Goodyear tyre choices will play a key role this weekend as Brands Hatch hosts the British Touring Car Championship finale, where both the drivers’ championship and Goodyear Wingfoot Award will be decided.
Returning to the Kent circuit after racing on its shorter Indy layout in May, but moving to the twice-as-long GP circuit, the last round of the season promises exhilarating racing. Having shared the wins last time out at Silverstone, Jake Hill and Tom Ingram head to Brands Hatch tied at the top of the drivers’ championship. But, with a further four drivers also still in contention for championship glory, an exciting battle is promised across Sunday’s three races.
Three different slick Goodyear tyre compounds have allowed teams to take a wide variety of strategy options throughout the season, facilitating this year’s season-long close racing. This weekend, teams are allocated one set of soft and two sets of medium tyres for the race weekend, with the option to choose three sets of carryover tyres from previous rounds for practice and qualifying, just as they did at recent events at Donington and Silverstone.
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Goodyear Wingfoot Award to be decided on Saturday
Before the 2024 BTCC champion is crowned on Sunday, attention will be on the Goodyear Wingfoot Award during Saturday’s qualifying session. Drivers have been accumulating points towards the trophy all season based on their qualifying positions, and two-time winner Colin Turkington currently leads the standings with an 11-point lead over Tom Ingram. With 20 points on offer for pole, either could bring home the 2024 trophy.
Team BMW’s Turkington won the Goodyear Wingfoot Award in 2020 and 2021, before Jake Hill took home the 2022 trophy. Last year, Ash Sutton became the first non-BMW driver to win it.
Michael Butler, Goodyear’s BTCC Event Leader, highlights the added strategic variable posed by the free tyre allocation: “This weekend’s finale will be a test of strategy and execution. Teams have been playing a season-long game of chess in their approach to tyre allocations to best prepare for this round as having the right carryover tyres on Saturday will help secure a good grid position and points towards the Goodyear Wingfoot Award.
“With trophies on the line at a demanding circuit like Brands Hatch, each decision could make a huge difference for drivers. We’re looking forward to some close racing to round out another thrilling season.”
Ash Sutton praises Goodyear tyres while looking ahead to his “best” circuit
One driver who is particularly looking forward to this weekend’s races is defending champion Ash Sutton. The NAPA Racing UK Ford driver rates the longer Brands Hatch layout as his favourite track and he won two of the three races there 12 months ago.
“Brands Hatch GP has always been, and probably will always remain, my best circuit,” he says. “That’s not just based on the result, but the sensation of being around the back of the circuit when you are really at the limit of the car. When racing on such an intense track you are putting a massive amount of trust through whatever tyre compound you are on.”
Praising the Goodyear tyres he adds: “Whether it’s a soft, a medium, or even the hard, it’s such a thrill to be out there. But then when you have a championship on the line and you are living life on the edge, it’s really exciting.”
Source: Tyretradenews
