CML and Associated prepare for the BRCA Nationals

(Courtesy of www.cmldistribution.co.uk)

 

This years Schumacher BTCC will provide competitive track time for the country's top touring car drivers as they prepare for this seasons BRCA national. Round one of the BTCC took place at the Cotswold track over the weekend and Team Associated were looking strong

With modified racing now reserved for big international meetings, the UK’s premier class is now 10.5. For a lot of drivers this means a major change, where as for existing 10.5 drivers, they start the season with a bit of an advantage. This has made testing for the major teams much more important this season.

For Associated, Olly Jefferies got off to a flying start and was fastest in round one of qualifying. Trying to improve on his time in round two, Olly made an error which lost him five seconds, and dropped him to fourth. Then the rain came.

In the wet conditions Olly continued to set the pace with his TC6.1 but his error in round two when the track was as its fastest left him down in fourth for the A final.

Second place in the first final, and fourth place in the second final, saw Olly finish just off the podium. Elsewhere the team were performing really well; on his first visit to the Cotswold track this year, Alan Bickerstaff joined Olly in the A final and went on to finish eighth with his Novak powered TC6.1

Zak Smith and Chris Slater, who were working on set-ups and experimenting with tyre preparation and ESC settings, both qualified in the B final. Team driver Ben Putt had a really good day joining Chris and Zak in the B and finishing in fourth place. A great drive from Zak saw him take victory in the B final.

In the C final the top three were all Associated drivers with Chris Gunter taking the win ahead of Kyle Gardner and Mark Hancock. Chris was on superb form all weekend and only missed out a place at the front of the B final after his PT missed a lap on his best run.

Alan Bickerstaff sums up the weekend:
"I think we had a positive start to the outdoor season here; it was our first chance to see the new format for the year ahead with no modified class so drivers combined racing with the 10.5 motors. With this in mind of course I was interested to see how we would all settle in! Our TC6.1’s with Novak/Reedy power felt good from the word off and we had the opportunity to get track time in mixed conditions with standing water, damp and bone dry track conditions ranging though Saturday practice and Sunday’s meeting…April showers eh! We have some work to do, as to be expected this year will be super competitive but confident we have already noted a base tarmac UK setup for the new cars first season outdoor and we will further improve on it with every outing. Roll on the national!"

(Alan Bickerstaff's TC6.1 in flow.)

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