BTCC: Improvements for Nicolas Hamilton at Snetterton with AmD Tuning Audi S3

By Tarek Ramchani

Nicolas Hamilton had a positive weekend at Snetterton in the demanding British Touring Car Championship. Behind the wheel of the Audi S3 Sedan from team AmD Tuning he performed well in his second appearance in the BTCC.

Nicolas Hamilton started the Snetteron weekend with good performances in the two practice sessions on Saturday. He was twenty-second in the first session and twenty-fifth in the second one. Later he qualified in twenty-sixth place overall.

On race day Nicolas Hamilton had a very unlucky opening race. He crashed with his Audi S3 and was forced to retire with 3 laps to go. A lot of work for the AmD Tuning squad who was able to repair the car in time for the second race of the day.

The Audi driver bounced back very well in race 2. Lewis Hamiton brother ended the 12-lap event in a very strong sixteenth place. His best result ever in the premier Britih motorsport series.

Nicolas Hamilton concluded the Snetterton weekend in twenty-second place in the third and final race of the day.

Credits to the driver who is batteling very well against the BTCC regulars and to the AmD Tuning crew who prepared a very competitve Audi S3.

Photo credit: BTCC

Read More

BTCC: Ups and downs for the Audi drivers in Snetterton qualifying

By Tarek Ramchani

A sunny Snetterton circuit played host to a thrilling British Touring Car Championship qualifying session this afternoon. Three Audi cars took part in the event with some ups and down.

Best ranked Audi driver was Hunter Abbot. Behind the wheel of the #54 Audi A4 from Rob Austin Racing he qualified in the first half of the table in a promising thirteenth place. He set a personal best time of 1:56.788, just 0.741 behind the fastest time overall in the session.

His team-mate Rob Austin had a harder qualifying session. Driving the #101 Audi A4, he was twenty-first overall with a personal best time of 1:57.973. The Rob Austin Racing team owner will be eager to bounce back on race day.

Nicolas Hamiton made some improvements with the #28 Audi S3 Sedan. The AmD Tuning driver qualified in a positive twenty-sixth place and set a personal best time of 1:59.623. This only Nicolas Hamiton's second appearance in the demanding BTCC.

Up ahead it was an all Volkswagen affair. Team BMR Volkswagen Passat CCs locked all three top places. Pole position went to the reining champion Coling Turkington ahead of his team-mates Aaron Smith in second and Jason Plato in third.

The three BTCC races are set for Sunday. We wish the best of luck to the two Audi teams and their drivers.

Photo credit: BTCC

Read More

BTCC: Three Audi NGTC racers ready for Snetterton

By Tarek Ramchani

The long summer breaking in British Touring Car Championship is about to end. The premier auto racing series in the UK will be heading to the challenging Snetterton circuit this weekend. Three Audi NGTC race cars will enter the event coming from two different teams, Rob Austin Racing and AmD Tuning.

Rob Austin Racing will field their two Audis. Team owner Rob Austin will be behind the wheel of the #101 Audi A4. He will target strong performances and big points after some ups and downs in the first half of the season.

His team-mate Hunter Abbott will drive the #54 Audi A4. Same as Rob Austin, Hunter Abbott will be eager to shine at Snetterton. He performed well in many events but faced a lot of bad luck as well.

The third Audi entry is from the AmD Tuning squad. The #28 Audi S3 Sedan will be driven by Nicolas Hamilton who had a positive debut in the BTCC last time out at Croft. At Snetteron Nicolas Hamilton will try to improve and collect his first points in one of the most challenging touring car series worldwide.

The BTCC action at Snetterton will start on Saturday with two practice sessions and the qualifying one. The three 12-lap races will be held on Sunday.

Photo credit: Rob Austin Racing / AmD Tuning

Read More

BTCC: Rob Austin Racing Audi drivers performed well in Croft qualifying

By Tarek Ramchani

The British Touring Car Championship is at Croft this weekend, round 5 of the 2015 season. Three Audi NGTC cars are entering the event and they performed well in today's qualifying session.

