Donington Park Rounds 7, 8 and 9

[AndySpeed]

For all those of us left to watch at home this weekend while the BTCC is at Donington Park this thread is to talk about news, times, etc.

I can't be there in person because Lancaster University have scheduled an exam for me on bank holiday monday. Otherwise I would have been there as usual. Instead it's ITV4 all afternoon, with revision during the ads!

I see no reason why Gordon Shedden won't be on top form this weekend.

[Alfa Fan]

I can't be there in person because Lancaster University have scheduled an exam for me on bank holiday monday. Otherwise I would have been there as usual. Instead it's ITV4 all afternoon, with revision during the ads!

Lancaster exams screw you over don't they. I have 2 on Saturdays this year :(

[AndySpeed]

Onslow-Cole fastest so far this morning:

http://www.btccaction.co.uk/2008/05/03/onslow-cole-fastest-in-donington-practice-1/

http://www.tsl-timing.com/toca/2008/81803trg.pdf

[VkmSpouge]

No Erkut Kizilirmak and Chris Stockton in session one. I really hope BTC Racing aren't having problems with their Toledos now.

[AndySpeed]

No Erkut Kizilirmak and Chris Stockton in session one. I really hope BTC Racing aren't having problems with their Toledos now.

Clutch problems for Chris and its unknown why Erkut stayed in the garage. I hope Stockton gets out in FP2 if only to learn the car a bit. They've got a good new livery on the Toledo (http://www.btcc.net/images/gallery/lg_3753_5bae.jpg), now we just need to see the BTC cars both running at the same time!

[poole123]

Does anyone no if you can buy tickets on race day at donngton park?

[Alfa Fan]

Yes. You can buy tickets on the gate at every BTCC meeting.

[Mp3 Astra]

TOC Fastest in both practice sessions so far. If he can transfer that to qualifying then we will have something very interesting on our hands this weekend...

[AndySpeed]

Clearly the success ballast is holding back the top three drivers, whilst the SEAT's have found some extra speed around a circuit that they expected to do better at.

[jonv]

Qualifying happening now

[Alfa Fan]

No Erkut Kizilirmak and Chris Stockton in session one. I really hope BTC Racing aren't having problems with their Toledos now.

Well Stockton's out for Qualifying, but no Oliver.... :(

[VkmSpouge]

Clutch problems for Chris and its unknown why Erkut stayed in the garage. I hope Stockton gets out in FP2 if only to learn the car a bit. They've got a good new livery on the Toledo (http://www.btcc.net/images/gallery/lg_3753_5bae.jpg), now we just need to see the BTC cars both running at the same time!

It looks alright (plenty of cars using blue and white this year) but I much prefered the black and silver livery that was on the Lexus.

[Alfa Fan]

Live timings gone down, hence why no-one appears to be running atm.

[VX_Rules]

jacksons transponder down?

[VX_Rules]

Gio failed ride height :/

[Alfa Fan]

Wow thats going to have to be a quick turn around for VXR

[VX_Rules]

Is the session over now or not? the live timings all out isnt it?

[Alfa Fan]

I love how the tail of the grid has turned into "BTCC 2005" now with

2 VXR Astra Sport Hatches Muller & Turkington ==> Kizilirmak & Bell
3 Dynamics Honda Integras Neal, Shedden & Howell ==> Jordan, George & Taylor
2 NS SEAT Toledos Plato & Pickford ==> Stockton & Oliver
1 WSR MG ZS Collard ==> Hughes
1 Arena Honda Civic Type-R Chilton ==> Doyle

[Alfa Fan]

Is the session over now or not? the live timings all out isnt it?

Nope 5 seconds left!!

[VX_Rules]

toledos not as quick as i ecpected. collard last??

[AndySpeed]

Highly impressive qualifying from Matt Allison and Harry Vaulkhard in the Robertshaw Racing Chevvy's - 9th and 10th on the grid!

/Speed edit/ Onslow-cole has pole, but whatsmore that he did only 5 laps to secure it, compared to the likes of 17 for Plato.

[Alfa Fan]

Over now

Grid

Onslow Cole Vauxhall / Plato SEAT
Turkington BMW / Turner SEAT
Shedden Honda / Neal Vauxhall
Chilton Honda / Giovanardi Vauxhall
Allison Chevrolet / Vaulkhard Chevrolet
Jelley BMW / A Jordan Honda
Jones SEAT / Jackson BMW
M Jordan Honda / Kane BMW
Hughes MG / Taylor Honda
Stockton SEAT / Kizilirmak Vauxhall
Bell Vauxhall / Oliver SEAT
Doyle Honda / George Honda
Collard BMW

[VkmSpouge]

Very impressive times by the Robertshaw Chevies. In fact their team mate, Alan Taylor also turned in a very good time in a season's best 18th. Stuart Oliver also improved. Collard probably had a problem considering he only completed 5 laps.


