The Rob Austin Racing team was left bemoaning its fortune after last weekend’s British Touring Car Championship event at Donington Park, as the team scored a solitary point between its two drivers.
Team owner Austin had come into the weekend with high hopes at a circuit where he had previously struggled, but his bad luck at the circuit returned as a point for the fastest lap in race one marked the only score for he and his teammate Hunter Abbott.
The Evesham-based driver had qualified in 16th, one place outside of the points, but struggled initially in the changeable conditions that affected race one at the Leicestershire circuit, with Austin diving into the pits after contact with Abbott and switching to dry tyres which no one else had opted to run.
Despite securing the fastest lap in that race, the pit stop cost the Audi driver two laps and he was classified in 29th place. A lowly grid slot for race two came as a consequence and Austin’s progress was thwarted by two incidents, meaning his recovery stretched only as far as 18th. A lighting start in a dry final race of the day looked to bear a top ten finish, but a hit from Speedworks’ Tom Ingram forced Austin into retirement, bringing an early end to a miserable day for the team.
“It’s been a day of despair,” remarked Austin. “We genuinely felt our pace in race trim would have brought three solid points results today but instead this. There has also been some moronic driving out there from some people which has affected both me and Hunter. What happened in the second race was a joke, plus it was a chance of a top 10 gone begging.
“In race 3 I felt I was overtaken when the yellow flags and safety car boards were out which is totally against the rules but even then I reckon we were on for a top eight only to be wiped out. I don’t have anything against the driver in the other car which hit me as he made a genuine error and has apologised but the damage to my car is immense – so much so that the whole steel frame at the rear has been shoved forwards into the rear tyres.
“It means a heap of work needs to be done restoring Sherman for the next rounds at Thruxton. We’ll manage it OK – I have the most dedicated and fantastic mechanics, sponsors and fans of anyone on the grid – and we will come back strong. I am determined of that.”
Austin’s teammate Abbott suffered a similar fate, and was unable to record a second points finish in the series as he retired from the first two races before finishing 24th in the final race.
“In race 1 I was mortified it was Rob’s car I collected but thankfully we both know it wasn’t my doing,” said Abbott. “In race 2 I had a great first lap – up to 19th from 31st! – only for the conditions to catch me out later and I spun into the gravel which was gutting. I think Rob and I could have both been in the top 10 by the end.
“Then just as I was coming to the grid to start race 3 the car’s propshaft broke. The team work that went into fixing it in the pit lane was incredible but by that time I was two laps down when I got into the race.
The rookie was nevertheless encouraged with the running he completed in the car, and hoped to improve his showing as he learns his way around the BTCC.
“This has been my second event with the team and it’s clear that today is simply not representative of where we are in terms of our level of competitiveness. There’s so much more to come from me as well as I learn more and more about the Audi and the racing in the BTCC, plus I am thoroughly enjoying the racing in touring cars. It’s been a tough day but I know there are some great results coming our way as the season progresses.”