British Touring Car Championship Preview: Rounds 25, 26 & 27 @ Silverstone

An e-magazine in association with

ThePreview

Rob Austin Tony Gilham

Ollie JacksonHoward Fuller

PLUS! Exclusive interviews inside with:

It’s Honda vs. Honda

Seven drivers could win at the penultimate round at Silverstone, but for the title...

Snapshot

Photo: Julie Amos Photography

Snapshot

Photo: BTCC.net

ThePreviewIssue 1

6. Paddock news

8. Ollie Jackson: It’s good to be back

10. Rob Austin Interview: My special fans

16. PREVIEW: Shedden edged ahead of his teammatein the title battle at Rockingham...can he hold on?

20. What are they saying? Driver quotes ahead of Silverstone race weekend

21. Titanic teammate tussles - three title fights whichcaught our attention

22. Fuller promise: Newest BTCC star after 2013driver following impressive Rockingham debut

28. HARD. at work: Tony Gilham talks ambitionsPhoto: BTCC.net

WelcomeThis is the first issue of ThePreview, an e-magazine looking at providing the best news, reports, reaction and features for the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

There will be two issues per round, one preceding the race weekend and the other, TheReview, the week following, both on Wednesdays. In the meantime, theCheckeredFlag.co.uk’s BTCC section is the perfect place to stay up-to-date with the latest news.

You can expect to find race reports for the BTCC and support races in theReview, as well as driver and team reaction, while in thePreview you will find features, circuit information, as well as driver, team and series previews.

The BTCC is the country’s premier motor racing championship, and in conjunction with theCheckeredFlag.co.uk, we hope to provide you with the premier way of keeping up-to-date with what makes the series tick.

Thanks for reading,

Scott Mitchell.

Contact us:Scott Mitchell (Editor, Designer, Contributor)

@scottmitchell89scott.mitchell@thecheckeredflag.co.uk

Vince Pettit (Editor, theCheckeredFlag.co.uk)@vincepettit

editor@thecheckeredflag.co.uk

With thanks to:Kingsley Newman Photography

Julie Amos PhotographyLens Vanity Photography

Chris Gurton Photography

Team-HARD. confirm Fuller for Silverstone; Williamson for BrandsTEAM-HARD. will continue their blooding of young drivers in the final two rounds of the season.Howard Fuller will again be driving the team’s S2000 Honda Civic when the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship visits Silverstone for its

penultimate round.The 20-year-old impressed on his debut at Rockingham, knocking on the door of the top ten, and will get another chance as Robb Holland, due to fill in for team boss Tony Gilham, will again miss out.And after his strong first

outing, he is keen to make the most of the opportunity to get back out in the car again.“I’ve been talking to Tony and the team and we’re going to be out at Silverstone,” he told theCheckeredFlag.co.uk. “Tony was pretty keen

to get me in the car.“It was a tough choice for him to make as he’s using the VW Cup as a feeder series so to be asked to do it again is definitely something I wasn’t going to say no to. Hopefully we can have a good race at Silverstone, it’s a circuit I tend to go well at. I’m super excited for it.”Meanwhile, Clio Cup racer Aaron Williamson will take over from Fuller for the finale at Brands Hatch, becoming the fourth driver this season to race in the car after Gilham, American Robb Holland, and Fuller.Williamson has four years experience on the TOCA support package and has raced in the 2012 Renault Clio Cup, and will step into the Civic with

a view to finding a full-time seat next season.The Dartford team’s Operations Manager Ben Kattenhorn told theCheckeredFlag.co.uk: “He’s looking to move into touring cars but wants to see how it goes first. We’ve got a test set for the week before Brands Hatch.“He’s a good driver and he’s done well in Clios. We think he’ll be up there and we hope he does as well as Fuller.”Meanwhile Holland, who took over the car for Snetterton and Knockhill, has been absent since, having competed in the World Touring Car Championship for Bamboo at Sonama. However, the team confirmed he was still in the frame for next season.

The Team-HARD. Civic has been piloted by several drivers this season. Photo: BTCC.net

Paddock news6 ThePreview

Welch Motorsport working towards Silverstone returnAS ThePreview was set for publication Welch Motorsport were optimistic of a return to the BTCC grid this weekend after skipping the races at Rockingham.The Proton was absent from the previous round after struggling all season with funding issues – something which was brought on through a combination of problems outside the team’s control.However, the family-run outfit fought on, overcoming mechanical issues as well to appear at Snetterton and Knockhill – before forsaking Rockingham to

plan for the team’s future.Speaking on social network site Twitter, Dan Welch posted “Plans for this weekend looking good!” and “I’m back in the game”.Welch confirmed the problems had not disappeared but team were working hard to be on the grid, saying in an e-mail: “Accident and breakages just added up and we just did not have enough funds available [to race at Rockingham]. We also had Austrailian customers that we run in 24hr endurance racing in the Supercopas that we had to run at

Silverstone [Britcar 24 hour] the same weekend.“Last year we did both but this year we had to be sensible and do Britcar which helps funds in the long run. We are struggling but hope to do Silverstone.”His father John added: “We are only concentrating on going forward and building for next season.

