Redstone Racing head to Oulton Park looking to continue their strong early season form when the 2012 British Touring Car Championship resumes after its six week break.
“We’re going to Oulton Park in a confident mood,” explains Oly Collins, Team Manager for Redstone Racing. “We’ve made good use of the break – as well as working on the cars back at base we’ve kept busy with a test at Oulton Park, plus half the team went to the Nürburgring for the British GT race and we have a promotional event with Aron on the streets of Dublin.
“All three drivers are well up for the weekend and they’re itching to get back behind the wheel. We all love the circuit – it has been good and bad to us in the past, but fingers crossed we’ll have a really good weekend.”
Leading the way for the team in the Independent Drivers’ Trophy is Mat Jackson. The #4 Redstone Racing driver has secured two victories already in 2012 and is looking to replicate his win from twelve months ago. The Henley-in-Arden driver celebrates his 31st birthday on race day.
“I am looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of my Redstone Racing Focus ST at Oulton Park,” commented Jackson, who is currently fourth in the overall drivers’ Championship.
“It is a circuit that has been very good to me in the past and we are hoping that we can build on our recent success at Thruxton and close the gap to the leaders in the overall title hunt. Although we have had a long break the team has been working tirelessly on the cars to bring us closer to our NGTC-spec rivals.”
Aron Smith, the youngest member of the team has been preparing for a return to the track with a test at the Cheshire circuit before he had to swap the track and lap charts for books as he prepares for his University exams.
Before race day, Smith will demonstrate his #5 Focus ST at Dublin’s Bavaria City Racing event on the day of the jubilee, 3th June.
“Firstly this gap has been too long – I don’t know what to do with myself, I’m just dying to go racing again!” added Smith, who is currently 12th in the Championship.
“The first three rounds flew by but at least the gap has given us a chance to go testing and work on my set-up for Oulton Park. I’ve never felt as confident in the car as I did coming away from the test so fingers crossed it will translate into some good results and pay dividends for the hard work the team has put in.”
Liam Griffin will look to avoid another Thruxton style accident at Oulton Park. Despite plenty of misfortune, the #6 Redstone Racing driver secured his maiden top ten qualifying result last time out at Thruxton and bounced back from the opening race retirement to score points in the final race before the six week break.
“Despite a hefty impact at Thruxton I came away feeling that it had actually been a good weekend,” added Griffin, who is 16th in the Championship.
“I had my best qualifying session in ninth and finished race three in 11th, which is good progress. Oulton Park is probably my favourite track and whilst that didn’t help me in 2011, I’m hoping to build on this year’s improved pace plus bring back more of the consistency that I had at the end of last year. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to get out in the car since the last round but it does create a bit more eagerness that hopefully I can put to good use!”