KENT TEAM TARGETS PODIUM RESULT ON BRANDS HATCH BTCC DEBUT
 A
podium finish is being targeted by Wrotham team Motorbase
Performance when it makes its Dunlop MSA British Touring Car
Championship debut in front of live ITV1 cameras at Brands
Hatch on 9 April.
Team principal Dave Bartum believes a top three finish is
possible, after the team got its hands one of the best cars
in the business - one of last year's title-winning Honda Integras
- for driver Dave Pinkney.
"We've got a great chance to be up there," says
Bartrum. "We're under no illusions - it's going to be
very tough. The BTCC is as big as it gets in UK motor racing,
but Dave has got previous BTCC experience, the Integra is
a proven winner and a lot of people in the team have prepared
front-running BTCC cars in the past.
"I suppose our best opportunity will be the third of
the three races on the Sunday which is going to be live on
ITV1. The grid is the finishing order of race two, but with
the top positions reversed. If we can sneak inside the top
ten in race two then we could be at the front for the start
of race three. I think that's a realistic target and it's
one we have to aim for."
Brands Hatch is the first of ten BTCC race meetings in 2006
that will be contested around the UK and Ireland by Britain's
top teams and drivers chasing the country's most prestigious
motor racing title.
Among the leading teams will be Team Halfords, Vauxhall,
SEAT and Team RAC with their big name drivers such as Matt
Neal, Jason Plato, James Thompson, Fabrizio Giovanardi, Tom
Chilton, Rob Collard and Colin Turkington.
Batrum, though, says his team won't be overcome by the occasion.
He adds: "We're most definitely not here just to make
up the numbers and we want to put on a good show for the local
crowds. Of course we'll learn a few new tricks, but I'm confident
we'll give a good account of ourselves. The plan is to expand
to a two-car BTCC team for 2007 - if we achieve that, then
we'll have really made it."
Crowds at Brands Hatch on 9 April will get to see the BTCC
in race action three times, plus another eight supporting
races from high-profile championships put on by top car manufacturers
BMW, Porsche, Renault and SEAT. The pit lane will also be
opened free of charge to spectators and families to meet the
BTCC drivers and grab give-aways during a special autograph
session.
Admittance for the whole day is free for children aged 12
and under and there is still a chance to buy adult tickets
at discounted prices - booking online at www.brandshatch.co.uk
costs just £20
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