Thruxton has announced a record crowd figure of 33,000 for last weekend’s visit to the Hampshire venue of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, with three fascinating and action-packed races being delivered on the 2.4 mile circuit.
The first contest saw Adam Morgan emerge victorious after a red flag curtailed the race five laps prematurely after Matt Neal, walking wounded with a puncture, collided with Josh Cook on the main straight, spinning the MG6 into the hind quarters of Neal’s team-mate Shedden, before Jake Hill hit the rear of Neal’s Type-R. Several drivers including Jeff Smith and Sam Tordoff ran wide in avoidance, completing the melee.
Despite the second and third races being shortened by a twenty-five percent margin to alleviate concerns about tyre wear as the extreme weather conditions made the usually-abrasive Thruxton surface even more challenging, the crowd were still served up two more exciting contests.
Andrew Jordan claimed a first win in more than a year, taking his Pirtek Racing Ford Focus to the top step at the head of a five car train for the lead, with Rob Collard and Morgan rounding out the podium. A clash left defending champion Gordon Shedden out of the final race to finish a frustrating weekend for the Scot, but the last encounter was duly won by Mat Jackson to complete the weekend’s action.
“What a weekend!” enthused Thruxton Group Managing Director, Bill Coombs.
“I’m still trying to catch my breath. The BTCC never fails to put on a show, but even by its own high standards, this was a bit special. I can’t remember a race as exciting as the first one on Sunday, and the fans were treated to a tremendous day’s entertainment.
“Crowd figures were the highest they have been in the modern era, and we were delighted to see so many people pouring through the gates in the morning and leaving at the end of the day with broad smiles across their faces. Better still, there’s plenty more to look forward to here over the coming months, with British Trucks in June and British Superbikes at the end of July – so summer at Thruxton is only just getting started!”
The British Touring Car Championship heads next to Oulton Park in Cheshire for another triple-header on the 4th-5th June.