Team RAC created a little bit of history today when they became the first motorsport team to achieve a podium finish under bio-fuel. Not only did they achieve it once, but twice, as Colin Turkington took third place in both race one and two of the 2006 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.
- Round 9 - Brands Hatch - Race report
Team RAC created a little bit of history today when they became the first motorsport team to achieve a podium finish under bio-fuel. Not only did they achieve it once, but twice, as Colin Turkington took third place in both race one and two of the 2006 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC).
In terms of the Championship battle, it now goes down to the wire and the final rounds at Silverstone. With a 49-point gap to reduce it is still mathematically possible for Colin Turkington to win the Championship but realistically it needs a series of minor miracles.
Fellow Team RAC driver Rob Collard returned to form with three top seven finishes and some welcome points towards his BTCC campaign.
Race one
In the opening BTCC race of the day, Colin Turkington secured a third place finish and with it the first podium for a bio-fuelled car.
Following the restart, due to a start-line incident, Colin kept in contention running fourth and began closing on third placed Gordon Shedden during the closing stages of the extended 27-lap race. Colin was rewarded for his efforts when under pressure Shedden ran wide picking up a puncture on the final lap.
Colin said: "I'm delighted to have got the podium and it just shows it can be done using green fuel. I had a few steering problems yesterday but its good to come back today with the car running strongly. It was a good team performance."
Rob Collard finished a well deserved fifth having defended hard against Gareth Howell. It was a good clean battle, which saw the Team RAC car the victor.
Rob said: "I had a good race against Gareth as he was fast in some areas of the track and I was quicker in others. He managed to get passed me when I was trying to negotiate one of the back-markers, which allowed him to get through. I then managed to re-pass him before he retired."
Race two
Colin secured his second podium of the day with another third place finish. Having got a great start passing second placed Matt Neal at Paddock Hill on the opening lap, the roles were reversed at the next corner. Driving consistently well keeping a fourth placed Shedden at bay, Colin was pleased with his second trophy of the day.
Colin said: "It's fantastic to be on the podium again. I still can't find that little bit extra but we're competitive and that's good. Two podiums so far today is great but I can't help thinking that we lost a little bit of ground from the problems we had in free practice."
Rob also got a good getaway off the line but was later on the receiving end of some forceful moves from both Fabrizio Giovanardi and David Pinkney, which saw the Team RAC driver slip to eighth place during the early stages of the race. With the impact damaging the MG ZS' steering, Rob battled to regain a place finishing seventh overall in a difficult race.
Rob said: "I got a good start and everything was looking good for the race. It was pretty busy out there. Chilton (Tom) and I were heading alongside one another into Druids and Pinkney just drove up the inside, pushing Chilton into me and damaging my steering. The earlier rear impact from Giovanardi damaged the exhaust and filled my car with fumes. My eyes were streaming and I had difficulty breathing, so it was pretty wretched."
Race three
With the reverse grid rule coming into play, Colin Turkington and Rob Collard lined-up fourth and seventh respectively for the final race of the day. Once again, an early safety car deployment interrupted the racing action but at the re-start Colin and Rob lay in sixth and seventh place. With the front-runners tightly packed both Team RAC drivers took advantage of a racing incident between Tom Chilton and Matt Neal, promoting them to fourth and sixth finishing positions.
Lying third in the overall Drivers Championship with a 49-point gap to leader Matt Neal, Colin is determined to reclaim his second place spot from Jason Plato (14 points). He said: "It's been a productive weekend and I've picked up quite a few points. It's a little disappointing not to have closed the gap further but it means that it's all still to play for as we go to the final rounds at Silverstone."
On his return to form Rob said: "After the last few race meetings I'm very pleased to have finished all three races. The car has been strong right from qualifying and also during the latter stages of a race. If we can find the ultimate set-up for an extra bit of pace at the start of a race, then it all looks good for the last meeting Silverstone."
Summarising on Team RAC's performance, team principal, Dick Bennetts said: "I'm delighted that Team RAC have achieved the first podium for bio-fuel. We've had both cars finish all three races and our aim for Silverstone will be for Team RAC to be back on the top step of the podium."
Debbie Hewitt, managing director, RAC added: "It has been another successful day for the team and going into the last round of the season it couldn't be more exciting. RAC are proud to have achieved the very first podium in a bio-fuelled car. Its a real testament to our motoring expertise."
Developing and promoting the use of bio-fuel, Energy Efficient Motorsport (EEMS) were delighted to celebrate the success of Team RAC. EEMS project consultant, Rob Oldaker added: "It's been a great day for EEMS for the three teams using E85 bio-fuel with two podiums and nine top-ten finishes today. Clearly with results like this, other teams will be recognising that renewable fuels are totally competitive and show they way to a greater future in motorsport. Our aim is to see more teams and other championships switching to bio-fuels very soon."
The last rounds of the 2006 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship take place on 15 October at Silverstone Finals Day.
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Notes to editors:
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%.
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 Ł36 billion and Ł332 billion of assets under management. The group has 58,000 employees serving 35 million customers worldwide.