BTCC: Strong sixth in Knockhill BTCC qualifying for Austin‏

Rob Austin Press Release

Rob Austin was an excellent sixth fastest outright in Dunlop British Touring Car qualifying at Fife’s Knockhill circuit this afternoon although team-mate Hunter Abbott was a frustrated 21st, albeit just seven tenths of a second away from the pole position time.

Rob was in the top ten throughout in his Exocet AlcoSense Audi A4. But with effectively his final lap of the session he produced a lap time of 51.979 seconds – his fastest ever around the twisting 1.2-mile circuit – to give himself a third row starting position on the grid for the first of tomorrow’s three races.

He said: “I’m very happy with that and I don’t believe it was the best lap I could have done either. We’ve opted to run the soft compound tyre in race one which could be very good for us if it stays dry as it’s a driver’s fastest lap in race one that decides their starting position for the race two grid.

“We’ve also found in the two earlier free practice sessions we’re able to turn in consistently fast laps so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

Hunter, who is on stand-by to fly back home to Maidenhead in case expectant wife Susie goes into labour, added: “That was a frustrating session for me for a number of reasons and when I was perhaps on for my absolute best another car came out of the pit lane and delayed me.

“Also my best lap on the timesheets is 52.437s but we maybe need to look at some data as our best time was disallowed for exceeding track limits – just so we know for certain that the correct lap has been disallowed. Particularly because the times are so close – it could make the difference between P21 or P15. As for tomorrow we know we have excellent pace over a long distance with the tyres so we’ve got everything to fight for.”

Photo credit: Rob Austin Racing

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PHOTOS: Audi BTCC teams at Snetterton

A selection of great photos taken by our friend Phil Laughton from last weekend's BTCC round of Snetterton. Three Audi NGTC races cars took part in the event, two Audi A4 from Rob Austin Racing and one Audi S3 from AmD Tuning.

Photo credit: Phil Laughton Photography

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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

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BTCC: Positive results for Rob Austin Racing in Snetterton touring car races

Rob Austin Racing Press Release

Rob Austin Racing exceeded expectations with strong points finishes in today’s Dunlop British Touring Car races at Norfolk’s Snetterton circuit – a venue at which it has previously struggled for results with its Audi A4s.

Rob Austin raced to ninth and eighth place finishes in his Exocet AlcoSense Audi in races two and three. There was also a points finish for team-mate Hunter Abbott with 12th in race two – and it could have been more had he not been spun out of contention in race three.

Rob’s results owed much to a strategic call in race one after problems in Saturday’s qualifying session – later traced to a broken suspension component – had left him back in 21st on the grid.

He commented: “We had nothing to lose from that far back so took the strategic decision to start from the pit lane, some time after the rest had gone – that gave us a clear track and I was able to concentrate on a fast lap which decides the race two grid. P13 was a good return…

“From P13 race two came to us with ninth although I have to admit we rode our luck a bit in the opening laps – some of the driving out there was crazy today. P9 on the grid for race three became P8 at the end and I’m really pleased with my driving in that race – we don’t have the fastest car here so I put everything into turning in precise, consistent lap times which payed off as those behind were getting close at the end.

“Snetterton has not been kind to us in the past but this shows how we have evolved as a team over the past 12 months and how we’ve progressed the cars. I’m really pleased with my day and of course Knockhill – one of our best circuits – is next up. I’m really looking forward to that one.”

Hunter is also leaving Snetterton on a high despite the results across the three races masking his true form.

He said: “It’s actually been a positive weekend when you drill down and take a look at it – I was quick straight away in first free practice on Saturday and to qualify 13th fastest outright, well within a second of pole, was very pleasing – that’s a gain of 14 places and more than two seconds compared to what I got out of the car here 12 months ago!

“Race one, hands up… I made an error with a quick spin and it dropped me out of the points. Race two we had a small problem with the turbo which took away some straight line speed but, still, 12th place was much more reflective of our pace this weekend. Race three I was running P11 and am confident a top ten was on only for Collard to misjudge things and spin me off the track. Up until that point we were mixing it with BMWs and Hondas…

“Snetterton is always a great barometer for teams to really gauge the progress they’ve made and it’s clear, by the significant increase in our pace this weekend on a circuit which has never been the best for us, that all the hard work is paying off.”

Photo credit: Rob Austin Racing

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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

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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

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BTCC: Rotek Racing Audi S3 Sedan on Forza Motorsport 6

By Tarek Ramchani

Great news for Forza Motorsport lovers. One the best looking cars in the British Touring Car Championship has been included into the game.

The car is the Audi S3 Sedan touring car. It was Rotek Racing who debuted the Audi NGTC machine last year in the demanding BTCC. The S3 Sedan racer is returining this year via AmD Tuning and driver Nicolas Hamilton.

Forza Motorsport 6 will available on Xbox One on September 15th in North America and September 17th in Europe.

Photo credit: Forza Motorsport

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BTCC: The 2016 British Touring Car Championship calendar is out

BTCC Press Release

Series organiser TOCA has today (27 July) confirmed its calendar of events for the 2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

The highly successful consistency of its current format and order of ten events will continue for a fifth successive season, with Brands Hatch again bookending next year’s schedule.

