Pinkney thanks team for top ten hattrick

David Pinkney has thanked his team after they helped him to his first ever triple BTCC points score, all on the debut weekend for his NGTC Vectra. A trio of top ten finishes as Pinkney avoided trouble all weekend saw him leave Thruxton with five points, leaving him halfway to surpassing his 2009 total after just one meeting.

“This is the first time I’ve picked up three top ten finishes on a weekend which is pleasing, but it could have been better if I hadn’t run wide at Church in the final race,” said the Harpenden racer.

“I got ahead of the two Fords and was closing on Andy Neate but just got onto the grass and lost speed, which cost me a few places.”

Despite that grassy moment at Church, Pinkney recorded a tenth place finish, which was added to a further tenth in race two and an excellent eighth in race one.

With engine problems hampering Pinkney’s pre-season testing programme, it’s safe to say that the weekend’s work exceeded expectations, but now the BTCC stalwart believes that the new NGTC engine/Vauxhall Vectra combination can be further refined for more good results.

“The chassis was brilliant this weekend but the extra weight we carry at the front of the car with the new engine affects the handling, so we haven’t got the package right just yet. The team has been blinding this weekend, they’ve worked like clockwork and I’m proud of them all. We had a good weekend, we enjoyed it and now we are looking forward to Rockingham.”

Pinkney Motorsport Team Manager Andrew Dean was also pleased with the performance, unsurprising given that the team sit above the likes of WSR and Pirtek Racing in the Teams Championship and above Team Aon and WSR in the Independent Teams Trophy.

“It’s been a solid performance from the team throughout the weekend,” he said.

“We are still learning about the car and made changes during the weekend which allowed us to maintain our level of performance. We know there is still time to come to allow us to challenge for podium finishes, but that time will come.

“The Swindon Engine was reliable in its first race meeting and they were helpful with their support during the weekend. There is still some development work to do but we are looking forwards to Rockingham and the rest of the season with fresh optimism.”