Snetterton, Norfolk will play host to Team RAC and the next round of the 2006 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship this weekend (12/13 August). The round will feel like a home game for Team RAC, as Norwich is the headquarters of RAC Group and Norwich Union Insurance.
Round 7 - Snetterton - preview
Snetterton, Norfolk will play host to Team RAC and the next round of the 2006 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship this weekend (12/13 August). The round will feel like a home game for Team RAC, as Norwich is the headquarters of RAC Group and Norwich Union Insurance.
In addition RAC, 'the people behind the people behind the wheel', have announced that they are to become the title sponsor of the Snetterton round which will now become the 'Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, driven by RAC'.
Team RAC are therefore expecting huge support from the local crowd with some 1,300 RAC staff and associates to cheer on drivers Colin Turkington and Rob Collard at this super fast venue, where top speeds reach 150mph.
After claiming a race win and a second place at Donington Park, Colin Turkington has closed the gap at the top of the Drivers' Championship table to just 22 points. He's now fully focused on a pole position and race wins at Snetterton as the championship begins to reach fever pitch. Colin said: "I'm confident that we can emulate the success of Donington Park and reduce the points gap on Matt (Neal). Snetterton has fond memories for me as I've recorded some fastest laps and a few podiums here previously. I'll be aiming for the top spot this weekend."
Rob Collard qualified on the front row of the grid at Snetterton last year and with the Team RAC car running 36kgs lighter than his team mate, he'll be aiming to put the car on the front row of the grid once again. He said: "Following the start-line incident at Donington, the guys at WSR have a lot of work to do on my car before the next round. It's already been completely re-shelled. I'm looking forward to Snetterton as the car's handling really well at the moment and I think it will be suited to the fast circuit. It's high speed all the way and it has some really fab corners such as Riches and Corum."
Shaun Meadows, marketing director, added: "RAC is really looking forward to the weekend at Snetterton and delighted that so many of our staff are able to take advantage of our incentives and enjoy a superb day's entertainment. We're working hard to enable all our staff to get closer to the sponsorship and activities such as this do just that.
"Our sponsorship of the Snetterton round is a natural extension for RAC and enables us to further increase our awareness for what is a very important round for RAC due to it's proximity to our Norwich head office."
Team RAC Principal, Dick Bennetts added: "Snetterton could be a little difficult for us as I feel we may struggle against the two-door coupes in terms of straight line speed. Whilst we did well at Thruxton, which is the fastest circuit on the BTCC circuit, Snetterton has two long straights, one of which is on an incline. But, what we may lack in straight speed we certainly won't lack in determination."
The seventh BTCC round at Snetterton will be transmitted on ITV on Sunday 13 July starting at 14:00hrs. The programme will include highlights from race one and two with race three being shown live in its entirety. Satellite viewers can watch all three races live on Motors TV commencing at 10:50hrs. Further information on programme replays can be found at www.teamrac.com.
-ends-
Note to editors
This weekend Rob Collard's MG ZS will be displaying a screen header supported by RAC Direct Insurance.
Copyright free images for editorial purposes are available at www.teamrac.com
To arrange an interview with a member of Team RAC, please contact Sarah Owen on 07793 633153.
About RAC
With around seven million members, RAC is one of the UK's most progressive motoring organizations, providing services for both private and business motorists. Whether it's roadside assistance, windscreen repair and replacement, learning to drive, vehicle inspections and checks, legal and financial services or up-to-the-minute traffic and travel information - RAC is able to meet motorists' needs. RAC incorporates BSM, RAC Auto Windscreens, RAC Direct Insurance and HPI.
Aviva bought RAC last year. The acquisition brings together RAC's powerful brand and customer base with the expertise and leading position in motor insurance of Norwich Union Insurance (part of Aviva). Norwich Union is the UK's largest insurer, insuring one in seven motor vehicles and with a market share of around 14 per cent.
About Aviva
Aviva is the world's fifth-largest insurance group and the biggest in the UK. It is one of the leading providers of life and pensions products in Europe and has substantial businesses elsewhere around the world. Its main activities are long-term savings, fund management and general insurance. It has premium income and investment sales of Ł33 billion and Ł291 billion of assets under management. The group has 59,000 employees serving 30 million customers worldwide.