BTCC: "We can hold our heads high" says Austin after tough finale

Rob Austin Racing Press Release

Worcestershire team Rob Austin Racing will not remember its final day of the 2014 Dunlop British Touring Car season with fondness but can go into the winter break proud of its achievements during the year and having yet again demonstrated the fighting spirit that has endeared it so many thousands of trackside and TV fans.

Drivers Rob Austin (Evesham) and Hunter Abbott (Maidenhead) both suffered severe damage to their Audi A4s in a first corner pile-up in the first of three races on Sunday around the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit.

But Thanks to a miraculous repair job from his crew inside just 90 minutes Rob’s Exocet Racing car ‘Sherman’ was able to take the start for race 2 and was joined in race 3 by Hunter’s AlcoSense Breathalysers Racing machine ‘Panzer’. The team’s efforts did not go unnoticed with huge applause around the circuit from an appreciative, near sell-out trackside crowd as the cars left the pit lane for the start.

Rob was able to finish 15th in race 3 for a championship point. He finishes 12th in the drivers’ standings in a season which brought him and the team their second BTCC race win as well as three more podium results. Hunter finishes his maiden BTCC season 20th out of 32 competitors with a pair of impressive top ten race results to show.

Team principal Rob commented: “Sure Brands Hatch hasn’t gone to plan but what the team has shown yet again is an incredible fighting spirit to beat the odds and fix both cars so they could race again. The accident in race 1 left me wondering if either car would come out to play again but my team simply do not know when they are beaten – most teams would have called it a day but not us. What they did was incredible.

“It has been a season of highs and lows – the highlight of course being the win at Rockingham – but we’ve really held our own against bigger budget opposition in what has now grown into one of the three most competitive motor racing championships in the world alongside Formula 1 and NASCAR.

“An awful lot of that is also down to our fantastic sponsors Exocet, DUO and AlcoSense as well as all our equally enthusiastic partners and all the public who have joined our Owners Club. Their passion really keeps us going and I cannot thank them enough. Everybody can really hold their heads high.

“From here we will go back to base in Pershore, rebuild both cars and then, for the first time thanks to our sponsors, look towards a proper winter testing programme to make sure we come back in 2015 even stronger and faster. I can’t wait for it to begin all over again.”

Hunter said: “My first season in the BTCC has been a real baptism of fire, but I have to say that I have never enjoyed a season of motor racing as much in my life. I very much intend being back with Rob Austin Racing in 2015 and I am very much looking forward to all the planning and testing we have lined up in the winter months.

“There’s no other team I’d want to be with and I know from what is happening behind the scenes that we can be very competitive every time out next year. Like Rob, I have to thank the terrific team of people who work on my car – they have really been put through the ringer at times this season but every time have come out on top, refusing to be beaten.

“I’ve had to learn a whole new racecraft which is required in touring cars and there have been some desperately unlucky moments which haven’t reflected our true form, but I believe everything is in place for a really big year for Rob Austin Racing when we come back in early April.”

Rob Austin Racing would like to congratulate Colin Turkington and WSR/eBay Motors for winning the BTCC title at Brands Hatch.

Photo credit: Rob Austin Racing / Phil Laughton Photography

BTCC: Austin returns to front-running form in Oulton Park qualifying

Rob Austin Racing Press Release

Worcestershire’s Rob Austin set the sixth fastest time in this afternoon’s Dunlop British Touring Car Championship qualifying session at Cheshire’s Oulton Park to give him and his eponymous Rob Austin Racing team their best starting grid position of the season so far.

The session ended in frenzied fashion as 30 drivers attempted to improve their time on a rapidly drying track. Rob, who had been on the front-running pace in both the two earlier wet practice sessions, timed it perfectly to secure a superb third row starting position on the grid for the first of tomorrow’s three races in his Exocet Racing Audi A4.

But there was bitter gall for team-mate Hunter Abbott (Maidenhead). He had been looking to challenge for a top ten place but a spin on his crucial final flying lap ruined his chances and as others carried on and improved he tumbled to 24th. It will be fascinating to see how much progress Hunter can make tomorrow in his AlcoSense Breathalysers Racing Audi.

Rob, from Evesham, commented: “It really came down to that one big pressure lap so I just punched my awesome button and went for it! I actually got held up a bit by another car and almost aborted that lap but am glad I didn’t – I reckon without that delay I’d have been another four tenths of a second quicker.

“After two tough events at Donington and Thruxton we’re back where we belong and this gives everyone in the team a big lift. We’ve said all along we would be much stronger here and I’m really looking forward to tomorrow – I’m in with drivers who know how to race very hard but fair and that always makes a difference, plus our race form is always better than our qualifying form. Fingers crossed we’re going to be in for very competitive results in all three races.”

Hunter said: “I want to forget today. We had a couple of problems with the car in the two earlier practice sessions and then this happens in qualifying when I know a top ten was on. The plan was to follow Rob and both go for a fast time together. Coming into Cascades I just asked a bit too much of the rear end went into a big double 360 spin off the track. I had to wait an age before rejoining safely and by then it was too late to go for another lap.

“All I can do tomorrow is get my head down, keep clear of the inevitable mid-pack trouble and pick my way through for a decent grid position for race two and then we’ll see how it progresses from there. Today's a setback but I'm still optimistic we can salvage something decent from tomorrow."

