BTCC Round 8 Rockingham

Sunday 18th September was another busy weekend for all 3 Scorpion sponsored BTCC Teams. It was the 2 Honda's of Neal and Shedden that stole the show however, with a win for Shedden and a podium for Matt Neal the two drivers are dead level on points at the top of the table over 20 points clear of their nearest rivals!!

In complete contrast to the Honda's roaring success was the dismal weekend endured by the Airwaves racing team. Despite an extra driver in the form of BTCC newcomer Michael Caine and some good starts and qualifying positions there was never any real success for the Motorbase ran team.

STR had a mixed bag of results; with poor qualifying results, a penalty and mechanical breakdowns to contend with! The team showed their resolve and still managed two top ten finishes.

Despite the 47kg of ballast he was running with, Mat Jackson managed to secure a 9th place on the grid for race 1, where he proceeded to storm to 7th on the first lap, this was short lived as a shunt with Gordon Sheddens Civic put him out of the race witha damaged turbo and intercooler. Griffin and new boy Caine managed to finish in 16th and 10th respectively. Caine gaining a valuable championship point in his debut BTCC race and truly justifying his place on the team.

Tom Boardman, in the newly liveried Seat Leon started from 23rd but by lap 6 had managed an astounding gain of 15 places into 8th. Despite taking 7th shortly after, he was passed on the last lap to finish 8th. Dave Newsham was caught up in the early skirmishes of race 1but by lap 6 he took 12th place sadly he was forced into the gravel later on the same lap ending his race.

Race 2 saw Jackson working his way up to 12th place before being black flagged due to an open rear door, the result of being shunted by Rob Austin, hasty repairs were made to get him abck into the race, they didnt last however and in the closing stages of the race the door popped open again resulting in a DNF. In his secind race Caine couldnt maintain the drive he gained in the first race due to turbo problems, this resulted in contact with Collard and a DNF on lap 10. Liam Griffin was the only airwaves finisher, with a 13th place. Dave Newsham, couldnt managed to start the 2nd race due to mechanical gremlins. Boardman fared no better in this race when a wheel bearing broke and ended his charge.

In the third race of the day airwaves had a little more luck, Jackson managed to come home in 13th, just outside the points with Griffin and Caine bringing up the rear in 19th & 20th. This run of bad luck meant that Michael Caine was the only airwaves point scorer of the weekend. Both the STR drivers started from the back of the grid, due to the previous races DNF's. Both drivers made stunning starts with Tom gaining 10 places and Dave 7, all in the first lap. Newsham then managed to take another 3 places squeezing passed Airwaves' Mat Jackson to go 12th until the steering arm damaged sustained in a first lap clash reared its ugly head and forced him back 3 places, where he would finish. After battling frantically through the race Boardman managed to hold off Macdowall and Foster to finish in the points again. A fantastic 10th place was well earned.

1. Gordon Shedden - 204pts
2. Matt Neal - 204pts
3. Jason Plato - 180pts

Top of the team championship table is the Scorpion sponsored Honda Racing team:

1. Honda Racing - 372pts
2. Silverline Chevrolet - 238pts
3. 888/Colins - 159pts

The next round for all 3 Scorpion sponsored teams is on the 2nd October when the BTCC comes to Brands Hatch's GP circuit.