Drivers Championship
2nd Ash Sutton, 305pts; 8th Dan Cammish, 155pts; 22nd Ollie Jackson, 21pts; 25 Sam Osborne, 1pt

2022 BTCC Manufacturers/Constructors Championship
2nd Motorbase Performance/Ford, 576pts

2022 BTCC Teams Championship
2nd NAPA Racing UK, 453pts; 13th Apec Racing with Beavis Morgan, 27pts

2022 Jack Sears Trophy
4th Sam Osborne, 268pts

The post MOTORBASE AIMING HIGH FOR SILVERSTONE AS BTCC TITLE RACE ENTERS CRUCIAL STAGE appeared first on Alliance Racing.

The post Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher salvages the points in Silverstone showdown appeared first on Alliance Racing.

With the single-marque series racing alongside the FIA World Endurance Championship for the first time since 2016, the Kent-based squad claimed 4 pieces of the silverware overall on the iconic 3.7 mile track. Taking third-place podiums in both races, David Bartrum’s outfit also collected the Team of the Weekend award, with Dan Vaughan taking the coveted Driver of the Weekend honours.

Mixed results for the Motorbase duo in qualifying saw the drivers split across the starting grid for race 1.  A strong start from Plato from the second-row saw the Essex-racer maintain position in tricky, damp, conditions to take P3 at the flag, securing his seventh podium of the season.

Having struggled to hook-up the car in practice and qualifying, Vaughan came alive in the weekend opener, scything his way through the field from P12 to make up an impressive seven places on the tightly-contested grid to bring the #55 Porsche 911 home in P5.

Starting from P2 for Sunday’s second race, Plato made an outstanding charge off the line to challenge Gamble for the lead, before contact with Harper forced the #11 Porsche down to 4^th. Further drama on lap 8 with Plato and Harper coming together for a second time relegated him further, and the 26-year-old eventually crossed the line in P5.

Having made his way into podium contention on the opening lap, Vaughan’s fight-back continued in race two. A commanding drive through from fifth to third was rewarded with a return to the rostrum for the New-Forest-based driver. Proudly collecting silverware for his second podium finish of the year, Vaughan also secured the Driver of the Weekend trophy.

#11 Lewis Plato:

“We arrived at Silverstone on the back foot with the other front runners having had the benefit of racing on the GP circuit in the Supercup a few weeks ago. I’d like to think when we return to the National layout it will be more of an even playing field for everyone and we can get back to the front of the pack.

“We’ve really had the upper hand on Webster all season, but this weekend he’s closed the gap to us. So the plan is get that back. Race hard and clean in the next two meetings and finish off the season with a strong second in the championship.”

#55 Dan Vaughan:

“Silverstone was a great weekend. We struggled on Friday and in qualifying but the team worked hard and we found a set-up that worked well for us in the races. We had a good race car, even if the outright pace in qualifying wasn’t as good.

“It’s a really important part of the championship for us to have that points score. I can’t wait to get back out on the National circuit in a few weeks and try and go one or two better.”

Results:

#11 Lewis Plato:

Qualifying: P3

Round 11: P3

Round 12: P5

#55 Dan Vaughan:

Qualifying: P12

Round 11: P5

Round 12: P3

Pro Category

1             Dan Harper JTR 1.32 points

2             Lewis Plato Motorbase Performance 79 points

5             Dan Vaughan Motorbase Performance 46 points

Teams Championship

1             JTR 313 points

2             Motorbase Performance 297 points

3             Amigos Redline Racing 264 points

The post Double podium marks Silverstone success for Motorbase Performance appeared first on Alliance Racing.

Plato arrives at the Northampton circuit second in the overall championship standings. Hunting down more victories to add to his win from Croft earlier this year; the 26-year-old needs to snatch a solid haul of points to keep his title-winning hopes alive.

Vaughan will be hoping to build on his impressive performance from Thruxton just two weeks ago. The New-Forest-based racer displayed flashes of exciting pace over the weekend, but struggled to convert that into strong results, and the Motorbase man is keen for a rostrum return as the season picks up pace.

The Motorbase crew enjoyed a successful test on the 3.66mile GP circuit earlier in the month, and both drivers are keen to convert those learnings into silverware during the weekend’s double-header.

#11 Lewis Plato:

“I’ve raced that weekend before. I’m looking forward to it. It’s great to see all of the GT and LMP cars racing. It’s different to the TOCA weekend which gets huge crowds and is a real event, whereas I feel the WEC is more for enthusiasts. But it’s lovely to be racing there and on the full GP circuit. The Porsche needs somewhere you can stretch its legs. There are plenty of places to overtake so it offers up far more opportunities during a race.

“We tested there recently and I think it’s just trying to improve the car in little increments. We’re in a good position already, but those tiny bits can be the difference to getting the wins. On paper we’re quite a way off the championship lead, but its motorsport and anything can happen. I don’t think you can ever really say it’s over until the last flag drops. We’ve just got to treat every weekend the same, keep chasing for the wins.”

#55 Dan Vaughan:

“It’s a big weekend for sure. Every driver wants to race on as big a stage as possible. I’m really looking forward it. It’s a circuit that the people who have done the Super Cup before have a massive advantage on. So I don’t really know what to expect. But I came into Thruxton blind and we had a good start.

“The team have done a great job all season, I just hope that we can get a little rub of luck and get the results we deserve at the weekend.”

The post Motorbase Performance hunting Silverstone success as Porsche Carrera Cup GB tackles the GP circuit. 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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