Photo credit: Rob Austin Racing

BTCC: Rob Austin Racing in rush to make Thruxton BTCC

Rob Austin Racing Press Release

• Team has worked flat out to be ready for UK's fastest race track

Worcestershire’s Official BTCC star Rob Austin will contest this weekend’s (Sat 3/Sun 4 May) three latest races at the Thruxton Race Circuit in Hampshire after working round the clock to have his Exocet Racing Audi race car fixed in time.

The Rob Austin Racing mechanics have worked several all-nighters in their Pershore workshops since the most recent event (ten days ago at Donington Park) when the Audi, nicknamed Sherman, suffered considerable rear-end damage after being rammed by another car.

“The damage was worse than we first thought but the work that’s gone in since Donington has been unbelievable and yet again my crew have done the most remarkable job in the timeframe,” comments Rob. “After the graft the lads have put in the least I can do now is go to Thruxton and drive the hell out of it.”

Rob says that Thruxton is his favourite circuit on the calendar, even if on paper it doesn’t favour the Audi.

“The speeds are incredibly high all the way round the lap – we’re nudging 150mph in some places with some of the corners taken at over 130mph. It requires massive balls as well as huge respect and that’s why I absolutely love it. It really sorts the men from the boys.

“I’ve gone well in everything else I’ve raced there but for some reason it remains a bogey circuit for our Audi in the BTCC. The rear-wheel-drive configuration we run seems to put us at a disadvantage there against the front-wheel-drive cars which make up the vast majority of the grid (30-plus cars) so it could be a bit of a damage-limitation exercise.

“However, I’m sure my grid girl Sophie Coombs who runs Thruxton’s skid pan driving experience can pass on a few nifty tips!”

See Hunter Abbott Racing for more Thruxton preview notes.

Timetable: Rob Austin Racing, Thruxton BTCC, 3/4 May 2014
Saturday: 10.00am Free Practice Session 1 (40mins); 12.40pm Free Practice Session 2 (40mins); 3.55pm Qualifying (30mins)
Sunday: 9.45am-10.20am Pit Lane Autograph Session; 12.10pm BTCC Race 1; 2.30pm BTCC Race 2; 5.15pm BTCC Race 3 (all races 16 laps/37.76 miles)

ITV Timings
Here's how to watch out for the RAR Audis at Thruxton this weekend with ITV Sport.
Qualifying Live (Saturday): 3.50pm-4.30pm on www.itv.com/btcc
Race Day Live (Sunday): 11.00am-6.30pm ITV4 (simulcast on itv.com)

Photo credit: Phil Laughton Photography

BTCC: Day of despair at Donington Park for Rob Austin Racing

Rob Austin Racing Press Release

It never rains but it pours goes the saying and it was wet weather conditions today that played a major role in one of the toughest experiences yet for the Rob Austin Racing team in the Dunlop British Touring Car Championship.

A single point – for setting the fastest lap of anyone in the first of three races – was all driver and team principal Rob Austin was able to manage thanks to a run of appalling luck.

That fastest lap came following a lengthy pit stop to repair damage to the rear of his Exocet Racing Audi ‘Sherman’ which had been snagged by Rob’s team-mate Hunter Abbott’s car which had been shoved into a spin and retirement.

In race 2 Rob was twice swiped by slower drivers – on the second occasion he was force into a spin – before finishing 18th having started from 29th on the grid. In race 3 his classy racecraft moved him from 18th to 10th on the opening lap before he retired his car in the pit lane with substantial rear-end damage after being rammed from behind.

“It’s been a day of despair,” commented Rob. “We genuinely felt our pace in race trim would have brought three solid points results today but instead this. There has also been some moronic driving out there from some people which has affected both me and Hunter. What happened in the second race was a joke, plus it was a chance of a top 10 gone begging. In race 3 I felt I was overtaken when the yellow flags and safety car boards were out which is totally against the rules but even then I reckon we were on for a top eight only to be wiped out. I don’t have anything against the driver in the other car which hit me as he made a genuine error and has apologised but the damage to my car is immense – so much so that the whole steel frame at the rear has been shoved forwards into the rear tyres.

“It means a heap of work needs to be done restoring Sherman for the next rounds at Thruxton. We’ll manage it OK – I have the most dedicated and fantastic mechanics, sponsors and fans of anyone on the grid – and we will come back strong. I am determined of that.”

Hunter’s day was also not without its problems but he, too, is remaining positive for the season ahead in his AlcoSense Racing Audi ‘Panzer’. “In race 1 I was mortified it was Rob’s car I collected but thankfully we both know it wasn’t my doing. In race 2 I had a great first lap – up to 19th from 31st! – only for the conditions to catch me out later and I spun into the gravel which was gutting. I think Rob and I could have both been in the top 10 by the end… Then just as I was coming to the grid to start race 3 the car’s propshaft broke. The team work that went into fixing it in the pit lane was incredible but by that time I was two laps down when I got into the race.

“This has been my second event with the team and it’s clear that today is simply not representative of where we are in terms of our level of competitiveness. There’s so much more to come from me as well as I learn more and more about the Audi and the racing in the BTCC, plus I am thoroughly enjoying the racing in touring cars. It’s been a tough day but I know there are some great results coming our way as the season progresses.”

Photo credit: Phil Laughton Photography

BTCC: Robb Holland's Donington Park outing blighted by heavy impact

Rotek Racing Press Release

Robb ‘Hollywood’ Holland was lucky to escape injury after his Rotek Racing-run Oakley Motorsports Audi S3 saloon became involved in a scary 90mph multi-car shunt that halted the second of three Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) races held at a rainy Donington Park (20 April).

