Race Reports

Colin Turkington made a little bit of green history this weekend at Brands Hatch in his EEMS-supported Team RAC MG ZS when he took two third places for the first bio-fuelled podium positions in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. Team RAC had changed to run their two cars on the bio-ethanol blend E85 only at the previous race meeting at Knockhill three weeks ago.

After the first race, Colin said, “I’m delighted to have got the podium and it shows it can be done using green fuel. I had a few steering problems yesterday but it’s good to come back today with the car running strongly.” Not only did he achieve this once, he secured another third place in the second of the three races.

Team RAC team mate Rob Collard finished the races in fifth, seventh and sixth positions respectively. “The car has been strong right from qualifying and also during the latter stages of a race. If we can find the ultimate set-up for an extra bit of pace at the start of a race, then it all looks good for the last meeting at Silverstone."

Summarising on Team RAC's performance, team principal, Dick Bennetts said: “I'm delighted that Team RAC has achieved the first podium for biofuel. We’ve had both cars finish all three races and our aim for Silverstone will be for Team RAC to be back on the top step of the podium.”

Debbie Hewitt, managing director, RAC added: "It has been another successful day for the team. RAC are proud to have achieved the very first podium in a bio-fuelled car. It’s a real testament to our motoring expertise.”

Along with the Tech-Speed and Kartworld single car entries both running on E85 bio-ethanol blend, the final weekend biofuel tally was two podium finishes and eight top ten positions. E85 fuelled cars have scored 17 top ten finishes so far this season in 37 starts on the renewable fuel blend.

Paul O’Neill in the EEMS-supported Thurlby Motors with Tech-Speed Astra Coupé was warmly welcomed back to the Touring Car fold after a three year absence. He has taken over the drive in the car that he used to race as a works Vauxhall driver. His best lap in qualifying was thwarted when the session was stopped to recover a car. From 13th on the grid in the opening race, he brought his E85-fuelled car home in tenth position after some hard driving. “In the second race the car was fantastic, but I just out-braked myself into Druids and ran over the edge of the gravel,” he said after finishing 11th. The third race saw him finish again in 11th position after battling with the works Astra of Gavin Smith. “Our pace got better and better through the weekend, there’s more to come,” said Paul.

Jason Hughes’ Kartworld Racing ex-works MG ZS fuelled with E85 took tenth position in the second race and ninth position in the third race. Kartworld made the change to biofuel at Donington Park in July and Jason has since scored his best BTCC result with fourth at Knockhill, making five top ten biofuel positions this season.

EEMS project consultant, Rob Oldaker added: “It’s been a great day for EEMS for the three teams using E85 bio-fuel with two podiums and nine top-ten finishes today. Clearly with results like this, other teams will be recognising that renewable fuels are totally competitive and show the way to a greater future in motorsport. Our aim is to see more teams and other championships switching to bio-fuels very soon.”