BTCC: Silverstone

Chris has earned himself the possibility of a part team sponsored drive for next year with Rob Austin Racing. Chris said ‘It’s great news, we came to this meeting thinking it would be only our second, and possibly last meeting, knowing that a full season's budget was out of our reach for next year, and Team Principle Richard Austin has offered to help us a 'life line’.

Chris who only two weeks ago became the second youngest driver in the 50 year history of British Touring Cars, had a very trying weekend, missing a majority of qualifying after contact with Jeff Smith. H he lined up 26 th on the 30 car grid for the first race, which within seconds of starting, saw the safety car come out after a mid grid collision. He then continued to pick his way through the pack to 15 th before suffering a flat tyre on lap 17 and, after having to visit the pits, he finally finished 22nd.

The second race saw Chris right in the thick of things, battling in the middle of the grid with a number of cars including 2010 champion Plato, and front runner Jackson, before finishing a very respectable 17 th . Unfortunately in the third race after putting in his fastest lap of the weekend, only 7 tenths slower than eventual winner Chilton, Chris suffered mechanical problems and had to retire.

He was a little disappointed with his results after stating pre- race that his aim was a top ten finish but Dave Lampett, Rob Austin’s senior engineer commented afterwards ‘The lad's naturally quick, he gets straight on the pace, and if we can get him a full season next year he will fast become a top ten finisher, he forgets like a lot of us do, he is only 17, five years younger than any other driver on the grid and only in his second meeting. It’s only his fifth time in the car and you have the likes of Plato and Neal out there that have been doing it 20 years.'

Dave Swanwick, Chris’s dad said, ’ The last month h as been a real roller coaster and I would like to thank everybody on the team for what they have done for Chris, and Richard Austin in particular, for offering us the chance to race in the highest level of saloon car racing in the country and the possibility of continuing next season.’

Click the following link to listen to Radio Silverstone interviews:

Matthew Layton - Radio Silverstone - 14/10/2011 - BTCC Five-Way Grand Finale Special