The crash, which ironically occurred at Donington Park’s Hollywood corner, was triggered when another Audi driven by Rob Austin spun on the wet track. As Austin rejoined, the cars behind were forced to take avoiding action with several, including the Rotek's Audi S3, arriving on the scene completely unsighted in heavy spray and unable to prevent contact with each other.

Holland made contact with James Cole’s Toyota Avensis and the two shot off the track at barely unabated speeds and almost head-on into an unprotected solid concrete retaining wall. Though the wall collapsed, it did at least take the cars' impact, leaving both in a very sorry state of repair.

Indeed, such was the state of Holland’s car, the Nurburgring and Silverstone-based team had no option but to withdraw it from the final race of the day.

Holland had fared a little better in the day’s opening race. From the starting grid, he raced his way past six cars before being pushed into a spin that relegated him to the tail of the 31-car field, before the race was even a lap old.

A determined fight-back that included another trip cross country after being pushed off a second time meant that the North American driver had to ultimately settle for an unrepresentative 28th place finish, albeit with the slight consolation of being the first Audi home.

The race is now on to rebuild the Audi S3 saloon in time for the next BTCC meeting at Hampshire’s Thruxton Circuit in two weeks' time. However, until the Rotek team properly assesses the damage back at base, it isn’t clear how long the work is likely to take. Though one thing is almost certain, a first real test for the car planned before the next meeting will now have to be shelved.

“It has been a disappointing day, but that’s how it works out sometimes," said Holland. "We’ll pick ourselves up, get the car rebuilt and be ready to fight another day. There was nothing I could have done to avoid the crash. Unknown to me just ahead, Rob Austin had spun his Audi. I was enjoying a fight for position with James Cole when we arrived at the corner just as Rob was rejoining the track on the racing line.

“Unfortunately, both James and I went off and hit the wall on the short stretch that isn’t protected by tyres and the impact was hard. I’m feeling a little sore and I’ll ache some in the morning but, fortunately, that’s the extent of it as far as I am concerned."

Holland continued: “Obviously the plan to test before the next meeting seems out of the question right now. We don’t know yet if it is going to take three days, five days or even the best part of two weeks to repair. The shell is okay and we think the engine is too but, until we strip the car down we won’t know for sure. I’m certain will be back out in time for Thruxton.” 

For more on Rotek Racing, visit the official www.rotekracing.com website, ‘like’ the team’s Facebook page or follow @rotekracing on Twitter. 

Photo credit: BAM Motorsport Promotions

BTCC: Rotek Racing hopes to build on positive BTCC debut at Donington Park

Rotek Racing Press Release

Robb Holland and the Rotek Racing team endeavour to build on their highly-positive Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) debut when Britain’s premier motor racing championship resumes at the historic Donington Park circuit over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend (19-20 April).

Holland is the first American ever to contest a full campaign in the Dunlop-backed BTCC and was delighted when Rotek Racing took larger than expected strides with its brand new Audi S3 saloon during the Brands Hatch curtain-raiser less than three weeks ago.

That Rotek didn’t chase any arbitrary deadlines and applied a meticulous attention to detail during the build of the Oakley Motorsports-liveried S3 saloon paid dividends, as the car ran faultlessly during its initial shakedown and for the duration of the weekend ‘down the Hatch’.

Round 2 of what is set to be a fiercely-competitive campaign – 23 drivers were all covered by less than a second in qualifying at Brands Hatch – will take place at Donington on the Derbyshire/Leicestershire border over the Easter weekend (19-20 April).

The 1.94mile East Midlands circuit is unchartered territory for Holland and the American simply hopes to continue on an upward curve by clocking up as many miles as possible.

“Rotek Racing’s first experience of the BTCC was a highly positive one and I left Brands Hatch feeling optimistic about the future,” said Holland. “The team took significant strides forwards with the Audi S3 saloon and I learnt a lot about how to drive the car and the Brands Hatch Indy circuit, ultimately achieving every goal I set myself. I’m obviously hoping for a lot more as the 2014 season progresses, but I don’t underestimate the size and scale of the learning curve that’s ahead.

"This will be my first ever outing at Donington Park and, while I’m excited about the challenge of learning new tracks, it puts me at a distinct disadvantage, preventing me from focusing my time and energy on other things. As long as I’m nearer the pace and higher up the order than I was at Brands Hatch, I’ll be very satisfied.”

Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) free practice will begin at 10.00 and 12.30 on Saturday 19 April, with qualifying later that same day at 15.40.

Rounds 4, 5 and 6 will take place from 11.37, 14.27 and 17.15 respectively on Sunday 20 April and will be aired live and in high definition on ITV4 and ITV4HD. 

For more on Rotek Racing, visit the official www.rotekracing.com website, ‘like’ the team’s Facebook page or follow @rotekracing on Twitter. 

Photo credit: BAM Motorsports Group

BTCC: And so on to Donington... for Rob Austin Racing

Rob Austin Racing Press Release

Worcestershire’s Rob Austin Racing team resumes its 2014 Dunlop British Touring Car season this Easter Sunday (20 April) in rounds four, five and six of the 2014 championship at the famous Donington Park circuit.

Team principal and racer Rob Austin (Evesham) believes he is set for strong results in all three races after his faithful Audi A4’s ‘Sherman’ showed a stunning turn of speed in Brands Hatch a fortnight ago.

Both his and rookie team-mate Hunter Abbott’s Audis – currently undergoing final preparation inside RAR’s Pershore workshops – will be loaded into the team transporter on Thursday morning before heading to Donington on the Leics-Derbys border near East Midlands Airport.

