The BTCC season is almost here after Media Day

After the winter off-season the drivers were keen to get going racing for the 2013 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. The Media Day was held last week at the flowing Donington Park circuit in Leicestershire, just before the last batch of snow arrived, on a cold but dry day.

The day started off with presentation of the drivers to the assembled press with the maximum number of entries (32) registered to compete during the season.

Hampshire is again represented with three drivers – Rob Collard (Eversley) & Nick Foster (Farnborough) driving a new for 2013 NGTC spec BMW 125i M Sport(EbayMotors/WSR) and Daniel Welch (Church Crookham) driving a Proton GEN-2 for Welch Motorsport.

The morning was taken up with car unveilings, group driver and individual portraits and a grid lineup of the cars.

The afternoon was a timed test session with all the drivers keen to get some dry (if cold) track time, with the first round only just over a week away at Brands Hatch in Kent on 30/31 March.

Farnborough’s Nick Foster commented on the morning of Media Day “I have only had one session in wet conditions and so area looking forward to some dry running this afternoon to start to get dialed in" 

Eversley’s Rob Collard was also looking for more track time “I need to get more time getting to know the characteristics of the chassis, though the engine is the same as last years cars. The extra width tyres that the NGTC cars have will definitely help us in the battle with Honda & MG”

Church Crookham’s Daniel Welch commented via Twitter “It was freezing (the BTCC Media Day)!!!! It was good though so looking forward to next weekend now!. I was 11th fastest in the afternoon test session and I'm happy with that. I did not put any new tyres on so more pace to come”

So the talking is finished and the cars will start their Free Practices next Saturday 30th March with the first three races of the season taking place at Brands Hatch on Sunday 31st March 2013.

Please review my Media Day Images


The BTCC season is almost here after Media Day
WiderView Visual Media, Chris Roberts 24 March 2013
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Hampshire Racers battle with the snow for BTCC Qualifying at Brands Hatch