Team BMW driver caught out by drastic change in the weather

TEAM BMW driver Stephen Jelley witnessed first-hand what a fickle mistress luck can be at Brands Hatch at the weekend, leaving emptyhanded having been among the fastest runners on Saturday.

Having endured a tough opening weekend of the British Touring Car Championship last time out at Donington Park, the Leicestershire native was hoping to get his 2022 challenge back on track.

The 1.2-mile at Brands Hatch Indy circuit has been a happy hunting ground in the past, and the pace in the opening practice session was promising, finishing third fastest, just 0.04 seconds off the top spot.

He would go even better in the second free practice period, topping the times by over a tenth of a second.

Feeling confident and with the car performing well underneath him,

Jelley was optimistic of taking pole position during Saturday’s half-hour qualifying session but would have to be content with third on the grid, bested only by team-mates Colin Turkington and Jake Hill, underlining the performance of the West Surrey Racing prepared BMW 330e M Sport machines.

Come race day, conditions were wildly different with the sunshine and warm temperatures making way for rain. All but two cars started race one on slick tyres and all three WSR BMWs dropped down the order as they struggled with the wet conditions.

Jelley suffered the most, falling to 20th at the flag, leaving plenty of work to do to get the car ready for race two.

Making an excellent start to race three he ended the first lap in 14th place, passing four cars before the safety car was called to rescue Jason Plato from the gravel at Druids. When racing resumed on lap five he battled in the pack, gaining another place and scoring his first points of the day.

Jelley will be hoping for better things as the British Touring car Championship heads to Hampshire and the high-speed Thruxton circuit for rounds seven, eight, and nine of the season on the May 28 and 29.