BTCC drivers excited by Thruxton challenge

The unique challenge of the airfield circuit at Thruxton is not one for the faint hearted, and it is one several of this year’s BTCC field are relishing.

The Honda Racing Team, Triple Eight and Motorbase Performance drivers have all been giving their thoughts ahead of the weekend, and each has a different take on the track.

For the Honda Racing Team it will be a case of building on the momentum from Donington Park, where Gordon Shedden took the first win for the new Civic Tourer, and the first ever win for an estate car in the BTCC.

Shedden said: “I’m really looking forward to Thruxton. It’s a fantastic circuit and one that poses a genuine challenge. The racing is always very close with all the slip-streaming that goes on, and the number of quick corners means you really need to be at one with your car. The paradox is that although it’s the fastest circuit we go to, you don’t necessarily have to have the out-and-out fastest car to win there.”

Shedden’s team-mate Matt Neal added: “I love Thruxton, but weirdly, until last year it hadn’t been a place where I’d had a lot of luck. Last season there was amazing for me, though, and hopefully the aerodynamics of the Civic Tourer will suit the track.

“We did some testing over the winter which should help us a bit, but to be honest, the ambient temperatures were much colder so whilst it was great to get the track time, we’ll still have a lot to learn this weekend.”

For Triple Eight, the weekend is also about building on an excellent Donington Park weekend, which yielded pole and a win for Jason Plato, and a win for team-mate Sam Tordoff.

Plato said: “We still have little niggles to iron out, but the front aero changes and some other little development bits we’ve worked on should benefit us this weekend. We were quick there last year and I’m looking forward to going to Thruxton and coming away with another bag of big points; that’s our plan.”

Tordoff added: “You don’t get to test at Thruxton much and it isn’t a circuit I know hugely well, but I have had some good performances there.

“Last year, we had good pace, but struggled with rear stability and as such were a little behind the Hondas. This year I think the performance gap has closed, but there are other contenders in the mix too.

“It’s an abrasive, fast circuit so tyre wear will be a concern for everyone, but we have faith in our package and we just have to fine-tune it when we’re there. I don’t see any reason why we can’t be on the first couple of rows in qualifying and challenging for wins in the races.”

Both of Motorbase Performance’s main men, Fabrizio Giovanardi and Mat Jackson, are looking forward to racing at a circuit where they have done very well in the past.

However, both are conscious that work needs to be done to their Ford Focus ST before they are challenging at the front.

Giovanardi said: “If I have to compare the old days I think Thruxton is one of my favourite circuits because I’ve won a lot there over the years. I love the high speed that makes the difference between the fast and slow driver.

“It is really important that the car is stable to be fast here because it’s running flat out all through the circuit so the balance is always important. To be fast we have to be really, really perfect and at the moment we’re not there.”

Jackson said:  “It’s a unique circuit, it’s very fast and we need to have a stable car and we still need to do a bit of work on that, we’re honing in on that on the rear stability but hopefully we can go to Thruxton and be challenging where we need to.

“We need to be qualifying in the top six and then all of a sudden it’s a different weekend that you can control as opposed to having to take some big gambles.”