The 2016 British Touring Car Championship has no obvious pace-setter ? that is the one firm conclusion to emerge from a frantic weekend’s action at Thruxton.
Thruxton’s unique nature produced severe problems for the BTCC field. Photo: Ebrey/BTCC
The Hampshire circuit always produces a dramatic storyline, thanks to its particular format ? it has an abrasive surface, it is virtually all curved, and the fastest track on the BTCC calendar. Therefore tyres take a pounding and there is a very good reason why the soft-compound Dunlop rubber normally mandatory for one of the three races per meeting is not taken to Thruxton.
This year, however, two extra elements were added – new RML chassis components which had not been tested at the circuit, and hot weather, to an unseasonal level that saw track temperatures peak at 39 degrees centigrade. With hindsight it’s perhaps little surprise that the tyres cried enough ? with just 10 of the 16 scheduled laps of race one complete, the punctures started coming, four in one lap. The last hit Matt Neal’s Honda, as it arrived at the chicane. On the wrong side of the track and trying to get to the pits, the Civic was run into by Josh Cook’s MG. Two more cars were drawn in, the second Halfords Honda of Gordon Shedden being damaged at both ends, and with wrecked cars all over the startline (plus an ill-advised rant at Cook by Neal), a red flag was the only option.
In the event, none of the three races ran to the...