Bittersweet finale for West Surrey Racing with two out of three titles

It was a bittersweet finale to the British Touring Car Championship season for West Surrey Racing, after securing both the manufacturers’ and teams’ titles but missing out on the drivers’ crown with Sam Tordoff in the dying embers of the final race.

Dick Bennetts’ squad claimed the manufacturers’/constructors’ crown with a race to spare on Sunday while the Team JCT600 with GardX arm of the operation, which runs Tordoff and Rob Collard, became teams’ champions in the final race.

But it was ultimately heartbreak for Tordoff, who had gone into the 30th round two points ahead of Team Dynamics’ Gordon Shedden, only to be pipped by two points in the final reckoning.

Bennetts said: “Motor racing is a real team effort and this is a deserving reward for a fantastic group of people.

“We did, of course, come here looking for three titles, rather than two and I’m gutted that we weren’t able to get Sam over the line. But he’s raised his level considerably this year – as has Rob – and we’re determined to bounce back even stronger in 2017.”

Bennetts also had some kind words for third driver Jack Goff, who ran under the Team IHG Rewards Club banner.

He said: “Rear-wheel-drive touring cars are not easy to adapt to and Jack’s done a good job over the course of the year. He again showed his speed today with the fastest lap in race three. I wish he’d had some better luck because he could have been much higher up the points table if that had been the case.”