I love how the tail of the grid has turned into "BTCC 2005" now with

2 VXR Astra Sport Hatches Muller & Turkington ==> Kizilirmak & Bell
3 Dynamics Honda Integras Neal, Shedden & Howell ==> Jordan, George & Taylor
2 NS SEAT Toledos Plato & Pickford ==> Stockton & Oliver
1 WSR MG ZS Collard ==> Hughes
1 Arena Honda Civic Type-R Chilton ==> Doyle

Hehehe, of course BTC Racing also had SpeedEquipe's Lexus IS200s too :D

[VX_Rules]

I hope OC gets a win Tommorrow, and the Chevys have a good go for a podium in race three.

[MattL]

Robertshaw Chevrolets are carrying 20kg less this weekend.

[MBailey06]

toledos not as quick as i ecpected. collard last??

Don't forget Stockton didn't get out in any of the first 2 sessions, so you can't expect too much from him yet.

[VX_Rules]

Im sure they will get quicker.

[VkmSpouge]

I forgot to say well done to Tom Onslow-Cole for his first ever BTCC pole.

[mattie007]

Good to see Jason Hughes still giving the MG a good workout!
According to btcc.net he can find half a second tomorrow!

[Lodekka]

I don't think that ITV4's a good idea all afternoon, especially if you want to go to Croatia next year - I won't be paying if you don't do well in your exams.

[AndySpeed]

I don't think that ITV4's a good idea all afternoon, especially if you want to go to Croatia next year - I won't be paying if you don't do well in your exams.

Perhaps next time you could tell me that not in the public domain! Rest assured I will revise, and have been planning revision around the BTCC...

[AndySpeed]

Jason Plato's won the first race of the day; Mat Jackson has failed to finish

[SEATFreak]

Not the best of positions for Jase'. Second is incredibly good for a TDi in almost any other scenario. But sandwiched between the Leon is the two fastest cars this season in the Vectra (though Jase should challenge Onsow-Cole. I supppose if I wanted any Vectra in front of Jase ideally it should be TOC. Had it been Neal or Giovanardi Jase would be left eating Vauxhall flavoured tyre rubber.), and behind is one of the faster 320si's this season in Turkingtons.

And I fear I have put a hex on DT. I sent him a good luck message via his website but behind him is Neal and the only man separating Neal from Giovanardi is Chilton who Gio will make mincemeat of for me.

[SEATFreak]

Jason Plato's won the first race of the day; Mat Jackson has failed to finish

Get in!!! :beer:

Plus Jase was the fastest driver in the race with 1:12.677 compared to the 1:12.960 of Jackson. At an educated guess I would say that is about 3 hundreths of a second faster????

Gutted that DT is last and Neal got second, but Giovanardi finished 8th and Jackson got a DNF. So it ain't all bad.

[wedge]

Supposed to be raining today.

FFS, wished I gone now.

[VkmSpouge]

Race 1 Results:
1. Jason Plato SEAT
2. Matt Neal Vauxhall
3. Tom Onslow-Cole Vauxhall
4. Gordon Shedden Honda
5. Andrew Jordan Honda
6. Steven Kane BMW
7. Adam Jones SEAT
8. Fabrizio Giovanardi Vauxhall
9. Colin Turkington BMW
10. Mike Jordan Honda
11. Jason Hughes MG
12. Harry Vaulkhard Chevrolet
13. Chris Stockton SEAT
14. Martyn Bell Vauxhall
15. Michael Doyle Honda
16. Erkut Kizilirmak Vauxhall
17. Stuart Oliver SEAT
18. Alan Taylor Honda
19. Darren Turner SEAT
DNF. Stephen Jelley BMW
DNF. Tom Chilton Honda
DNF. Mat Jackson BMW
DNF. Matt Allison Chevrolet
DNF. Rob Collard BMW
DNF. John George Honda

It was Tom Onslow-Cole's race to lose and he did. He really should have won that race but he blew it, a real shame.
Good win for Jason Plato, first diesel to win in the BTCC.
Nice battles in the midfield. I felt the Chilton-Jackson crash was a racing incident with both drivers in part to blame.
Stephen Jelley also threw away the chance of his best finish in the BTCC so far.
A shame that neither Chevrolet was capable of capitalising on their excellent starting positions, Allison crashing heavily, hope he'll be out for race two.
Jason Hughes showed really good pace in his MG, running as high as 9th before the second safety car period and he pushed Mike "Old Git" Jordan all the way to the line for 10th place.
Well done to Andrew "Kid" Jordan for his best ever finish.
Funniest sight was probably John George with three wheel on his Integra.

[BDunnell]

Yet another odd slightly wet/dry encounter in race two! Giovanardi showed his class again to win, and Plato, Onslow-Cole and Turner all went well. Andrew Jordan looked impressive, and who would have thought Chris Stockton would run second in the independents for so long and eventually finish eighth? But what an awful race for all the BMWs. Their championship chances are being ruined by the rain.

