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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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: 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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BTCC: Rob Austin Racing Audi drivers eager to perform well at Oulton Park

By Tarek Ramchani

The British Touring Car Championship is moving to the beautiful Oulton Park circuit this weekend. Rob Austin Racing will take part in the fourth round of the season with their two Audi A4 NGTC cars.

Rob Austin Racing drivers had a frustrating weekend at Thruxton last time out. Team owner Rob Austin and his team-mate Hunter Abbott want to bounce back and fight for the top spots against very strong rivals.

In 2014 Rob Austin performed well at Oulton Park was a able to clinch a great podium with his Audi A4 NGTC. Behind the wheel of Sherman, he will battle to achieve other great results.

"Last year we had three top five finishes including a podium at Oulton Park and whilst we are on a different circuit layout this year I still believe we will have a strong car."

"I need some strong points finishes from Oulton and then I believe we can fight potentially fight for victory at Croft."

Hunter Abbott too is looking forward to a strong weekend at Oulton Park.

"The Exocet AlcoSense Audi has traditionally been strong at Oulton Park. Sherman and Panzer are capable front runners at Oulton and I love the circuit’s old school quirks and ballsy corners – I’m looking forward to getting back there."

BTCC action at Oulton Park will start on Saturday with two practice session and qualifying. The three races will be held on Sunday.

Photo credit: Rob Austin Racing

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BTCC: Though qualifying session for Rob Austin Racing Audi drivers at Thruxton

Rob Austin Racing Press Release

Rob Austin (Evesham) will likely try a radical set-up on his Exocet AlcoSense Audi in tomorrow’s three Dunlop British Touring Car races at Thruxton after another tough qualifying session at the Hampshire circuit in which team-mate Hunter Abbott (Maidenhead) suffered a crash at high speed.

Thruxton has stood out as the bogey circuit for the Rob Austin Racing-prepared Audis since the team first moved into the BTCC in 2011. This time Rob qualified 19th outright while Hunter’s best time before his accident was good enough for an eventual 20th.

“It is frustrating,” reflected Rob. “We’ve tried all sorts with the cars at Thruxton down the years but we’ve never got it working around here, whereas at other circuits of course we’ve always managed to progress and win or fight for podiums and decent points.

“I don’t think we have anything to lose tomorrow from that far back – we’ll try some really different stuff on the car tomorrow and effectively treat the three races as test sessions. If something works out for us then it’ll be a bonus.

“On saying that I’m not losing sight of the fact that our race pace is always stronger than our qualifying pace. We might still get something out of tomorrow…”

Hunter’s accident, exiting the notoriously fast Goodwood bend, came near the end of the half-hour session. He explained: “My left hand wheels just caught the edge of the grass and that was it. I don’t think I really lost any speed before the car went into the barriers – sideways and on my side.

“It’s made quite a mess but I know the team will work flat out to try and fix it all for tomorrow – they’ve certainly proven themselves to be the best in the paddock at fixing cars. I don’t mind admitting that I am starting to feel sore now, particularly on my neck and back. It was a big impact.”

Photo credit: Rob Austin Racing

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BTCC: High speed Thruxton is the next stop for Rob Austin Racing Audi A4s

Rob Austin Racing Press Release

Rob Austin (Evesham) says he’d be “over the moon” with three top ten results for his team at his Dunlop British Touring Car bogey circuit of Thruxton this weekend (Sat 9/Sun 10 May).

Rob and team-mate Hunter Abbott (Maidenhead) arrive at the high-speed Hampshire circuit knowing that technical modifications made to their Exocet AlcoSense Audis during the winter break have improved the cars’ performance.

But strong results at Thruxton have always been harder to come by than at any other circuit for the A4s.
Rob, though, sees a chink of light, saying: “It has been a notoriously bad place for us but – without jinxing myself – I still have quite a good feeling about this weekend.

“Donington a few weeks ago is our other bogey circuit and we went significantly better there than before. So I think we can improve on our previous performances at Thruxton. How far up we can get I don’t know but if we came away with three ‘top tens’ I’d be over the moon.

“Thruxton and Donington for us are about staying out of trouble and collecting what we can before we move onto much better circuits for us at Oulton Park and Croft in June.

“Looking to this weekend, dry weather would make life easier for us. And even though it’s not worked yet for us in touring cars, Thruxton remains my favourite circuit – it has fantastic character and is a great and really well run sporting venue that always pulls in the crowds.”

