Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit, one of the biggest tests of driver skill and commitment, hosts the eagerly awaited final three races of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season next weekend, 1st/2nd October, where Handy Motorsport aims for a glittering finish to 2016.
Taking its second podium of the year last weekend at Silverstone with star driver Rob Austin, the Swindon squad is determined to round-off an excellent second half of the season with another bid for trophies at the renowned former Formula One venue in Kent.
Since unlocking the sort of pace everyone at the team knew was there to be unleashed from the No.11 Toyota Avensis, when Austin brilliantly secured the squad’s maiden BTCC podium and first ever Independents Trophy victory at Snetterton in July, the ever-improving squad has gone from strength to strength.
Even with one or two unfortunate glitches along the way, such as the punctures sustained in rounds 26 and 27 last time out at Silverstone which prevented a potential double podium bid, the popular entrant has been able to mount a strong challenge in the Independents Trophy standings.
Ahead of the Brands Hatch finale, Austin holds fifth position in the Independents driver battle while Handy Motorsport is seventh in the Team Trophy – the latter an immensely closely fought affair with a mere 12 points covering the squads placed fourth to eighth.
Of the Independents outfits fighting it out over a coveted top four finish, only Handy Motorsport is a single car entrant which makes the team’s achievements thus far all the more notable in only its third year of action in the UK’s biggest and most popular motor racing championship.
“It’s hard to believe we’re almost at the end of our third season in the BTCC, but Brands Hatch can’t come soon enough”, said Handy team principal Simon Belcher, “There have been quite a few ups and downs this year, but on the whole it’s been a fantastic season for Handy Motorsport.
“We’ve definitely come of age as a team this year, with Rob coming onboard we’ve taken that next step and two podiums up to now confirms how far we’ve come. Every weekend in the BTCC is a huge challenge, there are so many quick drivers and experienced teams, but we’re confident we can be up there again at Brands and enjoy a strong finish to the season – we’re aiming for the podium.”
Austin’s arrival at Handy Motorsport this year, his first BTCC season driving a front-wheel drive car after several years of rear-wheel drive action for his own Rob Austin Racing outfit, has really helped hoist the team onto a new level.
Scoring Indpendents Trophy points in 22 of the 27 races contested so far, Austin has also been a points finisher in the outright BTCC title battle on 19 occasions – the highlights, of course, being the podium results at Snetterton and Silverstone.
Track action at Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit will begin with the usual pair of free practice sessions on Saturday, 1st October, ahead of qualifying at 15.40. On Sunday, 2nd October, round 28 will start at 11.30, round 29 will begin at 14.20 and round 30 will follow at approximately 17.10. Live television coverage will feature on ITV4 with qualifying and all three encounters also streamed live online at www.itv.com/btcc
2016 BTCC Drivers Championship Standings:15th Rob Austin, 110pts
2016 Independents Trophy Standings:5th Rob Austin, 243pts
2016 HiQ Teams Championship Standings:9th Handy Motorsport, 117pts
2016 Independents Team Trophy Standings:7th Handy Motorsport, 262pts
