Thruxton round-up: Neal replacement on horizon
Peugeot replacement in the wings
Peugeot motorsport boss Mick Linford says there is a fifty-fifty chance that he will have signed up a driver to occupy his third 406 Coupe in time for the next BTCC rounds at Oulton Park on May 20. Linford says he is in serious negotiations, but would not be drawn on the identity of his potential driver.
Four expected BTCP runners failed to show at Thruxton. GA Janspeed Racing's third Alfa 156 was there, but named driver Antonio Russo was not - "contractual problems," explained team boss Gary Ayles, who expects nevertheless to run the car for another driver soon.
Bintcliffe Sport Racing's Nissan Primera for Matt Kelly also missed the event. "It's in the workshop, just wait till you see what we're doing to it," was John Bintcliffe's cryptic comment.
Ford Focus driver Rick Kraemer and Mitsubishi man Andy Neate were also missing because of business commitments and sponsorship problems respectively.
Tom Ferrier made his BTC Touring debut at Thruxton in the second JS Motorsport Alfa 147. The 19-year-old went well in qualifying, running quicker than the team's other 147 driven by Dave Pinkney, but only lasted two racing laps before the Alfa engine blew.
Tim Harvey will take over the car for most of the rest of the season, though Ferrier is expected to take over again at Knockhill in July (when Harvey has a clash with the British GT Championship as he did last weekend.) "I can't wait to get back in it," said the enthusiastic teenager.
Feature race: Muller turns the tables on Plato
Peugeot team boss hits out over tyre failures
Laser Tools Racing continues in BTCC with Hill
The Laser Tools Racing name that was carried to British Touring Car Championship titles in 2020 and 2021 will continue in the series after all with Jake Hill.
McLaren to share F1 reserve driver Schumacher with Mercedes
Mercedes Formula 1 reserve driver Mick Schumacher will be also made available as a stand-in to McLaren, the Woking team has announced.
NASCAR Next Gen car gets safety upgrades for 2023 season
NASCAR unveiled some changes to the Next Gen car for the 2023 season, with most enhancing its safety aspects.
O’Ward optimistic about Rossi and that McLaren IndyCar DNFs can be reduced
Arrow McLaren ace Pato O’Ward says he’s confident that Alexander Rossi will be a strong addition to the line-up and that the team has gotten on top of its mechanical woes.
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
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