AUSTIN PLANNING PLENTY OF OVERTAKING IN DONINGTON RACES Worcestershire’s Rob Austin believes he and team-mate Hunter Abbott can make up a considerable number of places in Easter Sunday’s three Dunlop British Touring Car races at Donington Park after setting the 16th and 22nd fastest times in this afternoon’s qualifying session at the East Midlands circuit. Rob’s Exocet Racing Audi survived a brief flash fire mid-way through the session to secure an eighth row starting position, less than a second away from pole position. The 33-year-old from Evesham commented: “A chunk of rubber had got flicked up into the wheel arch and there were a few flames but no dramas – my pit crew had it under control in no time. After our pre-season test here I’d hoped to be in the top ten but to be within a second of pole on what is not our strongest circuit against such a quality grid then I’m not too disappointed. “As at Brands Hatch in the opening rounds it’s going to be a case of coming through the field and I think that is very possible – I’m sure the Audi will be much stronger in race trim than it is for a single qualifying lap so Im planning on doing a lot of overtaking. “I’m carrying a couple of onboard cameras from ITV Sport so hopefully there’ll be some amazing pictures for the fans to enjoy. We’ve already asked them to guess on Facebook how long they think the one at wheel height will last and the response has been incredible!” Hunter, from Maidenhead, also survived a scare in qualifying when he misjudged the daunting uphill Coppice Corner in his AlcoSense Racing Audi. “The data shows I hit the apex 8kph quicker than anything Rob or I ever managed on any other lap! As I came over the brow I thought ‘there is no way this is going to make it’ but somehow I got away with it. “Had I strung together a decent lap I’d have been four or more places higher up, but it’s only my second BTCC event and I’m much more in the groove than I was at Brands Hatch. Like Rob I’m also sure we can make up quite a few places in race trim – just how far we can get remains to be seen.” Timetable: Rob Austin Racing, Donington Park BTCC, Sun 20 April 2014 11.35am BTCC Race 1; 12.50pm-1.20pm Pit Lane Autograph Session; 2.25pm; BTCC Race 2; 5.15pm BTCC Race 3 (all races 16 laps/31.36 miles) (Both phenomenal pics © Phil Laughton Photography)
Posted on: Sat, 19 Apr 2014 18:52:21 +0000