Dave Newsham on the grid at Rockingham

BTCC Rockingham Event 2016

Mark

The British Touring Car Championship enjoyed another exciting weekend with the BTCC Rockingham Event 2016, as the teams moved to the Northamptonshire circuit for the eighth weekend of the season. Saturday was memorable, not just for the action on track but for the meteorological conditions. What had started as a changeable day saw heavy downpours and a darkened sky before winds swept in that caused damage to both hospitality tents and camp sites. However, the track action continued, and in the unseasonably inclement conditions, Gordon Shedden took pole from Mat Jackson and Josh Cook.

Sunday saw a return to good weather, with the early cloud starting to clear through the morning. Gordon Shedden made the most of his pole position and led the race throughout to take the chequered flag, with Mat Jackson remaining in second place. Jason Plato made his way to third place, with Josh Cook in fifth having also been passed by Colin Turkington. Sam Tordoff had impressively made his way to tenth place from starting in 28th, almost at the back of the grid.

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Race two saw Tordoff continue his charge, and was soon in third place. He continued to charge, and passed the two cars in front of him, Andrew Jordan and Mat Jackson, to take the chequered flag. He was joined on the podium by Andrew Jordan – who had his young son with him as he was interviewed after the race causing a few ooos and aaas around the pit lane – and Rob Collard.

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The final race of the weekend saw Aron Smith on pole, and was eventful with the safety car needing three trips onto the circuit, with eight cars not finishing the race. Smith repeated Shedden’s feat from the first race and led to the chequered flag, and Shedden was on the second step of the podium, ahead of Colin Turkington. Smith is the twelfth driver to score a win this season, a record in the 59 years of the BTCC, and with six races still to go in 2016, there is every chance that there could be another new face on the top step. What will Silverstone hold?

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As normal, the weekend saw support events from British Formula Four, the Ginetta GT4 Supercup, Ginetta Juniors and the Clio Cup.

Here are a few photos from the Touring Car action: