Super Tourers set for Brands Hatch challenge

Twenty four historic touring cars will take to the famed Brands Hatch tarmac this weekend as the HSCC Super Touring Car Challenge prepares for its second meeting of the season.

Looking to continue their strong start to the year will be Donington Park race winners Patrick Watts and Stewart Whyte, who was strong at Brands Hatch in 2014, in their respective Peugeot 406 and Honda Accord. Meanwhile, 2014 champion James Dodd will be hoping to kick start his 2015 season after a disappointing opening meeting saw Dodd have to step in to his old Nissan Primera following a clutch issue with his Honda Accord.

The same clutch issue blighted the similar car of father Graeme Dodd, who will line up at Brands Hatch hopeful the gremlins have been put to bed. Also hoping to put his Donington reliability issues behind him is John Cleland, who’s Vauxhall Vectra was on the back foot after struggling with brake issues during qualifying and race one.

Paul Smith will be hoping for a return to form in his Audi A4, after he was unable to turn his Donington pole position in to a result in either of the weekend’s races.

Potential front runners for Brands Hatch include Neil Smith in an Alfa Romeo 156 and Tom Gladdis in a Honda Accord, both of whom showed promising pace at Donington Park.

Meanwhile, Simon Garrad is set to debut his new Opel Vectra, having been kept away at the opening round with engine issues, while Andy Wolfe will return in his unique Opel Belmont.

The thrilling BMW M3 duel between Harry Whale and Mark Smith could get even more exciting with the addition of Jason Minshaw in his M3, while Darren Fielding is scheduled to bring his Super Touring BMW out for the first time of the year having also been unable to race at Donington due to engine problems.

The Ford Mondeo will be represented for the first time in 2015, with Richard Meins and Alan Strachan on the Brands Hatch entry list. Meanwhile, series regulars Steve Dymoke, Ric Wood, Tony Absolom and Dave Jarman will also be in action.

Saturday’s qualifying and Sunday’s race sessions will take place on Brands Hatch’s Grand Prix layout, while Monday will see a second qualifying session and race on the shorter Indy circuit.

The entry list has been compiled by names in the FIA’s garage plan and may be subject to alterations.

PROVISIONAL ENTRY LIST – ROUNDS 3 & 4 – BRANDS HATCH MASTERS HISTORIC

1 – James Dodd – Honda Accord
4 – Graeme Dodd – Honda Accord
7 – Paul Smith – Audi A4
8 – Darren Fielding – BMW 318i
9 – Jason Minshaw – BMW M3
11 – Steve Dymoke – Alfa Romeo 156
12 – Patrick Watts – Peugeot 406
14 – Malcolm Harrison – Peugeot 406
15 – Craig Davies – Ford Sierra RS500
17 – Mark Smith – BMW M3
20 – Chris Beighton – Honda Accord
27 – Ric Wood – Mazda 323
33 – Alan Strachan – Ford Mondeo
37 – Simon Garrad – Opel Vectra
63 – Andy Wolfe – Opel Belmont
64 – Paul Whight – Honda Accord
66 – Harry Whale – BMW M3
67 – Tony Absolom – Vauxhall Cavalier
68 – Richard Meins – Ford Mondeo
70 – Stewart Whyte – Honda Accord
77 – Dave Jarman – Nissan Primera
93 – Tom Gladdis – Honda Accord
97 – Neil Smith – Alfa Romeo 156
98 – John Cleland – Vauxhall Vectra