British touring Cars Championship at Silverstone
So this weekend just gone, my dad and sister took me to the
Silverstone round of the BTCC. All of our birthdays are within two weeks of
each other so it became a joint birthday outing for us. I have never really
gotten into Touring Cars before, mostly due to a lack of time and it always
takes a backseat to F1 for me, but they like it and insisted I would too. In
any case, it was something new and it got me away from the mundane cycle of
work and job hunting for two days.
On the Saturday, we had brilliant weather. Sunday was colder
but it was dry for the most part and the sheltered stand helped with the wind
chill a little. Our seats were at the end of the track, through the Luffield
corners and onto the old start/finish line, although it was that start/finish
line being used for this event. The races at this event were on a shortened
version of the track, just over half the length used for the F1 race. The races
for this series are also much shorter, and this keeps the cars closer together
and produces more action in the races. To make up for the shorter laps and
races, there are three races for the Touring Cars alone on the Sunday,
following the practise and qualifying sessions on Saturday. Add in the three
support categories that go with the BTCC circuit and their races, qualifying
and practise sessions, then you are in for a full weekend of racing!
The good thing about the Touring Cars is you can see the
names on each car, meaning you know where they are in the field for the most
part. Penalties can complicate matters but there are screens with the current
positions at various points around the track. The starting grid for the first
race is determined by the qualifying session on Saturday afternoon. The second
race by the results from the first and the final race will have a mixed grid
due to a lottery in the top ten from the second race. Add to this, the
additional weight for winning the previous race and it keeps the field very
close together. These cars are very sturdy and not afraid to give each other a
nudge if they won’t get out of the way, as happened often in front of our
stand. To the credit of the drivers, most can recover or keep their car going
and re-join the race once the field has passed the incident.
One thing that astonished me was in the third race. Plato,
one of the more well-known and established racers, came from the back of the
grid having suffered an engine failure in the second race to win in a stunning
drive. The sheer determination and precision in his driving allowed him to be
at the front of the pack at the half way point before building a lead that
could only be beaten by another mechanical failure. It wasn’t to be this time
and he took his second win of the day. The MG team is new to the sport this
year and they have a very powerful car and it leaves the championship at a very
close point. There is one more circuit in this year’s championship and 75
points to be won from the three races.
I’d advise any motor sport fan to have a look on the 19th
October on ITV4 for the final stage of the championship. I am eagerly awaiting
this programme.
Alonso’s bad luck
Fernando Alonso has undoubtedly been driving his greatest
season so far. The Ferrari was so off the pace at the beginning of the season
that it was impossible to imagine them leading either of the F1 championships.
In 2 of the last 4 races, Alonso has not finished, due to no fault of his own
that I can tell. He was taken out by Romain Grosjean and at this weekend’s race
in Suzuka, Japan, by the second lotus of Kimi Raikkonen.
This allowed Sebastian Vettel to close within 4 points of
the Ferrari driver. I have no doubt that Vettel will continue on from a strong
result in the next races and could win his third successive championship. A
remarkable feat, but there is still a chance for McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton and
Raikkonen, should they win in the next few races.
At 42 points behind Alonso, it is still possible to win from
there but he must start winning again to cut that lead down. After already
announcing his move to Mercedes for next season, this could be his last chance
for the next few years to realistically see himself winning the drivers’
championship. It it is the final quarter of the season but already it feels
like we are coming to the end of one of the greatest season in recent years.
It is a shame, again, to hear about Schumacher’s retirement.
The time is right, but I wish he had a bit more success and less bad luck. Some
of the accidents have been down to him, yes, but others haven’t and this was
certainly his best season in his return. He is still one of the greatest
drivers of all time, in my opinion and I’m glad we got to see him race again.
There are many questions about how good he is, and whether it was because of
the team and equipment around him but the statistics still show a 7 time world
champion and that will never be forgotten.
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