Fantastic final five for finale at Brands Hatch

It only seems a heartbeat ago that the BTCC teams were wrapped up against the cold and snow at the season opener at Brands Hatch. Now, little over six months later, there is the small matter of a five-way title battle to decide on the famous Grand Prix circuit.

Few doubted Andrew Jordan’s speed before that moment. But they way in which he has pieced together a championship-challenging campaign has impressed even seasoned onlookers.

Like a racehorse which times its charge to the line perfectly, the Eurotech Racing man has put daylight between himself and four previous champions at the best possible moment of the season.

A lot can happen in three touring car races, but Jordan has put himself in the best possible position to trump his independents’ championship glory at the same venue last season – and in a Honda Civic which should fly at the Kent track.

Jordan said: “It’s brilliant to have extended the championship lead to 34 points after Silverstone. The car will be quick at Brands and I’ll be quick there.

“But we need to be sensible, especially in the first race. We need to finish the first race and then try and wrap up the title as soon as possible.

“It will be a strong circuit for us, but anything can happen. Up to this point we’ve done everything we can and hopefully that will continue at Brands.”

And what of his challengers? Long-time standings leader Matt Neal is first in line – but the Honda Racing Team man is facing a battle just to be on the grid at all.

Neal tweeted on Monday to say that a final decision on his participation won’t be made until tomorrow, following an operation on his broken finger. “Bones in too many pieces,” he says – but one suspects the doctor will have to hold the door of his Honda Civic shut to stop the triple champion taking part.

Behind Neal by just a single point is the man pictured, looking to retain the title he gained in sodden conditions at Brands last year. Gordon Shedden has struggled at times this year, but is never to be discounted – as proved by the authoritative win at Silverstone which gives him a fighting chance this weekend.

A betting man always enjoys a punt on the outsider. But, realistically, both Colin Turkington and Jason Plato are very long shots for a title, despite the prodigious talent behind the wheel in both the West Surrey Racing BMW 125i, and the Triple Eight MG6.

Turkington has proven, if there was ever any doubt, that he is a world-class competitor this season, dragging wins and podiums out of a brand new machine, and leaving team-mate Rob Collard – no slouch himself – completely in the shade.

Sadly for Turkington, the lack of a serious chance at the final round is not of his own making. Having lost numerous good results due to contact from other drivers, the 2009 champion is a hefty 48 points behind Jordan.

Plato finds himself a further point behind, despite a season where he has, at times, completely wiped the floor with his opponents.

Double wins at Brands Hatch and Oulton Park were absolutely crushing performances, with the pair at Silverstone impressive for very different reasons.

But too often this season mistakes have been made, with the ever-frank Plato not shirking away from this. Moments such as the infamous call to bolt on wets on a drying track at Croft, rather than any speed deficit in the MG, is what has cost the team a serious shot at the title.

The drivers’ championship is one of five trophies up for grabs in the season – and all are yet to be decided.

As well as leading the overall standings, Jordan also leads Turkington by 57 points in the independents’ standings, with the BMW man the only driver who can mathematically catch him.

In the battle for third best independent, Ciceley Racing’s Adam Morgan is looking to hold off the Motorbase Performance pair of Mat Jackson and Aron Smith, to cap what has been an outstanding season for the Ginetta graduate. The Toyota Avensis man leads Jackson by 30 points and Smith by a further 10.

Honda Racing Team lead Triple Eight MG in both the manufacturers’ and teams’ standings, by 70 points and 102 points respectively, while Eurotech Racing leads the independents’ team trophy by 44 points from West Surrey Racing.

A grid of 27 cars are set to take part in the final race weekend of the year.

Shaun Hollamby is returning in the venerable AmD Tuning Volkswagen Golf in the Jack Sears Trophy class, for his first outing in the championship since 2011. He will carry the number 40.

And in the ever-changing line-up at Tony Gilham Racing, Tom Barley is driving one of the team’s Vauxhall Insignias in place of Howard Fuller. He is racing with the number 47.

And this morning, it was announced that Jake Hill will drive the second Rob Austin Racing Audi A4, in place of Will Bratt. He will again carry the number nine, which he also ran on his series debut at Croft.

It has been a season full of twists and turns, in classic BTCC style. Rules change, drivers come and go, but the cream has again risen to the top. Sit down, strap yourself in, and enjoy the ride…

BTCC Brands Hatch Entry List

No – Driver – Team – Car – Class
1 – Gordon Shedden – Honda Yuasa Racing Team – Honda Civic – NGTC
2 – Matt Neal – Honda Yuasa Racing Team – Honda Civic – NGTC
5 – Rob Collard – West Surrey Racing – BMW 125i M – NGTC
6 – Tom Onslow-Cole – Motorbase Performance – Ford Focus ST – NGTC
7 – Mat Jackson – Motorbase Performance – Ford Focus ST – NGTC
8 – Aron Smith – Motorbase Performance – Ford Focus ST – NGTC
9 – Jake Hill – Rob Austin Racing – Audi A4 – NGTC
10 – Daniel Welch – Welch Motorsport – Proton Persona – NGTC
11 – Frank Wrathall – Dynojet Racing – Toyota Avensis – NGTC
13 – Rob Austin – Rob Austin Racing – Audi A4 – NGTC
16 – Aiden Moffat – Tony Gilham Racing – Volkswagen CC – NGTC
17 – Dave Newsham – Speedworks Motorsport – Toyota Avensis – NGTC
18 – Nick Foster – West Surrey Racing – BMW 125i M – NGTC
29 – Colin Turkington – West Surrey Racing – BMW 125i M – NGTC
31 – Jack Goff – Tony Gilham Racing – Vauxhall Insignia – NGTC
33 – Adam Morgan – Cicely Racing – Toyota Avensis – NGTC
39 – Warren Scott – Tony Gilham Racing – Volkswagen CC – NGTC
40 – Shaun Hollamby – AmD Tuning – Volkswagen Golf – S2000
43 – Lea Wood – JWT Performance – Vauxhall Vectra – S2000
47 – Tom Barley – Tony Gilham Racing – Vauxhall Insignia – NGTC
48 – Ollie Jackson – Speedworks Motorsport – Toyota Avensis – NGTC
55 – Jeff Smith – Eurotech Racing – Honda Civic – NGTC
66 – Liam Griffin – Motorbase Performance – Ford Focus ST – S2000
77 – Andrew Jordan – Eurotech Racing – Honda Civic – NGTC
88 – Sam Tordoff – Triple Eight Race Engineering – MG6 – NGTC
99 – Jason Plato – Triple Eight Race Engineering – MG6 – NGTC

BTCC Brands Hatch Success Ballast

Driver – Ballast
Andrew Jordan – +45kg
Matt Neal – +36kg
Gordon Shedden – +27kg
Colin Turkington – +18kg
Jason Plato – +9kg

BTCC Brands Hatch Timetable

Saturday 12th October
09:55 – Free Practice 1
12:25 – Free Practice 2
15:45 – Qualifying

Sunday 13th October
11:32 – Race 1 (15 Laps)
14:22 – Race 2 (15 Laps)
17:04 – Race 3 (15 Laps)