BUMPER CROWD ENJOYS A FANTASTIC FAMILY DAY OUT
THOUSANDS of visitors flocked to Rockingham to enjoy a fantastic family day out (Sunday, September 20) as the Northamptonshire circuit hosted the penultimate meeting of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship.
The crowd took full advantage of the beautiful autumn sunshine to enjoy a spectacular weekend of racing, with the championship title-battle still very much alive following the visit to Rockingham.
Championship leader Colin Turkington remains on course for his first BTCC title, but is only 13 points ahead of VX Racing’s two times reigning champion Fabrizio Giovanardi and just 28 points ahead of Jason Plato in the Racing Silverline Chevrolet.
The weekend belonged to local hero Stephen Jelley and Turkington’s Team RAC BMW teammate, who claimed his first BTCC win in race one and followed it up with a second victory in a very exciting last race of the day. Plato took the honours in race two.
Former champion Matt Neal had high expectations for this weekend as he notched up the 400th BTCC race start of his career at Rockingham, however the VX Racing driver will remember this milestone for all the wrong reasons as he crashed out of race one after colliding with Team Dynamics Johnny Herbert.
Rockingham Director Charlotte Orton, said: “This has been a fantastic weekend and probably one of the best BTCC meetings we have held at Rockingham. Our aim was to provide a great family day out and we can proudly say we achieved this.
“Visitors were thoroughly entertained both on and off-the-track as we utilized the venue to its full potential. Exciting racing, brilliant stunts and air displays, live music and of course glorious weather – this was just a perfect weekend.”
There was non-stop action on the track in between the three exciting BTCC races from the Formula Renault UK, Ginetta Juniors and Porsche Carrera Cup GB, while Phil Glew wrapped up the 2009 Elf Renault Clio Cup championship for Team Pyro.
Off-the-track, there was extreme motorcycle action to enjoy from the Bolddog Lings Freestyle MotoX display team who entertained the crowd with their daredevil stunts, as well as car-crushing fun provided by the Lightning Monster Truck.
All eyes turned to the skies as a classic British WWII Spitfire and the Airkix Skydiving display team provided two very contrasting air displays. There was also live music from Corby Radio and The Sun’s in-house band 10 Bananas who were joined by some of the more musical BTCC drivers.
The bumper crowd also had a terrific time trying the amazing bungee trampolines, climbing wall and racing simulators. Free face painting and temporary tattoos kept the children amused and everyone had the chance to meet the drivers at the traditional pit lane walkabout and autograph sessions.