Rob Austin Racing drivers had their best qualifying so far this season. Team owner Rob Austin qualified in a strong seventh place behind the wheel of "Sherman" #101 Audi A4. 1:24.582 was the best personal best time set by Rob Austin.

Team-mate Hunter Abbott was fast too with "Panzer" #54 Audi A4. He qualified in the middle of the pack in fifteenth place overall and set a personal best of 1:25.247.

Both Rob Austin and Hunter Abbott will try to improve on race day and score big points against some of the best drivers in the UK.

The BTCC is having a new face this weekend at Croft, Nicolas Hamiton. Lewis Hamitlon's  brother is driving the #28 Audi S3 Sedan from AmD Tuning. It was his first ever qualifying session in British Touring Cars, he ended in twenty-ninth place overall with a personal best of 1:28.026. Nicolas Hamilton will be eager to bounce back in the three races.

Up ahead it was an all BMW front row. Sam Tordoff took pole position with the #7 BMW 125i from West Surrey Racing ahead of team-mate Andy Priaulx with the #111 car. Third place went to Gordon Shedden with the factory #52 Honda Civic Type-R from Honda Yuasa Racing.

Croft Qualifying Results.

The three BTCC races are set for Sunday.

Photo credit: BTCC / Rob Austin Racing

Read More

BTCC: Three Audi NGTC cars ready for Croft round 5

By Tarek Ramchani

It's halfway mark in the 2015 British Touring Car Championship. The beautiful and challenging Croft circuit will play host to the fifth round of the season.

Three Audi NGTC cars will enter the event coming from Rob Austin Racing and AmD Tuning. The latter will feature a new face in BTCC field.

Rob Austin Racing will field their two regular Audi A4 cars under The #101 car will be driven by team owner Rob Austin. He is fourteenth in the overall drivers' standing with 39 points.

His team-mate Hunter Abbot will be behind the wheel of the sister #54 Audi A4. He is ninteenth in the drivers' standing with a total of 15 points.

Both Rob Austin and Hunter Abbott will be eager to fight for the top spots and score big pointsl at Croft. Both driver had some ups and downs in the four first rounds (Brands Hatch, Donington Park, Thruxton and Oulton Park).

The third Audi entry is a new one in the BTCC this season. Nicolas Hamilton - Lewis Hamitlon brother - will compete for the first time in the demanding Touring Car series. He will drive the #28 Audi S3 Sedan from AmD Tuning. Nicolas Hamiton had two successful tests with the car and will look the perform well in a very demanding field.

BTCC action at Croft will start on Saturday with two practice sessions followed by the qualifying one. All the three races are set for Sunday.

Photo credit: BTCC / Phil Laughton Photography

Read More

BTCC: Nicolas Hamilton tested AmD Tuning Audi S3 at Brands Hatch

BTCC Press Release

Nicolas Hamilton made his BTCC test debut today (22 May), completing some solid mileage at an often sun-baked Brands Hatch.

Driving his Monster-backed AmD Audi S3 Hamilton clocked a number of trouble-free laps throughout the day as he focused on acclimatising himself to NGTC machinery. The BTCC rookie had a few minor off-track excursions during the day, including an incident where he was tapped into a spin by another car, but overall he enjoyed an extremely successful test bow in perfect conditions.

Hamilton approached the day’s challenges with supreme professionalism and showed steady improvement throughout, much to the satisfaction of the man himself and his team.

“Today was all about getting myself used to the car,” said Nic. “It’s nothing like anything I’ve driven before so it’s a steep learning curve. I’m just delighted to have been out there as it’s something I’ve been looking forward to for a very long time. Now we can focus on making progress ahead of our first race weekend.”

The younger brother of Formula 1 World Champion Lewis made the headlines when announcing he would be contesting a half-season campaign in the 2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, becoming the series’ first ever disabled driver. His competitive debut will take place at Croft at the end of June with today marking a significant milestone in preparation ahead of that weekend.

“It’s been the kind of day you would expect and everything has pretty much gone to plan,” he continued. “We’ve been running on old tyres and not overly focused on set-up as the whole day has really been based around making myself familiar with new surroundings.

