As the 2006 season draws to a close it’s still all to play for in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship and Team RAC will be aiming to complete the year on a high note.
- Round 10 - Silverstone - Preview
As the 2006 season draws to a close it’s still all to play for in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) and Team RAC will be aiming to complete the year on a high note.
Silverstone, the home of the British F1 Grand Prix, plays host to the final rounds with the BTCC cars competing on the National Circuit (1.6 miles), which is 1.5 miles shorter than the full F1 track. The first corner, Copse, with its big run off area and gravel trap means there is no room for error. The opening lap on each race will certainly prove interesting and a superb finale to the season.
After two podium finishes, the first for a bio-fuel car, at the last meeting at Brands Hatch, Colin Turkington will be aiming for the top spot. With the Championship title just out of reach the main focus will be to wrestle back his runner-up place from Jason Plato, a position that Colin has held for the majority of the season.
With a successful first season with Team RAC and with his attention focused on the final rounds, Colin said: "I think we’ll be very competitive at Silverstone. It’s surfaced with the same tarmac as Knockhill and whilst we didn’t get the end results there we certainly showed the pace of the car. I shall be aiming for an outright win this weekend to end the season on a high."
After an improved performance at Brands Hatch, Rob Collard is also keen to finish the year on a high. Rob has experienced his fair share of high and low points during the season but having achieved a podium finish at last years corresponding fixture you can bet he’s fired up for the show-down.
Rob said: "On a personal level I’d like to build upon the results from Brands Hatch and finish on the podium at Silverstone. The MG ran well on the short circuit last year and I achieved a second place. For Team RAC I’d like to assist Colin in gaining back his runner-up place in the Championship."
Dick Bennetts, Team RAC principal has been pleased with the overall performance of the team this season, he said: "I’m very pleased with the way things have gone this season and the fact that we’ve remained competitive on most circuits. Silverstone is a power circuit so it will be interesting to see how the SEAT’s perform. If Team RAC can round off the first year on the top step of the podium then we’ll be very happy."
The final rounds at Silverstone will be transmitted on ITV on Sunday 15 October starting at 4pm. The programme will include highlights from race one and two with race three being shown live in its entirety. Satellite viewers can watch all three races live on Motors TV commencing at 10.10am. Further information on programme replays can be found at www.teamrac.com
-ends-
Note to editors:
At Silverstone Rob Collard’s Team RAC car will be sponsored by RAC Rescue.
Copyright free images for editorial purposes are available at www.teamrac.com
To arrange an interview with a member of Team RAC, please contact Sarah Owen on 07793 633153.
Notes to editors:
About RAC
RAC is one of the UK's most progressive motoring organizations, providing services for both private and business motorists. Whether it's roadside assistance, windscreen repair and replacement, learning to drive, vehicle inspections and checks, legal and financial services or up-to-the-minute traffic and travel information - RAC is able to meet motorists' needs. RAC incorporates BSM, RAC Auto Windscreens, RAC Direct Insurance and HPI.
Aviva bought RAC last year. The acquisition brings together RAC's powerful brand and customer base with the expertise and leading position in motor insurance of Norwich Union Insurance (part of Aviva). Norwich Union is the UK's largest insurer, insuring one in seven motor vehicles and with a market share of around 14%.
About Aviva
Aviva is the world's fifth-largest insurance group (based on gross worldwide premiums for the year ended 31 December 2005) and the largest insurance services provider in the UK. We are one of the leading providers of life and pension products in Europe and are actively growing our long-term savings businesses in Asian markets, Australia and the USA. Our main activities are long-term savings, fund management and general insurance. We have premium income and investment sales of Ł36 billion and Ł332 billion of assets under management. We have 58,000 employees serving 35 million customers.