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In-Tune Racing’s Michael Doyle opened his HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship Independents Trophy points account at Donington Park National Circuit yesterday, Sunday, 4th May, during round seven of the season – the highlight of an otherwise trying weekend for the young Scottish racer.

 

After suffering a recurrence of the gearbox problems which have dogged his maiden BTCC campaign during Free Practice on Saturday morning, the 20-year-old touring car rookie was forced to miss the second session but did make it out for qualifying where he posted the 23rd fastest time in his Honda Civic.

 

It wasn’t a trouble-free session by any means, a coming together with John George following a spin at the Old Hairpin limiting Michael’s running to just seven laps.

 

Racing strongly during the first of Sunday’s races, the ELF Renault Clio Cup race winner secured an overall result of 15th position and was therefore the 10th placed Independents runner to take his first point of the championship. The finish was an achievement in itself as opening lap contact made his car a handful to drive for the remainder of the race.

 

Compounded by a break to his gear linkage and a loss of pressure in the clutch, Michael worked wonders to bring the car home in the Independents Points.

 

The BTCC newcomer, who lives in Gartocharn on the banks of Loch Lomond and away from the track works for his family’s Glasgow based In-Tune Garage Services business, hoped for more from round eight where he would start 15th on the grid but his race ended almost before it began when his engine developed a problem on the start line.

 

It also meant he wouldn’t be able to contest the third of the day’s races so all in all it was a very trying weekend for the young Scotsman. Now, he is focusing on the race meeting perhaps furthest from home – the fourth event of the year at Thruxton in Hampshire which takes place a fortnight from now.

 

“It’s been a really disappointing weekend”, said Michael, “We’ve had a lot of problems with the car and to be honest I don’t know how we managed to come home in the points in the first race. We’ll stay positive though, as soon as these niggles are sorted out I’m confident we’ll be able to move up the grid and challenge for some good results.

 

“Thruxton is next on the calendar in a couple of weeks, you definitely need a strong engine there so hopefully we’ll have everything sorted out and be able to show what we can do. I still feel optimistic and I’m looking forward to it.”

 

DREAM RESULT JUST ELUDES DOYLE AT RAINY ROCKINGHAM 

Scottish saloon car ace Michael Doyle came within just a handful of laps of achieving a dream top 10 result at Rockingham in Northamptonshire yesterday, Sunday, 13th April, during the sixth round of the 2008 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship. 

Only half a dozen races into his first ever year of touring car competition, the 20-year-old from Gartocharn produced a stunning performance in horrendous conditions and was on the verge of a career-best ninth place overall when an unfortunate excursion seven laps from home brought his race to an untimely end. 

With numerous front-runners coming to grief on the drenched International Super Sports Car Circuit, the In-Tune Racing ace revelled in the conditions to climb from 20th on the grid to 13th within the space of a couple of laps. 

Running in the top 12 on lap six, Michael started to reel in 11th-placed Erkut Kizilirmak and before too long he had steered his Honda Civic Type R into the top 10. The Safety Car was deployed on lap nine due to a couple of cars off the circuit and at the re-start on lap 12, Michael looked set to secure by far his best ever BTCC result. 

Sadly though, as has been the luck since his championship debut at Brands Hatch a fortnight ago, the ELF Renault Clio Cup graduate slid out of contention over the soaked grass of the Rockingham infield, inevitable contact with the barriers bringing the curtain down on a spirited and highly impressive drive.   

The In-Tune Garage Services and Andrew Watt Car Components backed racer certainly deserved more from round six which, incidentally, was screened live on ITV4, but with such great progress made Michael is full of confidence ahead of the third event of the season at Donington Park National Circuit in Leicestershire on 3rd/4th May. 

“It was an unfortunate end to the third race but I really enjoyed myself out there and I think we did a fantastic job in the conditions”, commented Michael, “When I managed to get up to ninth place I really did think we were on for our first ever BTCC points. It was a shame the race ended in the barriers but I think we acquitted ourselves well in difficult conditions. 

“There are many more positives than negatives to come out of the weekend and the whole team is confident we can move forward again at Donington in three weeks. Whether it rains or it’s dry, I’m really looking forward to it and I feel we’re beginning to really get our teeth into racing in the BTCC.” 

The start of the weekend on Saturday saw the In-Tune squad hampered by a series of niggling gremlins which persisted throughout both free practice sessions and then resulted in Michael being forced to miss qualifying through a mixture of clutch and gearbox issues. 

Working hard to prepare the car in time for Sunday’s first race, the team did a great job and after posting a top 20 finish in round four, Michael went on to suffer an unfortunate retirement in round five. The final race proved to be a major turn around though, the young Scotsman’s skill in the pouring rain a treat to watch.

He added: “We cured the gremlins from Brands Hatch and Andy Scott (chief engineer) helped us a lot with the set-up this weekend which made a huge difference. Things were going well initially on Saturday but then the clutch packed in and as soon as we had rectified that problem, then the gearbox started causing us some troubles again. 

