Snetterton to kick-off the second half of the year

The BTCC gets back into action after more than two months away this weekend at Snetterton in Norfolk. With only 8 points between leaders Neal and Plato, the series is very close.

The summer break has allowed some teams to take a break, work on a few developments and deals, or even to practice elsewhere.

A key test session took place at Snetterton on 22nd July, although the day was disrupted by rain, Tom Chilton was fastest in the LPG powered Ford Focus, and will be hoping to continue Team Aon’s strong run of good qualifying performances, claiming the last four pole positions in the BTCC.

Team mate Tom Onslow-Cole has been the Team Aon driver on a points roll in the last few races, and returning to the track where he took his first BTCC victory in 2007 will bring back fond memories for the 23-year old driver from Surrey, who is now firmly placed as a championship contender.

Last year’s race winners aren’t returning for Snetterton this year. Former champion Fabrizio Giovanardi, who took the first two race wins in 2009, is showing good form in the Italian SuperStars series, whilst race three winner and 2009 BTCC champion Colin Turkington is shining in the World Touring Car Championship, where WSR have been trying their hand in the summer break.

Triple Eight’s James Nash memorably took the chequered flag first in the final race last year, only to be stripped of the victory for an incident with Rob Collard. As a result, Nash is still hunting for his first official win in the BTCC, and after a strong test with Triple Eight last week, and a full-year contract in hand, and will be hoping to try and reclaim the victory on his second attempt.

Chevrolet also had a strong test last week, with Alex MacDowall second fastest overall on the day, and Jason Plato happier with the handling of the Cruze, featuring some new improvements passed down from the world championship team. After a quiet run of races, Plato will be hoping to rebuild his championship challenge, after losing the championship lead to Matt Neal at Oulton Park.

The Honda Racing Team skipped the test, but the team that went into the summer break leading the drivers, teams and manufacturers/constructors championships will be the main target, with the Honda Civic revitalised in 2010 with the return of drivers Matt Neal & Gordon Shedden full time to the team, with Shedden taking two victories last time out at Croft and surging into third place in the championship, just 19 points behind his team mate.

The points at the front of the championship have been very close, with at least five runners in the hunt for the title driving four different types of car, with Steven Kane still the dark horse in the Airwaves-BMW 320si.