BTCC: Local hero targets BTCC victory at Croft
21 June 2000
Britain’s top race series roars into North Yorkshire The high profile 2000 Auto Trader British Touring Car Championship makes its annual visit to the North East of England when rounds 13 and 14 are staged at the challenging Croft Circuit, near Darlington, this weekend (June 24-25). Although Swiss-speedster Alain Menu (Ford Mondeo) holds a slender lead at the top of the BTCC standings, most interest at Croft will be focussed on Redstone Team Honda. Its three-pronged attack includes not only local hero James Thompson but also Danish driver Tom Kristensen who returns to his Honda Accord having, last weekend, joined forces with Audi to win the famous Le Mans 24-Hours race. Having now scored two victories in the French endurance classic, Kristensen will be very much in demand at Croft both by the media and by autograph hunters. He has already underlined his touring car talents with a victory at Knockhill and is certain to be among the front-runners in both of Sunday’s two BTCC showdowns. Says Kristensen: “It was a fantastic weekend in France but now I must get back to BTCC business. Making the switch back to the front-driven Honda from the more powerful Audi sportscar won’t be a problem for me as I’m used to racing all kinds of different car. Honda has won three of the last five rounds so we are all expecting to have a strong second half of the season. Croft is a very interesting track with all types of corners – I’m really looking forward to another good weekend.” Team-mate Thompson will also be gunning for glory. The 26-year-old from York bounced back to win last time out at Silverstone after missing several of the earlier rounds following a massive accident at Brands Hatch in April. However his recent success means his Honda Accord will be handicapped by 40kg of extra weight at the weekend. On a positive note, the Honda ace has a great record of success on home turf having scored memorable Sprint Race victories at Croft in both 1998 and 1999. “Honda and I have always enjoyed strong results at the track and we went well there in pre-season testing. Tom is sure to be buoyed up after winning Le Mans but, hopefully my home advantage will more than make up for the 40kg of success ballast. Having missed four rounds, I just want to win some races and, perhaps, get myself back into contention for the championship,” says Thompson. Lining up alongside Thompson and Kristensen in the third of the Honda Accords is former BTCC champion Gabriele Tarquini. The cheerful Italian is a fanatical football fan and could find himself rather alienated on Saturday evening should England be playing Italy in the quarter-finals of Euro 2000. Championship leader Menu spearheads Ford’s hopes of success in the North East. The 1997 champion hasn’t won at Croft since ‘doing the double’ at the 2.1-mile circuit’s inaugural BTCC meeting three years ago. However, with three victories from the opening four rounds, Menu has been the man to beat in 2000. He currently holds a five-point advantage over fellow Ford racer Anthony Reid at the top of the series standings. Ford’s third driver Rickard Rydell, however, could be the pick of the Mondeo men. The Swede arrives at Croft after four poor results have seen him slip back from joint leader to seventh. But with no ballast this weekend, the 1998 BTCC champion will be looking to relaunch his title bid on a circuit that has bought him much success in the past. He’s hunting for a hat-trick of Feature Race victories at Croft having won the longer 30-lap pit-stop showdown in both 1998 and 1999. Look out too for the trio of Vauxhall drivers. Jason Plato and Yvan Muller have already proved the Vectra to be a race winner in 2000 and, although the Frenchman is another to carry 40kg of success ballast having won ten days ago at Silverstone, both he and Plato are sure to be in the thick of Sunday’s action. Vincent Radermecker races the third of the Vauxhalls. Nissan dominated last year’s BTCC and, although the factory team quit the series on the highest possible note, a couple of Sunderland-built Primeras are still present on the BTCC grid in the hands of two private entrants competing for the coveted Michelin Cup for Independents. Reigning ‘indie’ king Matt Neal currently enjoys a 30-point advantage over Colin Blair who races the second of the privately-run Primeras. While the battle rages among the Super Touring drivers at the front of the field, the BTCC Class B’s ranks will also provide plenty of top class entertainment. As the teams enter the second half of the season, Alan Morrison (Touring Car VIP Club/Peugeot 306 Gti6) and James Kaye (Barwell Motorsport/Honda Accord) are tied at the top of the table with Mark Lemmer (Barwell Motorsport/Honda Integra Type R) breathing down their necks. Added Class B interest at Croft will come from the two Nissan Primeras of Robert Collard and Marc Nordon entered by the team set-up by former BTCC race winner John Bintcliffe. Hailing from Harrogate, Bintcliffe is another looking for a home win. BTCC spectators at Croft will also be able to witness an exciting package of support racing action, including: Slick 50 Formula Ford Zetec; Ford Credit Fiesta Zetec; Autobytel Lotus Elise Series; Formula Renault 2000; and Elf Clio Renaultsport UK Cup championships. The BTCC contenders are testing at Croft on Friday, June 23. Qualifying takes place on Saturday, June 24, with the races on Sunday, June 25. Round 13 (Sprint Race, 15 laps, 31.9 miles) starts at 12.25pm with round 14 (Feature Race, 30 laps, 63.81 miles) scheduled to begin at 2.55pm. Croft ticket hotline: 01325 721815