The Rob Austin Racing team has been hard at work since Donington inside its Pershore workshop – particularly with rebuilding Hunter’s Audi ‘Panzer’ after it suffered heavy damage following contact from another car at the Leicestershire track.

Rob adds: “The shell has undergone quite a repair job and Hunter’s number one mechanic Lee Brant has been up against it putting the car back together in time for Thruxton so a big ‘thank you’ to everyone involved. Both cars – Panzer and Sherman – are perfect again. In fact we’ve got a new race trailer – it’s the best one in the paddock – and Panzer has travelled to Thruxton in it in style!”

Hunter meanwhile has a bit of a tan arriving at Thruxton. He explains: “My wife Susie and I have had a quick break in Nice and we even walked the Monaco Grand Prix circuit which they were preparing for Formula E (this weekend) and the GP itself later in the month. The downhill Loews Hairpin is amazing – I dread to think what might happen if they let the BTCC race through there!

“As for this weekend, Rob is right – it has been the worst circuit for the Audi in the past. But the changes that have been made to the car have made it better through a certain type of corner of which there are quite a few at Thruxton, so I’m going in open-eyed.”

Rob’s and Hunter’s British Touring Car weekend at Thruxton begins with two 40-minute practice sessions on Saturday (10.00am and 12.45pm) followed by qualifying (4.05pm). Sunday’s three big 16-lap races are at 12.10pm, 2.30pm and 5.15pm and all being broadcast live on ITV4.

Photo credit: Rob Austin Racing

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BTCC: Frustration but also hope for Austin and Abbott Audis at Donington‏ Park

Rob Austin Racing Press Release

Rob Austin (Evesham) and Hunter Abbott (Maidenhead) both described their Donington Park British Touring Car race weekend as “frustrating” with a tenth position the best they could manage between them in the three races but there were still signs for optimism heading to the next rounds at Thruxton in Hampshire.

Rob made up three places from his starting grid position to finish tenth in today’s opening race in his Exocet AlcoSense Audi with Hunter 19th. Both chose race two to run the softer option tyre and Hunter was unfortunate not to finish inside the points this time as damage to the rear of his car meant he slid down the order to finish 17th, one place ahead of Rob.

In race three Rob was in the running for a top ten again until the closing stages when another driver barged him off the track into retirement – the same driver who had spun round Hunter at the opening bend. Hunter at least was able to recover to finish 14th and score points.

Rob commented: “It’s been frustrating. To start the day with my best result in the BTCC at Donington was a plus as it showed the gains we’ve made as a team with the Audi, but to end it being driven into by an idiot is not the best feeling. I just do not know what the bloke was thinking and it’s valuable points down the drain for us having shown some genuine pace as well – we set one of the fastest laps of the race.

“Unfortunately in race two we tried something set-up wise with the soft tyre which didn’t work for us. But the big part of the frustration is knowing we’ve gone a lot better than before at one of our bogey tracks and not see the results of that.”

Hunter added: “Frustrating definitely! My car suffered a lot of damage in the first free practice session on Saturday when it was hit from behind by another car and we’ve been playing catch-up ever since. It meant I had to qualify a crocked car which wasn’t properly fixed until today’s races.

“In that second race on the softer tyre I was having a very good run but got hit in the rear again which damaged the rear suspension and which is why I dropped back. Without that I’d have had a much higher starting place on the grid for race three. At least I was able to take a few points from that one but it could have been quite a bit better.”

Both Exocet AlcoSense Audis will now return to the Rob Austin Racing team’s workshops in Pershore, Worcestershire to be prepared for the Dunlop British Touring Car Championship’s next three races at the high-speed Thruxton circuit on the weekend of Sat 9/Sun 10 May.

Photo credit: Rob Austin Racing

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BTCC: Austin, Abbott fully fired up for Sunday races after Saturday scares

Rob Austin Racing Press Release

Rob Austin (Evesham) and Hunter Abbott (Maidenhead) survived substantial dramas to qualify their Exocet AlcoSense Audis 12th and 21st fastest for the first of tomorrow’s three headline Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship races at Leicestershire’s Donington Park.

Rob’s performance – just three tenths of a second away from fourth – is by far the best in qualifying for him around Donington in the BTCC. That’s despite his car ‘Sherman’ ending the session parked at the side of the track with – just yards from the driver’s seat – a hole blown through its transmission tunnel after its propshaft exploded while Rob was flat out in sixth gear.

