After a month long summer break, predictably British Touring Car driver Alex MacDowall can't wait to get back into racing, when the BTCC action restarts at Snetterton on August 6-7.
After a six week break that included driving his BTCC charge at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, working with the BRDC Superstars and a short break in Cyprus the anticipation of returning to racing at the Norfolk track is heightened as it will the series' maiden to visit to the venue's new '300' layout completed over the winter.
“It's always nice to go to a new circuit and to have a fresh challenge so I'm really looking forward to seeing the new Snetterton,” said MacDowall. “By the sound of things it should lend itself well to touring cars with the new infield section so I can't wait to get out there and have a go.”
The opening five weekends of the 2011 have seen consistent results for the Cumbrian driver scoring points in 10 of the 15 races so far. However, the Silverline Chevrolet driver has also had a number of setbacks, including suffering from illness during the Thruxton meeting and an oil leak at the most recent event at Croft which took him out of the second race of the weekend which began with the 20-year-old starting fourth on the grid.
So far in 2011 MacDowall has recorded just one podium finish – at Oulton Park – and hopes to add another when the championship swings into East Anglia, hopeful that the new section of the Snetterton track, which adds five corners and a mile in length, will level the metaphorical playing field between the turbo-charged and normally aspirated machinery – such as MacDowall's Chevrolet Cruze.
Qualifying at Snetterton is due to take place at 4:45pm on August 6. Rounds 16, 17 and 18 of the British Touring Car Championship follow on Sunday with ITV4 broadcasting race day live.
