Rookies First Impressions of 2008

The BTCC season kicked off at Brands Hatch on the 30th March 2008 with a bumper grid of 25 cars at the iconic Kent circuit. Amongst those 25 drivers, 7 rookies took the start, 6 of which were starting their very first BTCC race.

Alan Taylor is included in the rookie analysis though he did contest the final two BTCC rounds in 2007. A further 2 rookies should of taken the grid at Brands Hatch, however Team 48 Motorsport pulled their entry, which prevented Darelle Wilson and Matthew Gore making their debut.

The performance of each rookie has been analysed and taking into consideration their careers prior to their debut, conclusions have been made.

Of course these conclusions are subject to opinion and are sure to be debated by enthusiasts everywhere.

Stephen Jelley
Stephen Jelley joins Team RAC in a BMW 320si. In comparison to the other 2008 rookies he is positioned in a great car with an excellent team. West Surrey Racing have a long heritage in racing with some superb results in the 2007 BTCC season taking a first win for BMW in 11 years. Stephen Jelley’s team mate Colin Turkington has 158 races to his name prior to the 2008 season, giving Jelley a wealth of experience to feed from.

At Brands Hatch Jelley picked up 1 point, finishing 14th in Race 1 then 11th in Race 2 followed by an encouraging 10th in Race 3. Jelley was beaten by fellow rookie Kane in race 1 and in race 3 was a place down on another fellow rookie Andrew Jordan. Jelley did finish ahead of his team mate in race 1 due to an off for Turkington; however Turkington used the reverse grid of race 3 to take a well earned win.

Jelley transfers from F3 where he raced for Raikkonen Robertson Racing taking two wins in 2007. Jelley has also raced for ART in the GP2 Asia Series earlier this year [2008] with his best race in Indonesia where he finished 9th in Race 1.

Conclusion
Jelley faired well at Brands Hatch taking into consideration his lack of experience in Tin Tops to finish all three races and take a point in his debut race. Team RAC will be expecting more point finishing results from their Rookie in future races.

Expect Jelley to appear higher in the order as his experience grows, a reverse grid in his favor may also help!

Andrew Jordan
Andrew Jordan literally follows in his fathers footsteps to join the Eurotech Racing team driving a Honda Intregra-R. Without a doubt the biggest question hanging over Andrew Jordan (AKA Young Man) is can he beat Mike Jordan (AKA Old Man)? Mike Jordan has a race win and can pass on his experience. Andrew has already posted impressive father-beating times in testing.

Andrew Jordan started the season well, qualifying ahead of Mike Jordan by 3 places. In race 1 Andrew had a slight moment on the Hailwood Hill straight, allowing Mike to pass him and finish ahead. In the second race Andrew finished a place higher in 14th but Mike was ever more impressive with a 9th. In race 3 Andrew improved with a 9th but it still wasn’t enough to beat Mike.

Andrew Jordan figured well in the Renault Clio Cup in 2007, taking 1 pole and a second place. A runner up position in the British Rallycross Supercar Championship with 3 wins made for a successful 2007. In 2006 Andrew finished third in the British Rallycross Championship recording two wins and taking the accolade of the youngest winner on record in that championship at 17 years old.

Conclusion
Andrew Jordan looked to answer the critics looking to beat Mike Jordan with a better qualifying position and as race 1 took shape it looked like he may well have the better pace. His lack of experience was his downfall and putting a wheel just off track in a moment on the Hailwood Hill straight leading to Druids meant Mike Jordan could squeeze through. Andrew did well to improve his position in the second and third races of the day, but it was still not enough to beat Mike who had better pace.

Expect Andrew to outpace the “Old Man” at certain circuits however reverse grids or problems at the front are needed to improve on the 9th position scored in race 3 at Brands Hatch.

Harry Vaulkhard
Harry Vaulkhard comes into the Robertshaw Racing squad at the wheel of a Chevrolet Lacetti. Robershaw Racing are also rookies in the BTCC but have a good track record in the Renault Clio Cup. The team do have a slight disadvantage of running two different cars, running a fellow rookie in the shape of Alan Taylor who drives the Honda Integra. The team also rely two rookies and Matt Allison, himself only having competed in 27 races previously so there is little experience in BTCC racing to fall back on.

Harry contested the SEAT Cupra R Championship in 2006 and 2007, winning 4 races in 2007. In 2007 Harry was a front runner in the Renault Clio Winter Series taking 3 pole positions.

Only qualifying 20th for the first race was slightly disappointing and only 2 places where gained in race 1. In race 2 the Lacetti crossed the line 15th and in the final race 14th so Harry did manage to show improvement.

Conclusion
Harry Vaulkhard did not impress in qualifying with only the 20th fastest time very close to the rear of the pack. Improvements were made to slowly move up the grid by race 3 however there is still a lot of work to be done. He was outpaced by Matt Allison in all 3 races with the same car.

On the first race alone it is difficult to see Harry getting the better of Allison. Harry’s first goal must be to match his team mates pace then look to progress further up the grid. Expect to see Harry Vaulkhard at the bottom of the mid-pack this season.

Alan Taylor
Alan Taylor, like Harry Vaulkhard joins Robertshow Racing, though instead of the Lacetti, he drives the Honda Integra. Alan Taylor, unlike the other rookies competed in the final two events of the BTCC 2007 Championship having been promoted from the Renault Clio Cup Championship. Alan scored his very first BTCC point on his debut and must hope to continue in 2008.

Prior to competing in BTCC, Alan ran in the Renault Clio Cup Championship in 2007. In 2006 he contested the 2006 Mini Challenge.

