BTCC

Final Race Podium Reward For Rob Austin’s Rockingham Work

2 Mins read
Rob Austin, race three (Photo Credit: Chris Gurton Photography)

Rob Austin, race three (Photo Credit: Chris Gurton Photography)

Rob Austin recorded his best British Touring Car result to date chasing James Nash to the checkered flag in the third race of the day at Rockingham.

Austin had started his Steel Seal sponsored Audi A4 from the outside of the front row, taking the lead from pole sitter Rob Collard on the opening lap. However, Nash – driving for Triple Eight Race Engineering – got by at the Deene hairpin on lap four to take the lead, a move Austin admitted was a surprise.

Nash initially pulled out a gap, but as the tyres on his front wheel driver car started to give up, his advantage dwindled and fell back towards the chasing Austin. Though he almost certainly had the pace to beat Nash Austin was unable to make the crucial pass that would have given his a first win in the BTCC.

“Just one more lap was all I needed! It was a really good race with James who drove the really well,” said Austin. “To finally be here, on the podium, is a great reward for everyone in the team who have worked so hard to develop the car, it’s just beautiful to drive now. At the start of the season we were struggling, the cars were very late and we have had to learn an awful lot, so to finish 2nd is a tremendous achievement in year one. We plan to be a serious title challenger next season.”

The first podium was just reward after not only a season of development but also a hard fought day at the Northamptonshire roval for the driver and his Rob Austin Racing team.

Starting the first race from third on the grid Austin looked to challenge eventual race winner Jason Plato for the lead on lap one. However, the lightest of taps to the rear of the rear-wheel-drive Audi from an apologetic Paul O'Neill pitched Austin into a spin that dropped him out of the 20.

The comeback drive that followed moved Austin back into the points in seventh place.

Race two also needed a driver through the packed grid after repairs to damage incurred in the first race meant the team were forced to forfeit their grid slot, instead having to start from the back.

Once more the pace of the full NGTC-spec Audi was on show as Austin drove up to ninth place, which was converted into their front row start in the reverse grid finale to the championships' weekend.

2902 posts

About author
James is our Diet-Coke fuelled writer and has been with TCF pretty much since day 1, he can be found frequenting twitter at @_JBroomhead
Articles
Related posts
BTCC

Ash Sutton regains BTCC Drivers' Championship with rampant race one win at Brands Hatch

2 Mins read
Imperious Ash Sutton took the BTCC Drivers’ title for a fourth time in the first race at Brands Hatch GP finishing off an incredible season.
BTCC

Turkington tops Silverstone reverse grid race with 150th race win for BMW

2 Mins read
Four-time BTCC champion, Colin Turkington may be all but out of the BTCC Drivers’ Championship hunt, but concluded Silverstone with a milestone…
BTCC

Sutton seals mind blowing Silverstone win from 23rd on the grid

2 Mins read
Ash Sutton is at it again in a drive that may have just sealed another BTCC Drivers’ Championship for the imperious NAPA…