Significantly Rob’s car will be fitted with an onboard camera by ITV Sport for Saturday’s qualifying session (live on itv.com) and Sunday’s three races (live on ITV4).

“The last time I had the onboard camera – at Rockingham last year – I won! Hopefully that’s a good omen,” remarked Rob. “I also really enjoy Donington – it’s full of fast, undulating sweeping bends making it a real driver’s circuit so it’s always one of my favourites on the calendar. Plus it’s where I’ve had some significant moments in my racing career…

“It was at Donington I achieved my first race win in British F3 – I did a celebratory donut on the slowing down lap and spun into the gravel trap! There was also a Masters GP historic Formula 1 race when I went from ninth to first on the first lap in my Arrows A4 – everyone raves about Ayrton Senna’s opening lap in the European GP there, but he only went from sixth to first." Quite...

“It’s also where I made my BTCC race debut, in 2011. It’s not been the kindest to me in terms of BTCC results yet, but the Audi’s chassis has always been very good there and we had a fantastic pre-season test at Donington when we learnt a lot and seemed to be on the pace of some other very fancied runners. So I’m confident – I know, I’ve said that before! But we showed we had great pace at Brands Hatch and it’s important I score well in all three races this weekend to keep the championship leaders in sight. I’m equal ninth in the standings at the moment and want to be higher than that by Sunday evening.”

Hunter, from Maidenhead, said: “Now I’ve had a taste of the BTCC at Brands Hatch I cannot wait to get back out there. The qualifying times won’t be as close as they were at Brands but my goals are to improve on my qualifying position from Brands and my race starts – they were diabolical! – plus, dare I say it, break into the top ten in a race. That would be fantastic."

Hunter, too, has enjoyed several Donington dices of note, adding: "I had my first ever car race there in Formula First in 2000 and put it on pole position! In 2008 I set a new GT4 lap record when I was sharing a Ginetta G50 with Rob in British GTs. Wheel-banging with (former F1 racer) Martin Donnelly in Radical sportscars in 2005 was good fun as well..."

Timetable: Rob Austin Racing, Donington Park BTCC, 19/20 March 2014

Saturday: 
10.00am Free Practice Session 1 (40mins);
12.30pm Free Practice Session 2 (40mins);
3.40pm Qualifying (30mins)

Sunday: 
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)

Photo credit: Phil Laughton Photography

BTCC: Rotek Racing has highly positive BTCC baptism at Brands Hatch

Rotek Racing Press Release

Robb Holland and the Rotek Racing team had a highly positive baptism in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) at Brands Hatch, continually honing its new out of the box Audi S3 saloon and edging up onto page one of the timesheets (Sunday 30 March).

The Nurburgring and Silverstone-based team faced an uphill struggle to refine the setup of its S3 saloon and navigate its way around Kent’s world-renowned Brands Hatch Indy circuit during free practice and qualifying on Saturday (29 March).

However, it exceeded its own expectations, progressing in large strides having previously covered very few pre-season testing miles, and felt hopeful that it could continue on an upward trend going into Sunday’s three races.

From 28th on the Round 1 grid, Holland utilised a strong opening lap to climb to 25th as the field scrambled for track position, before mounting an attack on Chris Stockton in the Power Maxed Racing Chevrolet Cruze.

A well-timed lunge on the brakes for Paddock Hill Bend at the start of lap three saw Holland – the first American full-time BTCC entrant – snatch 24th place and go toe-to-toe with 17-year old Scot, Aiden Moffat.

The pair ran nose-to-tail while in the wheel tracks of Simon Belcher’s Handy Motorsport Toyota Avensis until Moffat got the better of Holland under braking for Turn 1 on lap eight.

In a classic Brands Hatch Indy manoeuvre, Holland switched back to the inside as the brawling duo dipped down Paddock Hill Bend to hold the inside line for the Druids hairpin and retake the position.

The fight was eventually diluted when the pair had to heed blue flags, although Holland would rise to 22nd place at the expense of James Cole and Martin Depper, who collided at Druids.

“It was a slow start, but it’s nice that I’ve moved up in the field,” said Holland. “The car was actually very good after the team made some changes to the setup overnight and I ran my fastest lap time of the weekend in Round 1. The setup wasn’t quite right in free practice and qualifying but we have a solid base on which to build upon and the adjustments that were made before today’s opening race gave me a stronger front end, which significantly improved the car.

“We used the soft tyre in the first race and they fell straight off a cliff after the first five laps. I initially thought I’d be able to catch the back of the field but the grip fell away. Nevertheless, I had a good tussle with Aiden Moffat for a while."

Rotek experimented with several setup tweaks between Rounds 1 and 2 and subsequently took another positive step forwards in terms of raw performance.

Holland emerged unscathed from the traditionally incident-filled opening lap, gaining places as others faltered before once again going in pursuit of Belcher.

The Toyota racer resolutely stuck to the racing line in the early stages, but eventually made an unforced error through Surtees, opening the door to the appreciative Holland who proceeded to run at a solid and consistent pace in the low 50s that was more than four tenths of a second faster than his best qualifying time.

“The team made some suspension changes in the hope that they would work,” said Holland. “It’s always difficult to know what effect they’ll have, but you have to try something and we certainly went in the right direction. I had plenty of grip and ran at a very consistent pace. The problem is that it took a lot to displace Belcher and I lost contact with the main pack. Obviously we’re hoping for much more as the year progresses.”

