Superstar Reid Returns for Final three BTCC
Rounds with Team RAC BMW
26 August 2009
Superstar Anthony Reid will join Team RAC for the final three rounds
of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship starting at the Silverstone
circuit in Northamptonshire this Sunday (30 August).
Reid, who has not been in the BTCC since 2004, will race a third Team
RAC-entered BMW 320si alongside Stephen Jelley and Colin Turkington.
Northern Irishman Turkington currently leads the Drivers' championship
but is coming under increasing pressure from Vauxhall's Italian ace
Fabrizio Giovanardi who himself already has two highly-competitive
team-mates in Matt Neal and Andrew Jordan.
Oxford-based Reid, with 15 race wins in the BTCC and who has twice
finished as championship runner-up, said: "Driving for Team RAC
is a fantastic opportunity and one I just couldn't turn down. It's
great being re-united with the crew at WSR again and I already feel
right at home. It's especially good for me having Colin as a team-mate
again and I'll be doing all I can to help him and Team RAC win the
Championship.
"It's also going to be fun locking horns with fellow 'old boys'
Plato and Neal; we've had some great battles over the years and no
doubt we'll have more this weekend!"
Team principal Dick Bennetts, who ran Reid in MGs from 2001-04, added: "Our
hand's been forced by Vauxhall instituting team orders at Knockhill
with Matt Neal and Andrew Jordan giving positions and points to Fabrizio.
"There's nothing wrong in them doing that; in fact it shows what
good team-players they both are. However three against two isn't a
fair fight, so that's why we've brought in Anthony to assist Colin
and Stephen.
"It's going to be tough for him, never having driven the car
before and having to carry maximum ballast of 45kgs (as a late entry
penalty), but we expect him to be quickly up to speed and right up
there in the races."
Reid becomes the latest big name in the last fortnight to confirm his
addition to the BTCC grid as it enters its crucial stages with rounds
at Silverstone, Rockingham (20 Sept) and Brands Hatch GP (4 Oct) to
go.
Former Formula 1 star Johnny Herbert has also just announced he will
be racing a Honda Civic for Team Dynamics in the closing three events
of the season.
Three races - being broadcast live by ITV4 - await the BTCC field this
Sunday (30 Aug) around Silverstone's tight National circuit. Turkington,
aiming for his first Drivers' title, leads the series by just nine
points from Giovanardi, the Champion these past two years. Third and
fourth and still with realistic chances of winning the title are former
champions Jason Plato from Oxford (in his Racing Silverline Chevrolet)
and Worcestershire's Matt Neal.
Another seven races are also on the supporting bill. Trackside admission
- including complimentary grandstand and BTCC paddock access - is FREE
for children. Adult tickets can be bought in advance for just £23.00
online at www.silverstone.co.uk or by calling 0870 588260.
BTCC.net
See series calendar for British
Touring Car Championship 2009
Related Story 18.08.2009 - Title Race Heads to Silverstone as F1 Star Herbert Makes BTCC Debut
