Its Crash, Bang wallop for the final
For the final 3 rounds of the 2008 HI-Q MSA British Touring Car Championship the series returned to Brands Hatch for the final showdown.
With the title still up for grabs the fans were going to witness a stunning days racing.
Alan Taylor and his Robertshaw Racing squad went to brands looking for their best performance of the season. "Following Silverstone the car has had a complete overhaul on the engine, gearbox and many other componants so I can go out this weekend be on the pace of the likes of John George and my Team Mate Harry Vaulkhard in the Chevrolet."
Free Practice 1 and 2 was a trouble free affair with Alan posting steady times that were not a million miles off the pace of the mid field runners. How ever old habits never die as he returned to the pits with his season trade mark of missing a rear bumper. "I didnt even realise I had lost!" chuckled the Whitley Bay driver.
Qualifying was a bit more of a headache Alan. Although he would lne up 19th on the grid the gearbox issues that have haunted him all year decided to come back and cause issues with 4th, 5th and 6th gear. The team worked in to the night to replace the gears and make sure the car was ready for the big day on Sunday.
Race 1 saw Alan make a great start and leap in to 17th place by the end of lap 6 but sadly the steward had deemed that Alan's start was too good and gave him a drive-trough penalty which would effectivly end his race. With over half a minute lost there was no way he would be able to make the time up in t he remaining laps and would end the race 1 lap down in 19th. Unbeknown to the naked eye during that race Alan was again experiencing gearbox issues and it was decided that the car would miss the second race so the team could strip the gearbox down to pin point the problem and correct for the third race.
No one was going to predict the chaos that was in store for the final round of the championship. As the lights went out ALan made a clean start and held his position and was right with the Astra of Erkut Kazilirmak. As the field rounded Graham Hill bend there was the usual bumping and boaring amongst the mid field runners then sunddenly the TH Motorsport Integra of John George received a tap from the SEAT of Darren Turner which then turned the 47yr old from Cornwall sharp right in to the barrier which then launched the car in to a series of violent rolls. After a few minutes John was able to climb out of the car with no more than bruising. "That was a huge crash. i am Gald that John is ok" Said Taylor. After a 10 lap safety car period the race was restarted and the battle for 17th place between Alan and Erkut was on. Lap after lap Alan tried to pass the Arkas driver and eventually barged his way passed with minimal contact at Clearways and instantly pulled away and set upon catching the other Astra of Martyn Bell.
With only a few laps left Alan had caught the former BMW champion and on the run to paddock Alan was right with the Astra when its engine blew dropping oil all over the track. This also caught out the leaders and because the track had become too dangerous to race on the safety car again deployed and thats how the race would finish.
"What a crazy race!!. I'm pleased with the result and sorry to Erkut for the contact."
bravenet.com