ROB AUSTIN RACING LOOKING FORWARD TO OULTON PARK & CROFT TOURING CAR EVENTS
Rob Austin (Evesham) believes his Rob Austin Racing Audis will be much stronger at both this month’s Dunlop British Touring Car Championship events starting at Cheshire’s Oulton Park circuit this weekend (6-7 June).
With Donington Park and Thruxton – both bogey circuits for the squad’s Exocet AlcoSense Audis – out of the way, now come two better suited circuits in Oulton and Croft in North Yorkshire (27-28 June).
Both Rob and team-mate Hunter Abbott (Maidenhead) will surely go into both events chasing major points to move them up the leaderboard.
Rob commented: “Our car has never suited Donington or Thruxton but this year we picked up more points there than ever before. After the damage limitation exercise now we need to maximise our strong circuits to get ourselves back up there in the championship. Last year we had three top five finishes including a podium at Oulton Park and whilst we are on a different circuit layout this year I still believe we will have a strong car.
“I need some strong points finishes from Oulton and then I believe we can fight potentially fight for victory at Croft.”
He added: “It might sound strange believing we can do so well at these two circuits when we’ve only just scraped a top ten at Donington and Thruxton but the Audi has always been affected more than most by different types of circuit. So although we work very hard to try and make it fast everywhere unfortunately that’s just the way it is.
“On saying all that, I’m really looking forward – as I think any racing driver does – to competing at Oulton Park. It’s a fantastic driver’s circuit – properly old school – and attracts the biggest BTCC crowd of the year. The atmosphere is second to none.”
Hunter, who’s just announced he’s to become a father later in the year, is keen to return to the top ten after a dry spell at Donington and Thruxton.
He said: “The Exocet AlcoSense Audi has traditionally been strong at Oulton Park. Unfortunately last year I had technical difficulties which meant I missed practice. In a series as tough as the BTCC this is difficult to recover from and I didn’t really get the results I think we could have achieved.
“Sherman and Panzer are capable front runners at Oulton and I love the circuit’s old school quirks and ballsy corners – I’m looking forward to getting back there.”
Rob Austin Racing Timetable: Oulton Park BTCC
Saturday 10.00am-10.40am Free Practice 1
Saturday 12.45pm-1.25pm Free Practice 2
Saturday 3.20pm-3.50pm Qualifying (live on ITV.com – click here)
Sunday 12.15pm BTCC Race 1 (15 laps) – LIVE on ITV4
Sunday 3.30pm BTCC Race 2 (15 laps) – LIVE on ITV4
Sunday 5.40pm BTCC Race 3 (15 laps) – LIVE on ITV4