- Jack qualified a season high of P19 and Ollie in P24 in BTCC
- Ollie finished race 3 in a career high P13 taking his first BTCC points of his career. Race 1: P20, Race 2: P20
- Jack finished race 2 in P11, his best of the season. Race 1: P17, Race 3: DNF
- Jack recorded his second DNF of the season after starting from the front row in race 3
Jack Goff: We made good progress after a below expectation qualifying. The car felt good in race 1 and we recovered well from a bad start to finish in P17. Race 2 we started to move forward and finish in the points, finally unlocking some of the pace we knew we had in the car. Temperatures were obviously high, so engine temperature management was crucial so moving out of the slip stream and into clear air was essential throughout the race.
A good reverse grid draw saw us on the front row for the final race of the day and was a good chance for us to showcase our pace in clear traffic and put on a show for our fans and sponsors. Unfortunately, due to some over eagerness from others we were we hit into turn 2 and then again on the way down to turn 3 which ended our race before it even begun really. Welcome to the BTCC, I am off fishing to detox.
Ollie Brown: It was my first visit to Brands Hatch and the GP loop this weekend and I must say it is a fantastic track. I’m really starting to get to grips with the Volkswagen CC and front wheel drive race cars. Qualifying was okay but both me and Jack felt we were out of position in terms of the cars pace.
Race 1 went well, I was airing on the side of caution and just making sure that I got to the finish knowing that the day was going to be a battle of attrition. I felt that race 2 was definitely a missed opportunity and a point or two was on the cards before a late puncture put me out of the running but I was able to finish the race in P20.
The final race of the day is where it clicked for me, I was on the back of Adam (Morgan) and once I eventually got passed, I managed to Catch Bobby (Thompson) and Michael (Crees) pretty easily. I couldn’t get passed due to our top end speed disadvantage so on the final lap I backed right off to ensure that I would cross the line for my first BTCC points in P13! Mega result.
Our car is good on the tyres and in this weekend’s heat it really paid dividends. Let’s hope for more of the same at Oulton Park!
Tony Gilham: The pace in the Volkswagen CC was really strong this weekend and with a bit more straight-line speed from the engine we could be fighting with the guys in the top 10 on a consistent basis. We have the race pace but are lacking that extra tenth or two in qualifying at the moment.
Both Jack and Ollie did a great job this weekend and I’m pleased that both of them have been able to take their first points of the season. However, we are again left in a case of ‘what might have been’ after Jack started on the front row in race 3. Jack has been so unlucky since returning to the team at the beginning of last season, his luck is surely due to change soon.
A big congratulations to Ollie who was right on the pace of the Audi by race 3 and deservedly took home his first BTCC points, what a story for our RCiB Insurance Racing scholarship winner!
A week off now before the next double header at Oulton Park and Knockhill. Time to regroup!