“We’re hoping to have another three or four test days before my first race weekend and I’m looking forward to joining the action at Croft. I’m not putting too much pressure on myself or setting any targets at this stage but I’m just really looking forward to the challenge.”

Team Principal Shaun Hollamby was pleased with Hamilton’s progress and that of his AmDTuning.com team which has undertaken the essential modifications to the stunning looking machine. Hamilton – who suffers from Cerebral Palsy – has required significant changes to the pedal set-up in his car while his clutch his hand controlled from the steering wheel via a paddle shift.

“Everyone has worked really hard to get to this point,” said Hollamby. “Team Manager Rob Tickner and the boys have done a great job and we’re really pleased with how Nic has approached his first day behind the wheel. We’ll gradually up the ante and I’m sure we’ll be ready for Croft.”

Part of that effort over the next few weeks also includes the rebuilding of Mike Bushell’s Ford Focus, which was involved in a hefty shunt at Thruxton last time out. The reigning Clio Cup champion was also on hand to oversee Hamilton’s maiden run as he awaits medical clearance to resume his own campaign at Oulton Park next month.

It’s set to be an extremely busy period for everyone involved in the Thurrock-based squad with further test dates for Hamilton already scheduled at Donington Park and Snetterton.

Photo credit: AmD Tuning

Read More

PHOTOS: AmD Tuning Audi S3 in BTCC media day at Donington Park

Fresh new photos from AmD Tuning featuring their Audi S3 Sedan in British Touring Car Championship. The car was on display at Donington Park weeks ago ahead of the 2015 BTCC season.

The car will be driven by Nicolas Hamilton in the second part of the 2015 season. The S3 looks gorgeous with its all black Monster Engery livery.

Photo credit: AmD Tuning

Read More

BTCC: Nicolas Hamilton confirms 2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship Programme with AmD Tuning Audi S3

Nicolas Hamilton Press Release

Tuesday 10th March, 2015: UK racing driver Nicolas Hamilton will become the first disabled competitor to participate in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. The 22 year old, who lives with the neurological condition Cerebral Palsy, will enter five race weekends of the 2015 BTCC season, competing in an Audi S3 NGTC with AmD Tuning.

Nicolas will begin his 2015 race programme at Croft circuit on 27th – 28th June, before continuing his season at Snetterton, Rockingham, Silverstone then concluding at Brands Hatch, the final round of the Championship.

“I am incredibly excited to be racing in BTCC with AmD Tuning this year. BTCC is the top national motorsport series here in the UK and having the opportunity to race at that level is the biggest challenge I’ve taken on in my career to date,” said Nicolas Hamilton. “I’m coming into the Championship with a lot to learn and my expectations are to develop as a driver as my programme across the season progresses.”

“Whilst I’m aiming to improve as a driver, I’m also hoping to inspire others to strive for their own personal goals, whatever their situation in life. Anyone can ‘Exceed Expectations’ in one way or another and I hope to prove that when I race alongside, not just able-bodied drivers, but the best Touring Car drivers in the UK.”

Shaun Hollamby, Team Principal, AmD Tuning added “We are pleased to announce that Nicolas has joined the AmD Tuning team. BTCC is a fiercely competitive series with hard wheel-to-wheel racing action on track and we have developed Nicolas’s 2015 program to ensure he enters the Championship with a level of preparation. We have a number of test sessions over the coming months, which will enable Nicolas to acclimatise to the car. Having observed Nicolas’s racing in the Renault Clio Cup and the ETCC, we know he is quick learner and a strong competitor, and we’re looking forward to working with him this season.”

Alan Gow, BTCC Series Director, commented "I'm pleased to provide the AmD/Nicolas Hamilton entry with 'guest' status to compete at 5 BTCC events. Although the entry does not hold a TBL (TOCA BTCC Licence) this season and is thus also not eligible for points in the championship, it will provide Nicolas with invaluable experience through competing at the highest level of British motorsport and will hopefully serve as an inspiration to others."

Nicolas concluded: “This is a very special moment for me that would not have been possible without the amazing support from my partners Monster Energy, JET and Whisper Films. I cannot wait to get back in the car and go racing.”

Photo credit: 
AmD Tuning
Nicolas Hamilton website

Read More