I attended the BTCC race weekend at Thruxton Circuit on August 27th and 28th. As the championship rolled into Thruxton, 5 drivers are in the running to become BTCC champion for 2022, They are Colin Turkington, Ash Sutton, Tom Ingram, Jake Hill and Josh Cook. other As the weekend unfolded, the we found out who took steps closer to the title and who's championships hopes had ended.
There was also a huge amount of action from the support championships and lots of other things to occupy the weekend.
On Saturday, I took my daughter and her friend and we walked around the paddock and then settled in the in the grandstand to watch the action unfold. On Sunday I was given VIP pass by my friend Lloyd so I experienced a race from the Thruxton centre as a VIP and then I spent a race in the paddock observing how a team see's the race. This meant I saw the weekend from 3 different point's of view.
Below are my photo's from the event:
Millers Oils Ginetta G4 Supercup Championship.
Wes Pearce.
Ian Duggan.
Aston Millar.
Darren Leung.
Colin White.
Flynn McHardy.
Akshay Borah.
James Kellett.
Blake Angliss.
Conner Garlick.
On Sunday a huge crash involving Colin White and Mike Brown would see the race red flagged. Both drivers were taken to hospital but are in a stable condition. I wish both drivers a full recovery.
Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship.
Ginetta Safety Car.
Josh Rowledge defends his position through the chicane from a chasing William Macintyre.
Joseph Warhurst being pursued by Aqil Alibhal.
Mckenzie Douglas grass tracking with Luke Watts close behind.
Harri Reynolds with a chasing Sonny Smith
Quaife Mini Challenge Trophy
Paul Manning
Sam Baker
Sam Baker after an argument with the tyre barrier while Paul Manning takes avoiding action. To give Sam credit, he did keep racing. The Marshalls did a fantastic job of clearing the track quickly.
Nicky Taylor being chased through the chicane by Paul Manning.
Sam Baker
Sophie Wright.
Alex Soley
During the second race of the weekend another big crash, this time involving Jonathan Sargeant would see the race red flagged. Jonathan was able to get put of his Mini and was taken to the medical centre.
Rokit F4 British Championship (FIA)
Louis Sharp
Aiden Neate
Daniel Guinchard
Jack Sherwood
Joseph Loake
Alex Dunne locking up into the chicane as Ugo Ugochukwu chases.
Alex Dunne
Ugo Ugochukwu
Alex Dunne
Oliver Stewart
Adam Fitzgerald
Porsche Carrera Cup GB
Ryan Ratcliffe
Theo Edgerton
Kiern Jewiss
Gus Burton
Mathew Graham being chased by Kiern Jewiss
Adam Smalley
Scott Malvern
Charles Rainford
BTCC Championship
Jake Hill
Aiden Moffat
Rick Parfitt Jr
Stephen Jelley
Dexter Patterson
Tom Chilton is followed by Ollie Jackson through the chicane.
Gordon Shedden
Dexter Patterson followed by Jade Edwards.
Adam Morgan and Colin Turkington.
Jake Hill, Arran Taylor-Smith and Sam Osborne
Ash Sutton - looks like Ash's rear wheel has hit the grass.
Adam Morgn
Josh Cook
Daniel Rowbottom
Dan Cammish
Tom Oliphant making a return from Australia for this weekend driving in Will Powells car. Will had personal commitments but will be back for the last six rounds at Brands Hatch and Silverstone.
Adam Morgan locking up into the chicane.
Going from bad to worse as Adam Morgan cuts the chicane.
Michael Crees
Dan Cammish.
Dexter Patterson
George Gamble
Sam Osborne
Colin Turkington
Jack Butel
Stephen Jelley
Ricky Collard
Rory Butcher
Jason Plato in his last appearance at Thruxton for now.
