Rookie Bushell’s inside track
Since its inception in 1958, the British Touring Car Championship has attracted millions of fans around the world. Only Formula 1 and NASCAR have longer histories – but what’s it actually like to race in the series?
caught up with Tonbridge’s Mike Bushell at Brands Hatch to find out. A mechanic and MOT tester by trade, 26-year-old Mike Bushell fulfilled any budding saloon car racer’s dream this year when he joined the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.
The former Ford Fiesta champion entered the series after winning the 2014 Renault UK Clio Cup, and signed a deal to race for the West Thurrockbased AmD Tuning squad.
Joining 32 racers, Bushell entered the first round at Brands in April at the wheel of a two-litre turbo Ford Focus.
He said: “I think I had a little too high expectation coming off Clios. It’s really tough – you have 20 of the best drivers here.
“It’s very tough to find sponsorship and once you are in it, you realise that you are very privileged to be up here and it’s tough to stay in.”
Adding to a line-up full of champions, Bushell started his year by picking up the Jack Sears Trophy win for rookie drivers in race three at Brands.
He went on to finish runner-up Kent 1, Maidstone 2nds 1 Canterbury 4ths 4, Marden Russets 2nds 0 Ashford 2nds 4, New Beccehamians 2 Burnt Ash 2nds 1, Old Bordenians 2nds 0 Cliftonville 3. Fixtures: Ashford 2nds v BBHC, Burnt Ash 2nds v Maidstone 2nds, Canterbury 4ths v Blackheath & OE 2nds, Cliftonville v New Beccehamians, Sevenoaks 3rds v Old Bordenians 2nds, University of Kent v Marden Russets 2nds. Sutton Val 2 .... 7 6 0 1 26 14 18 BBHC 2 ........... 7 5 1 1 21 16 16 Uni of Kent 2 ... 7 4 2 1 22 14 14 Deal ................ 7 4 1 2 35 16 13 BromBeck 5 .... 7 4 1 2 25 14 13 Gore Court 3 ... 7 4 1 2 23 18 13 Gill Anchs 2 .... 6 2 1 3 14 15 7 Sevenoaks ...... 7 2 1 4 13 15 7 F’stone Opt 3 .. 6 2 0 4 13 15 6 B Ash 3 ........... 7 1 2 4 11 19 5 Sevenoaks 4 ... 7 1 2 4 11 28 5 Ashford 4 ........ 7 0 0 7 8 38 0 Results: Sevenoaks 4ths 1 Bexleyheath & Belvedere 2nds 6, Gore Court 3rds 3 Deal 2, Gillingham Anchorians 2nds 1 Bromley and Beckenham 5ths 3, University of Kent 2nds 2 Folkestone Optimist 3rds 1, Sevenoaks Shadows 0 Sutton Valence 2nds 2, Burnt Ash 3rds 3 Ashford 4ths 0. Fixtures: Sutton Valence 2nds v Gore Court 3rds, Gillingham Anchorians 2nds v Bexleyheath & Belvedere 2nds, Bromley and Beckenham 5ths v University of Kent 2nds, Deal v Burnt Ash 3rds, Ashford 4ths v Sevenoaks 4ths, Folkestone Optimist 3rds v Sevenoaks Shadows. Gravesham ..... 7 6 1 0 27 6 19 Tun Wells V..... 7 6 0 1 26 12 18 Blackheath ..... 7 3 3 1 20 11 12 Tun Wells 4..... 7 3 3 1 15 12 12 BromBeck 6 .... 6 3 1 2 10 8 10 Maidstone 3.... 7 3 1 3 23 22 10 S’oaks Acrns... 6 3 0 3 14 10 9 Cant Griffins.... 7 2 1 4 12 12 7 Cobdown ........ 7 1 3 3 13 16 6 Old Bord 4 ...... 7 1 2 4 9 21 5 Cliftonville 2 .... 7 1 1 5 11 34 4 Sevenoaks 6 ... 7 1 0 6 7 23 3 Results: Cobdown 2 Maidstone 3rds 2, Gravesham & Wellcome 5 Old Bordenian 4ths 0, Blackheath and OEs Heathens 5 Cliftonville 2nds 0, Tunbridge Wells Vets 2 Canterbury Griffins 1, Sevenoaks 6ths 0 Tunbridge Wells 4ths 2. Fixtures: Old Bordenian 4ths v Bromley and Beckenham 6ths, Sevenoaks Acorns v Blackheath and OEs Heathens, Cliftonville 2nds v Sevenoaks 6ths, Tunbridge Wells 4ths v Tunbridge Wells Vets, Canterbury Griffins v Cobdown, Maidstone 3rds v Gravesham & Wellcome. in the Jack Sears Trophy overall standings behind Chevrolet’s Josh Cook – and picked up a class win at Snetterton.
