The next generation of BTCC star

Wednesday, 05 October 2011 14:18

2011 is shaping up to be the year of the rookie in the British Touring Car Championship.

The new faces on the BTCC grid; Michael Caine, Dave Newsham, Chris Swanwick, Chris James, Tony Gilham, Oliver Jackson, Tony Hughes, Aron Smith, Frank Wrathall, Liam Griffin, Rob Austin, Daniel Welch, Martin Byford and Jeff Smith (we’re classing him in the rookie category despite a one-off race with 888 Racing at Knockhill in 2010) have provided some classic BTCC moments and won their way into the hearts of fans. They’ve also picked up a very respectable 136 points between them.

Top of the pack (in point terms) is pride of Preston, Frank Wrathall. The Dynojet driver goes into the final rounds at Silverstone with 62 points, putting him ahead of established favourites such as Tom Boardman and Nick Foster. Pushing his NGTC-spec Toyota Avensis to places it, on paper at least, shouldn’t be, the former Ginetta G50 cup winner has been on the podium four times already this year. This has no doubt pleasing to sponsors including Dynojet, Angel Water Coolers, FUCHS Lubricants, Doodson Motorsport Insurance, Graphix, K&N Filters and Arai.

As well as the team, the sponsors and the fans, the results achieved by Frank will no doubt have been quietly celebrated by people up and down the paddock.

As a former Ginetta champion and one of only a handful of drivers to be racing a full-spec NGTC car, it stands to reason there is a lot of expectation on his shoulders to deliver.

Popular support series, Ginetta, can hold Frank up as a shining example of what can be achieved by joining the series and TOCA can feel satisfied that their NGTC car is capable of delivering results; giving added incentive for other teams to consider the switch early and confidence to new teams such as TH Motorsport who will be running to NGTC spec in 2012. It could even lead to other new teams popping up on the grid next year.

It’s good to see the 25-year-old has absorbed all of this expectation and turned it into some impressive performances, particularly from Snetterton onwards.
Perhaps then, as the season heads to a thrilling final at Silverstone, 2011 isn’t just the year of the rookie, it’s also a great time to be Frank… By Samantha Wilcox Photo by Marc Waller

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