8 – Rob Austin
Each season produces a genuine feel-good story to emerge through the limelight of the championship fight, and in 2013, it was the turn of a BTCC fan favourite to be the welcome distraction to make a name for himself.
The distinguished Rob Austin finally saw a breakthrough in his BTCC foray after being hindered by ill fortune on one too many occasions during his opening two seasons in the sport, opening the season in style with a third place for WIX Racing after the Audi man had led Jason Plato and eventual champion Andrew Jordan in the first round of the campaign.
The season really kicked off for Austin in the second phase of 2013 however, and in particular, Knockhill.
Suffering from a leg full of stitches at the Scottish circuit, Austin planted his Audi A4 on pole position for the first time in his career – the first time for the manufacturer since 1997 – after which he battled to a brace of podium finishes the following day for his Independent squad.
Austin continued that fine form at Rockingham, finishing third again in the opening race before finally achieving a special first victory in race two.
A great start gifted him the early lead, and he duly kept reigning champion Gordon Shedden at bay to take the flag first for a maiden win that was greeted with heart and applause by the fans around the circuit, Austin’s roof-denting celebrations summing up the moment afterwards.
The season ended somewhat anti-climactically with a struggling pair of meetings at Silverstone and Brands Hatch, but Austin will remember 2013 very well indeed you can be sure of that.
