It’s been a relatively quiet week – unless of course you woke up a dormant volcano.
The volcano in question is of course metaphorical, but just when you think these two have stopped getting at each others throats, they manage to find a new way to start an argument.
Read on to see who I’m talking about…
King of The Hill – Colin Turkington
After several months away from competitive racing, the reigning BTCC champion was the only driver to score a double podium in the WTCC this weekend – which considering he was racing for the independent WSR outfit rather than the works BMW squad makes it all the more impressive.
His performaces were so amazing that he has leaped up to second place in the Independents Trophy, despite missing eight races this year. Home advantage certainly paid dividends this weekend.
Proof he could have easily been in the hunt for either the BTCC or WTCC titles had secured a full time campaign for either.
Rising Up – Will Power
Took his fourth win of the season despite having to battle his way back up the field, after dropping to sixth at the start. There’s not much to say about him really – apart from the fact he’s been consistently brilliant this year.
Without Franchitti’s Indy 500 win, and being up on the podium whenever Power has been as well, the Aussie would have been running away with the title by now.
Midfield Mediocrity – Carl Edwards
Why do you do this Carl? Why?
He may have won this weekend, but in the process he re-opened one of NASCAR’s biggest feuds of late; Edwards vs Keselowski.
With just over a lap to go, Keselowski tapped Edwards to try and get past for the lead. A lap later Edwards won by shoving Keselowski into the wall. It was like Atlanta all over again, except this time Keselowski only slid into the barrier rather than somersaulted into it.
He has already served a probation for the Atlanta incident, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he got another for this. His critics have been having too many field days this year, and he needs to turn the mood around fast in the Roush camp.
Feeling Blue – Dani Sordo
His world championship aspirations are as good as over. After his Citroen team successfully retained Ogier, he has essentially become the third driver, likely fulfilling the duties Jesus Puras once did years ago – the tarmac specialist.
You could even say history is repeating itself in a way – Sordo’s co-driver Marc Marti used to co-drive for Puras back in the day.
After four years as a works driver without a win, he only has himself to blame. He should have jumped ship to Ford while he had the chance.
Rock Bottom – HRT
How low can you go? Employing Yamamoto in the first place was already setting them up nicely for their award, but now it appears this was more than just a one off to inject some much needed funding into the team.
Booting Chandhok out for what appears to be several races (judging by the fact Chandhok said he would be back ‘before the end of the season’ rather than ‘by the next race’) will make the team even less credible than it already was – though perhaps they don’t have much credibility to lose anyway.
Don’t be surprised to see Albers and Yamamoto as drivers at HRT next year. Well, that’s if they even get there without running out of either money or dignity beforehand.
