The biggest BTCC support entry of the season converged on Silverstone this past weekend for the penultimate meeting of the 2015 season, with over one hundred drivers competing across the eleven races around the National circuit.
Amongst them, there was a new champion crowned, drivers enjoying big weekends to boost their title hopes, and a host of other drivers making an impression as the 2015 campaign heads towards its conclusion.
We’ve picked out our drivers of the weekend from each of the championships, the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup, Porsche Carrera Cup GB, Ginetta Junior Championship, Renault UK Clio Cup and MSA Formula:
Credit: Malcolm Griffiths
Porsche Carrera Cup GB – Dino Zamparelli
While Dan Cammish wrapped up the 2015 Porsche title, the Silverstone meeting belonged to Zamparelli, who following a tougher than anticipated season, saw himself finally showcase exactly what he can do with a double victory.
A change of teams to GT Marques gave him a new found confidence for the meeting and he stormed to a lights-to-flag success in race one. Running in the lead battle throughout race two, he would finished second on the road before a penalty for the ‘winner’ gave him top spot again.
Credit: Jakob Ebrey Photography
Ginetta GT4 Supercup – Jordan Stilp
Eight drivers joined the Supercup field for the first time this season at Silverstone, and ex-Clio Cup racer Stilp was the cream of the crop as he belied his lack of experience in Ginetta’s to stun the paddock with a maiden podium finish.
Running with Rob Boston Racing, Stilp fought through from eighth to fourth in race one, before a superb race two performance saw him overtake a former champion and the current points leader en-route to second place, hinting at a bright future in the championship.
Credit: Jakob Ebrey Photography
Ginetta Junior Championship – Senna Proctor
Having lost his championship lead at Rockingham earlier this month, Proctor needed to hit back in the title race this time out at Silverstone and the JHR Developments racer did just that with a pair of second place finishes.
It wasn’t all plain sailing for Proctor in two classic, close-fought Junior encounters, as he slipped down to fifth and sixth during the respective races, but he showed all his pace, racecraft and determination to climb back into the podium positions and close his title deficit.
Credit: Jakob Ebrey Photography
MSA Formula – Matheus Leist
In an action-packed and hugely controversial weekend in the championship, Leist stood tall and produced a second win of the campaign as part of a top four treble for by far his best weekend of the season so far.
After converting his maiden pole position into fourth place in the opener, Leist repeated that result in race two before being promoted to the podium post-race with third, and then he avoided the carnage in a dramatic final race to lead from lap two to the finish.
Credit: Jakob Ebrey Photography
Renault UK Clio Cup – Ashley Sutton
Like his Team BMR stablemate Proctor, Sutton needed a big weekend at Silverstone to keep himself right in the hunt for the Clio Cup title, and that’s just what the first year contender produced with a win and a second place.
It was far from easy for him though as he battled intermittent over-heating problems throughout both races, but his never say die spirit shone through as he held off race long pressure for victory in race one, before almost snatching victory in a thrilling end to race two.
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Who Else Impressed?
As mentioned, Dan Cammish became the first TOCA champion of 2015 with a double Porsche podium, while Tom Sharp took his second podium finish of the campaign to maintain his Rookie points lead.
MSA Formula title top two Lando Norris and Ricky Collard traded wins to take their title fight to the final weekend, while Tom Oliphant extended his Supercup title lead with a podium double as Jamie Orton returned to the top step of the podium.
Patrik Matthiesen took a richly-deserved maiden Junior victory while Kyle Hornby starred across the weekend with a maiden pole position and a drive from 15th to 3rd, while Ant Whorton-Eales’ Clio Cup title bid had a boost with victory as Dan Holland secured a maiden podium finish.
The 2015 TOCA season comes to an end at Brands Hatch GP next weekend (10/11 October), with the overall drivers title still to be decided in four of the five championships, as well as plenty of other class crowns.
