BTC Racing Get Another Podium Finish at Donnington

Our BTCC Technical Partners BTC Racing continued their season opening form with another podium finish for Josh Cook at Donnington Park on Sunday.

Despite the additional ballast, Josh qualified in second, with team mate Chris Smiley slightly further back in 4th. However both dropped a place at the start, although Chris managed to hold his ground for most of the race, eventually crossing the line in 7th overall and best of the Independent Drivers. Josh was more unfortunate, picking up a puncture in the early stages of the race after contact with Sam Tordoff and being forced into the pits for a tyre chance, which left him a lap down in 24th place.

Race 2 was a reversal of fortunes for the two BTC Racing drivers. A heavy hit from Jack Goff on Lap 12 left Chris spinning into the gravel going down into the Craner Curves. Meanwhile Josh had a great race, making up 16 places from 24th to finish in 8th place.

The reverse grid in Race 3 meant Josh started from 3rd on the grid. He dropped a place at the start but fought his way back inside the top three, passing Jake Hill to secure the final podium place of the day, and a second Independent Drivers’ win for the team. Chris managed to make up 14 places from 25th to 11th, adding to the team’s points haul for the weekend.

Josh was optimistic about the team’s overall performance after the race:

“If our bad weekends can end up like today and we can still come away with the podium then I can’t complain too much,” he said. “It’s mega to have fought back in the way that we have, and to finish up with third in the final race.”

Meanwhile team mate Chris lamented on the weekend that could have been.

“An Indy win in race one was a solid start, but race two turned out to be a complete right off after contact that wasn’t needed, and it meant race three became a recovery drive. While it’s good to have got to eleventh from where I started, I should have been right up there fighting for the podium with Josh.”

So at the end of Round 2 at Donnington, BTC Racing are second in the Teams’ Championship, just a single point behind the BMW works team, and the leading Independent Team. Josh is 2nd in the Drivers’ Championship and 3rd in the Independents Trophy, whilst Chris is further back in 17th in in the Drivers’ Championship and 8th in the Independents Trophy.

We’ll join BTC Racing again on the 18th and 19th of May when the BTCC heads to Thruxton for Round 3 of what is shaping up to be a very exciting season for the guys in grey and pink.