Depper’s debut disappears in dust

Martin Depper’s hopes of making his BTCC debut at Rockingham are over, as the Birmingham-based driver remains stuck in the USA. Earlier this week his Forster Motorsport team announced that Depper was stranded in Florida with his family as a result of the volcanic eruption in Iceland.

Despite the UK flight ban being lifted earlier this week, a backlog of passengers has meant that Depper is unable to make it back to Britain in time for Saturday’s qualifying session. A flight to the UK had been found departing from Boston, but Depper was unable to make his way there from his Florida location.

Forster Motorsport will now make their BTCC bow with just a single BMW for team boss Arthur Forster, though Depper hopes to arrive back in the UK on Saturday, allowing him to be at Rockingham to cheer on his teammate come raceday.

Meanwhile after engine problems prevented a Thruxton debut, and a volcano prevented a Rockingham appearance, Depper will have to hope it is third time lucky come Brands Hatch in May.