It was Holland’s intention to break into the top 20 and page one of the timesheets in the weekend’s third and final BTCC encounter.

The Oakley Motorsports-backed driver entered the second lap in 20th and, despite being involved in a few minor scrapes while going toe-to-toe with the championship’s finest, he hit his target at the chequered flag.

“We did what we set out to achieve by finishing in the top 20,” said Holland. “Round 3 was pretty robust and Fabrizio Giovanardi gave me a big punt up the back, but it’s all good. He was a bit quicker at the time and it’s nice to cap off the weekend with a small scuffle. I was determined to make everybody work for their money and the scrapes tested the durability of the Audi S3. She’s a tough girl! It’s also useful to know how she reacts when you’re in direct combat, because you need the confidence to place the car wherever you want and I have to say she’s a very race-able car.

“We need to get in and do a few test days between the next few rounds so we can start making changes. The Rotek engineers now have a grip on what I want and need and where the weaknesses lie. We need a full day to work on that.”

For more on Rotek Racing, visit the official www.rotekracing.com website, ‘like’ the team’s Facebook page or follow @rotekracing on Twitter.

Photo credit: BAM Motorsport Promotions

BTCC: Rob Austin stuns with pace in BTCC opener at Brands Hatch

Rob Austin Racing Press Release

Fifth place in race 1; 28th to 11th in race 3… Worcestershire’s Rob Austin and his Rob Austin Racing team showed in today's opening rounds of the Dunlop British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch just why they can be a major threat in this year’s title race.

After qualifying 11th fastest – just 26 100ths of a second away from pole position – Rob's Exocet Racing-backed Audi instantly made places at the start of race 1. In the closing stages he moved into fifth position and at the finish line had closed to within just 3/10ths of a second of the two factory Hondas ahead of him. Consistently fast lap times also suggested he would have also threatened the race leaders had he not been delayed in the early stages…

There were therefore high hopes of a podium result in race 2 only for them to be ruined when his Audi’s propshaft broke as he left the grid. This meant he would start race 3 from 28th place on the grid and, with nothing to lose, he produced a driving masterclass as he picked off his rivals left, right and centre – 17 in fact including reigning champion Andrew Jordan and all in front of live ITV4 cameras. Rob was also one of only three drivers in race 3 to lap below the 49-seconds mark as he finished in 11th position.

Rob, from Evesham, commented: “Race 2 was gutting, particularly as it had a knock-on effect for race 3, but my mechanics did a great job as ever to put everything right and we have got some massive positives to take away from today. We’ve totally lived up to the hype of our pre-season testing pace and, against one of the most competitive grids in BTCC history, have matched the bigger factory teams for raw speed and really given them something to think about.

“It was also hugely satisfying personally to be the one to take the fight to all those champions at the front of the grid in race 1. Race 3 was just relentless – closing on people, weighing them up and sticking moves on them. That stands as one of the best races I’ve ever done.

“The support as ever has been awesome from all our sponsors, partners and brilliant fans who’ve joined the Rob Austin Racing Owners Club and got all their pictures on the roof of my Audi, 'Sherman'. Donington Park is next up on Easter Sunday and a strong run there in all three races will really help keep the points leaders in sight.”

Rob’s new team-mate Hunter Abbott (Maidenhead) spent the weekend getting to grips with racing in touring cars for the first time and his debut ended on an upbeat note with a maiden points finish with 15th place in race 3 in his AlcoSense Breathalysers Racing Audi.

Hunter said: “I’ve been encouraged by my pace first time out but there’s an awful lot to learn – how to get the best out of the car and tyres in qualifying, the different traits of the different drivers as well as the whole discipline of a touring car race. Bear in mind I come from GT racing where there is very little contact and in the BTCC there’s quite a bit of pushing and shoving. Now I’ve got my first three races out of the way I’m definitely targeting improvements for Donington.”

Photo credit: Phil Laughton Photography

BTCC: Austin satisfied and furstrated with Brands Hatch qualifying

Rob Austin Racing Press Release

• “Car is good enough for pole position” he says after qualifying 11th

“I’m quite happy but frustrated at the same time,” declared Worcestershire’s Rob Austin after qualifying his Exocet Racing Audi 11th fastest – just 0.260s away from pole position – in the Dunlop British Touring Car Championship’s first qualifying session of 2014 at the Brands Hatch circuit in Kent.

Rob added: “We’ve still got this bit of understeer which I’d say is costing us around two tenths of a second. I genuinely believe the car is good enough for pole position. It’s nice to be right in the ball park time-wise, but you can see why I’m a bit miffed with it.”

It means Rob (Evesham) will line up on the sixth row of the grid for the first of tomorrow’s opening three races of the new BTCC season which will be shown live as part of a mammoth seven and a half hour broadcast on ITV4 (10.30am-6.00pm).

He said: “Looking at the positives that qualifying session is the only time all year all the grid will qualify with no success ballast in their cars so to be on the pace straight out of the blocks shows our pre-season testing form was true. I also believe our race pace will be stronger tomorrow than a number of cars who will be starting in front of me.”

Meanwhile Rob’s new 2014 team-mate Hunter Abbott (Maidenhead) qualified 21st fastest of the 30 runners for his big BTCC debut. Still acclimatising to a BTCC car – his Rob Austin Racing-prepared AlcoSense Breathalysers Racing Audi – plus the Dunlop race tyres used in the championship he was impressively just 0.773s off pole position.

