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THRUXTON TYRE TORMENT
19/05/2008
After the highs of Donington's HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship racing – both the race weekend and the day's testing that took place afterwards - the SEAT Sport UK team travelled to Thruxton with a great deal of anticipation for another good set of results and potential victories.
Darren demonstrated some great race craft, including a superb start in race two, and chalked up 6th and 4th place finishes to add to the team's points tally, but the outcome was ultimately disappointing. The Oxfordshire based driver was looking strong for two podium finishes before a rude push aside by a Vauxhall and a puncture put paid to those hopes. He finished the third and final race of the day in 16th position, maintaining a 100% finishing record in the last six races.
Having found the sweet spot in the diesel engine powered SEAT Leon TDi at Donington, the team struggled to find the best balance for the car under stormy skies at the Hampshire track. "We came to Thruxton with high expectations and felt like we'd really got a handle on the car," said Darren. "We hoped to be fast in every practice and qualifying session, but instead it was very frustrating and a good balance was hard to find. It became clear that tyre management was going to be crucial as Thruxton is notoriously hard on tyres, but that's all part and parcel of the weekend.
"Race one was a bit of a struggle," admitted Turner, "and in the end 7th was a solid points-scoring finish, albeit disappointing that it wasn't any higher." The final results saw Darren placed in 6th place on the grid for race two and he made an absolutely blinding start.
"I think that was my best start ever," he said. "I was really happy about that, and found myself in third place by the end of the first lap. I was having a pop at Colin Turkington and got past him on the outside of the Club Chicane but it was hard work slowing down the car and I got crossed up and lost momentum. Colin got past me again, Matt Neal was underneath me and, as we went into Turn One, I was pushed out wide. The rear of Matt's Vauxhall was caught up with my front and we went onto the grass which was when Tom Onslow-Cole got past us both."
Race three was shaping up to be the best part of the weekend as, after another great opening few laps, Darren was soon up to third place and running very strongly. "I reckon I could have got Andrew Jordan for 2nd in the latter part of the race but it wasn't to be. I got a puncture on lap 10 (of 16) on the way out of Church and it was game over.
"It was hugely frustrating but we have to take what we can from the weekend. Each time we race this car we learn more about it and that will make us stronger next time out. There was a lot of good, hard racing out there today and I was part of that for a good deal of the time. Next time I want to be the beneficiary of it, rather than just part of it!"
The next weekend of BTCC action will take place at the Croft circuit in Yorkshire on 1st June. It is the same weekend as the official test for the 24 Hours of Le Mans but, as Darren is a previous winner for Aston Martin Racing, his presence is not mandatory.
Darren, 34, lives near Banbury in Oxfordshire. Successful in many different categories of motorsport, taking wins, podiums and points at almost every outing, he's going all out for 2008 BTCC success. He remains a firm favourite with teams, fans, and media alike.
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