Snetterton hosted a predictably combative British Touring Car christening for Essex-based driver Martin Byford and as the AmD Milltek Racing.com man heads to Knockhill for his second round in the series he is confident he can build on his first outing.
“I've now had a weekend to get used to the car and to get to know the team a bit more and I'm going to Knockhill trying to unlock more of the potential that I know is in the Golf,” Byford said. “I've raced there quite a lot in the past and it's a circuit I enjoy, and it's also one where I think the Golf will be strong. The car carries speed through the corners well, which is something you need at Knockhill, but you can't afford a mistake as the lap is so short that the smallest of mistakes is going to cost you positions.”
“Looking back at Snetterton now I've had time to really reflect on it, I think it went well as a whole. I know I pushed a bit too hard in qualifying and its shame we were forced to retire in race two with a gear linkage issue, but we made good progress throughout the weekend and I couldn't have asked for much more – apart from a point!”
Byford acquitted himself well around the Norfolk track, the racer two gear linkage problem the biggest setback after heavier than expected tyre degradation during the first race had knocked Byford back in the latter of the race. He recorded a best finish of 14th from his debut weekend.
“We had a few small problems at Snetterton that meant we didn't score points when we probably should have done, but at the same time, there were some things that we discovered that we will now benefit from,” said team manager Shaun Hollamby who is hopeful the team can return to the to-ten form they showed earlier in the year. “I was pleased with how Martin performed in his first weekend and how well he fitted in with the team, and I'm looking forward to seeing how he does at Knockhill, It's a real drivers circuit and he is a good driver.”
Qualifying for the Knockhill round of the British Touring Car Championship take place on Saturday September 3, with the three races the following day shown live on ITV4.