Hunter’s appearance in qualifying was something of a minor miracle. In the morning’s opening practice session his Audi ‘Panzer’ suffered massive rear-end damage when struck from behind at high speed by a rival’s car. A terrific effort from his mechanics enabled to make it out for qualifying in a far-from-perfect car.

Rob commented: “I am very happy with 12th around here which has always been a bogey circuit for us. For once at Donington I feel we’re properly in the mix going into tomorrow’s three races – and remember it’s always in the races when we are at our strongest. This really shows the huge strides we’ve made in developing the car during the winter break back at base in Pershore. Sure we still need to find that bit more but this is really rewarding.

“The propshaft? Yeah… a big hole. There was no real warning, just a big bang. Yes, it is just a few inches from where I sit but I’m OK so no worries.”

Hunter added: “I can’t thank Jack Goff at all for what he did in practice to my car but I also can’t thank my team enough for getting me on track in qualifying. We just thought there would be no way and what they’ve done is miraculous.

“It ain’t pretty and it’s probably still a bit crooked from the impact it took – the steering wasn’t quite bang-on straight and I had quite a bit of oversteer on turn-in – but I know they will work on the car tonight and it will be as good as it possibly can be for tomorrow’s races. I’m still definitely aiming for decent points in all three.”

Sunday's three BTCC races are part of an eight-hour live broadcast from Donington on ITV4 from 10.30am-6.30pm.

Click on any of the images in this press release to download hi-res versions for editorial use. Top: Rob Austin on a qualifying lap. Bottom Left: Rob Austin waits to go out on track for qualifying. Bottom Right: Mechanics successfully working flat out to fix Hunter Abbott's damaged Audi in time for qualifying.

Photo credit: Rob Austin Racing

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BTCC: Rob Austin Racing determined to beat Donington 'bogey circuit'‏

Rob Austin Racing Press Release

Worcestershire team Rob Austin Racing’s 2015 Dunlop British Touring Car season continues this weekend (Sat 18/Sun 19 April) at Donington Park in Leicestershire and team principal and driver Rob Austin (Evesham) is determined he and team-mate Hunter Abbott (Maidenhead) can crack what has proved to be something of a bogey circuit for the squad in recent years.

Rob and Hunter came away from the season’s opening three races at Brands Hatch with points on the board but both believe there should have been more. They are hopeful the warmer weather that has surfaced in recent days will continue at Donington as this could benefit their rear-wheel-drive Exocet AlcoSense Audi A4s.

“The cold weather really put paid to our chances at Brands,” comments Rob. “We really struggled to get heat into them and also made a wrong decision to run the softer compound tyre in the first race – we should have waited until later in the day.

“I’m hoping the mini heat wave we’re experiencing can keep going until about 6.00pm on Sunday at Donington. Then we’ll at least have a better chance in terms of tyre performance with our car but to capitalise on that we need to make sure we’ve found a good set-up that works around Donington.

“I’ve always gone well at Donington in anything else I’ve raced there but for some reason it’s always worked against the Audi. It’s a similar situation at Thruxton which follows Donington in May. These are two bogey circuits coming up for us therefore – no pressure then on my ace engineer Matt Taylor to deliver the goods!”

Hunter adds: “The heat is on – or at least that’s what we’re hoping! The warmer the weather the better for us, without a doubt. If we can get the Audis working around Donington – and I’m wary of how it isn’t the best circuit on the calendar for us – then we just might be able to show better than we did at Brands Hatch where I don’t believe our results reflected just what we were capable of.

“After dicing with and getting the better of a three-time world touring car champion like Andy Priaulx, it was disappointing to have an eighth place result slip through my fingers with a broken power steering in the closing laps. On saying that I was very pleased with how I raced across all three races at the start of my second season in the BTCC which is like nothing else I’ve done before.

“I’m very geed up for Donington and like Rob definitely hoping to be in or around the top ten in all three races. But like I say we need it hot – scorchio!”

Photo credit: Rob Austin Racing

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BTCC: Strong start and nearly a win for Rob Austin Racing at Brands Hatch

Rob Austin Racing Press Release

Worcestershire team Rob Austin Racing enjoyed its most competitive start to a British Touring Car Championship season yet with drivers Rob Austin (Evesham) and Hunter Abbott (Maidenhead) achieving five out of a possible six points-scoring results at Brands Hatch and Rob also coming close to converting pole position into a race victory…

Thirteenth and 16th in qualifying for Rob and Hunter became 14th and 18th in race one of three when a gamble to run the softer Dunlop race tyre on their Exocet AlcoSense Audi A4s didn’t work out. But in race two, on the harder compound tyre, performance was improved and Rob was able to finish 10th and Hunter 11th.

