MORE BTCC POINTS IN THE BAG FOR DYNOJET

Frank Wrathall and the Dynojet Racing team picked up another two points finishes yesterday (Sunday) as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship reached the half-way stage at Croft.

The three races in the north-east saw Frank secure a best finish of eighth at the wheel of his independent Toyota Avensis as he maintained his position in the championship, although more luck on race day could well have seen the second-year driver make further progress up the points standings.

Qualifying: 4th (of 23)

After radical changes to the Avensis following his home event at Oulton Park, Frank went into qualifying targeting a place inside the top 10 but produced a stunning lap - including the best second sector of anyone - to take fourth on the grid for the opening race of the weekend.

“I knew behind the wheel that it was a good lap and to secure fourth on the grid is absolutely brilliant,” he said. “We came here having made some pretty big changes to the car and had to work on the balance through practice. We took massive steps forwards through the day and my aim was to be in the top 10. I didn't expect to be as high as fourth so I’m delighted with the result.”

Race 1: retired

Race proved difficult for Frank after contact from the MG of Andy Neate forced him off the road at the first corner, damaging his Avensis and dropping him down to 15th place. Although he was able to battle his way back into the top 10, contact with a tyre stack at the chicane resulted in his retirement from the race on lap 14.

“Going into turn one, Neate just hit me in the rear and put me off the road,” he said. “I was able to keep going but the car wasn’t handling right as a result and I clipped the tyre stack at the chicane. It’s a shame as we should have had a top five at least in that race.”

Race 2: finished 8th

Starting from 19th on the grid in his repaired car, Frank’s target was to make up as many places as possible to try to benefit from the reverse grid draw for the final race of the weekend. Lapping quickly and consistently, Frank gradually worked his way through the midfield before crossing the line eighth; a result that would promote him to third on the grid for race three.

“Coming from 19th to finish eighth was a good result,” said Frank. “The car felt great early on but I was struggling in the final seven laps and really had to hold on to the car. I have to say thanks to the team for getting out me out as there was a lot of damage after race one.”

Race 3: finished 15th

Although he dropped two places at the start of the third race, Frank soon moved back into a podium position before a mid-race Safety Car period caused by two cars going off at Tower. At the restart, Frank lost a place to Jason Plato’s MG before a brake issue saw the Dynojet man run wide and lose valuable places. With a technical problem developing, Frank then focused on bringing his car home to the finish, which he did in the final points-scoring position.

“At the start of the final race, the Toyota was superb but I think something must have broken just before the Safety Car came out as it was suddenly really difficult to drive,” he said. “Going into Tower on the restart, I ran wide and lost places and then I just had to hold on and bring the car home. It’s a weekend that could have given us a lot more.”

Frank maintains ninth in the overall championship standings and fifth place among the independent drivers.

Next weekend Frank, and the Dynojet team will be promoting themselves to one of the biggest motorsporting crowds of the season at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where their BTCC Avensis will join an impressive display of Toyota competition cars.

“The Goodwood Festival of Speed is an event that I really enjoy. Driving the car up the hill there is an awesome thing to do, and it’s great to be able to put on a show for such a large crowd. I’m really looking forward to it.”

The Dynojet Racing team is backed by FUCHS Titan Race, Mac Tools, Klenzan, Angel Springs, K&N, Graphix and Autoglym.