Closeness of Classic hurts Brands Hatch Super Touring grid
Only nine cars will contest rounds 5 and 6 of the HSCC Super Touring Car Championship at the Brands Hatch Historic Superprix.
With the series’ biggest race weekend, the Silverstone Classic, only two weeks away, entries for the third meeting of the year have taken a hit, with only nine cars set to make an appearance on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix loop this weekend.
A notable absentee includes championship leader John Cleland, who was on the provisional entry list – which would have taken the numbers in to double figures – but has been forced to withdraw the entry having been let down by a supplier.
Patrick Watts, who sits second behind the two-time British Touring Car Champion in the points, will also miss the Brands Hatch round, giving James Dodd the opportunity to take the championship lead in his Honda Accord. Dodd currently sits in third place, seven points behind Cleland.
Dodd drove to a dominant victory in the opening race of the 2013 encounter and his performances at Oulton Park, mixed in with his pace at the season opening Thruxton Easter Revival mean that he will once again be the man to beat.
Both Nick Whale and Mark Wright, who took double GA class victories at Thruxton and Oulton Park respectively, will be out in their older machines, with Whale looking to get back on to the podium at Brands Hatch.
Meanwhile, series regular Stewart Whyte will be looking to get his season back on track after some disappointing results in the opening two rounds, while series organiser Dave Jarman will be looking to capitalise on the smaller grid, having narrowly missed out on a podium in 2013 after a race-long battle with Cleland.
Despite a disappointing turnout for Brands Hatch, entries are said to be booming for the Silverstone Classic races, which will see current BTCC championship leader Colin Turkington and 2012 World Touring Car Champion Rob Huff join the action.
Provisional Entry List – Rounds 5 & 6 – Brands Hatch Historic Superprix
No – Driver – Car
1 – Stewart Whyte – Honda Accord
3 – James Dodd – Honda Accord
4 – Graeme Dodd – Nissan Primera
17 – Mark Smith – BMW E3 M3
26 – Mark Hazell – BMW 320
66 – Nick Whale – BMW M3
68 – Richard Meins – Ford Mondeo
70 – Dave Jarman – Nissan Primera
80 – Mark Wright – Zakspeed Mk2 Escort
98 – John Cleland – Vauxhall Vectra (withdrawn)
