BTCC Knockhill 2016

BTCC Knockhill Weekend 2016

Mark

Last weekend saw the British Touring Car Championship head north of the border as the BTCC Knockhill weekend 2016 brought the series and its support races on their annual trip to Scotland. After the excitement of Snetterton, could this be quite so memorable a weekend?

The first race was the 500th BTCC start for Jason Plato, and the qualifying session saw Plato give himself the best chance by putting his car on pole for the race, ahead of Tom Ingram and Sam Tordoff. In the race itself, Plato managed to hold off a charging Jack Goff, with fellow Subaru driver Colin Turkington taking the third step on the podium, making the 500th BTCC race of his career one to remember, with his first win of the 2016 season.

On the grid during the BTCC Knockhill Weekend 2016

Plato started the second race as he had finished the first, and for the first few laps, it was looking like it might be a second win of the weekend. However, Sam Tordoff and Colin Turkington were soon swapping places for second and third, and chasing down the lead. Meanwhile, Matt Neal was making his way through the pack from his eighth place start, and managed to pass Turkington and Goff as they fought each other for position. On the penultimate lap, he passed Plato, who was then also passed by Tordoff, having to make do with the third step on the podium.

BTCC race 2 during the Knockhill Weekend 2016

The second race was full of good close racing and was one of the most exciting of the season so far. The third race saw the clouds that had filled the sky all day start to lift, and the weekend finished with Mat Jackson on the top step of the podium, with Sam Tordoff and Jason Plato joining him.

Jack Sears, the inaugural champion back in 1958 who won the title again in 1963, and after whom the trophy for the season’s rookie drivers is named was remembered with a minutes’ silence, followed by a huge round of applause.

The weekend also included support events from British Formula Four, The Ginetta GT4  Supercup, The Ginetta Juniors, and the Porsches.

Next up for the teams is a trip to Rockingham in two weeks. Meanwhile, here are some photos from the weekend.