Problems are the same for everybody, as Honda and MG are proving with decent budgets.“We are in the fringes of the BTCC and it is a small step to be with the frontrunners if we can secure a decent budget for 2013.”Should the Proton be on the grid, he would join Liam Griffin in the Motorbase

Ford Focus, Chris Stockton in the Thorney Motorsport Vauxhall Insignia and Lea Wood in the Binz Racing Vauxhall Vectra in returning after missing different races each with respective problems. Jeff Smith’s Pirtek Racing Honda Civic should also be on the grid after his hefty Rockingham race three shunt.

Welch’s Proton should be back at Silverstone Photo: BTCC.net

Paddock News

“We had to be sensible. We are struggling but hope to do Silverstone.”

ThePreview 7

Jackson’s relief as Golf comes good

It’s been a trying season for Ollie Jackson and the AmD Milltek team. But their fortunes changed at Rockingham, and now hopes are high for the final two rounds.Photo: Julie Amost Photography

THEY may not have received quite the attention of the returning Rob Austin Racing outfit at Rockingham but AmD Milltek left the Northampton track with plenty of praise after Ollie Jackson excelled in the wet conditions.It has certainly been a trying time for the VW Golf, which has struggled for pace on many occasions, but the team has also been hit with more than their fair share of mechanical misfortune. So when Jackson fought through the field to take a pair of eight-place finishes in the pouring Rockingham rain, after travelling down the pitlane three times in race one, it was a result which lifted a lot of weight off the AmDTuning.com team’s shoulders.“Relief’s definitely the right word,” said Jackson. “We’ve had such terrible luck over the first half of the season, and to skip Knockhill to try and sort out our problems and to have more issues on Sunday morning was pretty gutting, but those sort of results kind of focus the mind on the fact that we’re all getting on really

well and the car ran well.“Because of the problems in free practice I was confident we had underperformed in qualifying and felt we could make it up to maybe 13th or 14th place [in the dry] but I’ve always enjoyed racing in the wet and I was looking forward to a wet race just to see how we’d get on. I was more confident about a wet race than a dry race in terms of getting a really good result.”The team tested at Snetterton instead of travelling to Knockhill in order to get a better understanding of the car, and with Phil Glew at the wheel, emerged confident they were headed in the right direction - in more ways than one.“We changed a few team personnel after the test,” Jackson explained, “and it was great for making sure we were going in the right direction but also highlighted a few reliability problems, and that’s what we were working on before Rockingham with the new people on board. “Once everyone settled down and got working

together it did seem like the car was reliable again. That was the main positive – extra speed and sorting ourselves out, a test for the entire team rather than just the car itself.”After losing time in free practice and finishing race one at the back thanks to a repeatedly popping off boost hose, it looked like the bad luck would not let up for the team. But when the heavens opened, ever a great equaliser, the little Golf flourished. Jackson was one of the stars of the second race as he vaulted up the order - leading some to believe something even better could happen in race three as he lined up second on the reversed grid.It was not quite to be, however, as Jackson dropped back at the start - though that is not neccessarily he says as a missed opportunity.“I did drop quite a few places

in the first few corners,” he said, “but at the same I could have taken more of a gamble with it. Those guys at the front see the Golf as a backmarker so I think they’re quite happy to fire me off if they needed to. “My decision was to go as quick as I could for the first lap and find a point where I could settle, then try and move forward again, which is exactly what I did. “Perhaps we could have got a better result out of it but could quite have easily have been fired off and got a big bill for fixing the car and not be out at Silverstone.”After taking stock of the situation on-track, hardly an easy task while dealing visibility and keeping it in a straight line, Jackson became more confident in the car and fought his way back inside the top ten, to finish eight again.“My tendency in those conditions is to try and take

my chances where I know I can gather it back up again,” he says. “People were falling off on the brakes but I was trying to brake earlier so I didn’t have the car on the limit – so if it did catch me out, I could keep it on track. I started to press harder as the race went on and when you know where the grip is you can start to take more risks.”It may not have been a headline-stealing result but it was certainly one which served as a real tonic for the team - giving them an added boost heading in to the final two rounds. “I think we were all a bit depressed after the last couple of rounds,” Jackson admits. “It felt like we got the maximum out the car and not had a lot of pace, but I think we’ve found some speed in the car.“Silverstone’s looking difficult because it’s a power circuit but we’re working on it, so hopefully we’ll be able to hold our own if the conditions are dry, and if it’s wet I think we’ll be okay.”

ThePreviewOllie Jackson interview 9

“Relief’s definitely the right word. I think we were all a bit depressed after Snetterton.”

