Alternate tyre strategies for the title contenders at Brands Hatch

The two main contenders for the BTCC title will adopt different tyre strategies this weekend at Brands Hatch to add an extra level of intrigue to proceedings.

With drivers forced to select which race to use the option tyre in at nine of the ten meetings across the season, the choices for the season finale are already known, with Colin Turkington and Tom Ingram having taken alternative approaches to their allocation throughout the year.

Points leader Turkington had used up his race three allocation by the seventh meeting of the campaign at Rockingham, and then elected to run the option tyre in race two at both Knockhill and Silverstone – thereby meaning he had used up that allocation for the final time.

It means the West Surrey Racing man will now run the soft tyre in the opening race of Finals Day whilst also carrying maximum success ballast from his position as championship leader.

By contrast, main rival Tom Ingram headed into the final three rounds of the season able to spread his allocation across the three races – electing to run the option tyre for the final time in races two and one at Knockhill and Silverstone.

It means his Toyota will not run on the soft tyre until the final race of the season this weekend, although it remains to be seen whether or not that will impact on the title fight given that Turkington can be crowned champion prior to race three if results go his way.

Rank outsider Tom Chilton, who needs to overturn a deficit of 64 points in the standings to be crowned champion, will run the soft tyre in race two on his Motorbase Performance Ford Focus RS.

The full tyre allocations will be revealed after qualifying on Saturday afternoon, when Dunlop will confirm in which race those drivers who haven’t contested the full season will run the option tyre.