“My first BTCC qualifying session started with a bit of a bang – a number of cars I was in the middle of all shuffled up and I had to take to the grass on a new set of tyres to avoid any contact!” explained Hunter. “Other than that it was fairly straightforward but it’s all about time in the car and learning how to get the most out of these tyres.

“Like Rob I think there are a number of cars in front of me on the grid who won’t be as strong in race trim tomorrow so I’m aiming to make up places, push for results in the top 15 and score championship points.”

Timetable: Rob Austin Racing, Brands Hatch BTCC Sunday 30 March 2014
9.10am-9.40am Pit Lane Autograph Session; 11.45am BTCC Race 1; 2.15pm; BTCC Race 2; 5.00pm BTCC Race 3 (all races 24 laps/29.28 miles)

Photo credit: Phil Laughton Photography

BTCC: Rob Austin Audi narrowly missed the top 10 in the Brands Hatch qualifying

By Tarek Ramchani

Brands Hatch is hosting this weekend the season opener of the British Touring Car Championship. Two Audi teams are on site with two diffrent cars.

Rob Austin Racing with two Audi A4 NGTC for team owner/driver Rob Austin and his team-mate Hunter Abbott. Rotek Racing are debuting in BTCC with an Audi S3 Sedan driven by Robb Holland.

The qualifying session held this afternoon was thrilling to follow for the fans. No less than 23 cars with less than a one second gap.

Rob Austin driving his #101 Audi A4 NGTC had an impressive pace. "Sherman" just missed the top 10 in qualifying and finished eleventh with a best time of 48.488. Hunter Abbott with the #54 Audi A4 NGTC was twenty-first in his BTCC debut.

Robb Holland driving the #67 Audi S3 Sedan qualified in twenty-eighth position. This is the first time out for the car the Rotek Racing Audi in the BTCC.

Pole position went to 2013 BTCC champion Andrew Jordan with a Honda Civic. Second was Jason Plato with the factory MG6 GT. Thirs was Colin Turkington with a BMW 125i.

The three races are set for tomorrow. We wish the best of luck to all Audi drivers.

Photo credit: Phil Laughton Photography

BTCC: Robb 'Hollywood' Holland ready for BTCC bow

Rotek Racing Press Release

Robb 'Hollywood' Holland is anxious to begin his maiden full-time Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) campaign and is brimming with excitement ahead of the 2014 season-opener on the world-famous Brands Hatch Indy circuit (29-30 March).

The American Rotek Racing team, which operates from bases at the Nurburgring and Silverstone, took the wraps off its striking Oakley Motorsports-liveried Audi S3 saloon during the official BTCC Media Day at Donington Park last week (Tuesday 18 March).

Having spent countless man-hours on the build, applying a meticulous attention to detail, the car ran faultlessly during its track debut on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit last Friday (21 March), to the delight of the hardworking Rotek Racing team.

As a result, Holland – the first American to enter the BTCC full-time – is brimming with optimism as he heads 'down the Hatch' for the opening round of the highly-anticipated 2014 season, which will boast a capacity 32-car grid that features no fewer than seven former Champions.

"I'm incredibly excited about launching my first full-time BTCC campaign and I'm anxious to run on track and get the racing underway on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit," said Holland. "I hope this will be the start of a very long and prosperous relationship with the championship.

"I was always adamant that we shouldn't cut corners to make any arbitrary deadlines and those high levels of preparation and attention to detail have really paid off. The Rotek Racing Audi S3 ran flawlessly and without issue for the duration of the test day at Silverstone on Friday (21 March). Nothing prevented us from running, which means reliability is one less thing to worry about at Brands Hatch. This is great when you're running with a brand new car, in a brand new series and on a new race track.

Holland continued: "Of course, it's impossible to tell whether we have pace because we have yet to share a circuit with other touring cars and there were no laptimes to reference on Silverstone's Grand Prix layout. However, the car felt solid and I think we're in the ballpark."

Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) free practice will take place at 10.00 and 12.40 on Saturday (29 March), with qualifying for Round 1 scheduled for 15.40.

Sunday (30 March) begins with the BTCC's pit lane walkabout driver autograph session at 9.10, while Rounds 1, 2 and 3 of the 2014 season get underway at 11.47, 14.17 and 17.02 respectively.

For more on Rotek Racing, visit the official www.rotekracing.com website, 'like' the team's Facebook page or follow @rotekracing on Twitter.

Photo credit: BAM Motorsports Group

BTCC: Photos of the Audi teams in the Donington Park BTCC Media Day

By Tarek Ramchani

More Audi than ever this year in the demanding British Touring Car Championship. Two teams and three cars, with Audi the only brand with two diffrent models.

Rob Austin Racing is back for the fourth straight year with a pair of Audi A4 NGTC. Rotek Racing will debut in BTCC with their brand new Audi S3 Sedan. Both cars look great and they are clearly fans' favourites. Both team will be eager to shine in what is seen as the best field in British Touring Championship since the popular Super Touring era.

Our friend Phil Laughton was at Donington Park this week covering the traditional BTCC Media Day providing a great photo coverage of the event. Phil Laughton full photo gallery from Donington Park can be seen HERE.

The 2014 BTCC season will kick off at Brands Hatch (Indy circuit), March 29th and 30th.

Photo credit: Phil Laughton Photography

BTCC: Rotek Racing unveils striking Audi S3 BTCC contender

Rotek Racing Press Release

Rotek Racing officially unveiled its striking Oakley Motorsports-liveried Audi S3 saloon during the 2014 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship’s official Media Day at the historic Donington Park circuit on Tuesday (18 March).

