WSR Team Principal Dick Bennetts has called on BTCC chiefs to impose further reductions on the turbo-powered cars before the BTCC season resumes after the long mid-season break. Bennetts, whose WSR team runs normally-aspirated BMW 320si’s, still believes the issue needs to be looked at. This is despite the team enjoying their most successful weekend of the season so far after scooping four podium finishes.
“Although we had great results last weekend, all three races were won by turbo powered cars, with their torque and straight line speed advantage making it virtually impossible to pass them,” said Bennetts.
“The reduction in the turbo boost last weekend was very welcome, but we feel it needs to be reduced a bit more to get closer to ‘parity’. Alan Gow has appointed an independent technical committee to go over all the data from the first half of the season during the coming seven week break. We hope they’ll come up with a formula to see great racing between all types of cars in the latter half of the Championship.”
The eBay Motors-backed WSR team enjoyed their strongest weekend in the BTCC this season last time out at Croft, as lead driver Collard finished on the podium in every race whilst his rookie team-mate Nick Foster scored his first-ever BTCC podium. In the final race, Foster allowed Collard into second at the mid-distance to allow him to challenge for the win. When it became clear that a win wasn’t possible for Collard he handed the position back to Foster in a display of good sportsmanship.
“Rob and Nick are great mates, but they’re also both racers,” said Bennetts on the situation. “They had a good battle last time out at Oulton Park and resumed it again at Croft. Unlike some teams in motorsport we’re quite happy for our guys to race each other, although obviously as long as they don’t take each other off!
“In this case Rob came on the radio and told us he felt he was quicker than Nick and would like to try to get past Mat Jackson. We relayed this to Nick who then let Rob through. Although Rob had a couple of goes, he couldn’t get past Mat, and waved yellows at the final bend meant he couldn’t do it on the last lap. Coming onto the finish straight he very sportingly gave Nick back the place.”