Audi pair confident about top ten chances

Trade Price Cars Racing duo James Gornall and Bobby Thompson have both expressed confidence about the potential for top ten finishes when the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship heads to Oulton Park this weekend.

Gornall put his first points on the board last time out at Brands Hatch, with a pair of top ten finishes also helping him to secure Jack Sears Trophy honours from the second weekend of the season.

The former British GT Champion will look to add to that tally during the weekend ahead, with his goal being to get into a position to make use of the reverse grid draw after race two.

“The Audi is a proven package around Oulton but the competition is moving on all the time with the new cars on the grid and we have to push hard to take the fight to them,” he said. “I’ll be working with Chaz, my engineer, on a few things to try and find more one lap pace as we know we have a good race car – we just need to make sure we are starting Sunday higher up the grid.

“We scored in all three races at Brands Hatch and I’m confident we would have done at Donington without our engine issues, so that has to be the same goal this weekend. I’ll be looking to work my way forwards across the races, and it would be good if we can be in a position to benefit from the reverse grid draw again come race three.

“Oulton is a circuit where overtaking is tough, so if we were able to get a good draw and be near the front for that final race, who knows what could happen…”

Team-mate Thompson scored in two of the three races at Brands Hatch and said he was hoping to try and make the most of the pace of the Audi S3 around the Cheshire circuit – with the car having run well in the hands of Jake Hill last year.

“We know the car is strong at Oulton after Jake’s performance last year, but the new cars this year are quick and we have to raise our game compared to last season,” he said. “I’ve started the season well with double scores in both meetings so far and the target this weekend is to get points in all three races and push for the Jack Sears Trophy – that’s the end goal.

“We’ve been consistently in the points, and now we have to push to break into that top ten.”