Team RAC head to Brands Hatch for the first round of the 2009 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship season in high spirits after a series of successful pre-season testing sessions..
Team RAC head to Brands Hatch for the first round of the 2009 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship season in high spirits after a series of successful pre-season testing sessions.
Team RAC's drivers last visit to Brands Hatch in September proved a memorable one as Colin Turkington secured the independents title and Stephen Jelley took his first ever pole position in the BTCC after a sensational qualifying session.
In the corresponding meeting at Brands Hatch 12 months ago, Northern Irishman Turkington recorded a memorable victory after taking the chequered flag by winning race three of the day.
An excellent testing session at the Rockingham Media Day - where Colin Turkington outpaced his rivals and Stephen Jelley emerged third fastest - allowed Team RAC to experiment with the BMW320si at the final official BTCC test at Brands Hatch on Tuesday (24 March). At the Kent circuit, Jelley and Turkington were sixth and eighth fastest respectively.
Current independents champion Colin Turkington said: "The team has made small improvements to the car, positive improvements, but all of these improvements add up. Confidence is high in the camp. The key to a season is a good start, something we perhaps did not quite manage last year until the middle of the season.
"Team RAC has a good history in the BMW at Brands. I claimed pole two years ago while Stephen took pole last September. This year we have made improvements which we hope will work to our advantage on every track all of the time to give us the best possible chance."
Team-mate Stephen Jelley commented: "Pre-season has gone very well and allowed us to get some quality driving hours under our belt. Everything has been really positive and I am feeling very comfortable in the car compared to this time last year.
"We have a good car which is historically quick at Brands Hatch. All the boxes appear to be ticked - now we have just got to go out on the track and show our quality."
Dick Bennetts, WSR Team principal, said: "It's going to be a really tough season for Team RAC, there is no doubt about that. It is Vauxhall's third season with the Vectra while Motorbase have clearly lifted their game. However, I am confident the team can have a very successful season again.
"I firmly believe the Team RAC BMW's will be fighting at the front of the grid. Stephen [Jelley] has been working hard in the close-season and had a very good race run at the Brands Hatch test while I am sure Colin [Turkington] will be out to better his overall position in the Championship."
To keep up-to-date with all the latest news from Team RAC log-on to teamrac.co.uk.
-ends-
For further information please contact:
Steve Stammers
Lexis Sport
Telephone: 0207 908 6439
Notes to editors:
About BTCC
The British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) was formed in 1958 and is Britain's most popular motor racing spectacle. Its race season comprises ten events at top circuits across the UK. It is contested by professional racing drivers in competition versions of every day road cars, giving it tremendous public appeal. Some 325,000 watch the BTCC trackside each year. www.btcc.net/
About RAC
With around seven million members, RAC is one of the UK's most progressive motoring organisations, providing services for both private and business motorists. Whether it's roadside assistance, vehicle inspections and checks, legal services or up-to-the-minute traffic and travel information - RAC is able to meet motorists' needs. RAC incorporates RAC Insurance.
RAC is committed to providing the very highest levels of service to its members and has been ranked first for customer service by JD Power and Associates' UK Roadside Assistance Study for the last three years.
RAC is part of Aviva, the world's fifth largest insurance group which operates in 28 countries.
RAC's news releases and a selection of images are available from the internet press centre at www.racnews.co.uk.
About HiQ
HiQ (part of Goodyear Dunlop) became the BTCC's new title sponsor in 2008 in a new three-year agreement. It provides a fast-fit car care service at its 150 centres across the UK. In the next two years, that number will rise to 250 as HiQ embarks on revolutionising the fast-fit industry. It has already taken the lead by offering a unique online service www.hiqonline.co.uk/ for motorists to buy tyres and arrange a fitting appointment.