Page 25 - SBT 59

Off The Grid
Off The Grid

With BTCC Champion & SBT Patron, Matt Neal

A second visit to Thruxton turns the tide of fortune back to favour
the Team Dynamics campaign. Four podiums which included Dan
Cammish’s incredible win and two incredible third places from the
SBT Patron. The Sandbag Times witnessed the action...

Success returns in abundance for

Team Dynamics at Thruxton

Article: Pablo Snow, SBT Image: Jakob Ebrey

alk about a thriller! I am just getting my breath back from a
very exciting weekend of racing from Hampshire over the
Tweekend.
Before the weekend arrived, there was plenty of talk of rain making
a major appearance, mostly from the Met Office. Thankfully, it
didn’t really materialise, true to Met Office form. At least for the
most part anyway.

Qualifying on Saturday saw Dan on the front of the second row
with Matt just 0.7 seconds off the pace in 17th. Although disap-
pointing for him, still in a good midfield position to launch an
attack.
Dan Cammish
Race one was a cracker. Very early on, second place Jason Plato
picked up a jump start penalty which resulted in Dan moving to My best weekend this year, first, second and fifth. To finish race one in
the second spot which he held until the flag despite numerous P2 with the weight in was a good effort. Race 2 I almost stalled at the
challenges from Adam Morgan. Matt was on fire yet again, moving start and if I had my weekend would have been ruined – shows you
from 17th to 8th in a spectacular drive. need a bit of luck in Touring Cars.

The second race was a little mixed bag as Dan didn’t get away as I battled back to fifth and once the weight came out for race 3 I knew
cleanly as usual and was very quickly mugged back into 5th. Matt we had a good chance. I drove a sensible race, didn’t take too much
drove a world class race getting himself into 4th in classic style be- out of the tyre in the opening laps. It was difficult with the rain at the
fore battling for the third spot with Tom Oliphant. On the final lap, end, but the team kept me cool and calm and we took the win.
Matt set himself up for an attack on the final chicane and nipped in
front to steal third by 0.08 seconds. I was on pole at Knockhill last year. I’ll go there with the car much
heavier than ever before but that won’t stop me giving it a good go.
The final race was nothing short of epic. Dan was second on the
grid behind Rob Collard who was the reverse grid pole draw. The weekend has resulted with Dan in 3rd and Matt in 7th in the
Followed by Oliphant and Matt Neal. Collard held on well to the Drivers Championship standings. Halfords Yuasa now tops the
lead until the heavens opened. Dan took advantage, pulled a great Team championships and Honda in second for the manufacturers.
pass on the outside at Church and took the lead. Matt yet again
passed Oliphant and claimed third spot. Both drivers remaining in We are off to Scotland next for the Knockhill round of the BTCC.
position to the flag despite the rain continuing to lash down. Not the most favourable circuit for our lads but I think, if anything,
this year has proved time and time again that the playing field has
Matt Neal not been so dominant on certain tracks as they have in the past.
Realistically, the title chase for Matt has slipped away for 2019 but
We have had a great day, especially considering how we started after he will still be looking to get as high up as possible. Dan, on the
yesterday’s performance – I’m very relieved. I didn’t get a win but the other hand is very much still in the fight. His consistency of podi-
next best thing – four podiums for us as a team, our best weekend of um finishes this year has set him up well for the final three rounds.
the year so far. Knockhill is a circuit that favours some of our rivals Do catch up with all of the action from the weekend in our BTCC
but we’ll go there in confident mood and see what we can do. supplement, ‘Brits on Tour’. http://bit.ly/BritsOnTour4

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