Scotland yesterday spectacularly welcomed the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship when leading cars and drivers from Britain ’s biggest motor racing series crossed the Forth Road Bridge en route to their next race meeting at the Knockhill circuit in Fife.
The symbolic crossing signalled the start of Scotland ’s biggest four-wheeled motor sport event of the year – Knockhill’s BTCC meeting this coming Sunday 28 August.
James Pickford, in SEAT’s Toledo Cupra, and Colin Turkington , in Vauxhall’s Astra Sport Hatch, became the first BTCC drivers in history to cross the world famous bridge over the Forth Estuary at the wheel of their BTCC cars. They were followed soon after by Team Halfords Honda Integra driver Dan Eaves and Tom Chilton, in the Synchro Motorsports team’s Honda Civic.
Before the crossing, Pickford also stopped off to pay the bridge’s £1 toll charge.
Pickford, 26 from Macclesfield, said: “I drive on the best circuits in Britain in the BTCC, but this was something very different. It was a great honour and terrific fun.
“The sight of Britain ’s most exciting racing cars crossing such a world famous landmark is sure to get the people of Scotland coming to Knockhill this weekend. It’s going to be fantastic action.”
Turkington, 23 from Portadown and twice a race-winner this season, added: “I’ve driven over the bridge from Edinburgh to Stirling quite a few times when I was studying there. I never thought I’d ever drive across it in a BTCC car. The view was pretty unique and I admit I was tempted to put my foot down and see how fast I could go, although I did my very best to stick to the 50mph speed limit!”
Eaves and Chilton, meanwhile, will be hoping at Knockhill they can add to the seven wins that they have recorded between them so far this season. Eaves, from Moreton-in-Marsh, currently lies third in the standings behind team-mate Matt Neal and Vauxhall’s Yvan Muller.
Chasing him hard in fourth is SEAT’s Jason Plato, but Eaves has already vowed: “I’m confident of winning at Knockhill – it’s a circuit where I always go well. The title is still within my reach so I’m after at least two wins.”
Chilton has been tipped for victory at Knockhill by no less than Scotland ’s former BTCC champion John Cleland who commented: “I can see Chilton sneaking in there and doing the business.”
The BTCC stars will be in race action three times at Knockhill on Sunday, while there will be a further eight races put on by supporting championships from prestige manufacturers BMW, Porsche, Renault and SEAT.
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