BTCC Barmy Army

Right, the 2012 season has kicked off in style, and posting here has been rather lax in the off-season (sorry about all that, wedding, birth of the newest and youngest Barmy Army member Oscar and various things conspired against getting much done) but this year we hope to be back with a bang and with some great original content for you all!

Watch this space!

Brands Hatch narrowly edged out Silverstone to take the top spot in a poll to find Britain’s best-loved circuit of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC).

The new BTCC season, which also features the AirAsia Renault UK Clio Cup, the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, the Ginetta GT Supercup and the Certina Formula Renault 2.0 UK Championship, will get underway at Brands Hatch on 31 March. In the run up to the launch, Michelin wanted to find out what race fans thought were the most exciting circuits on the calendar.

A poll on its Facebook page found that the iconic Kent-based venue was the number one track, hauling in 20% of the votes. Silverstone came in an extremely close second with 19%, while Donington trailed just behind with 17%.

Further down the pack was Oulton Park with 11%, Thruxton with 9%, Rockingham and Knockhill, both with 7%, Snetterton with 6% and in last place Croft with 5%.

Jianni Geras, Michelin UK’s head of marketing, said: “We have had a great response in terms of votes and it’s good to hear what UK race fans think.

“This clearly highlights their passion and enthusiasm for a competition at the forefront of the British motorsport calendar.”

The survey was held as part of a competition to win VIP tickets, courtesy of Renault1, to attend BTCC races at the three tracks Michelin Facebook fans nominated.

The winner was 31-year-old Gary Rawson from Barnsley in South Yorkshire, who will now enjoy incredible racing action at Croft, Oulton Park and Donington.

Geras added: “Whatever your opinion on which circuits are the most exciting, this season’s BTCC is sure to be one to remember – especially for our lucky winner.”

¹ Michelin is the official tyre supplier to Formula Renault UK and Renault Clio Cup.

VIP TICKETS TO FAVOURITE RACE CIRCUITS UP FOR GRABS

 Motorsport fans have the chance to win VIP tickets to Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) events in a Facebook competition being run by Michelin.

By voting for their favourite race circuits on Michelin’s Facebook page, petrol-heads will be in with a chance of being Michelin’s guest at the very BTCC events they have nominated.

Winners will enjoy hospitality, courtesy of Renault¹, and access to the full day race schedule at all three of their chosen circuits if they are randomly selected in the draw.

Jianni Geras, Michelin UK head of marketing, said: “It’s not long until the start of the BTCC season and we want to know which circuits are the fans’ favourites.

“Here at Michelin we’ve already chosen our top three but we want to know the venues that race-goers see as the greatest in British motorsport – as well as reward some fans with a day they will never forget.”

To enter please go to on.fb.me/MichelinBTCC

¹ Michelin is the official tyre supplier to Formula Renault UK and Renault Clio Cup.

Just a note, if you want any Barmy Army merchandise, there’ll be a link on the side shortly, or you can visit the link below

BTCC Barmy Army Merchandise

Quick gallery of things that were seen in the Paddock following qualifying at Oulton Park this weekend.

For something a little different, here’s a behind the scenes look at what goes on with the Barmy Army at a race weekend.

Please note, we’re certainly not advocating, recommending or saying it’s a remotely good idea to drink (especially if you’re driving) but it does hilight the need to not fall asleep

And, if you needed reminding not to fall asleep, here it is

Triple Eight Race Engineering with Collins Contractors had a mixed qualifying result for round 10 of the BTCC at Oulton Park in Cheshire.

Photo courtesy Keith Hubbleday

James Nash finished FP1 in 9th, FP2 in 11th and could manage a best time which saw him 9th starting the first race tomorrow.

Says James

“We’ve had some problems with the car today and never really got on top of it. We’re going to have another look at it tonight just to make sure that there’s nothing badly wrong and will have it ready to go in the morning.

A top 5 is what I was aiming for but with the ballast and everything else we knew after free practice that it wasn’t really on. Still, we’ll come through in the race where we know we’re stronger. P9 just makes it that little bit harder.”

Team mate Tony Gilham improved from his FP1 position of 14th and FP2 of 16th by qualifying 13th for the first race.  Following qualifying Tony remarked

“We we’re sitting in the top ten for a while which was good and then went a bit quicker still and hoping to move up. Unfortunately we ended up getting pushed back and unable to respond when the red flags came out to end the session early.

My aim tomorrow will be to score points in all three races. We’ve saved a set of tyres, we ran the session on just the one set and I know that our race pace is good. Hopefully, a few of those ahead of me on the grid won’t be quite as good tomorrow.”

Photo courtesy Keith Hubbleday

Despite neither driver in the Triple Eight Race Engineering with Collins Contractors team having driven the Hampshire circuit in a touring car, they managed a total of 5 points finishes from 6 races on the day.  Ian Harrison, chairman of Triple Eight says

The feeling after the races is a bit flat really. We came here carrying high expectations but you have to remember that neither James (Nash) or Tony (Gilham) had raced here before in a touring car and initially we went a bit too conservative on set up, certainly more mild a set up than we normally would have used for Thruxton.