Tom Chilton
Rick Parfitt Jr
Jade Edwards
Ollie Jackson
Gordon Shedden
Jason Plato
Jake Hill
Colin Turkington
Tom Ingram
Bobby Thompson
Daniel Lloyd
Michael Crees being chased by Dexter Patterson Hand through the chicane.
Ash Hand
Dan Cammish takes the top step of the Podium for round 22 of the BTCC with Gordon Shedden taking second place and Ash Sutton taking third place.
After an incident between Ash Sutton and Josh Cook, it became clear that Josh Cook is no longer in the running for the championship. This is now between Colin Turkington, Ash Sutton, Tom Ingram and Jake Hill. Despite this, Josh Cook made it 10 victories in Round 24, the reverse grid race.
I mentioned earlier that I had three different viewpoint's of the weekend. Below are the photo's that Lloyd took of the VIP area.
Menu
Breakfast
Me at our table
Our table
Views of the track and paddock
I enjoyed the VIP experience, the staff at Thruxton make you feel like royalty. The area is beautifully presented and you are able to come and go as you please. The food and drink were great from your table you can see a part of the track and you have views of TV monitors that gives you the live feed of what of the racing and podiums. You are given a free programme and radio so you can keep up with the commentary. There is a balcony that means you can see the start of the race and the chequered flag at the finish. I met lots of lovely people and exchanged stories about how we'd come to Thruxton to experience a VIP day. The atmosphere was very relaxed and I can understand why people do it.
Thank you Lloyd for this, it was a thoroughly enjoyable day.
Then there was the race I spent in the paddock. I went to the Toyota Gazoo Racing UK garage to observe what was happening.
This could not be any further from the VIP experience. looking into the garage you can see the teams area on the pit wall on the far side of the pit lane. Inside the garage a team member is on his knees with headphones on typing a way at laptop on a flight case. This goes on throughout the race his gaze barely shifts from the laptop. The team members and guests are silent as they watch timing screens and one of the live feed of the racing, the only noise comes from the cars as they hurtles down the start finish straight and occasionally when one comes into the pit lane. You can literally cut the tension with a knife.
As the race ends the Napa Racing UK team erupt with delight as Ash Sutton and Dan Cammish give the team a 1-2 to cheer about. As Rory Butcher and Ricky Collard cross the line the silence in the garage is broken as the team and guests applaud their drivers efforts.
These were both a very different experience to being a regular customer. The best views of the track I find are either from the chicane where you can see most of the track, this is where the grandstand is or from Noble corner which also offers great views. You can buy a programme and a radio to make sure you stay n touch with the racing, and you can easily walk to a food stand, the trade village and the toilets.
Away from all of this was the paddock, if you like meeting drivers and people associated with the racing, this is a good place to be. I left the VIP centre just after breakfast and had a quick walk around the paddock with my touring car book that the drivers have signed, the first person I literally almost bumped into was Steve Ryder. Steve signed my book and we had a quick chat about the championship before he made his way to the TV compound.
I then spoke to Alan Hyde, I'd met Alan last season in the paddock and we'd chatted briefly. Alan asked me about my book, so I showed him. Alan said there's one more signature you need and got his phone out. A few minutes later a chap walked up to the pair of us. Alan had called Matt James, the author of the book who also put his signature in the book. I was very grateful to Alan for this. Sometimes the smallest of deeds leave a big impression.
Finally with all of the mishaps going on during the racing, the staff and Marshalls at Thruxton did not miss a beat, when something happened, split second decisions were made and all of the right calls were made.
These people are a huge credit to Thuxton and did everything they could as efficiently as possible.
Their professionalism shone through and when work needed doing to fix a barrier or clear debris off of the track, no one shied away.
One of the striking images was Pat Blakeney, (Thruxton Operations Manager) with a drill in his hands rebuilding a tyre barrier.
For more information regarding these championships, please visit:
Special thanks to Maddi, Maisie, Lloyd Thomas, Alan Hyde and the Toyota Gazoo UK Racing Team.
