After a confident start to the weekend which saw Team RAC driver Tom Onslow-Cole on course for a top three grid slot for tomorrow’s round 22 of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, the New Malden driver was disappointed to wind up eighth quickest in today’s qualifying session. The 20 year-old, who set some impressive sector times in this morning’s free practice, looked in good shape to join his team-mate Colin Turkington on the front row, until the Surrey ace was unable to get a clear run when his tyres were at their best.
Coming into the Brands Hatch triple-header after his maiden BTCC win last time out, the reigning Elf Renault Clio Cup Champion was in confident mood heading to his home track. On a track he knows well and on which he’s had varying degrees of success, the BRDC Rising Star made various changes to his BMW 320si but traffic and then rain prevented him from fulfilling his morning promise.
“I got held up early on and then the red flag stopped the session mid-way through and then on my final run, the track was slightly greasy and there was oil at the exit of Druids so I just didn’t manage to string all my quick sectors together on one lap, while the tyres were at their best,” said Tom.
“It’s very disappointing actually after the great start we had this morning. The car was fairly quick straight out of the box but I just didn’t seem to be able to squeeze any more out of it when I needed to. We changed a lot of different things, we changed the set-up on the car but whatever we did the times just didn’t come.
The three races around the 1.2mile Indy circuit will take place tomorrow at 10.50, 13.35 and 15.40 and will all be shown on ITV. ITV4 will show a re-run of race one on it’s 12.30 programme and then go live for race two, before the programme switches to ITV1 for live coverage of the final race, the programme starting at 14.50.
Qualifying positions for Round 22:1. Colin Turkington BMW 320si 49.4462. Darren Turner SEAT Leon 49.4483. Jason Plato SEAT Leon 49.6284. Tom Chilton Vauxhall Vectra 49.6845. Fabrizio Giovanardi Vauxhall Vectra 49.7066. Mat Jackson BMW 320si 49.7398. Tom Onslow-Cole BMW 320si 49.816
Championship positions after 21 rounds: 1 Jason Plato 2092 Fabrizio Giovanardi 195 3 Matt Neal 1544 Gordon Shedden 139 5 Colin Turkington 113 6 Mat Jackson 1117 Tom Chilton 1088 Darren Turner 1079 Mike Jordan 9810 Tom Onslow-Cole 95