In qualifying Alan could only scoop a 23rd place only beating Martyn Bell in the Astra and Michael Doyle in a Civic Type R. In race 1 he finished 21st, effectively last as 4 drivers did not finish race 1. It was a similar situation in race 2 with a 20th place, again last of the finishing pack and in race 3 he only completed 9 laps.

Conclusion
Alan Taylor should of been hoping for another point after scoring his maiden point in 2007 however this was not to be. It’s difficult to see how Alan can improve using the Integra when the team have two different cars to maintain.

Expect to see Alan Taylor propping the bottom of the table for much of the season.

Steven Kane
Steven Kane continues his service with the Motorbase team, driving a BMW 320si. Steven benefits from having an experienced team mate in Rob Collard who has 3 BTCC race wins to his honors.

Steven Kane graduates from the Porsche Carrera Cup GB where he also raced with Motorbase therefore he can take comfort in knowing his team making the step up to BTCC that little easier. In 2007 Steven finished 3rd with 8 wins. In 2006 he competed in World Series by Renault with Team Epsilon, with a second position the best result.

In qualifying Steven Kane out qualified all other rookies starting in 8th position for the first race and also out qualified his team mate. In addition Steven managed to hold that 8th place start to the end of the race 1. In race 2 he only managed to complete 17 laps after being forced wide at Clearways after which Steven hit the pit wall. The resulting damage forced Steven out of the third race.

Conclusion
Steven Kane made his intentions clear with a solid 8th in qualifying and holding that position for the duration of race 1 however hitting the wall in race 2 was to change what would of been an excellent BTCC start into a miserable day for Motorbase and Steven.

Expect Steven to continue the great pace he showed in race 1 and don’t be surprised to see him upset the established drivers, with a possible win this season not an unrealistic target in the right circumstance.

Stuart Oliver
Stuart Oliver begins his switch over to cars from trucks with BTC Racing with a Lexus IS200. Stuart has a massive job on his hand with the Lexus which is largely unsuccessful in the BTCC series. He does not benefit from having a veteran team mate like other rookies though Gareth Howell will substitute for some races, its difficult to see if he can pass any of his experience on.

Stuart Oliver is a legend in Truck racing where he was British champion in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. In 2004 he also took European Truck Racing Champion. The statistics speak for themselves, in a truck Stuart is fast, and he’ll be hoping to transfer that pace from trucks to cars.

Stuart qualified his Lexus in 21st, however in race 1 he was not able to complete a single lap. In race 2 he improved by completing a single lap and in race 3 he didn’t start.

Conclusion
Stuart Oliver may well have as much experience on four wheels as the leading BTCC drivers but he has taken on a massive challenge with the Lexus and is unlikely to improve the car. If he can keep the car on track, and BTC Racing can make the car reliable he might manage to race Alan Taylor on track.

Expect Stuart to be propping the bottom with Alan Taylor or not finishing at all with a car that struggles to complete a race distance.

Michael Doyle
Michael Doyle comes into the BTCC with a self run team in the shape of In-Tune Racing. He drives the aging Civic Type R. He’s got no team mate whatsoever and without any track time in the car he has given himself an almighty challenge.

Michael Doyle was a talent in the Renault Clio Cup from 2005 to 2007 in which he had 2 poles and 1 win. In 2002 he won the Scottish TKM Kart Championship and Challenge cup.

It was not a surprise to see Michael Doyle qualifying his Civic last more than 6 seconds behind the leader and over a second after Martyn Bell. He did not complete the first race dropping out after 19 laps. In Race 2 he did finish 18th which beat the Intregra’s of John George and Alan Taylor. In race 3 he surprised further with a 15th placed finish of a total of 22 cars that started race 3, impressive stuff given his challenge.

Conclusion
It cannot be underestimated the challenge Michael Doyle faces however from the results in Brands Hatch he has shown he can still take the car he has and not finish last. Michael benefits from low expectations, therefore anything above last place is a credit to the skill this youngster has.

Expect Michael to be fighting positions with Stuart Oliver, Alan Taylor, the Team48 Motorsport drivers and established back markers John George and Erkut Kizilirmak.

Darelle Wilson
Darelle Wilson is largely unknown, coming from Birmingham he has competed in the Sport Maxx Cup and Mini Challenge. He joins Team48 Motorsport driving an Alfa Romeo 156 painted green, however both cars were not ready in time for Brands Hatch and therefore the team took a decision to remove their entry.

Conclusion
It is not possible to evaluate Darelle Wilson at this stage but it is hoped he will race at Rockingham.

Expect to see Darelle at the bottom or falling off the track. His first task will be to regularly finish races regardless of position.

Matthew Gore
Matthew Gore joins Darelle in the Team48 Motorsport’s second Alfa Romeo 156, also painted green! He is even less known than Darelle, racing mainly in Jamaica previously. He did win the 2007 Jamaican National Circuit Race Championship however he like Darelle will certainly struggle this season.

Conclusion
As with Darelle, Matthew did not race at Brands Hatch. Matthew, like his team mate, needs to concentrate on completing races as his primary goal.

Summary
Stephen Jelley and Steven Kane both benefit from a great car and Stephen Jelley even has the benefit of the West Surrey Racing Team who know something about taking race wins. Expect these two drivers to shine above the rest of the rookies.

All rookies stand a chance of showing their brilliance however. Darelle Wilson and Matthew Gore only need finish better than last position and they will have already beaten expectations. Michael Doyle has shown he can do something with his Civic and Andrew Jordon had great pace throughout all 3 races at Brands Hatch, almost beating the “Old Man” in the first race.

Finally the new crop of drivers entering the BTCC this season have shown they can beat experienced BTCC racers. Its unlikely the rookies can beat the likes of Giovanardi, Mat Jackson (a rookie himself just last year), Matt Neal and Plato unless they have problems but they’ll all have great fun trying and the BTCC is all the stronger for having every one of them.