Rob Austin upset with move to peg back Audi

Rob Austin has voiced his upset at the enforced rule change which will see his team’s two Audi A4s running longer first gears at Croft,

Series bosses took the decision to make both Rob Austin Racing and West Surrey Racing run the longer ratio after an Oulton Park weekend largely dominated by rear-wheel drive machinery.

Asutin says the change has come at considerable expense for his team – and says the front-wheel drive cars still have the edge over his cars.

Austin said: “We don’t ever complain when the FWD cars have a clear advantage, which has been more often than not this year. Believe me, they have far more advantages in both qualifying and race trim – it’s just ours is more visible than theirs.

“If they feel that we have such an advantage I wonder how the works teams who have been most vocal on the subject would feel about swapping cars. I’m sure their stories would change very very quickly!

“Also it’s my opinion that the racing in the BTCC has been fantastic this year, we have a full and world class grid and the championship is one of the best in the world… So why change it?

“Then again the BTCC has an excellent track record for getting it right when it comes to amending the technical regulations so it keeps the field tightly bunched and the racing close. Let’s hope they have got it right again because it’s cost me a fortune to implement the changes.”

Austin is still optimistic of running well this weekend, despite being hamstrung by the rule changes.

He said: “After returning to the podium at Oulton of course I want more. We expected to be in the ball park at Oulton and came away with two P5s and a second. At Croft I am confident we can have an equally strong weekend or maybe better… who knows, maybe even a win. I think it’s all possible for us this weekend.

“Croft is also a real driver’s circuit – a bit old school with an element of peril to it like Oulton, and lends itself more to traditional BTCC door-to-door exciting racing which I was really sad not to see so much of last time out. The fight of a BTCC race is why I love the championship so much and although it saves me a few quid in doors and wing mirrors when we have a quiet weekend I would rather spend that money and get stuck in.

“I predict three very close action-packed races for the crowds. And that’s another thing at Croft – the fans are amazing. They are like the BTCC’s equivalent to the Ferrari Tifosi in Italy and as a result the atmosphere is always electric there.”