Rob Austin “back with the proper crowd”

Rob Austin said he was back fighting where he thinks he should be after a very strong weekend at Oulton Park – but admitted he exceeded even his own expectations.

A fifth, second and another fifth were the reward for the Audi A4 driver after disappointing Thruxton and Donington weekends mired in the mid-pack.

The second race, where Austin kept Triple Eight’s Jason Plato at bay in a masterful defensive drive, was the highlight, with third becoming second after a penalty for Rob Collard.

Describing the second race to TouringCarTimes, Austin said: “Plato’s a wily old bugger and you’ve got to keep your eye on him. The front-wheel drives have a massive advantage in the opening laps, and you’ve got to hold on. The edge went off his tyres and I’d just about got some breathing room, and the safety car came out.

“I got a really good restart but hadn’t got enough heat into my tyres. I turned into the first corner and then…’oh no’…I was out wide, and he was back on me. But I managed to get that breathing space back again.”

The Rob Austin Racing machine showed strong pace throughout the weekend, which was a slight shock to the boss, who added: “We were quick at the first round; we knew Donington wasn’t our best circuit, and we struggled at Thruxton as well. I was surprised to be so quick here, but I’m really chuffed to be back to where I think we should be finishing. The car has been excellent all weekend.

“You get treated with a lot more respect by the guys around you when you’re with the proper crowd.”

The main talking point after race two was when Austin passed West Surrey Racing’s Collard shortly after the safety car was deployed, but before the boards were displayed.

Collard re-passed him before the end of the lap, and the stewards called it as an illegal move, bumping the BMW down to third.

Austin said: “I heard on the radio ‘safety car out’ and you’re on it as normal until the yellows. The Beemers backed off and I nipped through.

“Colin saw it coming and floored it, so I got to second, and then we came into the yellows. And he [Collard] overtook me back under the yellows.

“I wasn’t sure [if I should have passed], because you always doubt yourself when the two cars in front have backed off.  But I couldn’t see any yellows, and thought ‘I’m going to go for it, and ask on the radio afterwards.'”