[BDunnell]

Shedden on pole for race three, with Stockton, Jones and Andrew Jordan behind.

[AndySpeed]

But what an awful race for all the BMWs. Their championship chances are being ruined by the rain.

It's not as if this is the first race meeting of the year with a little bit of rain though is it?

[BDunnell]

It's not as if this is the first race meeting of the year with a little bit of rain though is it?

Exactly. It didn't help them at Brands and Rockingham either.

[racingrivalsDOT]

What time is race number 3?

[VkmSpouge]

Race 2 Result:
1. Fabrizio Giovanardi Vauxhall
2. Jason Plato SEAT
3. Tom Onslow-Cole Vauxhall
4. Darren Turner SEAT
5. Tom Chilton Honda
6. Andrew Jordan Honda
7. Adam Jones SEAT
8. Chris Stockton SEAT
9. Gordon Shedden Honda
10. Jason Hughes MG
11. Mat Jackson BMW
12. Steven Kane BMW
13. Colin Turkington BMW
14. Harry Vaulkhard Chevrolet
DNF. Matt Neal Vauxhall
DNF. Erkut Kizilirmak Vauxhall
DNF. Martyn Bell Vauxhall
DNF. Michael Doyle Honda
DNF. Stuart Oliver SEAT
DNF. Alan Taylor Honda
DNS. Stephen Jelley BMW
DNS. Matt Allison Chevrolet
DNS. Rob Collard BMW
DNS. John George Honda

Question about the start, shouldn't they really have gone around and reformed the grid after Andrew Jordan stalled?
Very interesting race with a lot happening in it. The rain really put the cat amongst the pigeons with the BMWs making the wrong strategy call.
Giovanardi took the win somewhat comfortably in the end.
Andrew Jordan having a very good day so far adding 6th place to his 5th earlier. Chris Stockton taking his best ever finish with 8th place, the BTC Racing boys deserve it.
Jason Hughes scores a point in his venerable MG! :D
I doubt we'll see Kizilirmak again today after his crash at the Craner Curves.

[SEATFreak]

Chris Stockton taking his best ever finish with 8th place, the BTC Racing boys deserve it.

Totally agree. In the Independents Teams trophy they have 14pts from today with one more race to go! And theoretically if Stockton comes first (which he won't do but playing devils advocate) he will take away 29pts from today for BTC and will boots their tally to 31pts. And in the Independent Drivers trophy he will have 28pts. And providing they don't score he will be 2pts shy of Jason Hughes and 3pts from both Rob Collard and Steven Jelley.

From what I have seen on the coverage the Toledos are a definite improvement on the Lexus IS200.

[BDunnell]

Question about the start, shouldn't they really have gone around and reformed the grid after Andrew Jordan stalled?

I have never seen that happen before in an aborted standing start situation. At least it avoided a long delay to proceedings.

[BDunnell]

Totally agree. In the Independents Teams trophy they have 14pts from today with one more race to go! And theoretically if Stockton comes first (which he won't do but playing devils advocate) he will take away 29pts from today for BTC and will boots their tally to 31pts. And in the Independent Drivers trophy he will have 28pts. And providing they don't score he will be 2pts shy of Jason Hughes and 3pts from both Rob Collard and Steven Jelley.

I think that wins the prize for the most hypothetical situation ever discussed on these forums... ;)

[Alfa Fan]

I think that wins the prize for the most hypothetical situation ever discussed on these forums... ;)

No that goes to whoever discussed Team 48s chances this season.....

[BDunnell]

No that goes to whoever discussed Team 48s chances this season.....

:laugh:

Cynic!

[SEATFreak]

I think that wins the prize for the most hypothetical situation ever discussed on these forums... ;)

Thank you BD!! :)

I really want to thank most of all for making this award possible the most important person in my life and the one who deserves the most credit for everything....me! :up:

I will cherish that award safe in the knowledge nobody will be able to beat me.

Thanks one and all.

[AndySpeed]

I have never seen that happen before in an aborted standing start situation. At least it avoided a long delay to proceedings.

It was probably done to suit ITV's schedules...

[SEATFreak]

DT wins from TOC and Jase finishing just behind with the champ behind in 4th.

I do believe that makes it 4 podium places; two wins, a second and a third. And I do believe Jases' 1:12.677 in race 1 is SEAT's first Fastest Lap too.

Thank you SEAT, thank you NS, thank you DT and thank you Jase for restoring my faith in the TDi. Suddenly it is a case of "The future is bright, the future is yellow and green".

Brilliant result SEAT. You won't have too many like that no doubt but it is a start.

[Lodekka]

How's the revision going? I see you've had time to update your web-site - hope you are putting as much effort in to your exams.

