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ROUND 3 & 7: THRUXTON
ROUND 3 & 7: THRUXTON
Tractors, tanks and fast cars, it’s Salisbury Plain
ow, BTCC aside, this is a land which I Dan Cammish:
am very familiar with but I won’t
Nindulge you all with that one. Not “Race one was a brilliant result for the entire
when this circuit proved so successful for team. To get a double podium is a huge
Matt and Dan last year. and what’s more, we reward for everybody’s efforts in making the
are going there twice during 2019. Honda Civic Type R such a competitive
machine. It was a great qualifying for me and
Now, for those of us that drive to the circuit to turn that into my second podium finish of
will have a fair share of frustrations heading the season is very satisfying. Race two didn’t
to the Salisbury Plain Circuit but worry not, go entirely to plan for me. I had a bad start
the action and spectacle are so well worth it. and ran off-track which put me down the
Take my word for it, I was there last year in order. I did the best in race three and I’m
basking sunshine. happy to have scored points. All in all, it’s
been a good weekend and our pace at
Let’s recap on last years action with Matt and various points proves how much potential
Dan. Firstly, Matt broke the lap record to there is from both myself and the Civic Type
take his first pole of the season and then R. Well done to Matt for his brilliant pole
went on to win the first race, a second position and victory in race one – he has had
podium 3rd and then an eighth spot in the an absolutely mega weekend.”
last race. What a weekend.
Dan did his normal fourth in qualies, (getting
a bit of a habit, these 4ths) and then went on
to finish 3rd in the first race, 26th in the
second and then a very commendable 13th
in the final race.
In my unqualified opinion, I believe this was
the first opportunity for the FK8 to really
stretch it’s legs. It’s a fast circuit with those
long, sweeping corners. The track was
warm, the car was set up like a dream and
the points rolled in. For me, this was the one
race that turned the West Midlands team into
the right direction.
So what did our boys have to say about
Thruxton.
Matt Neal:
“It has been an incredibly special weekend
and I am delighted to have given the Civic
Type R (FK8) its first BTCC victory on ‘home
soil’ at Thruxton. That pole lap is one I am
especially proud of – I was hanging
everything out there – so I am really chuffed
to turn it into a win. I had a fantastic start to
grab the lead through the opening bends What are we in for in 2019? Ideally, we
and from there the Civic Type R’s strengths would love to see a repeat or better
through the quick corners meant no-one especially as we have a second meeting
could get close to me. To get another when the BTCC comes back from it’s mid
podium in race two with that much ballast season break. As we said before, this track
demonstrates just how good the package is is brill for the FK8 but we also have to
and shows we are very much in the title consider 28 other cars. With two meetings
battle this year. I really think the tide is at Thruxton, every car on the circuit is going
changing for us and this is the start of good to be out to monopolise on the points.
things to come.”
For the spectators, I have to say there are so
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