Photo: PSP Images

A lengthy challenge as BTCC returns at Oulton Park

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This weekend will see an added curveball thrown to the familiar and popular challenge of Oulton Park, as the BTCC returns to action after a five-week break.

The fourth round of the 2014 season takes place on the full International layout of the picturesque Cheshire track, a configuration not used since the Super Touring era in 1996.

It means just two of the 31-car field – Matt Neal and Alain Menu – have previously raced in the BTCC on the International layout, which is more often seen hosting GT and motorcycle racing.

And those fans wishing to hark back to the days of 1996 are in for an added treat this weekend, with a bumper 29-car grid set to take part in two Super Touring Car Championship races.

The line-up boasts a Vauxhall Vectra driven by double BTCC champion John Cleland and the Peugeot 406 of Patrick Watts, among many other classic machines from the era. Keep an eye out for a full preview and race coverage on TouringCarTimes over the weekend.

Back with the current crop, reigning champion Andrew Jordan leads the way after breaking his Thruxton hoodoo last time out, and notching up his third win in the opening nine races.

Hot on his heels is 2012 champion Gordon Shedden, who also won at Thruxton after a spectacular pass on Jordan, after giving the Honda Civic Tourer its first win at Donington the meeting before.

West Surrey Racing’s Colin Turkington is handily placed in third, returning to a track which traditionally suits the rear-wheel drive BMWs, and where the 125i first started to show its full potential in 2013.

And few would be surprised to see the Triple Eight pairing of Jason Plato and Sam Tordoff challenging at the front, especially after the blistering speed they demonstrated on this track last year.

Plato carries only 9kg of ballast, and last year became the first driver to take pole and win the first two races at Oulton since the BTCC switched to a three-race format in 2004.

Returning to the field is Robb Holland in the Rotek Racing Audi S3, after the American was forced to sit out Thruxton following the damage caused to his car at Donington Park.

Simon Belcher has already announced he will be racing in his Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Avensis, but less certain at this stage is the participation of Ollie Jackson in the Welch Motorsport Proton Gen-2.

Dan Welch told TouringCarTimes on Monday that the team would be flat out to rebuild the car in time, after Jackson’s massive accident at Thruxton.

It means a grid of at least 30 cars as the BTCC heads into the summer months – but those packing their shorts should beware, as rain is currently forecast for both Saturday and Sunday.

BTCC Round 4 Oulton Park – Entry List

No – Driver – Team Name – Car – Engine Builder/Marque
4 – Matt Neal – Honda Racing Team – Honda Civic Tourer – Neil Brown/Honda
52 – Gordon Shedden – Honda Racing Team – Honda Civic Tourer – Neil Brown/Honda
88 – Sam Tordoff – Triple Eight Race Engineering – MG6 GT – Swindon/TOCA
99 – Jason Plato – Triple Eight Race Engineering – MG6 GT – Swindon/TOCA
888 – Marc Hynes – Triple Eight Race Engineering – MG6 GT – Swindon/TOCA
1 – Andrew Jordan – Eurotech Racing – Honda Civic Hatchback – Neil Brown/Honda
30 – Martin Depper – Eurotech Racing – Honda Civic Hatchback – Neil Brown/Honda
5 – Colin Turkington – West Surrey Racing – BMW 125i M – Neil Brown/BMW
10 – Rob Collard – West Surrey Racing – BMW 125i M – Neil Brown/BMW
18 – Nick Foster – West Surrey Racing – BMW 125i M – Neil Brown/BMW
6 – Mat Jackson – Motorbase Performance – Ford Focus ST – Mountune/Ford
7 – Fabrizio Giovanardi – Motorbase Performance – Ford Focus ST – Mountune/Ford
44 – Jack Clarke – Motorbase Performance – Ford Focus ST – Mountune/Ford
33 – Adam Morgan – Ciceley Racing – Mercedes-Benz A-Class – Swindon/TOCA
80 – Tom Ingram – Speedworks Motorsport – Toyota Avensis – Swindon/TOCA
11 – Simon Belcher – Speedworks Motorsport – Toyota Avensis – Swindon/TOCA
101 – Rob Austin – Rob Austin Racing – Audi A4 – Swindon/TOCA
54 – Hunter Abbott – Rob Austin Racing – Audi A4 – Swindon/TOCA
39 – Warren Scott – Team BMR – Vauxhall Insignia – Swindon/TOCA
31 – Jack Goff – Team BMR – Vauxhall Insignia – Swindon/TOCA
9 – Alain Menu – Team BMR – Volkswagen CC – Swindon/TOCA
40 – Aron Smith – Team BMR – Volkswagen CC – Swindon/TOCA
48 – Ollie Jackson – Welch Motorsport – Proton Gen-2 – Welch/Proton-M
12 – Daniel Welch – Welch Motorsport – Proton Gen-2 – Welch/Proton-M
43 – Lea Wood – JWT Performance – Toyota Avensis – Swindon/TOCA
17 – Dave Newsham – AmD Tuning – Ford Focus ST – Mountune/Ford
67 – Robb Holland – Rotek Racing – Audi S3 Saloon – Swindon/TOCA
28 – Chris Stockton – BTC Racing – Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback – RML/Chevrolet
16 – Aiden Moffat – Aiden Moffat Racing – Chevrolet Cruze Saloon – RML/Chevrolet
20 – James Cole – United Autosports – Toyota Avensis – Xctechr/Toyota
21 – Glynn Geddie – United Autosports – Toyota Avensis – Xctechr/Toyota

Success Ballast

Andrew Jordan +45kg
Gordon Shedden +36kg
Colin Turkington +27kg
Matt Neal +18kg
Jason Plato +9kg

Timetable (All times BST)

Saturday
Free Practice 1: 09:30-10:10
Free Practice 2: 12:44-13:25
Qualifying: 15:20-15:50

Sunday
Race 1: 12:17 (12 Laps)
Race 2: 14:29 (12 Laps)
Race 3: 16:57 (12 Laps)