However, a crash in qualifying at Thruxton was his worst moment; the impact with the barriers leaving him with severe ligament damage.
It left him with a substantially damaged car and reignited a F’stone Opt 7 .. 7 5 2 0 30 16 17 Holcombe 6 .... 6 5 0 1 16 7 15 Cobdown 2 ..... 7 4 2 1 8 5 14 Sutton Val 4 .... 6 4 0 2 13 7 12 Herne Bay 4 .... 6 3 1 2 16 10 10 Blackheath ..... 6 3 0 3 13 5 9 Maidstone 6.... 6 2 1 3 21 22 7 New Becc 4 .... 6 2 0 4 11 19 6 Gravesham ..... 7 1 2 4 9 11 5 B Ash 7 ........... 6 1 0 5 8 25 3 Ashford 6 ........ 7 1 0 6 10 28 3 Results: Maidstone 6ths 5 Folkestone Optimist 7ths 5, Blackheath and OEs Dynamos 5 Ashford 6ths 0, Burnt Ash 7ths 1 Holcombe 6ths 2, Herne Bay 4ths 2 Gravesham & Wellcome Unicorns 2, New Beccehamian 4ths 1 Cobdown 2nds 2. Fixtures: Sutton Valence 4ths v Burnt Ash 7ths, Folkestone Optimist 7ths v Herne Bay 4ths, Cobdown 2nds v Blackheath and OEs Dynamos, Holcombe 6ths v New Beccehamian 4ths, Ashford 6ths v Maidstone 6ths. West Herts ...... 9 7 1 1 30 12 22 BromBecks ..... 9 7 1 1 23 6 22 St Albans 2 ..... 9 6 1 2 24 9 19 Bedford........... 9 6 0 3 17 7 18 Norwich .......... 9 5 1 3 24 16 16 Old Loughts .... 9 4 2 3 10 7 14 Maidstone....... 9 4 1 4 21 15 13 Cambridge U ... 9 4 1 4 14 16 13 Harleston 2 ..... 9 3 0 6 13 24 9 Broxbourne .... 9 2 0 7 8 24 6 Dereham ........ 9 1 0 8 7 24 3 Tun Wells ....... 9 1 0 8 4 35 3 Results: Old Loughts 2 Cambridge Uni 1, Broxbourne 1 West Herts 4, Maidstone 1 Harleston Magpies 2nds 4, Dereham 2 Norwich Dragons 3, Tunbridge Wells 1 Brom & Becks 4, St Albans 2nds 2 Bedford 0. Fixtures: Broxbourne v Maidstone, West Herts v Old Loughts, Cambridge Uni v Dereham, Norwich Dragons v Tunbridge Wells, Brom & Becks v St Albans 2nds, Bedford v Harleston Magpies 2nds. Sevenoaks 3 ... 9 8 1 0 33 13 25 Gore Court ...... 9 8 1 0 25 10 25 Sevenoaks 4 ... 9 6 0 3 27 15 17 Cliftonville ....... 9 4 3 2 21 13 15 Gravesend ...... 9 5 0 4 20 20 14 Old Bord ......... 9 4 1 4 18 11 13 K Alleyns......... 9 3 1 5 22 23 10 Maidstone 2.... 8 2 2 4 17 25 7 Meopham ....... 9 2 1 6 8 18 7 Old William ..... 9 2 0 7 13 23 6 Canterbury 3 ... 9 2 0 7 11 33 6 Gill Anchs ....... 8 2 0 6 10 21 5 Results: Meopham 0 Sevenoaks 4ths 3, Old Williamsonians 0 Old Bordenian 1, Gillingham Anchorians 2 Gore Court 3, Gravesend 2 Canterbury 3rds 1, Maidstone 2nds 3 Cliftonville 3, Sevenoaks 3rds 5 Kings Alleyns 1. Fixtures: Old Bordenian v Sevenoaks 3rds, Cliftonville v Gore Court, Canterbury 3rds v Meopham, Gillingham Anchorians v Gravesend, Sevenoaks 4ths v Old Williamsonians, Kings Alleyns v Maidstone 2nds. F’stone Opt 2 .. 9 7 1 1 25 9 22 Marden R ........ 9 5 3 1 26 17 18 Ashford 2 ........ 9 5 3 1 23 14 17 Herne Bay ....... 