Makes and Models
BTCC Memorable Drives: The Power of the Four Rings
Image Credit: BTCC.net
With the news that Rob Austin Racing are set to drop the Audi A4 at the end of the 2015 season in search of another manufacturer, it would seem fitting that I provide a little bit of the history of the famous four rings. The story begins in 1996 when Audi announced that they would be entering the championship as a factory entry.
From the moment that the A4 Quattro set foot in the championship, there was a reaction similar to that of the Alfa Romeo team in 1994. Where in 1994 the debate lay around the extendable wings on the Alfa Romeo 155, the issue in 1996 was the 4WD ability of the Audi team. The 1996 season was utterly dominated by Frank Biela in the Audi. Of the 26 rounds in the year, Biela would only finish outside the top four 3 times. That’s right, 3 times. On top of that, he had a 100% efficiency rate, even taking into account his disqualification from the second race at Snetterton.
The only man who could even try to put up a fight to the Audi domination was the Swiss ace Menu in his Williams Renault. While Biela was charging off into a lead he would never lose, his team mate John Bintcliffe was not sharing Frank’s success. He may not have been the number 2 in the title hunt, but he only recorded 6 results that were outside the top 10. An impressive feat from the Audi team.
Image taken from: Autocar.co.uk
In 1997, Audi’s luck would somewhat change as an imposed weight penalty would hinder their performance. It was argued that the 4WD was too much of an advantage over the other teams, so to balance everything out it seemed fair to have a weight addition. It was hardly like Audi could complain much about it, considering BMW had always suffered with a weight penalty for their RWD cars (don’t tell Jason Plato about that now, he’ll be wanting all the modern RWD BTCC machines with a weight penalty).
As we all know, 1997 saw Alain Menu storm to the championship, never at any point losing the lead. Biela would still score strong finishes, but the added bonus from 1996 prevented him for taking consistent wins. Well, this is of course until it started raining. It does not take a genius to guess that a 4WD car works considerably better in the rain than 2-wheel drive.
After an appeal by the Audi team, the weight penalty was reduced in the second half of 1997 and once more the Audi’s were fighting for the top places. In fact, Biela was the only man who stood between Menu and his title. Alas not even Biela could stop the Menu stranglehold.
When 1998 rolled around, Biela departed and was replaced by the then relatively unknown Frenchman Yvan Muller. On top of that, the 4WD model was replaced by the 2 wheel drive A4 to stop any weight penalty on the car. The difference between the two years was staggering, but that did not stop Muller banging in some great drives in the Audi. At the close of 1998, it was thought to be the end for the four rings; Audi joined the ranks with the likes of Nissan, Volvo and Renault, all of whom took the decision to pull out due to the spiralling costs needed for success.
Had the power of the rings come to an end?
Many years rolled by, but all was not lost. A tiny light began to flicker.
Beautifully demonic. Rob Austin brings Audi back. Photo Credit: BTCC.net
A small team by the name of Rob Austin Racing entered a lone Audi A4. Little did anyone know that both car and driver would become an icon of the modern BTCC. Since 2011, Rob Austin has run the eponymous Audi A4 (Sherman) with ever increasing success. Rob at one time was partnered by Will Bratt, before being joined by his current partner in crime Hunter Abbott in 2014.
Rob has always run an independent team, with no factory support from Audi themselves. However, that has not stopped him achieving some spectacular podiums alongside two dazzling victories, both of which coming at Rockingham. Let us not forget, Rockingham is just around the corner. Fingers crossed! Rob Austin and Sherman have become one of the most popular teams on the grid, and it will be a shame to see Rob dropping the Audis for his 2016 campaign.
After a successful Knockhill campaign, Rob Austin goes to the track where he has enjoyed the most success of any other. It is time for Austin to bring the rock to Rockingham.
All that remains is the former Audi of American Robb Holland, now driven by Nicholas Hamilton and the AmD team. With Austin retiring the A4s, it may very well be that the Audi S3 Saloon is the last of a once great breed. A species on the verge of extinction.
Will Audi go the way of Vauxhall, Volvo and Nissan? Is this the end of the four rings?
Such a colourful history in the series – Audi have become one of THE iconic names in the best touring series the world has ever seen.
