Cammish on podium after last-minute call-up
British Touring Car Championship star Dan Cammish was a surprise last-minute call-up for last weekend’s opening round at Thruxton with the BTC Racing Honda team.
The Yorkshireman was left high and dry for 2021 when commercial issues forced him out of the Team Dynamics Civic Type R line-up, and Cammish has returned for the 2021 season to the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, in which he is a two-time title winner. But BTC was left seeking a replacement when Michael Crees, the 2020 Jack Sears Trophy champion, quit the series in favour of an attack on the Porsche Supercup.
“I had a text message from the team about it after the ‘Creesy’ announcement came out on the Friday [one week before Thruxton],” said Cammish. “They asked if I was interested because I know the track well, and I definitely know the car. It went quiet for a few days, and then on
Wednesday I got another message from Steve [Dudman, BTC boss]. I literally jumped out of bed and went straight to shakedown at Bicester Heritage. To be honest that was more of a seatfit, because I’m a tall lanky bastard!”
Cammish qualified 12th after getting onto slick tyres too late on the drying track, but he raced to fourth in race one. He then shadowed team-mate Josh Cook home in the sequel for a BTC Honda 1-2. The finale was scuppered when Cammish pitted for slicks just before the rain returned, forcing him back into the pits again.
Although this was a one-off as BTC seeks a full-season replacement, Cammish hopes to be back in the BTCC in 2022. “This is a hiatus but it’s not the end,” he said. “I’ll regroup, look at my options and come back stronger. This has shown that if I get an opportunity at the last minute I can do a good job and play the team game.”
Crees has replaced Josh Webster, who has pulled out of the Supercup due to ‘family matters’, at Parker Revs Motorsport alongside reigning Carrera Cup GB champion Harry King. The series kicks off next week supporting the Monaco Grand Prix.