9 5 1 3 26 14 16 BromBeck 3 .... 9 4 2 3 19 13 14 S’oaks Acorns . 9 4 2 3 24 19 13 Tun Wells 3..... 9 3 3 3 11 10 12 Holcombe 2 .... 9 4 1 4 17 13 10 BBHC 2 ........... 9 2 2 5 16 24 8 New Becc ....... 9 2 2 5 7 25 8 Blackheath 2 .. 9 2 0 7 10 20 6 Ashford 3 ........ 9 0 2 7 7 33 1 Results: Ashford 3rds 0 Folkestone Optimist 2nds 1, Herne Bay 3 Tunbridge Wells 3rds 0, Sevenoaks Acorns 1 Ashford 2nds 5, Bromley and Beckenham 3rds 1 Marden Russets 3, Bexleyheath & Belvedere 2nds 1 New Beccehamian 2, Holcombe 2nds 0 Blackheath and OEs 2nds 1. Fixtures: Blackheath and OEs 2nds v Bexleyheath & Belvedere 2nds, Ashford 2nds v Herne Bay, Tunbridge Wells 3rds v Holcombe 2nds, Folkestone Optimist 2nds v Sevenoaks Acorns, Marden Russets v Ashford 3rds, New Beccehamian v Bromley and Beckenham 3rds. Sevenoaks 5 ... 9 9 0 0 57 3 27 Holcombe 3 .... 9 8 0 1 41 7 24 Old William 2 .. 9 6 1 2 28 15 19 F’stone Opt 3 .. 9 5 2 2 15 9 17 Gill Anchs 2 .... 9 3 4 2 21 13 13 Cobdown ........ 9 4 0 5 12 16 12 New Becc 2 .... 9 3 3 3 15 22 12 Old Bord 2 ...... 9 2 2 5 8 27 8 Cliftonville 2 .... 9 1 4 4 12 16 7 Dartford 2 ....... 9 2 1 6 10 29 7 Remnants ....... 9 1 1 7 7 37 4 BBHC 3 ........... 9 1 0 8 5 37 3 Results: Dartford 2nds 0 Old Williamsonians 2nds 3, Gillingham Anchorians 2nds 1 Holcombe 3rds 3, Remnants 2 Folkestone Optimist 3rds 4, Cliftonville 2nds 1 Sevenoaks 5ths 3, New Beccehamian 2nds 7 Bexleyheath & Belvedere 3rds 0, Old Bordenian 2nds 0 Cobdown 3. Fixtures: Gillingham Anchorians 2nds v Bexleyheath & Belvedere 3rds, Old Williamsonians 2nds v Old Bordenian 2nds, Holcombe 3rds v Cliftonville 2nds, Sevenoaks 5ths v Remnants, Folkestone Optimist 3rds v Dartford 2nds, Cobdown v New Beccehamian 2nds. K Alleyns 3...... 9 8 0 1 36 3 24 Marden R 2 ..... 9 6 1 2 24 13 19 Maidstone 4.... 9 6 1 2 15 7 19 B Ash 5 ........... 9 4 2 3 15 9 14 Gill Anchs 3 .... 9 4 1 4 11 13 13 Remnants 2 .... 9 3 0 6 12 23 9 Cobdown 2 ..... 9 2 1 6 10 17 7 Dartford 3 ....... 9 0 0 9 1 39 0 concern over his heart following a bout of pneumonia pre-season.
But he launched a crowdfunding campaign to stay on the grid and after raising more than £10,000 in less than a day retained his seat for the rest of the campaign.
“It’s been a great first year,” he said. “We never expected to do this. I only started car racing Results: Burnt Ash 5ths 4 Maidstone 4ths 0, Remnants 2nds 1 Gillingham Anchorians 3rds 3, Dartford 3rds 0 Kings Alleyns 3rds 5, Cobdown 2nds 1 Marden Russets 2nds 3. Fixtures: Maidstone 4ths v Gillingham Anchorians 3rds, Remnants 2nds v Cobdown 2nds, Dartford 3rds v Burnt Ash 5ths, Kings Alleyns 3rd v Marden Russets 2nds. in 2011 and we were always looking at this in awe of going up into touring cars.”
