Race Preview: Next Stop Croft

It is time for round 5 of the BTCC which goes North to Croft in North Yorkshire. Croft is 2.25 miles in a V shape that boasts some great spectator viewing. Vauxhall and SEAT are both strong at Croft. Giovanardi still leads however the gap is a mere 18 points to Plato which he’ll be planning to overturn.

Previously at Croft
In 2007 Croft had three different winners with Colin Turkington, Darren Turner and Fabrizio Giovanardi all standing on the top step. Turner’s win was his first for SEAT. He also set fastest lap in Race 2 whilst running in clear air.

Season so far
Giovanardi still leads the championship with 114 points but he is still closely followed by Plato who made the best of a bad day at Thruxton to take a race win. The Vauxhall has so far seemed the better car this season taking a number of race wins including two wins at Thruxton at the hands of Tom Onslow-Cole.

Quotes prior to the race
Jason Plato – SEAT Sport UK
“We’ve got a great record at Croft, one which we can justifiably be proud of, but that won’t help us when we arrive this year with our new Leon TDI. The diesel package is proving to be a real technical challenge and, as always, we won’t have a tried and tested Croft set-up ready to bolt on. Our race-winning Donington set-up didn’t work at Thruxton, and the balance we found in the car to win the final race at Thruxton is unlikely to work at Croft. But the more we drive the car the more we learn, and if we hit that sweet spot a little sooner during a race weekend we’ll be in good shape. We’ve scored well with a car that isn’t perfect, so just think what we could achieve. There is a great variety of corners at Croft, but there are some key corners which you just have to get right; if we can get the Leon TDI to work well in those, we’ll be very strong.”

Darren Turner – SEAT Sport UK
“We’re looking forward to going to Croft because we’ve got such a good track record there, but we’re also going with a little bit of trepidation because we don’t really know how the Leon TDI will work there. We thought the car would be great at Thruxton and we struggled to find the right set-up, and the layout of the Croft circuit is a challenging one to get right at the best of times, so we’ll have our work cut I’m sure. But if we do find the right set-up, and I hope we do, then we’ll be very competitive. I really like Croft. It’s got some technical sections and some high-speed corners and it always makes for tight close racing. It’s a great circuit to have on the BTCC calendar.”

Colin Turkington – Team RAC (said after Thruxton)
“Three good finishes, two podiums and two
Independent Championship wins has meant it’s been a good day at the
office for me! We seem to have more momentum and I feel more
confident going into the next few rounds. Thruxton isn’t our
strongest track but we know the next rounds well so I’m really
looking forward to building on today at Croft.”

Gordon Shedden – Team Halfords
“I don’t know what to say really. Twice I was leading and twice I had a tyre failure which is a bit baffling really. We didn’t have a lot of camber on the car and I wouldn’t have changed anything on it if you told me to go out there and do a race run again. It’s a bit strange as I was cruising in race one and three and just controlling things from the front but in race two, when I was having to push harder and attack people, I didn’t have a problem. We know we have a fantastic car in the little Civic and while this weekend didn’t deliver as it should have done, there is no reason why we can’t go and have a great weekend at Croft next time out.”

Fabrizio Giovanardi – VX Racing

“Looking back at the season we have really had a fantastic start. We have a very strong team and package and whichever circuit we’ve been to, we were competitive.

“Croft is a very tight and small circuit and it’s difficult to overtake. Qualifying is very important, because you can lose a lot of time early in the race if you’re not at the front. It’s very different to other circuits; it’s very bumpy and you always have to try and keep all four wheels on the track.”

“I claimed one win last year and I’m confident I can do the same again this year.”

Tom Onslow-Cole – VX Racing

“I had a fantastic weekend at Thruxton a week ago and following my two wins, I feel I’m ready to challenge for the BTCC Drivers’ title.

“There are still 18 races and I’m in third position. It’s a very close fight this year and there are many drivers who are capable of winning a race, so anything can happen.

“Croft should be another good weekend for us. I had one podium place last year and I know I can definitely improve on that.”

Matt Neal – VX Racing

“We are nearly half-way through the season and considering we won one out of every two races, we’ve been very consistent.

“Croft is a very short circuit and it’s usually a very close fight. I’m aiming for another victory again as it’s been two race meetings without a race win for me.

“I’m in fourth place in the championship standings and I’m confident I can improve my position at Croft.”

Schedule – Sunday 1 June (Subject to change)
10.20 – Pits Walkabout
11.30 – BTCC Driver Parade
11.51 – BTCC Pit Lan Opens
12.01 – HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship
12.40 – SEAT Cupra Championship
13.15 – Formula Renault UK with Michelin
13.50 – Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain
14.25 – BTCC Pit Lane Opens
14.35 – HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship
15.15 – ELF Renault Clio Cup
15.55 – SEAT Cupra Championship
16.35 – BTCC Pit Lane Opens
16.45 – HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship
17.20 – Ginetta Junior Championship
17.40 – Formula Renault UK with Michelin