Both drivers drove well, especially after we went a little more aggressive in races two and three. We scored 5 out of 6 points finishes so it can’t be the end of the world and it is I guess better than some of the other teams managed.”

Photo courtesy Triple Eight

Following on from a poor qualifying session on the Saturday, James Nash came away with points finishes in all 3 races, while team-mate and BTCC rookie Tony Gilham finished in the points in races 2 and 3.

Tony Gilham summed the weekend up for himself

A  reasonable end to a weekend that didn’t look too promising after a disappointing qualifying. We’ve got to be happy I suppose moving up in each race and scoring some more points. We’ve just got to get a grip on qualifying starting next time out at Oulton Park

Despite getting his highest finish of the day in the final race, coming home in fourth, James Nash believes he could of scored higher had he not been held up behind Tom Boardman following the Safety Car – it’s understood that Boardman accidentally switched off his engine behind the safety car that was introduced following Tom Chilton crashing his Ford Focus.  Of his weekend, James had the following to say

We struggled at the beginning of the weekend what with the ballast and not knowing the track and we didn’t get the best out of the car. Having said that we moved forward in each race and scored points again in all three races. It was a shame about the last race restart because without the delay I’m sure we would have done even better.

The BTCC now moves on to Oulton Park in Cheshire on June 5th

After starting the final race of the day at Thruxton on pole, after getting the luck of the draw in the reverse grid following his ninth place finish in the second race, fantastic scenes greeted the triumphant Tom as he secured a convincing third place

I’m well chuffed,” said Tom. “It feels like a win! I’m really happy for the Special Tuning Racing team.It’s frustrating when I’m not up there as they put so much work into the car over the weekend, so to get a podium and prove I can race at the front is a very special feeling for everyone.

Photo courtesy of SBK Motorsport Images

Coming out of qualifying and starting the first race in ninth place, Tom managed to get past both Tom Onslow-Cole and Jeff Smith on the first lap, before diving through into sixth place on lap 5 as Jason Plato and Mat Jackson ran side-by-side through the final chicane, and after defending well against Plato he went on to claim fifth place after Jason spun off with a puncture.

Starting from fifth in the second race of the day, Tom got off to another good start but engine breathing issues hindered his progress, and saw him slip down the order to ninth place, and a massive slide around Goodwood on the second lap wowed the crowds but dropped him another place as he got the car under control and kept it on the track.

Lap 5 saw Tom starting to put pressure on Paul O’Neill in front of him, but it took until lap 14 for Tom to make the move stick to claim tenth place, and a spin from Rob Collard saw him gain another place to finish ninth, and in the points again.

Photo courtesy of SBK Motorsport Images

The reverse grid saw Boardman sitting on pole for the final race, and a slightly nervous start saw Tom lose two places to Plato and Jackson by the first corner, however he fought back but was unable to find a way through.  Following the safety car deployment, Tom fended off a relentless attack from Nash, who entered the weekend leading the championship, and held onto third place, giving him his first outright BTCC podium (although Tom has seen the podium before, having taken the Independent Drivers win at Rockingham in 2009)

Tom and the team at Special Tuning Racing head into the next round at Oulton Park, Toms home circuit, on June 5th full of confidence, and surely more podiums can’t be far off.

We’ve now got a big break before Oulton Park. We’ll use the time wisely and make sure we have no problems for the next race. Today was really satisfying. We’ve got the car where we want it and where we can finish the race competitively. Hopefully we can carry this special feeling through the remainder of the season.

This competition is only open for Under-18′s

Photo courtesy of Rachel Clark

The Top UK Radio Controlled car magazine (Radio Controlled Car Racer) has teamed up with British Touring Car Team AmD Milltek to produce a one of a kind competition prize for one lucky youngster.

Tom Onslow Cole is currently running a competition to win a Full Size Replica of his 2011 Race Car, which you can only enter if you are over 18.

The Guys at Racer Magazine have created a 1/10th Replica of the AmD Essex Golf which anyone under the age of 18 can win by simply popping over to the http://www.rcracer.com website clicking on the BTCC Competition Link and entering their details and answer one simple question.

The Winner will receive tickets to the BTCC championship finale where the AmD Team will present the main prize to the winner.

The Main Prize
A 1/10th Tamiya TT-01E Radio Controlled Touring Custom Painted and Ready to Run including battery and Charger
Two Adult Tickets and One Junior Ticket to The Silverstone Final Race

Other Coverage

The June RC Racer Magazine on sale May the 6th in all good newsagents and WH Smiths carries an article which also covers this competition.
RC Racer magazine is also available digitally via The Apple App Store and http://www.pocketmags.com which will be seen around the globe via or worldwide subscribers.

About ADH Publishing
ADH Publishing enjoys a unique place at the heart of the modelling world.
With Seven best selling magazine titles, world leading websites and forums plus a range of books. Whether your interest is for Radio Control Cars, Aircraft or Helicopters or Scale Modelling Aircraft, Military Subjects, Cars, Ships, Bikes or Sci-Fi We can offer you information and class leading publications to help you make the most from your hobby from our worldwide trusted team of experts.

Photos in this story are courtesy of Rachel Clark