Power of the fans

11

HIS absence was short, but noticeable, such is his popularity amongst the fans and his presence in the paddock.Since he entered the championship, Rob Austin has enjoyed significant attention from the supporters and the “King of Cool” - he’s an actor when he’s not flooring the accelerator in his Audi A4 or racing historic single-seaters - has at times been in awe of the exact level of support.Little surprise, then, that when he appealed for

help from the supporters to get him to Rockingham, it came in spades.There was an excitement around as the cars took to the track for the first free practice session on Saturday morning, and the Rob Austin Racing Audi, carried more than just a smart new roof livery, sporting the names and faces of a dedicated fanbase.With it came the added pressure that the team were there because of the supporters, and Austin cut a hollow figure on Saturday

evening when, after a disappointing qualifying session, he declared he had let everyone down.Ever the fighter, he came out swinging on Sunday, rescuing a pair of top ten finishes despite minimal wet running and a visibility problem - but that is not enough for a man whose aim rarely, if ever, falls below the top.Still, he is a realist. His RAR outfit are not the biggest team on the grid, they do not pack the biggest budget. In some respects, simply being on the grid is a success. Bringing us full circle, for at Rockingham it was more a privilege to even be there, and to race, as Austin puts it, “compete on fan power”. “On the positives, we got two top ten results in the BTCC, and on our tiny budget for our realistic expectations to be so high as to be able to consider that as unsuccessful I think is a positive in itself! “It was also great to meet

a lot of the fans who supported my get on my roof promotion, and to be able to compete on “fan power” was pretty special. I would have loved to have put on a better show for them but I tried my best and will continue to do so for them.”Despite the positives, Austin concedes it was another frustrating weekend for a team which has proven itself capable of fighting at the front on more than once occasion.The returning Will Bratt was plagued with problems from first practice – “I think he’s got my luck”, Austin had quipped on Saturday evening – and the team boss himself suffered from an inconveniently broken heated screen in race two.“Yet another pretty disappointing weekend as far as results go,” he mused. “However, we feel happy with the progress we have made with the car and that we have a solid competitive

package now… we just didn’t put it all together quite right.“Qualifying was several small factors that added up to a terrible P12 grid slot. I decided to make a set up change which felt ok on used tyres but didn’t work out on my new set, that was the main thing, but also I did my fastest time after the best of the tires had gone so there was probably another couple of tenths in me doing a better job. Finally, we went for our lap right at the end and I think possibly earlier in the session the track was a little quicker. All little things but they add up and make a big difference in such a tight session, but, all were my decisions so I only have myself to blame.”For race one, however, Austin apportions the blame elsewhere. A spin after contact when battling with Matt Neal for 7th dropped him well down and though he recovered to finish 9th, Austin was not impressed by what he felt was deliberate attempts from Neal to end his race.

Rob Austin talks about the “special” honour of competing on fan power - and why he’s determined to succeed for the supporters.Words: Scott MitchellPhoto: Kingsley Newman Photography

“To be able to compete on fan power was pretty special. I tried my best and will continue to do so for them. “

Power of the fans ThePreview

Photo: Kingsley Newman Photography

13

“Race one was ruined by Matt Neal,” he said bluntly. “We had the Audi working well so I was all over him under brakes and through the corners but he was blocking hard and then started trying to back me in to Wrathall who was closing behind. Out of frustration he got a couple of nudges but I was shocked and appalled as to what came next. “Half way between two and three he slammed on the brakes while I was right behind him! It was a disgusting and desperate attempt to break my radiator and end my race!“I have watched Matt race in the BTCC for years before I came along and I’ve watched him give out more than his fair share of nudges but never expected him to stoop this low. I had plenty of opportunities previous to that to turn him around but where’s the skill in that? There’s no way me giving him a couple of pushes because he was deliberately slowing me mid corner deserved that malicious reaction.“Then a couple of laps later

he was slow around turn 4 and I got along side in to turn 5… but no, he turned in on me hard. In hindsight I should have just driven in to him and shoved him off but my brain doesn’t work that way and in the moment my natural reaction was I tried to avoid contact and back out of it. So I was off the throttle when his back wheel hit my door and it spun me round.“After the “incident” we had a really good run back through, we were faster than anyone in clear air (even Plato), the car felt great and to finish P9 even after a spin we felt these were big positives to take from a challenging race one.“Race two was a non-event for me really, the heated screen packed up so from the start the screen was misted up and I couldn’t see anything. I kept resetting the trips out of every corner and that gave me a small area I could see through but it’s like tunnel vision. Mid pack in a BTCC race at 130mph

on your way to turn 2 for the first time is an unsettling place to be at the best of times but to be there in the wet and blind was horrible!”Despite the hardships, Austin retains a very clear viewpoint on what he wants to achieve. No frills, no ifs and buts, he wants to prove himself – and it is unlikely he will be satisfied, until everyone is satisfied.Talking about the initiative,

which he put on again for Silverstone, he commented: “I would have liked to announce it earlier to give people more time but I couldn’t until I was sure I could afford the damage from Rockingham and that we were definitely going to Silverstone. I hope people will understand that it’s really difficult at the moment and I’m trying my best.Austin made it clear he is not

keen on asking the fans for money, and wants to reward them with success. He added: “I’m really hoping I can put on a good show at the final two rounds. I want to show some of our potential and that we can seriously challenge for this championship next year with the proper funding! Not just for me, but for my team, my fans and everyone who supports us.”

