Slight gets first taste of Peugeot power
Former World Superbike star Aaron Slight got his first taste today (Thursday) of the Peugeot 406 Coupe British Touring Car that he will race at Donington Park this weekend
Slight got behind the wheel during a general test session at the Leicestershire circuit today, returning to the scene of his touring car debut in the 1997 TOCA Shoot-out, during which he crashed spectacularly. His outing is being sponsored by circuit promoters Octagon Motorsport, whose Union Jack logo now adorns the bright yellow machine.
"Today has been very productive for both myself and Peugeot Sport," said Slight. "I put in 25 laps at Donington and it feels great to be finally driving the Peugeot 406 Coupe. I have now got to get used to braking later - the brakes pull up the car at half the distance of a Superbike. Bring on qualifying this Saturday!
"I'm looking forward to this weekend at Donington very much. It has taken a long time for this deal to happen so it's a combination of excitement and relief for me as well as all the people who made the deal happen. I can't wait to mix it with the Touring Car boys."
The 35-year-old Kiwi, who has won 13 World Superbike races in his career, explained why he has decided to switch codes for five rounds of the BTCC.
"After more than ten years competing in Superbikes I felt I needed a fresh challenge and changing to racing on four wheels seemed natural," he said. "I will still race bikes this year and next but will focus on racing cars long-term."
Peugeot team boss Mick Linford said his new charge adapted to his ex-Matt Neal machine quickly and looked comfortable behind the wheel.
"He got on well, he certainly had no fear of the thing," said Linford. "One or two little things with the car didn't help, like we had quite a bit of bump steer, but he's aware we know how to get rid of that. He approached it very sensibly and, although I wouldn't say he took it steadily, he took his time to acclimatise to the car and circuit again.
"Obviously he's been around the circuit a few times, but it's a matter of learning all the new lines. On the crest under the Dunlop Bridge, for example, he's waiting for the front wheel to come up in the air! He felt very comfortable with it and seems quite happy with it."
Slight joins Steve Soper and Dan Eaves in the Vic Lee-run works Peugeot machines, which are expected to close the gap to the pacesetting Vauxhall Astras at Donington this weekend.
Round-up: Slight still on for Donington…
Free practice: Thompson stakes a claim
Daytona 24: Westbrook’s Ganassi Cadillac tops second practice
Richard Westbrook ensured Cadillac’s new V-LMDh snagged top spot in second practice for the Daytona 24 Hours, ahead of the #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Andretti Autosport Acura.
Auer suffers back injury in Daytona 24 practice shunt
Mercedes driver Lucas Auer has suffered a back injury and been taken to hospital following a violent crash in opening practice for this weekend's Daytona 24 Hours.
Daytona 24: WTR Acura tops heavily interrupted FP1
Five red flags disrupted the first practice session for this weekend's Daytona 24 Hours, while Filipe Albuquerque put the Wayne Taylor Racing Andretti Autosport Acura on top.
Pedrosa to make KTM MotoGP wildcard outing in Spanish GP
Dani Pedrosa will make his first MotoGP race start since the 2021 Styrian Grand Prix with a wildcard entry for KTM at this year’s Spanish GP in April.
Autosport writers' most memorable moments of 2022
The season just gone was a memorable one for many of our staff writers, who are fortunate enough to cover motorsport around the world. Here are our picks of the best (and in some cases, most eventful) from 2022
How the BTCC's new hybrid era aced its first test
Expectations were high for the start of the British Touring Car Championship’s hybrid power era, and despite nerves and problems to solve prior to its debut the new rules gained widespread approval. Here’s how the first test at Donington Park was passed and the thorough examinations that are to follow
The Ford BTCC superteam combining two reigning TOCA champions
Reigning BTCC champion Ash Sutton and Porsche Carrera Cup GB victor Dan Cammish form a potent line-up at the Motorbase-run NAPA Racing team as the series adopts hybrid power. With Sutton bringing the key components of his title-winning Laser Tools Racing set-up, and Cammish eager to prove a point on his return, their dynamic is set to be one of the season's major talking points
The stalwart tin-top boss still shaping careers more than 40 years on
Veteran team manager Marvin Humphries and former Tech-Speed team boss has worked not only with stars of the British Touring Car Championship, but legends including Gil de Ferran, Hans Stuck and Tom Sneva in a long and varied career that has spanned five decades across tin-tops, single-seaters and sportscars
The grassroots rise that shaped an understated BTCC star
Having started out in club-level competitions alongside his own university engineering studies, Josh Cook's journey to becoming an established frontrunner in the British Touring Car Championship is atypical. But it's these experiences that have moulded the 30-year-old into a humble star, respected throughout the paddock
Ranking the top 10 BTCC drivers of 2021
A refresh in equipment and some returning faces helped contribute to a supremely competitive 2021 British Touring Car Championship campaign. Ash Sutton was crowned a three-time champion, successfully defending his 2020 title, but faced stiff competition in the final year before the switch to hybrid. Autosport picks out the best performers
Why the BTCC's ballast increase couldn't stop champion Sutton
Ballast will be gone from the BTCC next year as hybrid power enters the scene, but for its final season the maximum was increased from 60kg to 75kg. Despite having to carry that nearly all season, Ash Sutton was always the favourite to pocket a third title - the 27-year-old getting his reward for a season of speed tempered by savvy to nail his opportunities
The much-loved tin-top superstar bowing out at 59
OPINION: It's not often that a driver achieves widespread affection for their personality, as well as their on-track performances. One such individual is Gabriele Tarquini, who will soon bring the curtain down on a remarkable career that has yielded touring car titles on the European and global stage - and, famously, in Britain too
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.