THRUXTON - ROUND 4 - RACE REPORT

Rounds 10, 11 & 12 of the 2006 British Touring Car Championship at Thruxton
June 3/4, 2006

Rob picks up podium prize at Thruxton

With Rob racing on his local track, hopes were high ahead of the Thruxton weekend. The friends, family and sponsors that turned out to watch Rob in action were not disappointed as he and Team RAC enjoyed their most successful meeting of the season.

Saturday was dogged by engine troubles for the MG ZS. "I knew there was something wrong during free practice. It eventually let go at the end of qualifying. Fortunately I was able to pull off the track near some marshals and they put it out quite quickly."

Before the engine went up in smoke, Rob had managed to set the eighth quickest time in qualifying. After some hard work by the WSR crew overnight, Rob took up his grid slot with a new engine for Sunday's first race.

Rob made up two places away from the line and was soon engulfed in a battle with works Vauxhall driver, Fabrizio Giovanardi. The pair lost out to Darren Turner and Dave Pinkney, but Rob soon gained the places back as Giovanardi retired with suspension problems and Pinkney ran off the track.

Ahead, Turner passed Gavin Smith's Astra to move up to fifth, which became fourth when Jason Plato suffered a puncture. Smith then became Rob's next target, and the MG proved too pacey, with Rob taking fifth position on the penultimate lap.

Following the race, Rob said, "Obviously we fitted a new engine after yesterday. The car was good at the start and I made up a couple of places, and then coming out of the chicane, Giovanardi got alongside, which opened the door. Then Turner and Pinkney got past, which is unfortunate. I then just looked after the tyres and worked away towards the end of the race. We knew we'd be strong at the end."

Starting fifth for race two, the podium clearly beckoned for Rob. However, the race was past the halfway stage before he was able to pass Tom Chilton at the fast Church section of the circuit, to move up to fourth. Rob's quest for third was helped by the safety car coming out on track, which brought him up on the tail of Turner's SEAT.

After the restart, Rob made third position his own, but then had to fend off a late charge from Integra driving Dave Pinkney. In doing so, he clinched a podium finish, much to the delight of his watching fans.

"I really had to hold on and battle for that position", said Rob. "Dave Pinkney was charging really hard but there was no way I was going to give it up. It's all credit to Team RAC for getting the car back together after yesterday. We made minor set-up changes after the first race and it's great to be on the podium."

The reverse-grid system put Rob on the third row for the third race of the day. Fourth at the first corner, Rob was an onlooker as Gordon Shedden came up the inside and sent Darren Turner off into the barriers. The safety car was called into action once again, following which, Rob was sandwiched between the two Halfords Integras. Matt Neal passed Rob's MG on the long run up to the chicane on lap seven.

Rob resumed his battle with Pinkney from the previous race, with the pair swapping positions a couple of times. Both were passed by the ballast-free Jason Plato, before scrapping together through to the chequered flag. Rob ended the race in sixth position.

Rob said, "The tyres just went off during the course of the race. The extra weight (27kgs) I was carrying didn't help and it pretty much left me powerless. I'm pleased to have been on the podium this weekend and I am really happy for Colin."

It was a strong weekend for Rob and Team RAC, and they will hoping to continue the impressive performances when the series resumes post-World Cup at Croft, Yorkshire over the weekend of 15/16 July.