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British Touring Car Championship - Half Term Report

By MJP Media | 2 July 2013

With the 2013 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at the half-way stage, we take a look back at the first half of the season and the highs and lows of the title contenders in Britain's premier motorsport series.

Gordon Shedden, Matt Neal and Sam Tordoff

If this really was a half term report on the 2013 BTCC season, there would be one common school report comment that certainly could NOT be used - 'must try harder'! It has been a sensational first half to the 2013 championship with a variety of championship leaders, multiple race winners, non-stop action and the best grids, crowds and TV audiences for years. It is nice, for once, to be able to report on a popular, world renowned sport that is still fully available to the whole public on terrestrial television courtesy of ITV4. The fact that the BTCC is exported globally shouldn't come as a surprise as it is a far more spectator and family friendly sport than F1. The tickets are great value and the action is fantastic all weekend at the meetings. We have seen reports recently from the F1 at Silverstone that people had paid £60 for practice day tickets and because it had rained, the cars didn't come out. No danger of that with the BTCC - come rain or shine the action is non-stop.

The season started back in March in genuinely arctic conditions at Brands Hatch. Qualifying took place in sub-zero temperatures and it was the first time we were able to look at the new 'soft' tyre from Dunlop. No one knew how it would handle and freezing temperatures were not going to give us a clear indication of how teams were progressing. Andrew Jordan took a surprise pole position ahead of the big boys at Honda and MG, but normal service was resumed as Jason Plato took 2 wins and Matt Neal the 3rd. Interestingly, Sam Tordoff was a real challenger in the 2nd MG to team-mate Jason Plato in a way that Andy Neate never managed, giving MG high hopes of the manufacturers' crown. The weekend was also noted for the huge shunt involving Rob Austin and Dave Newsham. Plato was leading the championship.

Jason Plato in the MG KX Momentum Racing MG6

From Brands Hatch it was up to Donington Park where, in an amazing race 2, Jason Plato celebrated his 400th BTCC race and Matt Neal trumped him with his 500th start. The racing was tight and defending champion Gordon Shedden took pole position. Three different drivers - Shedden, Andrew Jordan and Colin Turkington all took wins and heading South to Thruxton, Jason Plato had a narrow lead in the standing over Jordan with Matt Neal third.

Thruxton is a unique circuit in many ways, not least because it is the quickest on the calendar and the cars have a unique set-up there compared to any other track. In qualifying, the Hondas took the top 3 places in the shape of Jordon, Shedden and Neal. Andrew Jordan's second pole in three rounds was a great result for the independent Pirtek Racing team. The race wins went to Honda Yuasa Racing with Matt Neal getting the first two then 2nd in the third race behind Gordon Shedden. Matt Neal now led the championship ahead of Andrew Jordan with Jason Plato back in 3rd.

The build-up to Oulton Park was interesting as the world learnt all about Airwaves Racing's Aron Smith's lucky boxers. The teams had been testing at Donington Park and all eyes were on qualifying. MG dominated and secured a front row lockout with Jason Plato ahead of Sam Tordoff. MG continued this dominance in race 1 with a 1-2 finish. Plato then took victory in race 2 to retake the title lead. Andrew Jordan took victory in the third race as Plato failed to finish with a major fire in the car. Matt Neal took advantage by picking up good points for 4th and left Oulton Park still in the lead in the championship.

Colin Turkington leading Gordon Shedden

Next it was on to Croft with every chance of any of the top teams claiming victories, although Honda and MG were the clear favourites for this. A notable statistic in qualifying was that the top five drivers were all former BTCC champions however it was Colin Turkington in the eBay Motors BMW who was on top of the timesheets - hardly surprising though as he has won more races at Croft than anywhere else! Race day was characterised by highly changeable weather but nothing threw Turkington who matched Matt Neal's feat from Donington Park by winning the first two races and coming second in the third.

Things could hardly be closer as we go into the mid season break. Matt Neal leads the way from Andrew Jordan with Gordon Shedden and Jason Plato tied in third right behind them. What does the second half of the season promise? Certainly action, drama, excitement and some of the best motor racing in the world. Who will win the title? That's anybody's guess, but they will be driving either a Honda, a BMW or an MG. Roll on Snetterton at the beginning of August!

Touring Car content supplied by MJP Media