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British Touring Car Championship 2015
Mid-Season Report

By MJP Media | 7 July 2015

With the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship now in its summer break, we take a look back at the first half of the season and the drivers at the top of the championship standings.

Gordon Shedden currently tops the championship standings

Gordon Shedden
Currently sitting at the top of the Drivers' Championship leader board on 195 points, Gordon is proof that consistency is the key to success in the BTCC. Although winning only 2 of the 15 races so far - race 2 at Brands Hatch and race 1 at Thruxton - Gordon has backed this up with two 2nd and three 3rd place finishes, the most podium finishes of any driver this year. Even when not on the podium, Gordon has still scored valuable championship points and is the only driver this year to have scored points in all 15 races, demonstrating both the reliability of the Honda Yuasa Racing Civic Type R and Gordon's ability to get the best out of it at a variety of circuits.

Jason Plato
Having moved to Team BMR for the 2015 BTCC season, Jason Plato has taken his Volkswagen CC to 4 race wins so far this year but despite scoring twice as many victories as any other driver so far this season, lies 2nd in the championship on 185 points. One 2nd and one 3rd place result have kept his championship hopes alive however a couple of non-scoring races, including one at Croft Circuit, saw Jason loose the championship lead he took at Oulton Park.

Jason Plato is 2nd in the Drivers' Championship

Matt Neal
Like his team-mate Gordon Shedden, Matt Neal has also scored 2 race wins so far and together with three 2nd and one 3rd place finish is currently 3rd in the Drivers' Championship on 173 points. Matt has failed to score points at only one race so far - race 1 at Donington Park - demonstrating the ability of the Honda Yuasa Racing Civic Type R and if he can score well in the second half of the season, could pose a serious threat to the other championship contenders.

Sam Tordoff
Having moved from the manufacturer-backed MG squad to join West Surrey Racing for the 2015 season, Sam has certainly proved his worth and is currently the highest placed WSR driver in the championship standings, lying in 4th place on 162 points. So far this season Sam has scored 4 podium finishes with his Team JCT600 with GardX BMW 125i M Sport - two 1st, one 2nd and one 3rd - and together with team-mates Rob Collard and Andy Priaulx, helped WSR win all three races from Croft Circuit as well as a 1-2-3 podium lock-out in the first race.

Sam Tordoff is the highest placed WSR driver

Colin Turkington
Defending BTCC champion Colin Turkington is currently 5th in the standings on 161 points having moved from West Surrey Racing to Team BMR for the 2015 season. Four podium finishes - one 1st and three 3rd - have kept him in contention however the move to the Volkswagen CC has not been an easy one for Colin and unless he can score well in the remaining races, will not be able to successfully defend his 2014 Drivers' Championship title.

Andrew Jordan
Rounding out the top 6 in the Drivers' Championship on 156 points, Andrew Jordan's move to MG 888 Racing from Pirtek Racing has not been as fruitful as he would have hoped. Although scoring points in all but 2 of the 15 races, Andrew is the only driver in the top 6 not to have won a race so far this season despite getting 4 podium finishes in his MG 6GT - three 2nd place and one 3rd place.

Outside the top 6
Behind the six drivers at the top of the championship table are a tightly packed group, all intent on making their presence felt should the leaders falter in any way. Adam Morgan is currently 7th on 128 points for WIX Racing with Rob Collard 8th on 127 points for Team JCT600 with GardX and Andy Priaulx 9th on 126 for Team IHG Rewards Club. Jack Goff completes the top 10 on 124 points for MG 888 Racing.

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