“In the end we got things sorted out and I think we can take a lot of confidence from the way we performed in the third race. The problems were unfortunate and we obviously don’t have the biggest budget out there. We’re doing a good job with what we have though and we’re working hard on trying to secure more sponsors as the weeks go by.” 

Yesterday was also notable for the visit of several youngsters from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Michael welcoming the children prior to the first race where he posed for photos and also signed autographs.  

Charity work is something he attaches a great deal of importance to and he was also keen to show his respect during a minute’s applause at Rockingham on Sunday morning which was held in memory of late BTCC family members David Leslie and Richard Lloyd, both of whom were killed during a tragic air crash on 30th March. 

Highlights of Rockingham’s race action will be screened late tonight, Monday, 14th April, on the UK’s leading commercial station ITV1 at 01.05. Freeview, cable and digital satellite channel ITV4, and cable and digital satellite station Men & Motors, will broadcast additional re-runs later in the week – please check TV listings for details. 

Rounds seven, eight and nine of the 2008 BTCC season will take place at Donington Park National Circuit, Leicestershire, three weeks from now on 3rd/4th May

BTCC ROOKIE DOYLE ACHIEVES TOP 15 GOAL ON DEBUT 

In-Tune Racing’s Michael Doyle climbed a literal mountain at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit over the weekend, 29th/30th March, to achieve a deserved top 15 race result on his HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship debut. 

The 20-year-old Scotsman, who has made the step-up to the BTCC in its 50th anniversary season after a successful three-year tenure in the ELF Renault Clio Cup support series, arrived at the Kent track on Friday without an engine in his BTC-specification Honda Civic Type-R and faced a race against time to get the car prepared for Saturday’s qualifying. 

Although forced to miss the opening free practice as the team mechanics put the final finishing touches to the car, Michael emerged on track in the second session but was only able to complete an installation lap due to a power steering glitch. 

With a persistent misfire and gear problem throughout qualifying, Michael lined up 25th on the grid for his maiden BTCC race having never even driven the car before. Forced to pit after several laps due to the recurrent misfire, he did re-emerge five laps down on the leaders but wasn’t classified in the results due to not having completed sufficient distance. 

Round two saw the In-Tune racer, who lives in Gartocharn on the banks of Loch Lomond, start 22nd on the grid and he eventually finished in 18th place after a see-saw battle to place himself on row nine of the grid for Sunday afternoon’s third and final race. 

Easily his most impressive and promising drive of the weekend, the In-Tune Garage Services and Andrew Watt Car Components backed star ran much more strongly in the third encounter, adapting to cope with his car’s continued problems. 

Although the race was affected by two Safety Car periods, Michael kept his cool and ran in 16th position on lap 14 after getting ahead of the S2000-specification Chevrolet Lacetti of Harry Vaulkhard. An entertaining battle with Arkas Racing team-mates Erkut Kizilirmak and Martyn Bell then ensued, Michael emerging ahead and taking 15th place at the flag. 

Showing gritty determination and commitment throughout his first weekend in the BTCC, the top 15 finish was just reward for a great effort and never-say-die attitude. With more time in the car and some genuine test opportunities, Michael is confident he and his team can quickly move higher up the British Touring Car Championship pecking order. 

Perhaps most impressive was the fact Michael had to contend with the misfire, problems with his gears on the downshift and a blank dash-board display in every race. Yet he managed to work around the issues to improve with every outing, even though things got progressively worse throughout raceday. 

“We said at the start of the weekend if we could finish in the top 15 we’d be delighted and that’s what we managed to do in race three”, he commented, “Actually, to bring the car home in all three races was a great achievement considering we haven’t tested, we missed the first free practice and then only had one lap in the second practice. 

“Qualifying was our first proper run with the car and that’s when problems with a misfire and the gears came to light and compromised things. It’s been very hard work and our budget is tight but we’re confident we’ll improve as the weeks and months go by. There is much more to come from me and the car, we’re not in the BTCC to make up the numbers. 

“Without any testing at all, to have been lapping just a second off the pace of Fabrizio Giovanardi (reigning BTCC Champion) was really satisfying with all of the problems we’ve had. From 52.1 second laps in round one, we got down to 50.8 second lap times in the third race. Racing in the BTCC is my dream and I can’t wait for the next round now.”

Highlights of Sunday’s action from Brands Hatch will be broadcast on ITV1 late tonight, Monday, 31st March, at 00.50. Further screenings will be carried on Men & Motors and ITV1 during the coming week, please check listings for further details. 

The second BTCC race meeting of the season, featuring rounds four, five and six, will take place two weeks from now at Rockingham International Super Sports Car Circuit in Northamptonshire on 12th/13th April. 

pics : Jakob Ebrey Photography