Brands Hatch - Finale re-cap

Brands Hatch was the battle ground for the final round of the 2012 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season – with Gordon Shedden, Matt Neal and Jason Plato all fighting for the overall crown.

eBay Motor’s Tom Onslow-Cole shone in the final qualifying session of the year and took pole position for the team however couldn’t hold on to his lead during the first race of the day. Matt Neal fought back from a torrid weekend at Silverstone to take the first win, with championship contenders Shedden and Plato finishing fifth and eighth respectively.

The new liveried KX Momentum MG wasn’t performing to its highest standard in the damp conditions that at made their presence for the finale, and struggled to make up places through the field.

Andrew Jordan clinched second place ahead of Tom Onslow-Cole, with the Pirtek driver closing in on the Independent’s Championship. A new driver making his debut with Team HARD at Brands Hatch was Aaron Williamson, who in his first tin-top race, finished in fourteenth place having had a good run through the field, staying out of trouble where it mattered.

Aron Smith sails to his first BTCC victory in race two.
Picture Credit: Marc Waller

The second race of the day saw Gordon Shedden clinch the 2012 British Touring Car title – becoming the first Scotsman to take the title since John Cleland in 1995. Andrew Jordan also wrapped up the Independent Championship after Rob Collard retired after contact on the first lap, but was aware that he needed to stay focussed to claim the Independent’s team title for Pirtek Racing.

Not set on setting his stamp on the BTCC podium at Silverstone, Redstone Racing’s Aron Smith had a spectacular race to claim his first ever win in the championship.

At last: Gordon Shedden finally claims the Dunlop MSA
British Touring Car Championship crown.
Picture Credit: Marc Waller

Retirements from the race included Dan Welch, who suffered from heavy damage after contact with Nick Foster. Dave Newsham was lucky to escape terminal damage after a big shunt with the tyre wall coming out of Druids. In an attempt to recover after a slide, Andy Neate collected Adam Morgan during the race, with Tom Onslow-Cole and Aaron Williamson also becoming innocent victims after trying to avoid the incident.

Delight: Frank Wrathall takes a maiden win for the
family-run Dynojet team in race three.
Picture Credit: Marc Waller

Race three saw another brand new winner to the championship, with Dynojet’s Frank Wrathall taking to the top step of the podium. Anguish for Mat Jackson saw him troubled with the same throttle issue that haunted him at Silverstone, forcing him to pull over and retire from the race.

With Jason Plato still struggling in the wet conditions that continued at Brands Hatch, Matt Neal took the second place spot in the standings, with Plato having to settle for third – a great result for a team that started the year with only a fifteen minute shakedown session under their belts.

Pirtek Racing secured the Independent’s Team’s Championship, making it a good year all round for Honda. Honda Racing stomped to victory in not only the driver’s championship, but also the manufacturers and team’s championships.

Honda Yuasa Racing celebrate their fantastic string of results.
Photo Credit: Marc Waller

After such an exciting season, the countdown now starts for the 2013 season, which is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever before.