TQ for TC6 at BRCA Winter National
Last weekend saw the running of the BRCA Winter Touring Car National with Olly Jefferies proving once again that the TC6 is a force to be reckoned with.
Winter nationals were common place a decade ago, but with the rise of multiple regional winter series they became a thing of the past.
Hosted by the Ardent Raceway 102 drivers were booked in for the two meetings, all driving BRCA 10.5 pro stock specification cars. The top 32 cars in qualifying were promoted to a Reedy style Race of Champions, with the remaining drivers left to fight it out for the clubman?s title.
After three rounds of qualifying top qualifier was the Associated TC6 of Olly Jefferies, followed by the Hot Bodies paring of Andy Moore and Johnny Bowden. Alan Bickerstaff was another Associated driver going well comfortably qualifying for the race of Champions in eighth. In all Associated had seven cars in the top thirty two for the Race of Champions! Zak Smith, Andy Murray, Chris Slater, Markus Askell and Aaron Morley also putting their TC6's in the 32.
Alan's TC5 looks the business.
Saturday afternoon, after qualifying, the first two rounds of the Race of Champions was held and it was two out of two wins for Olly. However, in the other races, Andy Moore also made a perfect start with two wins.
With Olly up front in the Race of Champions, it was brother Tom Jefferies who led the clubman qualifying overnight with his TC6. In third was AE Academy driver Ben Putt who is fitting in well to his new environment.
With this being the first meeting of 2011 and the first real chance for the new look Associated team to get together, there was a real a buzz around the pits. With four new academy drivers and new comer to the main team Andy Murray, the guys were all getting a feel for what it was like to be part of Team Associated.
A fine selection of individuals make for a stronger team.
Sunday morning and a mistake by Olly saw him record a DNF handing the incentive to Andy Moore. With one race to go Olly needed to win and set a faster final time than Andy to win the meeting, and starting from the back of the grid it was not going to be easy.
Olly set off and was soon up to second chasing down leader Alan Bickerstaff. As Olly homed in on the distinctive shell of his team mate Alan moved over to let a flying Olly through to chase down the possible winning time. However as Olly went on to win the race comfortably, he missed out on the fastest time he needed for the win.
Olly had to make do with 2nd on the podium.
Second place for Olly Jefferies overall and TQ for the TC6 was a great result still. An even better result was the strong team showing all the way down the order, new boy Andy Murray tenth and Alan Bickerstaff eighth. Chris Slater finished an excellent fifteenth, Zak Smith had miserable finals and always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, but the team felt this was great race experience for their talented youngster. Aaron Morley and Markus Askell also made the cut for the race of champions driving TC6?s.
In the clubman?s class Associated were also looking strong, Tom Jefferies held the overnight lead in the class and up with him was Junior Academy driver Ben Putt who really impressed the team with his new found speed. Car problems for Tom saw him finish down the order despite a good second place in the last final using Olly?s car. Ben finished second, a great result from a driver who is growing in confidence with every meeting.
Zak Smith's TC6.
A quick mention to Steve Lander, who it's best to say has had better weekends, despite a troubled event Steve dived in to help the other members of the team and keep the Associated team on top during what was a busy and hectic weekend.
Well done to the whole team, a great start to the 2011.
Alan's TC5 looks the business.
Saturday afternoon, after qualifying, the first two rounds of the Race of Champions was held and it was two out of two wins for Olly. However, in the other races, Andy Moore also made a perfect start with two wins.
With Olly up front in the Race of Champions, it was brother Tom Jefferies who led the clubman qualifying overnight with his TC6. In third was AE Academy driver Ben Putt who is fitting in well to his new environment.
With this being the first meeting of 2011 and the first real chance for the new look Associated team to get together, there was a real a buzz around the pits. With four new academy drivers and new comer to the main team Andy Murray, the guys were all getting a feel for what it was like to be part of Team Associated.
A fine selection of individuals make for a stronger team.
Sunday morning and a mistake by Olly saw him record a DNF handing the incentive to Andy Moore. With one race to go Olly needed to win and set a faster final time than Andy to win the meeting, and starting from the back of the grid it was not going to be easy.
Olly set off and was soon up to second chasing down leader Alan Bickerstaff. As Olly homed in on the distinctive shell of his team mate Alan moved over to let a flying Olly through to chase down the possible winning time. However as Olly went on to win the race comfortably, he missed out on the fastest time he needed for the win.
Olly had to make do with 2nd on the podium.
Second place for Olly Jefferies overall and TQ for the TC6 was a great result still. An even better result was the strong team showing all the way down the order, new boy Andy Murray tenth and Alan Bickerstaff eighth. Chris Slater finished an excellent fifteenth, Zak Smith had miserable finals and always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, but the team felt this was great race experience for their talented youngster. Aaron Morley and Markus Askell also made the cut for the race of champions driving TC6?s.
In the clubman?s class Associated were also looking strong, Tom Jefferies held the overnight lead in the class and up with him was Junior Academy driver Ben Putt who really impressed the team with his new found speed. Car problems for Tom saw him finish down the order despite a good second place in the last final using Olly?s car. Ben finished second, a great result from a driver who is growing in confidence with every meeting.
Zak Smith's TC6.
A quick mention to Steve Lander, who it's best to say has had better weekends, despite a troubled event Steve dived in to help the other members of the team and keep the Associated team on top during what was a busy and hectic weekend.
Well done to the whole team, a great start to the 2011.