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Priaulx's Pole as Plato Plummets at Knockhill Qualifying
Photo Credit: BTCC.net
As the BTCC takes its annual trip to Scotland, there is never any doubt that the action will be plentiful across the weekend. As qualifying draws to an end, Priaulx has pranced his way to pole position, followed closely by team mate Tordoff. With four of the top six drivers piloting a RWD car, Knockhill makes no secrets in which cars it favours. In a session that drew two red flags, for what seemed like the first time this year Team BMR were playing catchup, with Turkington their best finisher in 9th and Plato plummeting to a career worst 22nd.
All eyes fell to Gordon Shedden as qualifying got under way; the Scot had dominated the first two free practice sessions. At his home circuit Flash was hoping to gain some redemption; gaining only 3 points from the 3 races at a shocking Snetterton, Shedden needed a recovery drive from the gods. The Honda has always gone well around the twisty Knockhill circuit, the same of which cannot be said of the other FWD cars. Despite the efforts of the other teams, it was BMW that would go into the weekend with the most confidence.
Knockhill may well be the most physically and mentally demanding track on the BTCC calendar. Not only does the relentless twists, turns, drops and rises put great physical strain on the driver around each lap but the short length of the circuit increases the problem of traffic exponentially. Setting a competitive qualifying time is never easy at the best of times, but this is something uniquely challenging.
As qualifying began, the now weightless Ford of Jackson rocketed up to the top of the times, followed closely by Priaulx’s BMW. For the second time this year, there was not one but two red flags in the session. The first of these was caused by Jeff Smith, while the second by Matt Neal, both of whom span their way off the track and into the rough stuff. Awkwardly for the Honda team, as Neal lost control of the car and brought qualifying to its second halt, Shedden was beginning a lap that was looking good for pole. He was forced to abandon and would never come close again, settling with an eventual 5th. Now that is a team debrief I would very much like to see!
Troubles continued for Team HARD and Welch Motorsport, with both suffering early exits. Gallagher would limp back to the pits after a gravel excursion, while Dan Welch suffered a collapsed suspension. Their troubled qualifying continues what has been a miserable 2015 campaign for both teams, let’s hope their luck turns soon! Speaking of changed luck, fan favourite Rob Austin qualified 6th; it is no wonder he enjoys the track so much!
It was the final 5 minute flurry for positions that produced the most action. It was almost like somewhere in the WSR garage, the team went into DEFCON 1. As the seconds ticked away, Priaulx stormed to the top of the times, followed closely by Tordoff, while Collard managed 4th. Frustratingly for Jackson, had his fastest lap not been disallowed due to exceeding track limits, he would have been sitting on pole.
In a shocking turn of events, the usually meteoric BMR team were struggling to keep pace with the rest of the field. As with the MG team last year, they may well be the best FWD car but the challenging Knockhill circuit does not suit them at all. The best they could manage was Turkington who qualified 9th. In what must be his worst qualifying session of his entire career, it was Plato that has stolen the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Whether it was due to the traffic and session stoppages, the best Plato could manage was 22nd, a whopping 0.771 seconds off the pole time.
You may be thinking that 0.7 seconds is not that much of a gap; in any other motor sport series you would probably be right. But this is the BTCC; there is a reason why it is the best tin top series in the world. If it is proof you want then how about this; take a look at the top 23, they are all covered by less than a second.
Expect Motorbase to be challenging for the win come race day. Photo credit: BTCC.net
It has come to the point where I must make my predictions for race day. I often have a pretty good idea what will happen, but not this time. I imagine the BMWs will secure at least one victory, but no one can discount Jackson in his Ford rocket ship. Furthermore, with Plato starting so far down, will he decide to start from the pit lane to secure pole for race two? But with the handicap of driving a FWD car, will such a strategy even work? Turkington has always enjoyed Knockhill, and fresh off his victories last year will be hungry for points. As ever, there are so many ‘what ifs’ that it is impossible to call with confidence.
Weight and uphill power are not a amicable combination. With Knockhill providing more drops and rises than any other circuit on the calendar, success ballast may play a fascinating role in proceedings tomorrow.
At the end of the day, at the same venue of his first ever BTCC win, if my money was on anyone it would have to be Priaulx.
But with a field so close together, the only way to know what will happen will be to watch the races. Qualifying at Knockhill today has been nothing short of a testament to the high quality of the BTCC; low costs but highly entertaining and fiercley competitive.
But we knew that already.
