British Touring Car Championship 2008

HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship - Round Eight
Knockhill, August 17, 2008

Battling Performance from Motorbase in Race One

A drama-filled opening race in the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship at Knockhill saw Motorbase Performance BMW drivers Rob Collard and Steven Kane produce impressive drives through the field.

Collard used all his experience of the Scottish circuit to finish a strong seventh after climbing from his starting position of 15th. His team-mate Kane also showed his fighting qualities as he secured 12th place – having had to claw his way back from the back of the race order after being sent spinning from the track at the end of lap two.

The Motorbase BMW 320s once again showed much-improved race pace after finding it difficult to identify an optimum qualifying set-up.

Kane made a trademark lightning start and grabbed two places to move into 11th on the first lap. However, he was forced off near the end of lap two after the SEAT of Adam Jones made contact from behind at the Real Radio Hairpin, and Kane had to rejoin the race at the back of the field. Fortunately the Safety Car was out due to an incident elsewhere on the circuit, and he was able to close the gap at the tail of the pack.

Meanwhile, Rob Collard had made steady progress to move up to 10th position and into the points.

The safety car was deployed again on lap nine, but once the race was underway again the Motorbase Performance drivers started to show their grit – and by lap 16 Kane had fought his way up to 15th and Collard was ninth and closing on those ahead of him.

Kane passed the Team RAC BMW of Stephen Jelley on lap 20 to take 12 th place, and shortly after Collard won his battle with the ubiquitous Adam Jones to move into seventh – the final positions of both drivers at the chequered flag.

It was a solid showing from the Motorbase men after a tough race, and Collard's starting position of seventh for race two will give him a good chance of striking for a podium finish. While Kane will face a stiffer test starting from 12th, he will be confident of quickly moving into the top 10.

Motorbase Performance Team Driver Steven Kane said:
"I'm really frustrated after that because I made a great start and got by a couple of cars straight away. Then I got hit at the hairpin when I was almost completely round the corner, there was nothing I could do. Obviously it was good to get up to 12th after that but I should have been well inside the top 10."

Motorbase Performance Team Driver Rob Collard said:
I'm absolutely delighted with that run, we had a tough qualifying session so to make up that many places was exceptional. There were some hard fights out there but the car was very competitive and got stronger as the race went on. Now I'm in a decent position for race two I'm confident I can go out and race well."

Motorbase Performance Race One Results

Rob Collard Position 7 4pts Total Time – 26.40.818 Fastest Lap – 53.937

Steven Kane Position 12 N/A Total Time – 26.47.351 Fastest Lap – 53.880

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