Frustrating weekend at Knockhill for MG

Credit: Aaron Lupton

The MG Triple Eight Racing team endured a frustrating weekend in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) at Knockhill.

Multiple collisions to both drivers in race two and three meant the two MG6s didn’t finish half of the day’s races resulting in limited points being added to the season totals.

Neither driver were able to compete with the front runners during Saturday’s qualifying, despite both being less than 0.7 seconds off the fastest lap. The top 26 drivers were separated by less than a second as Ashley Sutton and Josh Cook had to settle with 13th and 17th respectively.

Both drivers opted for soft tyres in race one and Sutton made up two places to finish 11^th, while Cook got caught in the field and crossed the line in 18^th. Jason Plato, who qualified on pole, took victory on his 500th BTCC race.

Cook was the best placed MG drivers in race two as he made his way up to 16th, while Sutton and Rob Austin made contact on lap nine resulting in suspension damage that ended the rookie’s race prematurely. Matt Neal was victorious after coming through from eighth on the grid.

Things went from bad to worse in race three as both drivers were unable to finish. Sutton was the first to retire – again with suspension damage, but this time after a collision on the opening lap. Cook’s race lasted slightly longer, but came to an end on lap eight after contact which also caused suspension damage on his MG6. Mat Jackson, who was drawn out on pole for the reverse grid, held on to win his fourth BTCC race of the season.

The MG Triple Eight Racing team won’t have long to get back in to action with rounds 22, 23 and 24 on Rockingham Motor Speedway on 27-28 August.