Monday, June 11, 2012

Will Bratt positive BTCC debut with the Audi A4 at Oulton Park

  Monday, June 11, 2012      
© Pete Mainey www.petemainey.com

By Tarek Ramchani

Oulton Park hosted the third round of the British Touring Car Championship this weekend. The Rob Austin Racing Audi was there but without Rob Austin behind the wheel. The team planned to enter two A4 NGTC but only one showed up for youngster Will Bratt as the second car was damaged at the last round. 

Will Bratt has never raced before in the demanding BTCC. As a rookie racing the ever improving Audi A4 NGTC was a very challenging task. However he did well right from the start in the free practice sessions, with eleventh place as a best result in the first session. Later he was only able to qualify in 18th after car troubles in qualifying. In Sunday's first race, Bratt did even better, battling really hard on track. After a very fought and chaotic 17 laps race he finished in a storming eighth place overall. Quite remarkable for a debut. However Bratt faced very bad luck in Race 2. Starting from eighth, as he finished in race 1, he only managed to do 2 laps. A broken steering sent the #14 A4 NGTC into the barriers ending Bratt's race. Race 3 was a lot better for the Audi driver. Despite a contact with a Toyota Avensis in the early stages of the race, Will Bratt managed to score a nice eleventh in the end.

Will Bratt’s debut in the demanding BTCC was very positive. Never had he raced in touring car before this weekend, yet he was able to show great pace. The Audi A4 NGTC from Rob Austin Racing again proved it's one of the best cars of the field with much potential, even with a lack of support and funding. Next stop for the BTCC will be at Croft in two weeks time. The team is set to field two cars.