Total Control Racing came away from Brands Hatch thinking about what could of been after securing a podium in the first race of the weekend.
After a solid drive in the fifth race of the year saw Sam Tordoff record another podium place behind Team Pyro’s Dave Newsham spirits were high for the next race. Unfortunately for Tordoff it was to be an early bath after Fulvio Mussi made contact with the TCR driver on the opening lap as he dived up the inside of Paddock Hill, Tordoff would nurse the car around to the pits but frustratingly was unable to rejoin the race, marking his second DNF of the season.
Mike Robinson had a more promising race after moving up from third place to slot behind race leader Newsham in the first lap, Robinson would apply the pressure to the leader over the next lap. As the two leaders entered Hawthorn Bend Newsham ran wide, gifting the TCR driver the opportunity to jump in to the lead in to Westfield.
By lap six Robinson had opened up a gap of 1.5 seconds out front but would drop back to fifth after a slide at Surtees. As the laps counted down it looked like he had done enough to secure fifth place, fighting hard to keep Jack Goff behind him, but as the two entered Clark Curve Robinson slide wide letting Goff through. Fortunately for Robinson Goff would pick up a post-race penalty which would drop him back to sixth, with Robinson credited with fifth place.
Alistair Barclay drove well to keep his nose clean in the tough conditions to finish safely in fourteenth position after a DNF on Saturday.
TCR team principal Lee Brookes said: “Mike did a very good job and really did look like he was going to get his first ever win. Just a slight mistake was all it took though at Surtees and after that he didn’t get back into his rhythm. Sam was absolutely gutted to be hit at the first corner, the officials classed it as a racing incident so we have to accept that. Alistair did well, especially considering the conditions, he’s improving for sure.”
Racing resumes on 5/6 June at Oulton Park with Dave Newsham leading the championship comfortably after six races.