“I hope people will understand that it’s really difficult at the moment and I’m trying my best.”

ThePreviewPower of the fans

Photo: BTCC.net

Snapshot

Photo: Kingsley Newman Photography

TheReviewRockingham 10

Photo: Kingsley Newman Photography

Snapshot

ThePreview Silverstone16

Two to go, two to go for it Silverstone: Can Shedden hold on?

Gordon Shedden assumed control of the British Touring Car Championship title fight at Rockingham – as much control as a three point lead over your teammate, the defending champion, can give you anyway.Shedden’s double was masterfully opportunistic double – he admitted after the race it was unexpected, as the MG KX Momentum Racing car of Jason Plato threatened to make serious inroads in the gap the Honda Yuasa Racing pair had at the top of the table after dominating free practice, qualifying and race one.The Scot’s perfect

measure of the horrific wet conditions saw him take two relatively comfortably wins, surviving a very, very hairy moment at turn one to propel himself to the front in the race for the 2012 crown – and set up a very interesting penultimate round at Silverstone.The pendulum has swung back and forth all season between the two teammates in the title fight and it shows no sign of ending. Matt Neal raced bravely with a broken hand at Rockingham and to come away with three podiums is more than he may well have expected – and sets

him up perfectly to challenge for back-to-back championships. He may have relinquished his lead, but could well take points of his teammate this weekend – especially if other drivers do him a favour.The Northamptonshire track – using the club layout for the BTCC – may not favour the Civics, though. While Plato remains wary of how much he can take out of their lead at Silverstone, Shedden believes the Hondas – hampered by the boost equalisation system – will struggle at such a small track. There is not enough infield for the superior handling of the Yuasa cars to show

ThePreviewSilverstone 17

Photo: Kingsley Newman Photography

through, meaning it is an ideal chance for others to sneak in on the act.As many as seven drivers can expect to challenge for victory in rounds 25, 26 and 27 of the championship. Aside from the two Hondas and Plato’s MG, Mat Jackson looks handy in the NGTC Ford Focus after making more progress with the new car at Rockingham, while Andrew Jordan is always in the hunt. Throw in the ever-present Rob Collard, who could benefit from an improved boost performance, and Frank Wrathall, who is desperate to claim Toyota’s first new-generation touring car win, and the top step of the podium is a very difficult one to call. Looking to Plato, the MG remains a “difficult car to drive”, despite its upturn in performance since the summer break. As it is not the fastest car in a

straightline, either, it remains to be seen whether Plato’s impressive Rockingham form can be replicated at Silverstone. It would be surprising to see him so dominant again, but don’t rule him out when the chips are down – because that’s when Plato is arguably at his most dangerous. Jackson and Jordan are not dark horses for a win though. The latter may well have won the second race at Rockingham but for a mistake immediately after the restart, when he went straight on at turn two, and is just shy of Plato’s third place in the championship – not that the ex-Rallycross champion has any need for additional motivation. With Collard breathing down his neck for the Independents crown, Jordan is very wary that his Pirtek Racing Civic has to be in top form at Silverstone to avoid any last minute heartache. And what better way

to ensure Independent success than by taking a second outright win of the season? Meanwhile, Jackson is ploughing on with the development of the NGTC Focus. A best-ever qualifying for the new car at Rockingham set him up for a pair of fourth places and a sixth, results which have spurred on the Redstone team to secure a first podium of

the season – and maybe more before it finishes. With Aron Smith also coming into the meeting off the back of two very strong weekends in Scotland and Northampton, the team are handily place to pick up strong Independent points – a cause possible aided by the return of Liam Griffin, back in the ex-Jackson S2000 Focus after missing several races due to work

and family commitments.Back to the battle for victories, and two long-shots for the weekend successes are Frank Wrathall and Rob Collard. The former had a disappointing time of it in Rockingham, but that was at least an improvement on Knockhill. The Avensis has proven itself a fast car – his pole at Snetterton proves that. However, in race trim it seems to be lacking

ThePreview Silverstone18

compared to the Civics, the MG and the Focus. But with the Civics and the MG possibly hampered here, it could present an opportunity for Wrathall to steal more podiums and perhaps that elusive first win – something he would dearly love to do. Collard meanwhile is chasing the Independents trophy and after hauling his BMW up the order for much of the Rockingham weekend, needs to score highly here if he is to dispose Jordan from top spot.

