Sport   Motorsport   Touring Cars

British Touring Car Championship
Snetterton (300) - Free Practice - 8/8/15

By MJP Media | 8 August 2015

Andy Priaulx on his birthday and Andrew Jordan top the timing sheets in the free practice sessions at Snetterton as five cars sport new liveries.

Andrew Jordan shines in his new livery MG 888 Racing 6GT
Andrew Jordan shines in his new livery MG 888 Racing 6GT

The Snetterton 300 circuit in Norfolk saw the resumption of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Championship as it started the second half of the 2015 season. Team BMR announced a whole new livery for all four of their cars as they strengthened their relationship with RCIB Insurance. Also sporting a special livery for this weekend only was former champion Andrew Jordan in order to celebrate his new long term sponsorship deal with Pirtek Racing.

In the first of the two outings it was Jason Plato of Team BMR who led for most of the session before birthday boy Andy Priaulx took the fastest lap with only 5 minutes to go with a 1:56.648, 5/100ths of a second quicker. Behind these two were Matt Neal in 3rd, Aron Smith 4th and Jack Goff 5th.

Team BMR show off the new RCIB Insurance livery
Team BMR show off the new RCIB Insurance livery

It was a very close session as just half a second covered the top ten in the dry and warm conditions. There were however a couple of surprises as Sam Tordoff in his JCT600 Racing with GardX BMW 125i M Sport was a lowly 21st, although the team were testing various settings on the car and Rob Austin in the Exocet AlcoSense Audi A4 who was 3rd from last.

The second session was the hottest of the season so far with many cars struggling under braking in the intense heat. The biggest casualty of a lack of braking was Aiden Moffat who lost control of his Laser Tools Racing Chevrolet Cruze coming out of the first corner on a fast lap and having a big impact with the barriers just before the hairpin. The car suffered some structural damage and had a small fire, whilst Aiden was taken to the medical centre for a check up on his wrists and legs.

Andy Priaulx celebrates his birthday in fine style
Andy Priaulx celebrates his birthday in fine style

The times in general were similar to the first session, although Andrew Jordan's leading time was 1/10th of a second faster than Plato's earlier time of this morning. As in the earlier session, the times were once again very close with Andrew Jordan, Colin Turkington and Jason Plato all within 0.04 of a second of each other. Behind them in 4th was Aron Smith, giving the newly liveried team three out of the top four places. Early front-runner Andy Priaulx finished in 5th.

It seems likely that this afternoon's qualifying session will be even hotter as the drivers fight for position on the grid for tomorrow's first race. Qualifying will take place at 3:45 this afternoon and we will bring the details as soon as we have them.

Touring Car content supplied by MJP Media

Olympus Camera

THE INSIDE TRACK WITH POWER MAXED RACING

A regular account of life in the British Touring Car Championship from the team's point of view


Looking forward to Snetterton and the second half of the season Looking forward to Snetterton and the second half of the season
Our next outing in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship is the Norfolk circuit of Snetterton and we thought we'd throw our preview over to Dave and Josh for their thoughts.


Tyre woes cause problems at Croft Circuit Tyre woes cause problems at Croft Circuit
We made the trip to North Yorkshire for the half-way point of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship with some worries and yet still some high hopes.


Professionalism from the team, if not from our adversaries! Professionalism from the team, if not from our adversaries!
A turbulent weekend and more than our fair share of bad luck, but the team still managed to leave the Cheshire circuit with a healthy points haul and the lead in the Jack Sears Trophy for rookie drivers.


A look back at Thruxton - the fastest circuit on the calendar A look back at Thruxton - the fastest circuit on the calendar
3rd in the Independent Teams Trophy after Thruxton and living the dream, despite a few bumps along the way.


Donington Park - our best weekend to date Donington Park - our best weekend to date
We came, we saw and we so nearly conquered - our best weekend yet and boy are we pleased!


We're raring to go at Donington Park! We're raring to go at Donington Park!
After a successful meeting at Brands Hatch, Power Maxed Racing looks forward to Donington Park this weekend with further improvements to the cars.

 


TOURING CARS - LATEST NEWS

Race reports and previews from the British Touring Car Championship plus British interests in other international Touring Car series


BTCC - Snetterton (300) - Free Practice - 8/8/15 BTCC - Snetterton (300) - Free Practice - 8/8/15
Andy Priaulx on his birthday and Andrew Jordan top the timing sheets in the free practice sessions at Snetterton as five cars sport new liveries.


BTCC - Snetterton (300) Preview - WIN TICKETS! BTCC - Snetterton (300) Preview - WIN TICKETS!
Following its summer break, the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship roars back into action at Snetterton in Norfolk on August 8th and 9th.


BTCC 2016 Provisional Calendar released BTCC 2016 Provisional Calendar released
The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship has announced its provisional calendar for 2016. The schedule will again consist of 30 races at ten events (three races at each) at the UK's top motor sport venues.


Penalties hang over drivers as the BTCC heads to Snetterton Penalties hang over drivers as the BTCC heads to Snetterton
With half of the 2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship completed, the '3 strikes and you're out' rule could come to haunt several drivers at Norfolk's Snetterton 300 circuit in two weeks' time.


Nicolas Hamilton takes us on an exclusive lap of Croft Circuit Nicolas Hamilton takes us on an exclusive lap of Croft Circuit
AmD Tuning.com's Nicholas Hamilton takes us on a tour of the Croft Circuit during a break in proceedings at the recent Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship meeting where he made his BTCC debut.


British Touring Car Championship - 2015 Mid-Season Report British Touring Car Championship - 2015 Mid-Season Report
With the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship now in its summer break, we take a look back at the first half of the season and the drivers at the top of the championship standings.