BTCC 2013 "Sherman is back"

17/Apr/2013

Next

 

Austin is back on track

After a weekend of mixed emotions last time out at Brands Hatch, Rob Austin and WIX Racing head to Donington Park full of confidence and motivation.

Austin led the first lap of the 2013 season, claimed the fastest lap on race day and secured the third podium of his BTCC career, before his well-publicised accident at Brands Hatch. Such was his spirit and race craft during the event that the BTCC fans voted him their ‘Driver of the Weekend’ via our official Facebook page.

The blow that ended his day, however, occurred on lap two of the final race on the 1.2-mile Indy circuit, when Dave Newsham’s Toyota Avensis spun on the exit of Paddock Hill Bend. As Austin tried to avoid the stranded Toyota he made slight contact with his rival’s machine – enough to send him across the grass at high speed. Now merely a passenger, Rob’s Audi made heavy contact with the barriers on the run up to Druids.

Nicknamed ‘Sherman’ by the team in homage to the plucky World War II tank, Rob’s car was heavily damaged. The team's initial fears over the repairs led to doubts over Austin's participation at Donington Park this weekend. It meant a race against time to rebuild the car, and after a monumental effort from his mechanics they've completed the job in time for the weekend ahead.

Austin also has the fans and his sponsors to thank for getting him back on track after a huge public response following the shunt. BTCC fans helped to fund the rebuild by purchasing T-shirts with the slogan 'I helped fix Sherman,' with nearly 500 sold in the last week. Also, further to the great backing received from WIX Filters and other partners, the team has also added Exocet and DUO to its sponsor portfolio for the 2013 season.

Now after a brief shakedown of the car earlier today, Rob is fired up for his home race at Donington Park.

"It's been... emotional," says Rob, from Evesham. "There've been a few tears along the way, during the rebuild of the car when a few setbacks left everyone wondering if we'd make it and then at the end when we knew it was going to happen. It has been amazing to see it unfold and to be a part of it, what my boys have achieved. We don't have anywhere near like the number of people of the works teams, yet they've still managed it. When I think back to how the car looked when I first got out after the crash... it's just incredible.”

He adds: "I believe we're in great shape for Donington. Our 2013 developments worked very well at Brands and, in theory, we'll be able to make more use of them this weekend. On paper Donington's a better layout for the Audi and it provides more overtaking opportunities – and I love overtaking people. After getting close to our first win at Brands Hatch, victory is all I'm interested in."