Bring on race day!
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Keep Driving People!
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Turkington leads BMR Blast Off at Snetterton
Image Credit: BTCC.net
In a truly resplendent Snetterton showing, BMR have shattered the opposition with a dominant 1-2-3 in qualifying, with Irishman Turkington leading the charge. Having grabbed attention with their new livery unveiling, Team BMR have made their intentions clear for tomorrow’s race day. The returning Ford’s however failed to capitalise on their impressive results at the Snetteron test, with Jackson and Cole only managing 14th and 20th respectively in what turned out to be a highly competitive session.
As the field rolled out for qualifying, there was no telling who would top the time sheets. The first two free practice sessions had seen Priaulx and Jordan taking the top spot, all while expectations were high for the returning Ford Motorbase team of Mat Jackson and James Cole. As the results poured in for free practice, I was gearing up to put my money on Priaulx and the ever increasing power of the West Surrey Racing BMW team.
Qualifying started rather badly for Turkington, who very nearly suffered a case of the Yvan Mullers (from Donington 1999) when one of his bonnet pins was not secured properly. Down the back straight, it was looking like the bonnet may completely blow up into his windscreen. Luckily for him however he was able to get back to the pits and get everything sorted, before going out and delivering a near-perfect lap of the Snetterton circuit,
“I put a really strong lap together, we’ve had a strong weekend but it was just about finding the perfect balance and getting the best lap”
Photo Credit: PSP Images
When Motorbase announced their Snetteron returned, a great many of us placed considerable amount of pressure on them. For whether willingly or not, they are in fact emanating the Ford team of 1993, which back then consisted of Andy Rouse and Paul Radisich. The ’93 Ford team started the season half way through, yet ended the year in a near championship challenging position. Having topped the Dunlop tyre test at Snetteron, Jackson was unable to recreate that same success during qualifying. His disappointment was obvious but the determination for race day shines through in his tweet:
“Qualified 14th but not a lot in the times. Going to have to work my way up through the field tomorrow…”
The combination of Jackson and Cole should prove to be a formidable threat to the establishment as the season moves on. They have both proven themselves and with such an epic machine (engine especially) under them, it won’t be long until the podiums start heading their way. And on a more personal note, the new look Fords are stunning things of pure power and beauty. There may be an absence of colour but their presence could not be more colossally kaleidoscopic. There is no doubt that Motorbase will be hauling in the points tomorrow – but is the pressure of the past getting to them? Can anyone stand in the shoes of the great Rouse and Radisich? Not long until we find out!
Special mention I do believe should go the way of the Triple 8 team, who came so very close to securing pole at the hands of Jack Goff. As the session was reaching its final few seconds, Jack Goff was on an absolute flyer of a lap, smashing the sector times, until he missed his own braking point at the end of the back straight. Chances are that was a guaranteed pole, lost only by his own hubris. Andrew Jordan in the truly magnificent silver Pirtek MG has an impressive 4th for the first race tomorrow; not something to be disappointed with at all!
I was a little shocked for Gordon Shedden, who was languishing in a lowly 16th place. In typical racing driver fashion, the fault has been placed not with him but with power steering issues. As annoying as that must be, it will create a great spectacle for the fans to see him carving through the field during the first race tomorrow!
Did I mention too that the top 17 drivers are covered by less than a second? Nothing is more concrete proof of the success of both the regulations and championship as a whole than this. Different cars, different drivers, small budgets and yet well, the results speak for themselves.
With all the bad luck this year, Bushell did well to come from not setting a competitive time in most of the session to placing his Ford in 22nd on the grid. Nic Hamilton did a fine job to qualify 26th and is excited to get mixed up in the pack in the races tomorrow. With every lap, every corner, every gear you can see the improvement. Commiserations must go out to Gallagher in the Team HARD Toyota who had been blighted with engine troubles in FP2, resulting in him starting his Snetterton race day campaign from the back of the grid.
Image Credit: BTCC.net
If the BTCC grid was to be considered as a sandwich, the cars that create the ‘bread’ could not be more appropriate. Going into the Snetterton weekend, BMR unveiled their new liveries and title sponsor. Those of the Sherlock persuasion will notice that the name RCIB Insurance Racing has been seen before. They are the sponsors that Tony Gilham of Team HARD brought into the championship and adorn the Toyota of Gallagher. On top of that, RCIB still have an involvement with Jack Goff, who can be seen sporting their logo, just not as obviously.
