Photo: PSP Images, WTCC, Rajan Jangda, V8 Supercars

Top ten touring car news stories on TouringCarTimes in 2013

The touring car year of 2013 is over and we are just a few days from the start of 2014. We have dug down in the statistics of the most read articles on TouringCarTimes during the year.

What were the most buzzed about stories during 2013? Join us as we walk through the top ten most read articles on TouringCarTimes:

2013_10
10: Robb Holland plans to enter 2014 BTCC with a pair of Audi A3s

https://www.touringcartimes.com/2013/10/15/robb-holland-plans-to-enter-2014-btcc-with-a-pair-of-audi-a3s/

News about new cars for the BTCC are always popular. There was no exception for Rotek Racing and Robb Holland’s plans to enter a pair of Audi A3 saloons for the 2014 British Touring Car Championship season.

2013_9
9: The Top 30 drivers of 2013 – The top ten
https://www.touringcartimes.com/2013/12/25/the-top-30-drivers-of-2013-the-top-ten/

The ninth most read article on TouringCarTimes is just a few days old: The TouringCarTimes’ staff’s run-down of who we think are the top 30 drivers of the 2013 motorsport season in the field of touring car racing.

2013_8
8: Honda to race with the Civic Tourer in 2014
https://www.touringcartimes.com/2013/11/29/honda-to-race-with-the-civic-tourer-in-2014/

Estate cars in touring car racing are rare and there was no surprise of the popularity of Honda’s announcement to race with the Civic Tourer in the 2014 BTCC, the first estate in the championship since Volvo’s 855 in 1994.

Round 10 of the 2013 British ouring Car Championship.
7: Honda to return with new car for 2014 season
https://www.touringcartimes.com/2013/10/15/honda-to-return-with-new-car-for-2014-season/

Even more popular than the actual announcement of the Honda Civic Tourer was the news that Honda was going to change car for 2014, making it to seventh position of the most read articles in 2013.

2013_6
6: Gabriele Tarquini fastest in Monza test
https://www.touringcartimes.com/2013/03/16/gabriele-tarquini-fastest-in-monza-test/

The very first WTCC test of the year made it to sixth position in the list. Gabriele Tarquini topped the time sheets at Monza, a circuit which is not going to be visited by the world championship in 2014.

IMG-013-600x400
5: Close up on West Surrey Racing’s BMW 125i
https://www.touringcartimes.com/2013/03/13/close-up-on-west-surrey-racings-bmw-125i/

Half-way through the list and another new car for the BTCC. The picture special of West Surrey Racing’s all-new BMW 1-series made it to position five, despite a misspelled sticker on the boot lid.

2013_4
4: John Cleland to return in Super Touring Vauxhall Vectra
https://www.touringcartimes.com/2013/03/15/john-cleland-to-return-in-super-touring-vauxhall-vectra/

News of touring car legend John Cleland returning to racing with his 1997 Vauxhall Vectra for the HSCC Super Touring Car Trophy was the fourth most read article on TouringCarTimes in 2013.

2013_3
3: Penalties for qualifying reshapes grid for race one
https://www.touringcartimes.com/2013/05/18/penalties-for-qualifying-reshapes-grid-for-race-one/

The penalty chaos during the WTCC race weekend in Austria made it to the top three. No less than 12 drivers received penalties and fines after having been found to breach the International Sporting Code Appendix L, Chapter 4, Article 2e and 151, which states:

It is not permitted to drive any car unnecessarily slowly, erratically or in a manner deemed potentially dangerous to other drivers at any time.

2013_2
2: Rob Austin to race despite being “savaged by shark”
https://www.touringcartimes.com/2013/08/02/rob-austin-to-race-despite-being-savaged-by-shark/

Rob Austin is a favorite among the fans and there was no surprise of a high buzz when he claimed to have been attacked by a shark, making it to number two of the most read articles in 2013:

A team spokesman said: “There is of course the possibility that there was another reason behind the flesh wound but Rob is sticking to his story.”

2013_1
1: Arena International Motorsport closes its doors
https://www.touringcartimes.com/2013/01/05/arena-international-motorsport-closes-its-doors/

The most read article on TouringCarTimes in 2013 was the announcement of Arena International Motorsport’s closure. The Littlehampton-based team, named Team Aon, ran a pair of Ford Focuses in the 2012 WTCC for Tom Chilton and James Nash but ended their operations a few days into 2013.

TouringCarTimes 2013

The visitor numbers on TouringCarTimes continues to go up for the 18th straight year, increasing by 11% compared to 2012.

We would like to extend a big thanks to everyone out there for the support during the year and we look forward to an exciting 2014!