Driver Database News

British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) Superstar Alex MacDowall is looking forward to next weekend’s visit to Knockhill as much as any event so far on the 2011 calendar, believing the Fife track offers one of his best chances yet of securing his maiden Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship victory.

The BTCC’s annual visit to Scotland, which this year takes place on 3rd/4th September, is one of the most important events of the season for the Carlisle driver – in actual fact, it’s very much a ‘home’ race meeting with the MacDowall family originally hailing from Ayrshire.

During his debut season in the UK’s premier motor racing championship last year, Alex starred at Knockhill by taking his second career pole position in touring cars and also setting a new qualifying lap record for the 1.3-mile circuit with a scintillating effort.

In the first of the weekend’s three races, he went on to secure a well deserved second place and also posted the fastest lap to underline his pace. Had he not been jumped at the start by the Honda of Gordon Shedden – who has unrivalled Knockhill knowledge and is also the track’s Business Development Manager – Alex certainly had the speed to claim his maiden BTCC win.

So far this year the 20-year-old has two podiums to his credit and he arrives in Scotland next week seventh in the championship, despite having suffered some serious misfortune. Enjoying his best weekend of 2011 last time out at Snetterton though, bagging a healthy total of 26 points, the Silverline Chevrolet driver maintains high hopes of pushing for a top five championship finish.

Three more consistently strong results at Knockhill, a circuit which suits the superb handling of his RML-run Chevrolet Cruze, will be key to achieving that goal. Alex’s quest should also be helped now the advantage held throughout the season by the turbo-charged cars has been largely leveled out.

“Last year was great so we know the car will be good around Knockhill”, he said, “We had a test at Donington last Thursday which went really well – me and Jason (Plato) were both there so we got through a lot of set-up changes. Qualifying will be more crucial than ever next weekend with so few places to overtake at Knockhill.

“I know I can go a step further than last year and achieve my first win, the track suits my driving style and the Chevrolet Cruze is the best handling chassis in the field so it’s pole or bust! I’m seventh in the championship but it’s still quite tight behind so I need another good points scoring weekend to give me a safe gap.”

Two free practice sessions will take place at Knockhill on Saturday, 3rd September, with qualifying expected to get underway at 15.05. All three races will be contested on Sunday, 4th September, with round 19 set to begin at 11.40, round 20 scheduled to follow at 14.10 and round 21 finalising the day’s action at 17.00.

Freeview, digital satellite and cable channel ITV4 will screen each race live with the broadcast also available in High Definition on ITV4 HD. Live streaming of Saturday’s qualifying session and Sunday’s racing will also be carried online at www.itv.com/touringcars

Provisional 2011 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship Standings (after Rd18):
1st Mat Jackson, 158pts; 7th Alex MacDowall, 73pts

Photo by Jakob Ebrey Photography.

Liam McMillan, the youngest driver in this year’s HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship, has withdrawn from this weekend’s race meeting at his local Snetterton circuit.
The talented 19-year old driver from Wisbech in Cambridgeshire had planned to contest the event in his ex-Jason Plato SEAT Toledo, which is supported by Petronas Syntium, Cobra Engineering, EPM Technology and Proppa. He would, however, have had to use his less- powerful 20 value engine (as his 16 value unit isn’t fully rebuilt) and Liam is unwilling to race at the fast Snetterton track without a realistic chance of challenging for a top 10 finish.

In his first season of racing in the BTCC, and only his forth season in motor racing, Liam has demonstrated his potential by finishing just outside the top 10 three times and recording the second fastest time through a speed trap at Thruxton – clocking an impressive 127.1mph in the opening free practice session. The 2006 SAXMAX Champion now hopes to make at least one more BTCC appearance this season.

Liam McMillan: “Missing the BTCC race weekend at Snetterton was a difficult decision to make, but we haven’t let our hearts rule our heads and it’s definitely the correct thing to do.

“I know we can’t win with the equipment we have, but we want to put on a good show and do our best.  With a 16 valve engine we could challenge for a top ten result – but that engine isn’t fully rebuilt and we need to test it before we race it again.  With our 20 value engine, which was our only option for Snetterton, we’d be confined to the back of the field, and that isn’t good for my career.  I never want to be on track, just to make up the numbers.

“I’m hoping we’ll be able to test the 16 value engine soon and then we’ll make a decision as to which circuits will suit the Toledo the best and go from there.”