With its bumper-to-bumper action, the BTCC is highly competitive. From rookies to drivers with more than 500 races under their belt, Bushell quickly learnt who he could lean on or who to give a few extra inches on track. Aylesford ........ 7 7 0 0 194 110 32 Bromley .......... 7 6 0 1 240 104 30 Heathfield ....... 7 5 0 2 200 83 25 Pulborough ..... 7 4 0 3 160 137 19 Folkestone ...... 7 4 0 3 143 179 19 Cranbrook ....... 7 3 0 4 140 126 17 Eastbourne ..... 7 3 0 4 160 179 14 Park House ..... 6 3 0 3 94 122 14 O D’stonians ... 7 2 0 5 131 155 12 Burgess Hill .... 7 2 0 5 99 159 9 G’ham Anch .... 7 1 0 6 120 211 9 Uckfield .......... 6 1 0 5 70 186 6 Results: Aylesford Bulls 15 Old Dunstonians 5, Bromley 31 Eastbourne 7, Folkestone 17 Cranbrook 16, Heathfield & Waldron 22 Pulborough 3, Park House 10 Gillingham Anchorians 6, Uckfield 7 Burgess Hill 12. Fixtures: Burgess Hill v Gillingham Anchorians, Cranbrook v Aylesford Bulls, Eastbourne v Folkestone, Old Dunstonians v Park House, Pulborough v Bromley, Uckfield v Heathfield & Waldron. Sidcup 2 ......... 8 4 0 4 167 119 22 Tun Wells 2..... 7 5 0 2 127 111 22 T’bridge J 2 .... 6 5 0 1 173 61 21 Canterbury 2 ... 5 5 0 0 209 37 20 Beckenham 2 . 5 4 0 2 110 84 19 Medway 2....... 7 3 0 4 156 143 17 Gravesend 2 ... 7 2 1 4 108 145 15 Sevenoaks 2 ... 6 3 0 3 96 141 15 Maidstone 2.... 7 1 1 5 125 149 14 O Alleynians 2 . 6 2 0 4 114 201 12 O Colfeians 2 .. 7 1 0 6 110 276 11 Charlton Pk 2 .. 4 2 0 2 92 131 10 Results: Sidcup 2nds 14 Charlton Park 2nds 19, Beckenham 2nds 28 Old Alleynians 2nds 9, Gravesend 2nds 7 Tunbridge Wells 2nds 24, Tonbridge Judds 2nds 36 Maidstone 2nds 16, Sevenoaks 2nds 40 Old Colfeians 2nds 0. Fixtures: Maidstone 2nds v Canterbury 2nds, Tonbridge Judds 2nds v Beckenham 2nds, Old Alleynians 2nds v Gravesend 2nds, Charlton Park 2nds v Tunbridge Wells 2nds, Sidcup 2nds v Medway 2nds. Medway 3....... 7 7 0 0 272 45 28 Tonbridge 3 .... 7 5 1 1 193 46 24 Gravesend 3 ... 7 5 1 1 139 66 24 Aylesford 2 ..... 7 3 2 2 124 108 21 E Peckham ..... 7 3 1 3 92 110 19 Folkestone 2 ... 7 3 1 3 118 140 17 Thanet Wdr 2 .. 7 2 1 4 138 173 17 Dover 2........... 7 3 0 4 108 174 16 Weavering ...... 7 2 1 4 89 147 16 Deal/Bettes 2 .. 6 1 1 4 89 113 14 Ashford 2 ........ 7 1 0 6 79 195 11 Sheppey 2 ...... 6 1 1 4 58 182 10 Results: Deal & Betteshanger 2nds 14 Aylesford 2nds 19, Dover 2nds 5 Weavering 28, East Peckham 27 Sheppey 2nds 5, Gravesend 3rds 0 Folkestone 2nds 0, Medway 3rds 40 Thanet Wanderers 2nds 0, Tonbridge Juddian 3rds 40 Ashford 2nds 0. Fixtures: Ashford 2nds v Deal & Betteshanger 2nds, Aylesford 2nds
He said: “You learn who to fight with and who to give space.
“I came into it trying to be a bit gung-ho and got punished.”
While Bushell never won a race overall, he pulled together a number of consistent performances, with 10th his season-best finish, but he is not sure what the future holds.
“I can say I’ve done a full season,” he said.
“If I don’t make it back next year I have done this one. If I never race again I have achieved much more than I ever thought.”
Maidstone rally driver Louise Cook will not race until next year after an operation to remove a clavicle plate.
Cook, who drove in the 2012 World Rally Championship, had been due to compete at the WRC Wales Rally GB last weekend, but a surgical screw from a previous operation was compromising a main artery.
