British Touring Cars

Watched the touring car racing from Brands Hatch, a circuit I love, which I frequented from the age of thirteen and where I have raced both single seaters and motorbikes.

The touring car action was great. Even though I've always loved single seaters and prototype sportscars best there's no denying that the cut and thrust of today's hatchbacks adds paint swapping and other dramas that only tin tops provide. I will always remember people like Gerry Marshal with his Firenza and battles between such diverse cars as Camaros, Mk1 Escorts and Minis, which at Crystal Palace in particular were incredible.

BUT there is a problem with British Touring Cars as it is, and it's that great British tradition of meddling! Reverse grids and ballast do make things exciting to a point, but many of us want to see the best car and driver combination win and when the ballast is so extreme that it leads to punctures and non finishes its gone just that bit too far.

A racer's story