In many ways, having dominant VWs with the RCIB name on is exactly what Gilham would have wanted. After all, it was him and Team HARD that first brought the Passat into the championship those many moons ago. It is just a shame that these VWs are now under BMR control. I have noticed that there has been some malcontent among the fans of Gallagher, who have taken the view that the BMR cars should not take the RCIB name.
But my view, such as that of Tim Harvey is that if there is a good deal to be made with a team that is at the front of the grid, then what is stopping you. Without any insult to Gallagher at all, he is a great driver, but due to problems with his car he is often at the bottom of the grid. If you were a sponsor who wanted a greater motor sport involvement, your success and company visibility will be greatly improved if your name is on a front running car. This is no F1, but motor sport does have a strong business aspect to it.
There is a similarity in look, but if you wanted to get technical, the Gallagher car has black as the main colour, where BMR seem to have white. Furthermore, if they want to expand further into the championship and sponsor more cars and drivers, why bite the hand that feeds? We are living in a time where finances may not be as easily available as they once were. The continued and increasing involvement from RCIB may well ensure the ongoing success of the BTCC.
Either that or this is the start of their plan to take over the world. We have all wondered what happened to them. They disappeared from our television screens in the 90s. But they are back, this is all part of the latest plan by Pinky and the Brain, under the guise of RCIB Insurance…
Roll on race day!
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My Swedish Love Affairs
Go somewhere else if you are expecting to find a sizzling read about my steamy encounters with tall, blue-eyed blonds with angular faces and high cheekbones. For one thing, although I have had a couple of male friends from Scandinavian countries, including Sweden, I never even flirted with them. What’s more, the blue-eyed blond I married is from Down Under, and I’m not going to spill the beans about that. This is supposed to be an automotive blog, so for anything steamy and Swedish, you’ll have to wait until I put out a Mills & Boon romance with a hero named Eric. Instead, this is about two of the nicest cars I have driven, both of them Swedish.
First of all, there was the Saab 9000, a.k.a. The Valkyrie. This was a deep pewter grey sedan that some of my friend dubbed “The Euro Beast”. This was my first encounter with Swedish cars – I had already encountered my share of French (Simca), German (VW), British (Morris, Austin) and Italian (Alfa Romeo) vehicles and was prepared for this new European model to be similar. It wasn’t. It was better. It had such an excellent blend of practicality and luxury that I forgave it all of its quirks, like the way that the interior cloth lining fell off the roof because it had been designed for the colder Swedish climate rather than the warmer one down here. I forgave it the way that it had to sit in the garage for yonks every time it needed a spare part that had to be imported and took three weeks to arrive on the boat from Europe. I loved that massive boot, the heated leather seats and its super-responsive acceleration. It was roomy, it was beautiful, it was fun to drive, and I was really sorry when the day came to trade it in for an Isuzu Bighorn so my husband, the blue-eyed blond mentioned above, could do a bit more with his contracting business and take the family on 4×4 outings.
Now, I have my new love. This is a Volvo S70 sedan, dark blue and nicknamed Hilda (from the letters on the rego plate). I have only recently picked up this little beauty for much less than it was worth and I am in love with Swedish design all over again. So far, its only fault has been that it has a tendency to creep over the speed limit when I’m not paying attention (it doesn’t have cruise control). The alarm is also a bit on the quirky side – yesterday, it decided to set the alarm off when I opened the door to get out of the car after driving for 45 minutes – but I’m figuring this out. It has the smoothest gear changes I’ve ever felt in an automatic, it corners like a dream and it is nicely frugal on the gas. I’m not sure exactly why the Frenchman I bought it off said that “Zis is a woman’s car”. There’s nothing particularly girly about the mag wheels or those comfy leather seats. Is it because the boot is big enough to take heaps of groceries? Is it because the back seat is wide enough for plenty of kids needing to be taken to school? Is it because of the lighted mirror on the passenger side sunshade? Is it because of the multitude of storage compartments around the place? Is it because it has the Volvo reputation for safety? I’m still trying to figure this one out. Anyone else got any ideas?
I am also hoping that this latest Swedish love affair will be a long-lasting one.
Happy driving whether you’re in a Swedish car or not,
Megan
Level 2, 9 Help Street