Photo credits to; Lee Fisher Motorsport Photography
The British Touring Car Championship launches into race day Sunday at Croft today, bringing one of the premier British racing championships up North for the final time this season! Between Donington and Croft the BTCC has gone relatively quiet, with little news between rounds.
Qualifying Race Recap
In Saturdays Qualifying Race, Josh Cook toke pole position and retained it throughout Saturdays sprint, with Gordon Shedden putting himself in the midfield with an chance of moving up the field until he was spun on lap 1 at turn 2 by Daryl De Leon after he went deep into the first corner. At the back end of Lap 2 Mikey Doble slowed and eventually stopped at the penultimate corner – seemingly due to a mechanical issue. The car was retrieved with no intervention to the race. Cook started to slowly pull away from the Napa pairing of Dan Cammish and championship leader Ash Sutton, with the pair almost a second behind at the end of lap 5. Tom Ingram put himself into the mix for a podium on Lap 7 approaching the back end of Sutton while Cook managed the race from a small distance out in front – setting the fastest lap at the same time! Onto lap 8 both Laser Tools Racing / MB Motorsport cars of Aroń Taylor-Smith and Gordon Shedden going nose to tail throughout the first corner segments, giving each other a run for their money – however Shedden behind was unable to make the move for P15. On the penultimate while chasing Sutton, Ingram ran wide and found himself off the road and getting overtaken by De Leon at the final hairpin, putting his podium hopes to bed! Ingram came flying through the first corners of the Croft Circuit battle and making contact several times with De Leon, the pair treating the crowd to a proper touring car battle! Cook took the win with De Leon coming in ahead of Ingram while Cammish and Sutton slotted into the podium places.
What To Watch For During Race One!
Race One will see Cook start from pole with Napa’s surrounding the car, they’ll look to get a jump off the line and put Cook under pressure early – as we’ve in Saturday’s qualifying race, if cook gets ahead he can dictate the race from the front and take the win, which Cammish and Sutton will be eager to prevent.
Keep an eye out for a hard charging Gordon Shedden as well! Shedden has been quick on Saturday – even with the turn one incident – and could easily pull himself into the top 10 from towards the back of the field. As we know Shedden can be involved in incidents – such as last year at Croft, being involved in Cook’s crash out at the first corner. Which could stir up some action in the midfield.
Ingram will also be somebody to keep an eye on after his drive in the qualifying race, he has the potential to find himself in the fight for the podium. Although he couldn’t slot past Sutton in race one, there is the possibility that Sutton moves forward and Ingram could take both De Leon and Cammish or Cook and find himself in 3rd and pushing for a win in race 2.
Make sure to tune in on ITV4, Youtube or Racer Network – depending on your region – at 12:10 BST!