As ever with the BTCC, it is not as clear cut as that. The path to victory, and indeed for the two Yuasa teammates, the title, will be blocked by a number of drivers out to prove themselves and end the season on a high. While it’s not quite season finale Armageddon, it’s hardly amicable – the BTCC rarely is.Rob Austin, Dave Newsham and Tom Onslow-Cole are three drivers aching for good results after a mixed bag in recent weeks. The

returning Rob Austin Racing Audi A4 is fan-powered once again at Silverstone and the popular team boss is desperate to reward them for their support with success – something he needs himself after a very trying 2012. Newsham scored his first BTCC win at Snetterton, following it up with a second win at Knockhill, but slipped down the pecking order at Rockingham as the NGTCs came to the fore. With the boost possibly swinging back his way here, the ES Racing Vectra may well find itself further up the grid – and we’ve seen already what the Scot can do if he’s given half a chance. The BMW of TOC has always been there or thereabouts but the eBay Motors man has yet to win this year, despite playing second fiddle to teammate Collard twice at Knockhill. He was disappointed with his results

at Rockingham as the BMWs struggled – expect a strong reaction from the crowd favourite at Silverstone. The grid will be boosted at Silverstone with the returns of Dan Welch (Welch Motorsport Proton), Chris Stockton (Thorney Motorsport Insignia), Lea Wood (Binz Racing Vectra) and the aforementioned Griffin. And with Howard Fuller again piloting the Team-HARD. Honda Civic, and Jeff Smith’s hastily repaired Pirtek Honda, it means the midfield battle promises to be equally as frantic as the fight at the front. That’s where the attention will be, though. Can Flash take a big step towards a maiden crown, or will teammate Neal’s experience haul him back to the top? Or maybe, just maybe, will the all-but-written-off Plato, surprise everyone?

2012 winners

Brands HatchRob CollardMatt NealJason Plato

DoningtonMat JacksonGordon SheddenGordon Shedden

ThruxtonMat JacksonGordon SheddenGordon Shedden

Oulton ParkMatt NealGordon SheddenMatt Neal

CroftMatt NealGordon SheddenJason Plato

Snetterton Jason PlatoAndrew JordanDave Newsham

Knockhill Rob CollardRob CollardDave Newsham

RockinghamJason PlatoGordon SheddenGordon Shedden

Wet or dry the races at Silverstone should be fraught. Photo: Kinsgley Newman Photography

ThePreviewSilverstone 19

Length1.64 miles

Number of laps22

Distance36.08 miles

Lap RecordsQualifying: Matt Neal, Honda Civic, 59.131s, October

2011Race: Mat Jackson, Ford Focus ST, 59.810s, October 2011

Last year...Hosting the final round in 2011, Matt Neal wins Silverstone race one to extend his championship lead over teammate Gordon Shedden and Jason Plato. But the Scot wins race two to claw the gap back to six points for the final race - but finishes 10th, two places behind Neal, as Tom Chilton wins from Plato.

Super Touring winners4 Tom Chilton (2005, 2x 2010 & 2011)3 Mat Jackson (2008, 2x 2009), Gareth Howell (2005, 2x 2006), Paul Radisich (1993, 1994, 1995)2 Matt Neal (2006, 2011), Jason Plato (2008, 2009), Will Hoy (1991, 1995)1 Gordon Shedden (2011), Tom Onslow-Cole (2010), Fabrizio Giovanardi (2008), John Cleland (1992), Steve Soper (1993), Gabriele Tarquini (1994), Rickard Rydell (1995), Alain Menu (1995), Luke Hines (2005)

Remember when...?The BTCC was a Formula 1 Grand Prix support race? In 2004, TOCA cancelled the series’ involvement in the Silverstone British Grand Prix weekend because of a BETA team-led boycott,. It would have been the first BTCC F1 support race in seven years.

Silverstone stats:

Fuller promise

He impressed a lot of people at Rockingham, and 20-year-old Howard Fuller now has his eyes on a full-time BTCC ride.Words: Scott MitchellPhoto: Kingsley Newman Photography

ThePreviewFuller Promise 21

WITH a small Twitter following, Formula Renault BARC experience and a sporadic-but-successful VW Racing Cup career under his belt, Howard Fuller may have been under the radar of a lot of BTCC fans two weeks ago.However, fast-forward 14 days and the 20-year-old has impressed everyone from team personnel to the grandstands.The championship’s newest debutant turned more than a few heads at Rockingham as he took the wheel of the Team-HARD. Honda Civic, previously piloted by team boss Tony Gilham and American Robb Holland,

running close to the top ten both in the dry and in the horrendous wet conditions that hit the circuit on race day.Fuller qualified just 1.5s off Jason Plato’s pole time on the Saturday, raced hard with the likes of Tom Onslow-Cole, Will Bratt and Jeff Smith on Sunday, and left with two points finishes and a message from fan-favourite Paul O’Neill on Twitter which read: “Have to give a shout to Team Hard’s @HKFRacing... Not met the lad but I was mighty impressed watching qualifying yesterday #onetowatch”.Initially a one-off deal having won at the track already in