She said: “I was heartbroken after all the work that had gone in. I was so close to getting back to the World Rally Championship.” v Gravesend 3rds, Dover 2nds v Tonbridge Juddian 3rds, Folkestone 2nds v Medway 3rds, Sheppey 2nds v Weavering, Thanet Wanderers 2nds v East Peckham. Canterbury 3 ... 7 7 0 0 245 34 28 Sevenoaks 3 ... 7 6 0 1 212 104 24 Tun Wells 3..... 7 5 0 2 260 88 24 Medway 4....... 7 5 0 2 174 141 22 Old G’send 2 ... 6 4 0 2 147 29 19 Ash ................. 7 4 0 3 119 153 18 Vigo 2 ............. 7 3 0 4 159 155 17 Cranbrook 2 .... 7 3 0 4 111 189 15 Gillingham 2 ... 7 1 0 6 74 240 11 Thanet Wnd 3 . 7 1 0 6 87 225 10 Leigh .............. 6 1 0 5 168 233 9 Dover 3........... 7 1 0 6 55 220 8 Results: Cranbrook 2nds 10 Old Gravesendians 2nds 5, Dover 3rds forfeit Vigo 2nds 40, Gillingham 2nds 10 Ash 12, Leigh 29 Sevenoaks 3rds 41, Thanet Wanderers 3rds 10 Medway 4ths 11, Tunbridge Wells 3rds 0 Canterbury 3rds 7. Fixtures: Ash v Leigh, Canterbury 3rds v Vigo 2nds, Gillingham 2nds v Dover 3rds, Old Gravesendians 2nds v Medway 4ths, Sevenoaks 3rds v Cranbrook 2nds, Thanet Wanderers 3rds v Tunbridge Wells 3rds. Richmond ..... 10 10 0 0 388 92 47 Saracens ...... 10 9 0 1 331 99 42 Bristol ........... 10 6 0 4 336 196 31 Lichfield........ 10 5 0 5 320 209 28 Worcester ..... 10 4 0 6 234 250 22 Wasps .......... 10 4 0 6 192 320 18 Darlingtn Pk .. 10 1 0 9 176 358 9 Aylesfrd Blls.. 10 1 0 9 68 521 4 Results: Bristol 78 Aylesford Bulls 3, Darlington Mowden Park 10 Wasps 33, Lichfield 10 Saracens 20, Worcester 7 Richmond 21. Fixtures: Aylesford Bulls v Worcester, Richmond v Lichfield, Saracens v Darlington Mowden Park, Wasps v Bristol Ladies. Barming E ........... 6 5 1 0 44 TT Traders .......... 6 4 1 1 38 Trosley A ............ 5 2 2 1 30 Barming F ........... 6 2 1 3 26 Larkfield A .......... 6 1 3 2 24 MWMC E............. 5 2 0 3 22 S Valence A ........ 6 0 2 4 22 Trosley B ............ 4 0 2 2 13 Coxheath C ......... 6 0 0 6 9 Results: Barming E 5 Sutton Valence A 5, Barming F 1 Coxheath B 9, Coxheath C 1 TT Traders 9, Larkfield A 5 Trosley A 5. Larkfield B .......... 6 6 0 0 53 Larkfield C .......... 7 2 2 3 39 Trosley C ............ 5 3 2 0 33 S Valence B ........ 6 3 1 2 30 Barming G .......... 6 2 1 3 29 S Valence C ........ 5 3 1 1 28 Kings Hill D ......... 6 2 1 3 26 MWMC F ............. 5 1 1 3 18 Kings Hill C ......... 6 1 1 4 17 Barming H .......... 6 0 2 4 17 Results: Kings Hill C 2 Trosley C 8, Barming G 4 Sutton Valence B 6, Larkfield B 10 MWMC F 0, Barming H 5 Larkfield C 5. S Valence D ........ 5 4 1 0 34 Larkfield D .......... 4 3 0 1 33 Barming I ............ 5 3 1 1 28 MWMC H ............ 6 3 0 3 27 S Valence E......... 4 2 1 1 23 MWMC G ............ 4 2 0 2 23 Barming K........... 5 2 0 3 23 S Valence F......... 6 0 1 5 6 Barming J ........... 5 1 0 4 13 Results: Sutton Valence F 4 MWMC H 6, MWMC G 3 Barming I 7, Larkfield D 4 Barming K 6, Barming J 1 Sutton Valence D 9.