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BTCC young guns testing at Brands Hatch

By MJP Media | 1 October 2013

With only one meeting left in this year's BTCC championship, we talk to the two youngest drivers looking to make an impact in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship as they tested at Brands Hatch today.

At 17 years of age, Aiden Moffat has already completed four BTCC races

With a combined age lower than most current touring car drivers individual ages, Aiden Moffat and Jake Giddings are two new names to the BTCC paddock, however at only 17 years of age, Aiden has already completed four races in Britain's premiere motorsport series and Jake is hopeful that he might get a chance to race at Brands Hatch in the season decider on October 12th and 13th after a season cutting his teeth in the Air Asia Clio Cup.

The similarities are striking. Both are young and dynamic drivers who have raced in other saloon car series. They are both highly motivated behind the wheel, despite both being at school. They both want to make a name for themselves in the British Touring Car Championship, however only on performance, not on age. They also both took a day off from their studies to test cars so they can be as ready as possible for the touring car meeting at Brands Hatch in a week and a half.

Jake Giddings testing at Brands Hatch

Jake was undergoing further testing in the Finesse Motorsport S2000 Chevrolet Cruze and whilst he isn't guaranteed a place for Brands Hatch next week, he is hopeful that all the testing he has done will demonstrate to TOCA that he is motivated, capable and more importantly ready to make the leap from the Clios if his application is approved. Based on his performances today, he would be a welcome addition to next week's grid as he set lap times that were 0.3 of a second faster than the previous S2000 qualifying record in a time of 50.3 seconds on the Indy circuit.

Aiden was also impressive, clocking 50.0 seconds, which after his capable drives at Silverstone at the weekend is a good effort for the Scotsman who was just 17 last Saturday. When we talked to Aiden at the end of the session he explained that he was now feeling much more that he and the car were working together. "I feel that the car does what I am asking it to now and I am responding to the car so much better. This time in the seat is invaluable and I will do my best to return the team's faith in me at Brands next week".

Aiden Moffat at Silverstone last weekend

Whether we will see both of these young guns at Brands Hatch next week is down to the series organisers, however based on the testing we have seen so far they could both hold their own amongst some of the more established names in their respective NGTC and S2000 classes.

It is always good to see youth being given the opportunity it deserves and with a bit of luck we can be tracking the progress of these two highly talented young drivers next week and for many years in the future.

Touring Car content supplied by MJP Media