The 2013 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship was one to remember for many of the season’s competitors down its congested grid, which combined experienceand rising stars with a selection of promising rookies to look out for in the future.
After a championship fight that went all the way down to the wire, 2013 saw new winners, new champions and witnessed new names grace the BTCC podium. We at TheCheckeredFlag now give you our top 10 drivers of the season…
10 – Lea Wood
It’s only fair that we include both the 2013 season’s championship-winning drivers, and we start our top 10 countdown with inagural Jack Sears Trophy winner, Lea Wood.
The Vauxhall Vectra driver was a cut above his S2000-specification opposition for a large portion of the season, claiming a total of 16 class wins from the 30 that were on offer to lift the title for himself and his popular family-run Wood Racing outfit.
A win at the second event at Donington set him off the mark, where he proceeded to take control from Liam Griffin who had given him tough compeition during the first half of the season in a Motorbase-prepared Ford Focus.
Three hat-tricks at Snetterton, Rockingham and Silverstone were the killer blows dealt by Wood despite a brief fightback by Griffin at Knockhill, the title sealed with two rounds remaining for Wood to claim the maiden Jack Sears Trophy – the future of the class lying in doubt however after lack of entries plagued the second half of the season.
Quite what the future holds for Wood therefore remains a mystery with that question in mind, but what is conclusive is that his pace behind the wheel is abundantly clear to see, as backed up by coming oh-so-close to an overall podium finish at Snetterton the previous year.
(NOTE: All photos courtesy of btcc.net)