2012 with the Team-HARD. outfit in the VW Cup, Fuller has been handed a second opportunity for Silverstone. With another chance to hone his touring car craft, have his attentions shifted to realistically nailing down a full-time drive in 2013?“Of course,” he said definitively. “I’ve been speaking to Tony after Rockingham about the rest of the season and looking ahead to next year, and we’re going to be out at Silverstone which is good. Robb [Holland]’s loss is my gain and I’m looking forward to being back in the car. “[A full-time drive] is something me and Tony have talked about but with his plans for next season, he’s keeping his cards close to his chest on this one but that’s to be expected. This is

something I want to do for a full season and I feel happy with Tony’s team, I could happily race there for years if we had the budget for it. “At the moment that’s the only thing that’s holding us back; it’s getting the finance to do that, it is an expensive game. But we can take a look from it as well, it’s good for our sponsors and it’s a lot more exciting than if I was to do another season of Formula Renault BARC, there’s a lot more for them to be involved in. So for sure it’s something we want to do next year.”The Silverstone news may have been something his new fanbase had been pushing for, but that response from them was something the youngster was not expecting.“I was quite surprised how

ThePreview Fuller Promise22

popular we were and how much interest we got,” he said. “I think that’s probably down to Tony’s team being very fan-friendly and very nice to everybody. “I wasn’t expecting to have a second outing, but the support we’ve had, what everyone’s been giving me on Twitter, is amazing. Everyone’s been messaging me to get back in the car and I’m just amazed how much feedback and reviews I’m getting from everybody. “I’m amazed because I know Tony’s involved with a lot of young drivers and keen to get more people in the car but I’m delighted to be given another go. I’d like to think he’s given it to me again because he did a good job but I’m not really too sure to be honest – I’m just glad he’s offered it to me, so I must have done something good!”Something good indeed.

After dropping off the pace in race one due to tyre degradation, Fuller was keen to get back on track in race two. However, the deluge that hit the circuit shortly after midday meant the high-speed track became a whole new challenge for the entire grid – but especially Fuller, who had not even turned a touring car wheel in the wet, and would get his first practice laps behind the safety car before the start of the second race.But he did more than just cope with the conditions; he thrived, eventually finished 12th after challenging the fringes of the top ten for the majority of the race. In race three, he pushed on further, fighting harder for that elusive top ten finish before a mistake at turn two dropped him well down the order.“It’s a bit unfortunate,” he explained. “I was running 11th, right behind the

Jacksons. I thought it was a little bit drier than it was and just missed my braking and had a choice of going straight on or climbing into the back of Mat. It was a bit of a shame really, but you live and learn.“I think the consistency we had and looking at the lap charts we had the pace to be well in the top ten – which for us is quite a good achievement considering the competitiveness of the field. Everyone knows the BTCC is unlike any other championship in the UK, it is that competitive, and to be in the thick of it is good for us.”“I really, really enjoy racing in the wet conditions, those first four or five laps are all about driver performance – it’s balls at the end of the day, it definitely favours the brave in that sense. It’s a good experience to race in the wet but to be 12th on the grid in the middle of all that spray,

“I think I’ve established myself as someone who can race and race fairly. Hopefully I’ve gained a little bit of respect from the guys I raced with.”

Howard Fuller: Age:20Started racing:2002Car racing history:2007: T-Cars2008: Formula Palmer Audi Autumn Series Trophy2009-10: Full-seasons in Formula Palmer Audi (7th overall)2010: VW Racing Cup (wins on debut at Rockingham)2011: Formula Renault BARC (9th overall); two races in F.Renault 2.0 NEC2012: VW Racing Cup (four races), wins at RockinghamBTCC debut with Team-HARD.Qualifies 14th, scores six points

Photo: Kingsley Newman Photography

ThePreviewFuller Promise 23

you’re looking in your mirrors and it’s pretty bad, but I was looking forward to it and I certainly enjoyed the race.”It may have been fun but the reality was Fuller’s touring car career could have started and finished with that one weekend at Rockingham. Now though, he has put himself in the shop windowfor next season, and he fully intends to build on his experience at Silverstone.“I’m not expecting to jump half the grid in one

weekend but I’d like to be more consistent,” he mused. “If we can get a top ten that would be good. “I’m not expecting huge gains, I’m obviously still learning and that’s my priority at the moment. If I’m going to be doing it next year I want to be going at it 100% and I have the opportunity now to build on my experiences.”With some time to reflect on his debut, Fuller admits it went by very quickly. Recalling the minutes

before the lights went out for race one, he said: “You get caught in the moment really. I certainly remember sitting on the grid for the first time and getting myself prepped and I remember thinking to myself, ‘I am really nervous’. “I haven’t sat on the grid and felt nervous since I first started racing – the last time I’d seen touring cars I was sitting at home on the sofa watching it, and the next time I see those cars is sitting on the grid. Once you get

off the line your competitive mind-set comes in but I think I’ve established myself as someone who can race and race fairly. “Hopefully I’ve gained a little bit of respect from the guys I raced with, I do massively respect these guys for what they do – more so now than before I did it myself – and I’m not out there to jeopardise anyone’s championship. I’m out there to race fairly and to gain some respect and experience.”

