Handy Motorsport is aiming for another step forward when the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship arrives at Knockhill next weekend, 22nd/23rd August, for the second event with American racer Robb Holland behind the wheel of the squad’s Toyota Avensis. Scotland’s challenging 1.3-mile track, situated in Fife little more than 25 miles from Edinburgh, is a circuit where the 47-year-old has produced strong performances in the past – not least during his second ever race meeting in the BTCC in 2012 when he secured two 14th place finishes.
Holland, who is filling-in for Handy Motorsport’s regular racer, team principal Simon Belcher, for three events, made his team debut a week ago at Snetterton 300 Circuit and impressed on his return to BTCC action for the first time since the penultimate event of the 2014 campaign.
Matching his previous career best of 14th position in the second of the three races at the Norfolk track, in arguably the most competitive touring car field he has experienced, Holland worked well on his first full weekend with the Webb Garden Power Equipment and KÄRCHER-backed team.
While head gasket failure in the final Snetterton contest resulted in an unfortunate retirement, the steps forward made throughout the two days were notable and Handy boss Belcher is looking forward to seeing what may be achievable during the category’s annual trip north of the border.
“Snetterton was a fantastic start to the relationship with Robb, he did a great job all weekend and progressed with every session so we can’t wait for Knockhill now”, said Belcher, “We worked to get the car more and more to his liking and to equal his previous best BTCC finish in only his second race in the Toyota, especially as part of such a quality and competitive grid, really was very positive.
“Obviously, Knockhill is an entirely different circuit to Snetterton – it’s a very short lap, very busy, with a lot of elevation changes, but we know Robb has performed well there in the past. Last year we had a very good build-up to qualifying, but then the driveshaft went at the start of the session, so, for the whole team, we feel we’ve got a lot of unfinished business at Knockhill!”
Next weekend’s race meeting, the seventh event of the BTCC campaign, marks the mid-point of Holland’s three weekend deal with Handy Motorsport as Belcher will return to the driving seat for the Silverstone and Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit rounds later in the year.
Opening free practice for the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship competitors at Knockhill is timetabled to get underway at 09.30 on Saturday, 22nd August, with session two starting at 12.15 and qualifying set to begin at 15.05.
On Sunday, 23rd August, round 19 is scheduled to start at 11.45 with round 20 beginning just after 14.15 and round 21 following at approximately 17.05 – all three encounters will, as ever, be screened live on ITV4 with qualifying and racing also streamed online at www.itv.com/btcc
2015 Dunlop MSA BTCC HiQ Teams Championship (after Rd18): 14th Handy Motorsport, 5pts
2015 Dunlop MSA BTCC Independents Team Trophy (after Rd18): 8th Handy Motorsport, 91pts
