The Big Bash! BTCC Media Day at Donington Park
By MJP Media | 24 March 2015
After a hugely entertaining and record breaking 2014 season which saw Colin Turkington and West Surrey Racing crowned champions, 2015 looks set to build further on the success of Britain's premier motor sport series.
The cars of the 2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship
The world's media and BTCC fans gathered at Donington Park today to help launch the 2015 season with all the cars being unveiled ahead of the public test session in the afternoon. Perhaps the biggest unveiling of the day was the all new Honda Civic Type R from Honda Yuasa Racing which replaces the ill-fated Civic Tourer.
This year marks the second all-NGTC (Next Generation Touring Car) specification season and the fifth campaign since the regulations were first introduced. Such has been the success of the technical rules that they have been endorsed by the sport's international governing body, the FIA, for use in touring car racing across the globe. The diversity of cars also continues to grow in the BTCC with premium car manufacturer Infiniti joining the championship and becoming the 12th marque to be represented in the NGTC era.
The all new Honda Yuasa Racing Civic Type R
Two-time Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Champion Jason Plato set the fastest time during the afternoon running - a 1:10.249s - just edging out his new Team BMR team-mate Colin Turkington by 0.006s. With the top two from last year's championship setting the pace, it was a very impressive showing from the Mercedes A-Class machines of Aiden Moffat and Adam Morgan that saw them placed third and fourth on the time sheets for Laser Tools Racing and WIX Racing respectively.
Another team pairing took up station in fifth and sixth as Triple Eight Racing drivers Jack Goff and Andrew Jordan put in a formidable tally of laps around the Donington Park National Circuit. Hunter Abbott was seventh fastest in his Exocet AlcoSense Audi A4, with the returning Honda Civic of Martin Depper in ninth. Sam Tordoff secured top BMW honours in his first timed session for the newly-announced Team JCT600 with GardX squad in tenth, just ahead of Dave Newsham who has switched to a Power Maxed Racing Chevrolet Cruze for this year.
The Class of 2015
Times set in testing sessions are not necessarily representative of the true comparative pace of the cars as each team will be running their own test programme, however the indications are that the 2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season will be every bit as exciting as it's loyal fans have come to expect.
Battle commences for real next week with the season opener at Brands Hatch on the April 4th and 5th.
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