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Super Tourers preparing for Rockingham debut

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Over twenty historic touring cars will be lining up on the grid at Rockingham this weekend as the Super Touring Car Trophy prepares to support the British Touring Car Championship.

After a successful appearance at Oulton Park last season, despite less than perfect weather, the Super Tourers were invited back to the BTCC package for Rockingham in 2015. This weekend’s event will see the series make its debut at Rockingham, while also making it the first year since its inception that it will not visit Oulton Park.

Heading the field will be the familiar faces of John Cleland and Patrick Watts in their respective Vauxhall Vectra and Peugeot 406, while Tim Harvey is scheduled to share a BMW E30 M3 with Dave Ball. While none of the three drove the Rockingham circuit in their time in the BTCC, Tim Harvey has competed at the circuit in both Porsche Carrera Cup GB and British GT.

Likely to be challenging for the outright victory will once again be Stewart Whyte and James Dodd in the hugely successful Honda Accords. Whyte has won all but two races in 2015, with the other victories being taken by Patrick Watts at Donington Park and Frank Wrathall at Silverstone.

Dodd, meanwhile, suffered with reliability at Donington Park before missing the Brands Hatch round. With a highest result this season of second to Frank Wrathall at Silverstone, Dodd will be keen to add a victory to his impressive tally from his championship-winning 2014 campaign.

Neil Smith and Simon Garrad will be looking to pick up where they left off, enjoying a thrilling battle during the dry race at the Silverstone Classic, in their Alfa Romeo 156 and Opel Vectra respectively.

As always, the GA category is expected to feature a close fight between Harry Whale and Mark Smith in the BMW M3s, while Harvey/Ball and Jason Minshaw will be hoping to join in the action around the American-style circuit in Northampton.

A range of other historic machinery, including three Ford Mondeos and the rare Mazda 323 of Ric Wood make up a strong grid for the final meeting of the Super Touring season.

Timetable (All times BST)

Saturday 5th September
Qualifying – 11:30 (30 mins)
Race One – 16:20 (20 mins)

Sunday 6th September
Race Two – 14:30 (20 mins)

PROVISIONAL ENTRY LIST – ROUNDS 7 & 8 – ROCKINGHAM

No – Driver – Car
1 – James Dodd – Honda Accord
4 – Graeme Dodd – Nissan Primera
7 – Paul Smith – Audi A4
9 – Jason Minshaw – BMW E30 M3
11 – Steve Dymoke – Alfa Romeo 156
12 – Patrick Watts – Peugeot 406
14 – Malcolm Harrison – Peugeot 406
17 – Mark Smith – BMW M3
19 – Andrew Kirkley – Ford Sierra RS500
27 – Ric Wood – Mazda 323
29 – Paul Rivett – Honda Accord
31 – Roger Lavender – Ford Mondeo
33 – Alan Strachan – Ford Mondeo
36 – Keith Butcher – Nissan Primera
37 – Simon Garrad – Opel Vectra
60 – Mark Wright – Ford Escort RS1800
66 – Harry Whale – BMW M3
67 – Tony Absolom – Vauxhall Cavalier
68 – Richard Meins – Ford Mondeo
70 – Stewart Whyte – Honda Accord
83 – Dave Ball/Tim Harvey – BMW E30 M3
97 – Neil Smith – Alfa Romeo 156
98 – John Cleland – Vauxhall Vectra