Rob had been 12th starting the last lap but when Hunter and another driver were delayed in a tangle just in front of him he was able to pass both to take 10th – which became pole position for race three when he picked the number 10 ball in the reversed grid draw.

Live on ITV4, Rob led race three from pole until lap 20 of 27 when he was passed by the manufacturer-backed Honda and MG of Matt Neal and Jack Goff. A botched move by MG driver Andrew Jordan to pass him later around the lap then forced Rob back to an eventual fifth place finish.

Hunter had been looking good for a best-ever eighth only for his car’s power steering to fail in the closing laps and he fell to 10th.

Rob leaves Brands Hatch equal 11th out of 28 drivers in the BTCC’s points table with Hunter 14th. Exocet AlcoSense is sixth in the HiQ Teams Championship. Rob and Hunter are fifth and seventh in the Independent Drivers Championship and Exocet AlcoSense third in the Independent Teams standings.

Rob said: “I’m slightly frustrated without how things have worked out today. The decision to run the soft tyre in race one really wrecked our day but I still managed points in all three races. In that third one of course I wanted the win but a podium would still have been nice – fair play to Neal and Goff; they got me fair and square and if I’m honest I was surprised by how well the Honda looked after its soft tyres. The incident with Jordan… he’s not a dirty driver so I think he just misjudged it and it’s cost us both.

“But this is the best start we’ve had to a BTCC season. We’ve been up there hustling and fighting for good results with both cars and our restructured team behind the scenes has worked together better than ever before. Hunter has been right in the mix which is terrific for him and we’re leaving with two cars very much in tact and raring to go at Donington in two weeks.”

Hunter added: “Once we’d got the soft tyre out of the way in race one we could go on the attack a bit more, but I think Rob was a jammy sod to get that tenth in race two and then end up on pole – it could have been mine!

“Race three… I had the battery warning light come on mid-race and from there started shutting various systems down to try to save it. Three laps to go I felt the power steering start to stiffen a lot and on the last lap it was nearly impossible to keep going. Into the last bend I was still in eighth which would have been my best result, but then it basically seized all together and I’ve no idea how I got it round to the line. It’s built my biceps up nicely. Still I’ve equalled my best result of tenth twice today and I’m not sure if the results have actually reflected just how strong we can be yet.”

Photo credit: Rob Austin Racing

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BTCC: 'Traffic' thwarts Austin & Abbott in Brands Hatch BTCC qualifying‏

Rob Austin Racing Press Release

Rob Austin Racing duo Rob Austin (Evesham) and Hunter Abbott (Maidenhead) both say traffic cost them their chance of qualifying inside the top ten on the grid for the opening race of the new Dunlop British Touring Car season at Brands Hatch tomorrow (Easter Sunday).

Both Exocet AlcoSense Audis – the most striking looking cars on the grid – had shown well in the two earlier practice sessions but Rob and Hunter then found themselves repeatedly held up by slower cars in qualifying and they had to settle for the 13th and 16th fastest times respectively.

Rob (13th) commented: “I’d gone into the session thinking P10 would have been a bad day. OK, we were never going to challenge for pole but I am still really frustrated – both of us could and should have been in the top 10. The traffic early on in particular was really bad and one driver in particular… really special.

“I’d definitely say with a clear lap I’d have been two to three tenths of a second faster which would have put me around P7 or P8. The big positive is the pace of the car over a long run on the same set of tyres – it just keeps getting better and better which bodes very well for our race pace.

“Each driver will also have to be conscious of the fact that it will be your fastest lap time in race one – not the finishing result – that will decide the grid order for race two. Last year here I was one of the top three on race pace so hopefully we can have more of that tomorrow.”

Hunter, just 0.069s adrift of Rob in 16th, added: “The top 10 was definitely on and it was just the traffic that held me back. My best lap was set with traffic and also I had a big sideways moment going left through the Surtees-McLaren section which cost me as well.

“But Rob is right. We’ve seen in practice and even qualifying how strong the Audi is when it comes to using its tyres over a long run. We need to exploit that tomorrow but we both really need the cards to fall for us in the opening laps to enable us to do that.”

All three of tomorrow’s British Touring Car races will be shown live on ITV4 which is on air from Brands Hatch 10.30am-6.30pm.

Photo credit: Rob Austin Racing

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