Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher has its sights set on the closing the gap to the championship leaders this coming weekend as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship arrives at Silverstone for the penultimate meeting of the 2018 season.
The Motorbase-run squad heads to the acclaimed ‘Home of British Motor Racing’ track in winning form, straight off the back of Tom Chilton’s race 3 win at Knockhill which propelled the Kent-based squad right back into fighting position for the Independent Teams’ and Independent Drivers’ titles with just 6 races remaining.
13-times-BTCC race winner Chilton is also within mathematical reach of the overall Drivers’ Crown with the Reigate-racer in 6th place overall as the BTCC enters the business end of the season on the National Circuit layout.
Silverstone has been a happy hunting ground for the Motorbase-run Ford Focus in past seasons and after securing its maiden race win last time out in Scotland; all eyes are on this year’s RS model to see if the upgraded machine can snatch a repeat performance this coming weekend.
“Historically Silverstone has suited the Focus in recent years;” commented Team Manager Oly Collins. “We’ve enjoyed some good results here and after our win last time out we’re hungry for more silverware as we near the end of another season.
“The independent title looks set to go down to the wire with a good battle, and we’re in contention for the Teams’ and Drivers’ Titles. Both are very tight and we’re right up there with a very strong chance. We’re also within a shout of the Overall Drivers’ Title with Tom, but we really need some other results to go our way for that to be a possibility. This being the BTCC though, anything can happen so I wouldn’t want to call it just yet.”
“At this stage in the season it’s pretty simple though; we’re looking at the top step. As usual, qualifying will be key, and as tight as ever. With such a short lap it will be very close and critical to get that one lap nailed. As has been shown so many times this year – your race 1 grid place can make or break your whole weekend.”
Speaking ahead of the weekend, Chilton said: “The last time I was at Silverstone in a Ford Focus I won, very much like Knockhill. After taking the win last time at Knockhill I’m hoping that follows through this weekend and we make the top step again. I really need to get another win in the bag to keep my championship alight for the last round.
“It’s so close around there, last year there was just 8 tenths of a second from pole to 32nd which is the closest I’ve ever known in the BTCC. I do think the success ballast will really hurt us in qualifying though. Even if it’s only 3 tenths of a second off, that could mean 15 cars on the grid.
“If we can get into the top 10 in qualifying I’ll be very happy and we can try and work our way through and make the reverse grid work for us again. At Knockhill we went from 17th to 1st in race 3, which shows that anything is possible in the BTCC.”
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