Final photo for ‘Class of 2006’
Today at Silverstone the biggest field of cars – 26 in total – for 12 years took to the track in readiness for tomorrow’s title-deciding rounds of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.
Although Xero Competition’s Adam Jones has been ruled out of Sunday’s three races after badly damaging his Lexus in a heavy crash in free practice, he stayed on with the rest of the BTCC grid for a final ‘Class of 2006’ photograph.
The image demonstrates just how much the BTCC, Britain’s premier motor racing championship, has grown in 2006. Ten new teams have joined the entry list and the season will end with nine more drivers than that at Brands Hatch for April’s opening rounds.
After qualifying today, Matt Neal looks to be the bookies’ favourite to clinch a second consecutive Drivers title. The reigning champion and current series leader qualified third in his Honda Integra while nearest title threat Jason Plato was back in 13th after a trouble session in his SEAT Leon. He will put the title out of Plato’s reach in race one if he ends it with his 35-point advantage still in tact.
Meanwhile, SEAT needs only one of its two nominated cars to finish in two of the three races to wrest the Manufacturers’ crown from Vauxhall which has held the trophy for the last five years.
The Teams’ championship will also be decided tomorrow, with Neal’s Team Halfords crew looking set to hold onto its title ahead of either SEAT Sport UK or VX Racing.
