Rob Austin laments “moronic” driving standards

Rob Austin has spoken out at what he saw as “moronic” driving by his competitors at Donington Park on Sunday.

Austin managed to score just a single point for setting the fastest lap in the first race, a time set on slick tyres in the damp following a lengthy pit stop in his Audi A4.

That came about when team-mate Hunter Abbott was collected by another driver and in turn hit Austin, with Abbott retiring as a result.

Race two led to more incidents, when Austin had a coming together with Chris Stockton and Jack Clarke and went off the circuit. He rejoined in front of Robb Holland and James Cole, who both had enormous accidents when they couldn’t avoid him.

To complete what he called a “day of despair”, Austin was hit from behind by Tom Ingram in the final race, a move which saw the Audi A4 retire in the pits, and led to the Speedworks Motorsport man being excluded.

Austin said: “We genuinely felt our pace in race trim would have brought three solid points results today but instead this. There has also been some moronic driving out there from some people which has affected both me and Hunter.

“What happened in the second race was a joke, plus it was a chance of a top 10 gone begging. In race three I felt I was overtaken when the yellow flags and safety car boards were out which is totally against the rules but even then I reckon we were on for a top eight only to be wiped out.

“I don’t have anything against the driver in the other car which hit me as he made a genuine error and has apologised but the damage to my car is immense – so much so that the whole steel frame at the rear has been shoved forwards into the rear tyres.

“It means a heap of work needs to be done restoring Sherman (his car) for the next rounds at Thruxton. We’ll manage it OK – I have the most dedicated and fantastic mechanics, sponsors and fans of anyone on the grid – and we will come back strong. I am determined of that.”

Abbott said: “In race one I was mortified it was Rob’s car I collected but thankfully we both know it wasn’t my doing. In race two I had a great first lap – up to 19th from 31st – only for the conditions to catch me out later and I spun into the gravel which was gutting.

“Then just as I was coming to the grid to start race three the car’s propshaft broke. The team work that went into fixing it in the pit lane was incredible but by that time I was two laps down when I got into the race.

“This has been my second event with the team and it’s clear that today is simply not representative of where we are in terms of our level of competitiveness. “