[Alfa Fan]

How's the revision going? I see you've had time to update your web-site - hope you are putting as much effort in to your exams.

No offense but this has nothing to do with the racing, and I think perhaps you should keep your domestic problems off the forum?

[Lunaboy]

Can someone tell me what to think about Giovanardi and Onslow-Cole in the 3rd race?
It's clear that there are no teamorders, that's why i love BTCC so much, but was the first push a racing incident or was it more then that?
After that push i saw a great race between them and de Seat's of Plato and Turner.
Please you specialists clear this out for me?

[mattie007]

There was nothing to it really, certainly wasn't intentional.
A combination of a greasy track, a spinning car up ahead and TOC/DT braking early. Theres no need to make a big deal out of it. Gio is a top driver and would never knock a teammate off the track.
TOC still got his 2nd and Gio only lost 1 place, thats the worst that came out of the 'situation'.

[Lunaboy]

There was nothing to it really, certainly wasn't intentional.
A combination of a greasy track, a spinning car up ahead and TOC/DT braking early. Theres no need to make a big deal out of it. Gio is a top driver and would never knock a teammate off the track.
TOC still got his 2nd and Gio only lost 1 place, thats the worst that came out of the 'situation'.

Thanks!

[SEATFreak]

There was nothing to it really, certainly wasn't intentional.
A combination of a greasy track, a spinning car up ahead and TOC/DT braking early. Theres no need to make a big deal out of it. Gio is a top driver and would never knock a teammate off the track.

I have absolutely not one faint idea why but I find myself agreeing.

Certainly Gio is just too damn good to make the kind of errors he made intentionally. Cars were skidding everywhere I noticed throughout the day. I don't know if it had anything to do with it but the coming together by Bell, Andrew Jordan and Taylor sometime during the races isn't the kind of thing I wouldn't predict could happen on a dry track.


TOC still got his 2nd and Gio only lost 1 place, thats the worst that came out of the 'situation'.

Well if that is the worst that can happen to VXR they will not do to badly. Typical VXR.
Mind you

[Eurotech]

For Race Pics see www.motorsportuk.fotopic.net (http://www.motorsportuk.fotopic.net)

my pics and I had a good view of John George in his Integra Reliant Robin and Andrew Jordan Came right at me in the 3rd Race!

[AndySpeed]

I don't know if it had anything to do with it but the coming together by Bell, Andrew Jordan and Taylor sometime during the races isn't the kind of thing I wouldn't predict could happen on a dry track.

I wouldn't not put money on you not failing to make no more double negatives in the future. :p


Well if that is the worst that can happen to VXR they will not do to badly. Typical VXR.
Mind you

Might not be the worst. We don't know. VX Racing had a consistent weekend (well, TOC anyway) so unfortunately for you the damage SEAT might have inflicted with a double win wasn't there.

That said... who did VXRacing not nominate for points? If it was Onslow-Cole then that could change things.

[100%hondafan]

it was just a racing incedent. but i do think had that off not happened toc and gio could have been 1st and 2nd
i did like the massive improvement from tom as well this weekend done a great job 3 podiums aswell!

let alone adam jones now leading the indy championchip :)

[SEATFreak]

VX Racing had a consistent weekend (well, TOC anyway) so unfortunately for you the damage SEAT might have inflicted with a double win wasn't there.

You think I got carried away? You think that I think VXR felt anything as they drove away from Donny? Your the one getting carried away. I was just celebrating SEAT finally managing to pull their finger out of their arse. Their finger has barely seen the light of day! You ougth to know full well that I know Ian Harrison barely got jittery. I doubt he lost so much as a second of sleep last night.

I don't expect SEAT to beat VXR this season. I didn't as soon as last season finally came to an end. Let's face it. You just don't suddenly, and in one season, turn the tide of about 8 years of total dominance by a team (VXR). You think after about 8 years of almost unbroken success VXR will get beat anytime soon? Yeah right!

[Dave B]

You think after about 8 years of almost unbroken success VXR will get beat anytime soon? Yeah right!
Team Halfords managed it 2 years running. It's not impossible, you know, and thankfully SEAT don't have the same defeatist attitude as you.

[SEATFreak]

Team Halfords managed it 2 years running. It's not impossible, you know, and thankfully SEAT don't have the same defeatist attitude as you.

You mistake 'defeatist' for 'realist'. Thank god you weren't my English teacher.

Only because they had a piss poor car in the Sport Hatch. Only because the Integra was a geninely faster and more competitive car than the Sport Hatch.

Do you see VXR being beaten whilst they have the same form and consistency they had any season you can care to pick either side of 2005 and 2006? I don't.

[BDunnell]

I don't think there's any need to get het-up or angry about it. Sometimes, one team is just more competitive than the rest. That's life. It's best just to enjoy all the racing.