Touring car stars soak up Silverstone Classic

Stars from the world of Touring Cars descended on the Home of British Motorsport for three scorching days of action as the Silverstone Classic proved once again why it’s regarded as one of the best classic racing festivals in the world.

Reigning British Touring Car Champions Honda Yuasa Racing were out in force, bringing Matt Neal’s ‘new’ Ford Lotus Cortina out to play. Gordon Shedden set the pace in qualifying for the Under 2-Litre Touring Car race before engaging in a battle for the lead of the race with Richard Meaden’s similar machine. A stone in the radiator ended the Scot’s charge and meant that Neal’s race was over before it had even begun.

“We’re just here for something to do with our weekend off,” Shedden told TouringCarTimes. “It’s just a great scene, a lot of fun, and it’s nice to be able to enjoy some motorsport.”

“It’s all about having fun. The U2TC race is a highly competitive class and it’s a lot of fun,” added Neal, who tested Dan Wheeler’s Super Touring Nissan Primera earlier in the week. “I said I’d never step back in a Super Tourer that wasn’t mine, but Dan asked me to test his so I gave it a go. I’ve actually been looking to buy back my ’99 car [that won him £250,000 as the first independent to win a BTCC race], we’ve found it in Malaysia, but the guy just won’t sell it.”

Fellow BTCC driver, and current championship leader, Colin Turkington also got behind the wheel at the Classic, driving the BMW CSL ‘Batmobile’ in the first Super Touring Championship race of the weekend. An impressive drive from the newly-married Turkington took the car in to the top 20 overall and third in class, before going off to enjoy the sun and some ice creams with his family.

2012 World Touring Car Champion Rob Huff got behind the wheel of a Ford Mondeo in the second Super Touring race of the weekend, making an absolutely lightning start to jump from 13th on the grid to 2nd after just two corners. He would eventually take the chequered flag after a highly entertaining dice with James Dodd in a Honda Accord.

“These cars are what inspired me to get behind the wheel of a touring car,” explained Huff. “They’re amazing bits of kit and to get to drive one is an absolute pleasure. The car was a dream to drive, and that James Dodd will be one to watch, he’s definitely quick.”

The Super Tourers also attracted BTCC stars past and present to come and have a closer look, with both Jason Plato and reigning champion Andrew Jordan seen in the assembly area prior to the races.

“They’re just great cars,” Plato told TouringCarTimes. “Back in the day these were the pinnacle of saloon cars, it’s just a shame we don’t get to drive anything as exotic as these nowadays. If I’m free at a meeting I’d absolutely love to get back in one of these cars.”

“They’re mega,” added Jordan, who’s father Mike, a former BTCC and British GT racer, was seen catching up with Steve Soper before Saturday’s race. “I tested a Laguna and a Cavalier at Oulton Park, and they were amazing. I just really, really want to have a go and race one.”