Following the last round at Knockhill, Team RAC travel south of the border once more in search of a strong points haul as the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship heads to Silverstone next Sunday (30 August).
Following the last round at Knockhill, Team RAC travel south of the border once more in search of a strong points haul as the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship heads to Silverstone next Sunday (30 August).
Colin Turkington’s lead at the top of the Driver’s Championship has been cut to nine points, with last year’s champion Fabrizio Giovannardi hot on his heels. However, Silverstone has been good to Turkington in past years and the Ulsterman will be hoping to extend his lead next weekend.
Following good form prior to the mid-season break, Stephen Jelley has had his share of bad luck in the last couple of rounds but his experience of racing on the Northamptonshire circuit will give him confidence ahead of the weekend.
Turkington joined fellow BTCC stars Jason Plato and Matt Neal this week for the Silverstone preview day where he was able to get a bird’s eye view of the circuit from aboard a World Aerobatics Championship stunt plane.
Current Championship leader Turkington comments: "The flight experience was incredible and certainly something I won’t forget, although it will be good to get back on tarmac in the BMW!
"The Championship is getting tighter at the top, but we’ve have had some good results here in the past and the aim is to come away with a strong points haul and hopefully extend my lead in the Driver’s Championship."
Stephen Jelley said: "Silverstone is one of my favourite circuits. I started my racing career there and have driven countless laps so hopefully that experience should stand me in good stead.
"The Team RAC BMW was quick at Silverstone last year and I’m confident I can improve on recent rounds and hit the podium again."
WSR Team Principal Dick Bennetts said: "Apart from those intriguingly powerful Lacetti’s, we are really looking forward to returning to Silverstone, as the drivers are also BRDC members, so it’s great for them to perform at "home" as such. The WSR prepared Team RAC BMW’s should be very competitive, as Colin qualified the fastest normally aspirated car last year."
Turkington has amassed 206 championship points after seven rounds, while team-mate Stephen Jelley has 81 points. Team RAC currently lead the Independents Championship with 242 points.
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For further information please contact:
Nina Cresswell / James Knott
Team RAC Press Office
Lexis Sport
0207 908 6406 / 0207 908 6459
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 10 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, insurance, vehicle inspections and checks, legal services or up-to-the-minute traffic and travel information - RAC is able to meet motorists' needs.
- 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 and the top named service organisation in the July 2009 UK Customer Satisfaction Index from the Institute of Customer Service.
- Aviva bought RAC in May 2005. The acquisition brings together RAC's powerful brand and customer base with the expertise and leading position in motor insurance of Aviva UK Insurance (formerly Norwich Union Insurance). Aviva is the UK's largest insurer with a market share of around 15%.
- 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.