The website of Adam Sloman, freelance motoring journalist and author.
Motorsport
BTCC Diaries 1: Start of the season
Mar 30th
Season start is almost here.
The start of the BTCC season is less than 24 hours away so I thought I’d take the opportunity to share my take on the coming season.
With MG announcing their return to the series this season I’ll be providing race coverage for MG Enthusiast, but here I want to try to share my experiences of actually following the series up and down the UK.
The first round is at Brands, so straight of the bat I’ve got a 3 and a half hour drive before I even arrive at the circuit.
Still the weather forecast looks good which is more than I can say for the last time I got drenched at Druids!
So my bag’s packed, I beat the lemmings to the pumps so the Leon’s full – let’s go watch some racing!
MG confirm BTCC programme
Jan 25th
Big news for MG fans today as MG Motor UK confirm BTCC programme for 2012, with double-champion Jason Plato leading the charge. He’ll be joined by former Team AON driver Andy Neate.
The cars will be prepared by Triple 8 engineering who enjoyed great success for Vauxhall and MG will be hoping they can replicate that success.
Here’s the original press release:
MG Motor UK today announced it will enter the 2012 BTCC Series with a ‘dream team’ of cars, drivers, constructors and sponsors.
Two MG6 GT cars will run in the all-new MG KX Momentum Racing team piloted by double BTCC champion Jason Plato and BTCC rising star Andy Neate.
The cars will be prepared by Triple Eight Race Engineering, one of the most successful constructors in touring car racing. And completing the ‘dream team’ are principal sponsors Tesco Fuels with their Momentum 99 brand and KX energy drink completing an all-British line-up.
MG KX Momentum Racing will debut at Brands Hatch on April 1 when the 2012 Dunlop MSA BTCC championship season gets under way.
The MG6 GT five-door fastback is the first all-new MG in 16 years. It is designed and engineered at MG Motor UK’s plant in Birmingham where final assembly also takes place.
Jason Plato is the most successful driver in BTCC racing history with 68 career wins, with more fastest laps, pole and podium positions than any other driver in the history of the Series. He is undoubtedly the face of British Touring Cars as well as being a well-known and respected TV presenter and newly appointed Director of the British Racing Drivers Club.
Plato said: “It’s really exciting to be involved in a brand-new all-British team and it’s just brilliant that the iconic name of MG will be back on the track.”
Guy Jones, MG Motor’s Sales & Marketing Director, said: “We are delighted that the new MG6 will be seen by millions of fans in Britain and beyond and this continues the famous sporting lineage of the brand.”
Triple Eight, headed by Ian Harrison, is based at Greatworth, just a few miles from the famous Silverstone race circuit. The company has more than 100 BTCC race wins to its credit.
At last-a rally championship worth watching!
Jan 21st
Skoda on the Monte
All hail the might IRC! Since the World Rally Championship has become the equivalent of Scottish football (Loeb winning six titles in a row, anyone?) my interest in the series has continued to die off.
Thanks be then for the IRC. The Intercontinental Rally Challenge. Featuring a wide range of cars from Honda Civic to Subaru Impreza, IRC cars are simpler than the Group N WRC cars (and therefore cheaper and more manufacturer friendly) with two litre engines and simpler four-wheel drive systems.
The IRC also features some world-famous events, long since lost from the World Rally Championship, like Monte Carlo, which is happening as you read this (19-23rd January).
Best of all, there’s live coverage on Eurosport, unlike the WRC being tucked away on Dave between QI and Top Gear.
The IRC’s official website can be found here.