Find Howard on Twitter:

@HKFRacing

“Have to give a shout to Team Hard’s @HKFRacing...

Not met the lad but I was mighty impressed watching

qualifying yesterday #onetowatch”

Paul O’Neill on Twitter

Photo: Kingsley Newman Photography

Snapshot

Photo: Kingsley Newman Photography

Snapshot

ThePreview Driver quotes26

What are they saying?It’s that time of year. titles to be decided, drives to be earned, reputations to be held. so what are the drivers saying ahead of the 2012 season’s penultimate round?

BTCC Twitter Directory:@gordonshedden@mattnealracing

@jasonplato@andyneate@matjackson@aronsmith_

@frankwrathall@adammorgan33@tonyhughesBTCC

@collardrob@tomonslowcole

@andrewjordan77@RobertoAustini@WBrattRacing

@BTCCDanWelch@newshamracing

@tonygilham34@HKFRacing

@RobbHolland3@PaulONeill29

Mised someone?@scottmitchell89

@tcfbtcc

“At my Nans for our traditional pre race weekend cuppa and chat”Andrew Jordan on Twitter@AndrewJordan77

“Huge well done to Motorbase for winning the British GT Championship in there first year!! #showingusupintheBTCC”Aron Smith on Twitter@AronSmith_

The returning Liam Griffin:“I did a test at Donington last week which hopefully blew away a few of the cobwebs. It rained all day but the way the weather has been lately that's probably good practice for a race weekend!"

“Aims for Silverstone: Qualify inside the top 10, stay out of trouble and get three finishes within the top 10 - but aiming for a top six.”Adam Morgan

“It’s all to play for”, says a determined Matt Neal. Meanwhile, teammate Gordon Shedden (@gor-donshedden) has been talking F1 on Twitter:“So Lewis Hamilton is off to MercF1.. Is it 3 yr , 2 album, 1 merchandise range deal?? :-/ #boom”

The returning Dan Welch is eager to add some more glamour to the BTCC...“@JodieMarsh Fancy being my Grid girl for the @ITV-touringcars at Brands Hatch in a couple of weeks?”@BTCCDanWelch

“So that's the fast haircut done for @SilverstoneUK”Jason Plato on Twitter@jasonplato

“Had an awesome Satur-day at Goodwood with @ToyotaGB at the brilliant #GT86”Frank Wrathall on Twitter@frankwrathall

Find BTCC news on Twitter fast @tcfbtcc

Everyone loves a good title fight - especially when you see two drivers from the same team going wheel-to-wheel for the crown, with no team orders. That’s what we have this year, and last year in fact, with Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden. But it isn’t the first time. In fact, since the Super Touring era, three noticeable teammate title tussles had the fans on their seats.The first was BMW pair Steve Soper and Joachim Winkelhock in 1993. It was the first year the Schnitzer Motorsport team entered the BTCC and the two dominated, winning seven of the first eight races between them. Paul Radisich’s Ford added extra spice to the racing in the second half of the seasonas the race for the title became one of attrtion - Soper retired twice while Winkelhock non-started at Knockhill and had disasterous rounds at Brands Hatch and Thruxton. Despite

Soper beating the German in the season finale, Winkelhock claimed the crown. Six years later, another newcomer to the series took the title. Laurent Aiello upset the apple cart alongside David Leslie in the dominant Nissan Primeras. The Frenchman won ten races to the Scot’s three but edged him by just 16 points as Leslie’s form improved greatly in the second half of the campaign. But even a retirement in the final race of the season could not deny Aiello the title.In 2002, 2003 and 2004, the

Vauxhall teammate of James Thompson and Yvan Muller were unbeatable - unless you were the other driver of course. The Yorkshireman and the Frenchman went head-to-head under the VXR banner and shared three title between them - but it was the third year, 2004, which was the closest. Both drivers only won once in the second half of the year and Thompson edged it by just one solitary pont, after a season-long scrap was decided in the 30th race of the campaign.

Remember when... The Preview 27

Remember when...THOMPSON VS. MULLER 2004

AIELLO VS. LESLIE 1999

Teammates fought for the title? We take a quick look at three memorable intra-team title fightsPictures: BTCC.net

SOPER VS. WINKELHOCK 1993

HARD. at workThis team may be relatively new, but you’ll have heard of them. Scott Mitchell talks to the outfit determined to make a big impression on the BTCC. Photo: Lens Vanity Photography

