BTCC: BMW’s reliability to thank at a sweltering Brands Hatch

William Holmes

Only one week on from the season opener at Donington Park, the BTCC returned to racing at Brands Hatch for the Grand Prix event.

Reigning champion Colin Turkington arrived in Kent as the points leader, benefiting from a slender advantage over Dan Cammish, Ash Sutton and Rory Butcher.

On a weekend characterised by stifling temperatures, all was to play for as the season heated up.

Race 4

It was Butcher’s Focus ST that achieved pole position on Saturday – he maintained track position as the field filtered into Paddock Hill Bend for the first time, fending off Cammish and a charging Turkington.

Various scraps were witnessed early on, allowing the front three to pull away comfortably. However, a tangle between Matt Neal and Aiden Moffat on lap 12 of 15 brought out the safety car, bunching the field together.

When the green flag dropped, leader Butcher was dealt a cruel blow, suffering a front-left puncture, allowing Cammish to inherit the lead. He defended from Turkington effectively, claiming his second win of the year. Butcher’s teammate, Ollie Jackson, rounded out the podium ahead of Tom Ingram.

Credit: BTCC

After the race, Cammish said:

“I’m really pleased, the guys have given me a great car so I’m happy to get to the end of that one. Another win. It’s my third race one win in three years here, four out of seven. So we’ve got to be doing a good job here at Brands Hatch GP.”

Dan Cammish

Race 4’s Top 10:

  1. Dan Cammish
  2. Colin Turkington
  3. Ollie Jackson
  4. Tom Ingram
  5. Tom Chilton
  6. Ash Sutton
  7. Senna Proctor
  8. Tom Oliphant
  9. Stephen Jelley
  10. Jake Hill

Race 5

Carrying full ballast, Cammish’s front-wheel-drive Honda Civic bogged down on launch, dropping down to fourth and allowing Turkington through. Ingram also bested Jackson when the lights went out, placing second.

On lap 3, a feisty collision between Michael Crees and Bobby Thompson prompted a lengthy safety car; Sutton, on the restart, finally managed to break the train for fourth that a slowing Jackson had produced.

With only two laps left, Cammish, from third, was forced down the order suffering a mechanical fault, costing him vital championship points. Sutton would gratefully fill the final podium spot behind Turkington and Ingram, with Butcher producing a stellar effort – the Motorbase campaigner started 25th and finished fourth.

Race-winner Colin Turkington said:

“It was a close to perfect race and a big thanks to the team because, like at Donington, my car was improved for race two and that’s why we had that outstanding pace, so I’m really pleased to chalk another win.”

Race 5’s Top 10:

  1. Colin Turkington
  2. Tom Ingram
  3. Ash Sutton
  4. Rory Butcher
  5. Ollie Jackson
  6. Adam Morgan
  7. Tom Oliphant
  8. Senna Proctor
  9. Stephen Jelley
  10. James Gornall
Credit: BTCC

Race 6

For consecutive weekends, Turkington drew P12’s number for the reverse grid, putting himself as low as was possible for the final race. Aiden Moffat was the man on pole, who held his position into Paddock Hill, whilst second-place Jack Goff was spun early on, collecting Ingram at Graham Hill Bend.

Stephen Jelley tagged Moffat’s rear at Clearways, which unsettled the Infiniti, and allowed Tom Oliphant’s BMW 3 Series to slip through into the lead. Cammish and Butcher, who was in third at the time, once more succumbed to technical issues, rounding out an unlucky weekend for both.

However, at the front, Oliphant produced an inspired drive, holding off an aggressive Sutton all race on his way to a first BTCC victory. Jelley completed the podium ahead of Moffat and ever-present Colin Turkington.

Race-winner Tom Oliphant said:

“Honestly, it was incredible. The overtake was spectacular around the outside and then having Sutton right behind me the whole race – I couldn’t think of a worse person to be following me.”

Race 6’s Top 10:

  1. Tom Oliphant
  2. Ash Sutton
  3. Stephen Jelley
  4. Aiden Moffat
  5. Colin Turkington
  6. Matt Neal
  7. James Gornall
  8. Tom Chilton
  9. Senna Proctor
  10. Sam Osborne
Credit: BTCC

Weekend Analysis

Colin Turkington now holds a commanding lead in the championship – as others faltered, he pushed on for three top 5 finishes. It was always going to be a weekend of attrition in the searing conditions, but those West Surrey Racing BMWs seem to be virtually bulletproof.

Speaking to the BTCC, Turkington did mention that the Beemers work best in hot temperatures. With two more rounds in August, potentially offering similar conditions, he could have easily streaked away by that time.

However, one of those events is at Knockhill in Scotland, a place not exactly famed for its tropical weather. Furthermore, with the season extended into November, typically grim British weather is most definitely expected down the line. Perhaps the season isn’t quite as clear cut as it might seem.

Ash Sutton, in his rear-wheel-drive Infiniti, perhaps poses the biggest threat to Turkington. Regardless of the heroics shown by Cammish, Butcher and Ingram, it is those who finish every race that battle for the crown. Turkington has become the master of this skill over the years, but Sutton seems to have picked up on this based on his display at Brands.

Thanks to the heat, multiple drivers secured their first BTCC points – Ollie Brown, Jack Butel and Nic Hamilton all finished inside the top 15 in Race 6. It will be an interesting battle to see which of the three will finish top come Brands Hatch Indy later in the year.

Championship Standings:

  1. Colin Turkington – 95pts
  2. Ash Sutton – 79pts
  3. Tom Oliphant – 70pts
  4. Tom Ingram – 67pts
  5. Dan Cammish – 61pts

Standout Performers:

  1. Colin Turkington
  2. Rory Butcher
  3. Tom Oliphant/Ash Sutton

The next round of the BTCC is at Oulton Park on 22-23 August.

William Holmes

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