![Daniel Rowbottom, Halfords Racing with Cataclean [Team Dynamics], Honda Civic Type-R FK8 NGTC](https://www.touringcars.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/DanielRowbottom.jpg "Photo: PSP Images")
Team Dynamics’ Daniel Rowbottom took home just one top ten finish from the weekend’s British Touring Car Championship races at Thruxton, after having claimed pole position on Saturday.
Rowbottom had gone into race day with high confidence after posting the fastest time on Saturday, with the Honda Civic having had a strong track record around the high-speed Hampshire circuit.
However, whilst the 33-year-old held the lead away from the lights, he found himself muscled down the order at the complex, with Josh Cook, Jake Hill and then Tom Oliphant all getting by through the first part of the lap.
Although Rowbottom held fourth for the first half of the race, on lap nine he was then passed by both Rory Butcher and Ash Sutton as he ultimately slipped to a sixth-place finish.
Race two proved to be a disaster for Team Dynamics, as Gordon Shedden failed to start with a technical issue, whilst Rowbottom slumped to 15th on the opening lap, before pitting two laps later with an issue himself.
Putting him near the back of the grid for the final race, all Rowbottom could salvage was 14th having made up 12 places – more than any other driver in the race.
After the highs of Saturday, the Kidderminster-born racer admitted that it had been a tough day on Sunday, which has seen him drop to eighth in the drivers’ standings, 76 points from the top of the table.
“What can I say! A frustrating weekend for me after a mega qualifying,” said Rowbottom. “In race one I just got run out a bit wide at the start in Turn 2 and that pushed me back into the pack.
“Then I just got caught in the train and that was it then I couldn’t make further progress.
“In race two I had an electrical gremlin on the start that switched all the electrics off! I reset it but had no power, so then had to pit to get it repaired and that was race over.
“In race three I drove as hard as I could, but it is so difficult to overtake here, although I managed to claim a couple of all important points by finishing 14th.”