Oakley Motorsports and Rotek Racing gave power to the people by inviting the BTCC’s army of fans to select its 2014 livery from 12 artist’s impressions.

Thousands of enthusiasts flocked to the Rotek Racing and BTCC Facebook pages to choose their favourite colour scheme and the winning Oakley Motorsports design has gone from the drawing board to reality, officially unveiled to the assembled media, VIPs and fans in the Donington Park pit lane on Tuesday (18 March).

The BTCC – Britain’s premier motor racing championship – is experiencing something of a renaissance. For more than half a century it has inspired great motor sporting feats and captivated millions of fans and it continues to soar in popularity, providing spectators with bumper-to-bumper on-track action and unparalleled access to its star drivers and cars.

Each year the championship embarks on a tour of the UK's greatest motorsport venues, including Brands Hatch, Donington Park and Silverstone, and attracts large trackside crowds of around 40,000 spectators, with a TV audience of approximately 20million tuning in to ITV Sport's comprehensive live coverage.

Rotek Racing, an Audi Customer Racing team, is led by tin-top star Robb Holland – the first American to contest rounds of the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) whose one-off outings in the Dunlop-backed BTCC have heralded a full campaign in 2014.

Holland is now the first American to enter the BTCC full-time and is determined to reach the front in the ultra-competitive championship. 

Fusing his larger than life character and approach to racing with prestigious backing from the motorsport division of American brand, Oakley, and a fine and meticulous attention to detail, Holland also aims to make Rotek Racing the most visual, interactive and fan-friendly team on the grid.

“The hard work has been put in by my guys at Rotek Racing and it has been tough watching them work through until the early hours of the morning to ready the car for Media Day,” said Holland. “Nobody was willing to cut any corners and we wanted to make sure that absolutely everything was done right. To see the Audi S3 out here at Donington Park is pretty spectacular.

“You’re always going to be proud of what your guys produce, but to have received so much positive feedback on the car is just fantastic and a testament to all the hard work and the hours put in by the team. I also have to give credit to the fans because they chose spectacularly well and I really do believe that Rotek Racing will have one of the most striking liveries on the grid this year!”

Holland continued: “The 2014 season will definitely be a learning year, as trying to build a new car and develop it with very little testing is a tall order for even the most experienced of teams and there are still quite a few circuits for me to acclimatise to.

“However, I think the Audi S3 saloon will be a good fit, as it’s the first of the new generation S3s to race anywhere in the world. I'm also really glad to have the support of Oakley Motorsports. The BTCC is the perfect high visibility platform to launch its line of motorsports gear here in the UK and across Europe.” 

For more on Rotek Racing, visit the official www.rotekracing.com website, ‘like’ the team’s Facebook page or follow @rotekracing on Twitter. 

Photo credit: BAM Motorsport Promotions

BTCC: Rob Austin Racing unveils full 2014 BTCC Programme

Rob Austin Racing Press Release

• Stunning Exocet & AlcoSense livery on team’s striking Audi race cars
• Rob Austin: “We have never been so well prepared”

In front of more than 200 media Rob Austin Racing has today unveiled its line-up for 2014’s Dunlop British Touring Car Championship with plenty of exciting changes for the season ahead in which the Worcestershire squad hopes to build on its breakthrough race-winning performance of last year.

RAR drivers Rob Austin (Evesham) and Hunter Abbott (Maidenhead) pulled the wraps off their Audi A4 race cars – fondly nicknamed Sherman and Panzer – at Leicestershire’s Donington Park circuit during the BTCC’s annual pre-season Media Day launch.

Of significance:

- Rob Austin’s Audi will race under the Exocet Racing banner in deference to leading fuel additive manufacturer Fast’s sponsorship of the team via its Exocet product
- Team Principal Rob Austin has swapped his trademark race number 13 for 101 to highlight Fast’s latest mind-blowing, octane-boosting fuel additive called Rush 101 (aimed at track day enthusiasts)
- Hunter Abbott has joined the team for his debut season in Britain’s premier motor racing championship with sponsorship from the UK’s number one consumer alcohol breathalyser brand, AlcoSense
- His Audi is entered under the Alcosense Breathalysers Racing banner
- Pole Position, YouTube’s leading independent motor sport channel, has become official media partner to the team
- Fast Exocet will support highly popular BTCC-themed radio show Tin Top Tuesday with a regular slot on every programme called ‘Garage 101’
- Rob Austin will write a ‘warts and all’ race blog for BTCC Teams Championship sponsor HiQ’s hiqonline.co.uk website

Notably today’s launch has also enabled the media to see for the first time the stunning livery on the roof of Rob Austin’s Audi – images from fans who have invested in the team’s unique Rob Austin Racing Owners Club scheme which allows the public to buy shares in a BTCC race team. See www.robaustinracing.co.uk for more details.

Following a frenzy of media activity in the morning – with a mix of national, lifestyle, trade, consumer and specialist titles covering TV, radio, print and online – the team will this afternoon concentrate on a four-hour official BTCC test session on the Donington race track.

The Pershore-based outfit will then head south for more testing tomorrow (Wednesday) at the Silverstone circuit in Northants. Then it’s back to base where thorough final preparations will be made ahead of the new BTCC season at the iconic Brands Hatch circuit in just 11 days’ time on the weekend of Sat 29/Sun 30 March.

