Cole ready to head ‘home’ to Oulton
SOUTHPORT race star James Cole (27) will be in action on his “home” track Oulton Park, near Tarporley, Cheshire, in what is billed as the UK’s biggest car racing series, the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, this weekend.
The former British Formula Ford Champion, now in his fourth year in tintop racing, is competing this season with the Silverline Subaru BMR Racing Team.
Subaru is new to the BTCC this year and is still working hard on developing its four very smart Levorg Sports Tourers being driven by Cole and his teammates, double BTCC champions Jason Plato and Colin Turkington, and team boss Warren Scott.
Unfortunately development has been hampered in recent weeks when the team was forced to pull out of the Thruxton rounds in May after there were fears there could be a repeat of a fireball drama that saw Cole escaping from his blazing car at Donington Park back in April.
Fortunately, as reported in the Southport Visiter at the time, Cole had emerged from unscathed but “slightly singed” and described the incident as “scary.”
Team BMR boss Scott is hoping that when they join the 30 plus car grid at Oulton Park this weekend they will be in a position “show what Subaru can do” and Plato has declared that “we’ll be stronger at Oulton Park.”
Cole asks in a tweet:”Is it time for Oulton Park yet?” and adds “We got some catching up to do!!” Who will they be competing against? Scotland’s Gordon Shedden is defending his crown in the works Honda Civic Type R but it’s team-mate Matt Neal, a multi-times BTCC champion, who is currently sharing the championship lead with WSR BMWs Rob Collard.
Not far behind is Adam Morgan from nearby Blackburn who will be aiming to perform well on home ground in his Mercedes. And Motorbase Ford Focus duo, Andrew Jordan (2013 BTCC champion) and Mat Jackson, who was James Cole’s team-mate last season, are also likely race winners.
With supporting action from the Porsche Carrera Cup GP, Renault UK Clio Cup, Ginetta GT Supercup, Ginetta Juniors and British F4 (MSA Formula), an exciting weekend is in prospect.
There is practice, qualifying and racing on Saturday and a full day of racing on Sunday.
All three BTCC races will also feature in ITV4’s “live” BTCC programme on Sunday.
Further details on the Oulton Park weekend are available from 0843 453 9000.