ThePreviewHARD. at work 29

PLENTY of independent teams crop up in the BTCC at some point or another, but seldom few set big ambitions. It is, for the majority, far safer to keep your head down, plug away, and build towards the front over time if you have the budget to stay for the long haul.It’s safer, it’s easier, and it means there is less pressure. But that’s just not Tony Gilham’s style. With the season entering its last two races and attention shifing to next season, the outfit has one aim: to win.It’s a bold ask, especially with established front-running teams like Triple Eight and Team Dynamics well into their NGTC programme, and constant development of the Pirtek Racing Civics, the Redstone Racing Ford Focus and the independently-

run Toyota Avensis’.But the logic is actually quite simple. As the championship moves towards a near-entire grid of NGTC cars - Gilham speculates it’ll be majority, if not all, next-generation cars - why not embrace the new regulations and attack it from the off. Especially when most teams are already in their first or second year running the new cars.“There could be 20 NGTC cars,” says Gilham, “and we could be the biggest team on the grid. We’ll have a big-name driver and we have a handshake agreement on next year with Robb [Holland], he’s looking to do a full season. He will be back for Brands

and he’ll be stronger towards the end of this year and next season.“We wanna be one of the biggest teams on the grid, if not the biggest, and we’re looking to win the overall championship team outright.”Howard Fuller’s debut at Rockingham, and the following announcement that Clio Cup racer Aaron Williamson will make his touring car debut at the Brands Hatch season finale, marked a significant moment within the team as well. Their involvement with the VW Cup is well known, having run various drivers – including Gilham himself and fellow BTCC driver Rob Austin – but

Fuller became the first “graduate” of the Team-HARD. set-up when he took to the track last weekend. The team only entered the BTCC this season – and though it seems like they are taking on a lot in a short space of time by bringing its NGTC production in-house and becoming a manufacturer after only a few months, Gilham admits it has been a case of steadily building to this point. He himself made his way up through the VW and Porsche Carrera Cups, and though the team was only formed as Team-HARD. this year, he says nothing is overwhelming to him or his personnel.“This was the learning year,” he explained. “This

was our toe in the water, and now we’re jumping in fully submerged - we’re diving in with a triple somersault! We’re not messing about. I would never ever do anything by half and the people we’ve got we believe in it so much we are just putting everything into it.“The jigs been delivered, we’re setting the workshop up now, and we take delivery of the first NGTC car in the next couple of weeks. It’s exciting, we don’t see anything as daunting – it is a challenge, but it’s how you respond to that, we’re always up for a challenge.“Why can’t we do what Triple Eight or anybody else can? We’ve got equal parts and we’ve got a good enough team to do all the design work, and the car we’re using is a really good design

“It’s exciting, but we don’t see anything as daunting. We’re always up for a challenge”

base. We’ve done all the homework on wheelbase, track width, everything and we were very close with going with another car but it’s almost like this car has been built for NGTC.”There is certainly no questioning the ambition driving the team forward - Gilham speculated his team could run as many as four cars next season, on top of their growing VW programme. As of the end of 2012, that will incorporate their VW Cup scholarship – a massive opportunity for drivers to win a full season in a Team-HARD. prepared Golf in the 2013 championship, for £299.For the boss, it is as much

about pushing forward on the BTCC side of things as it is making the outfit a brand. Go HARD. or Go Home is the mantra, emblazoned on the side of the team truck, and Gilham is certainly not taking the easy approach. By increasing their involving in another championship and blooding young drivers into the BTCC, he’s making quite a name for himself and the team in car racing. But it goes further than just on-track action. This operation is not funded out of a wealthy family member or deep pockets – Gilham is securing the team’s plans by trying to have a stable financial footing.“We are talking to investors

about the build of the cars and the shares of the company,” he explained. “We’re open to negotiations and we’re talking to some good sponsors for next year, and they like our plans. I can tell you now it’s going to be the best looking car on the grid.”So does that mean the

iconic livery on, possibly, four cars? Not necessarily.“Pink and green? Don’t know. At the moment it’s an “I don’t know”. If I race, it’ll be in car three, or even potentially car four, and that’ll be in pink and green.”In the grand scheme of things, the colour of the cars is not important.

However they look, whether it’s a striking design or subtle, soonthere will be no avoiding Tony Gilham’s operation.Pink and green may have helped get your attention – but there are many more reasons to take notice of Team-HARD. in the future.

The team gave American Holland his debut at Snetterton Photo: Chris Gurton Photography

“We’re not messing about. I would never, ever do anything by half.”

ThePreviewHARD. at work 30

TheReview & ThePreviewThanks for reading the first issue of ThePreview, the new British Touring Car Championship e-magazine in association with theCheckeredFlag.co.uk.

Remember, we will be back next Wednesday with the first edition of TheReview, which will have the best reports and reaction from the race weekend at Silverstone.

We want to make sure this is a long-term project and continues to improve, so if you have any feedback to give - good or bad - we would be happy to hear from you. You can get in touch with us by contacting the editor of the website, Vince Pettit, at editor@thecheckeredflag.co.uk, or Scott Mitchell, the magazine editor, at scott.mitchell@thecheckeredflag.co.uk.

On Twitter? Follow the TCF team:Vince Pettit @vincepettit

Scott Mitchell @scottmitchell89

And don’t forget, in the meantime you can keep up with all the latest news, BTCC and otherwise, at theCheckeredFlag.co.uk.