Brands Hatch marks the first of this year’s ten BTCC race weekends which will play to Premier Division-sized crowds at the best race circuits around the UK – as well as a huge audience tuning into ITV4’s live coverage of each event.

Neil Ryding, Managing Director of Fast which has embarked on a two-year title sponsorship of RAR in the BTCC, commented: “Everything we have seen since announcing our commitment to Rob Austin Racing two months ago has already exceeded expectations – massive additional awareness of who we are and our products, a fantastic engineering partnership with one of the BTCC’s top teams and, in particular, the ‘king of cool’ himself Rob Austin becoming the face of our Exocet and Rush products.

“Our sponsorship of course forms a major part of our marketing strategy – the BTCC is the perfect arena in that respect but we also believe no other driver-team combination has the ability to communicate our message as effectively to the millions of public who follow the action. Just like RAR, Fast is set for rapid expansion in the two years and we look forward to some very exciting and successful results together, both on and off the track.”

Kevin Monks, PR and Marketing Manager at AlcoSense added: “Rob Austin Racing is clearly the fans’ favourite team and can’t be beaten in terms of media value. Working with Rob and Hunter we hope to raise awareness of how easy it is to unintentionally drink drive the morning after and help increase road safety by giving the fans the tools to tell when the alcohol’s cleared after a good night!”

Rob Austin said: “The season can’t come soon enough for us – a stable and loyal title sponsor in Fast, major input from DUO plc and AlcoSense, a fantastic media partnership with Pole Position plus, for the first time in our history, an extensive pre-season testing programme of our cars means we’ve never been anywhere near as well prepared as this before. All the data suggests we’ve moved the Audi’s performance forward in terms of raw pace over both a single lap and a race distance.

“We had some great results in 2013 – leading races, fastest laps, our first pole position, our first win – and that’s given everyone an added boost going into 2014. But equally we’re all aware we can’t live off past glories – you do that in the BTCC and you get eaten alive. All I know at the moment is that the Audi has never felt as good, we have the best sponsors, partners and fanbase of any team on the grid – and I actually defy anyone to prove me wrong on that – as a team we’re functioning better than ever, in Hunter Abbott I’ve got a very talented rookie team-mate and, in 23 years of competition, I’ve never been so excited for a season’s racing.”

Photo credit: Phil Laughton Photography / Rob Austin Racing

BTCC: Rotek Racing Audi S3 revealed at Donington

By Johan Laubscher

The highly anticipated Audi S3 from Rotek Racing broke cover at the official BTCC Media Day at Donington on Tuesday.

Rotek Racing’s new Audi S3 has been built to the NGTC regulations and will be competing in the 2014 British Touring Car Championship, with Robb Holland behind the wheel.

A total of thirty-one cars have been entered for the 2014 BTCC, including three Audis: Rotek Racing’s Audi S3 and the two Rob Austin Racing Audi A4 NGTC cars. 

Rob Austin Racing was also present at the BTCC Media Day on Tuesday. Their two Audi A4 NGTC cars are driven by Rob Austin and Hunter Abbott.

The opening round of the BTCC will be taking place at Brands Hatch from 29-30 March.

Photo credit: Rotek Racing

BTCC: Hunter Abbott joins Rob Austin Racing for 2014 BTCC season

Rob Austin Racing Press Release

• Front-running team for rapid Berkshire racer's debut assault on nation's biggest motor sport prize

Hunter Abbott will race the Rob Austin Racing team’s second Audi A4 in the 2014 Dunlop British Touring Car Championship.

Abbott, from Maidenhead, will enter his first season in the UK’s premier motor racing championship as team-mate to proven race-winner Rob Austin.

Major sponsorship for the 33-year-old will come from award-winning alcohol breathalyser manufacturer AlcoSense.

The first of ten race events that make up the 2014 BTCC calendar takes place at the iconic Brands Hatch circuit in Kent on Sunday 30 March. Prior to that is next week’s (Tues 18 March) high-profile BTCC Media Day season launch at the Donington Park circuit in Leicestershire.

Notably each of those ten events will receive close to seven hours of live television coverage in the UK on the ITV4 channel. Over 20 million viewers watched the ITV network’s increased coverage of the BTCC in 2013 while trackside audiences grew for the tenth consecutive year to an average of 37,000 people per event.

Meanwhile Abbott is a highly accomplished racer with numerous podium results in British and international GT competition. He also has extensive knowledge of the circuits raced on the BTCC calendar having been a front-runner in the supporting Ginetta GT Supercup category in 2012.

He has already had his first taste of the turbocharged, 300bhp, 2-litre Audi A4 that he will race for Rob Austin Racing in 2014 with a test session at the Rockingham circuit in Northamptonshire last Thursday (6 March).

Hunter Abbott:
“Watching the BTCC in the Nineties is what made me want to race in the first place. Racing in the BTCC is the realisation of part of a childhood dream and finally I’ve got an opportunity to do it – and with a team that’s clearly on the up. The deal has come together quite late but I got my first run in the Audi (Thursday Rockingham) and I’m pleased with how it went. Rob and I shared a car in 2008 in British GT and we like the same things. The power delivery in a turbo car took some getting used to but I immediately felt at home in the Audi.”

Team Principal Rob Austin:
“I’m very excited about having Hunter in the team – particularly having seen how quickly he got into the groove at Rockingham in less than ideal track conditions. He's driven for me in the past and always been very rapid. All the team are immediately very impressed with his approach and we’re looking forward to the season together.”

Photo credit: Phil Laughton Photography / Rob Austin Racing