The Indy Circuit layout will kick off proceedings in early April before Britain’s biggest series goes on to visit Donington Park, Thruxton, Oulton Park and Croft. Action will recommence at Snetterton following the traditional summer break, which will be followed by the series’ annual pilgrimage to Knockhill in Scotland. A Northamptonshire double bill at Rockingham and Silverstone are next on the agenda, ahead of the season finale on the legendary Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit in early October.

The calendar will continue to comprise of 30 races across ten events, with three races of equal distance taking place on each scheduled weekend. The location and date for the annual Season Launch will be confirmed in the coming months.

The BTCC and its support series appears at all of the country’s major motor sport venues, providing a geographical spread which ensures that literally hundreds of thousands of fans can catch Britain’s biggest motor-racing package throughout the season.

Trackside and TV audiences for the BTCC have continued to grow year-on-year over the last decade with 2015 having already enjoyed huge attendances during the first half of the season. Each venue permits free admission for children – some for up to 16-year-olds – to its BTCC event, further broadening the championship’s appeal among family audiences and the next generation of fans.

ITV4 will continue to broadcast every race weekend live, free-to-air and in high definition in 2016, as well as live streaming via the ITV website. Regular highlights programmes will also be screened on both ITV and ITV4 following each event.

2016 BTCC Calendar:

1,2,3, Sat 2/Sun 3 April, Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent
4,5,6, Sat 16/Sun 17 April, Donington Park, Leicestershire
7,8,9, Sat 7/Sun 8 May, Thruxton, Hampshire
10,11,12, Sat 4/Sun 5 June, Oulton Park (Island), Cheshire
13,14,15, Sat 18/Sun 19 June, Croft, North Yorkshire
16,17,18, Sat 30/Sun 31 July, Snetterton, Norfolk
19,20,21, Sat 13/Sun 14 August, Knockhill, Fife
22,23,24, Sat 27/Sun 28 August, Rockingham, Northamptonshire
25,26,27, Sat 17/Sun 18 September, Silverstone, Northamptonshire
28,29,30, Sat 1/Sun 2 October, Brands Hatch (Grand Prix), Kent

Photo credit: BTCC

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BTCC: Mixed fortunes for RAR duo Austin & Abbott in Croft's races‏

Rob Austin Racing Press Release

Rob Austin Racing achieved three points finishes and a best result of seventh in Sunday’s Dunlop British Touring Car Championship races at Croft but the Worcestershire team will be grateful for the mid-season break after both its Exocet AlcoSense Audis – driven by Rob Austin and Hunter Abbott – again sustained considerable damage thanks to some rough on-track tactics from rivals.

After qualifying a season’s best seventh fastest on Saturday Rob chose race one of three to run Dunlop’s soft compound tyre. While its performance – as expected on the abrasive Croft track surface – eventually fell away it was a gamble that did pay dividends as it enabled him to set the race’s seventh fastest lap time early on to give him seventh on the starting grid for race two.

Holding on to the leading train of cars he held this position to the finish – briefly enjoying a fine battle with Gordon Shedden’s Honda for sixth – and for race three he would again start seventh.

“That’s when it all went wrong,” said Rob. “I felt comfortable in that position early on and knew a lot of the others now had to run the soft tyre. The race I felt was going to come to us but then, for the second meeting in a row, people simply started driving into my car.

“The second hit up the back sent me into another car so we had to retire with heavy front and rear-end damage. It’s utterly needless. I had a perfectly good hard but fair battle with Shedden – really enjoyable in fact – but then you get some drivers who just don’t seem to know how to do it. Not impressed really as you expect better at this level.”

Hunter’s car also suffered considerable rear-end damage in race three when he was nursing his soft compound tyres. “It’s frustrating because it happened right near the end when I was on for a point," said Hunter. "Instead that point went to the driver who smashed into the back of me and then very nearly sent me into the barriers.

“But there are some positives to take from the weekend. OK, race one I had a typical touring car rub with another driver and came off second best with a quick spin but still fought back to only just finish just outside the points . More importantly I set the ninth fastest lap time to give me P9 for the race two grid – my best starting position in the BTCC.

“Race two was very hard fought with a group of us together. Andrew Jordan managed to squeeze past me which cost me momentum and a couple more were able to come by as well. Twelfth place in the end was still promising but without that one moment I felt I could have had P7. Again the pace was good.”

Both RAR Audis will now be transported back to base in Pershore where they will undergo full rebuilds and further developments before the BTCC season resumes with its next three races at Snetterton, Norfolk on the weekend of Sat 8/Sun 9 August.

Photo credit: Rob Austin Racing

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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

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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

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PHOTOS: Nicolas Hamilton tested AmD Tuning Audi S3 at Donington Park

Nicloas Hamilton had a second and successful test with the AmD Tuning Audi S3 Sedan racer last week at Donington Park. Lewis Hamiton's brother will take part in selected events in British Touring Car Championship in the second half of the season.

Here is a selection of great photos taken by our friend Phil Laughton.

Photo credit: Phil Laughton Photography

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