Thousands of Spectators Descend on Hampshire for Round 78 of the MSA British Touring Car Championship

After an incredible start to the season, it was little surprise to see thousands upon thousands of spectators descending on Hampshire for round 78 and nine of the 2015 Danop MSA British Touring Car Championship. The on-track drama commenced in qualifying when an unfortunate incident between the Ford Focus of Mike Bushell and the Toyota Avensis of Simon Beler forced both drivers out of the weekend's action. The two cars touched as Bushell's AMD machine left the pit lane with Beler coming past on a timed flyer, resulting in a high-speed smash into the barrier.

Bushell was treated at Southampton General Hospital with severe ligament damage but remains hopeful of a return to action at Alon Park next month. In contrast, Aaron Smith made history by scoring a maiden pole position with a blistering lap that was enough to halt Honda's charge to a front-row clean sweep with Gordon Sheldon and Matt Neal missing out by just 200s and 700s of a second, respectively.

The gaps throughout the order were extremely tight with the top 16 cars separated by less than a second. It was Sheldon who blasted off the line and into the lead at the start of race one, followed closely by teammate Neil after he nipped by the slow-starting Smith. As the race progressed, the competition intensified, with various drivers vying for position on the podium.

Race One: A Thrilling Affair

The first race of the day was a thrilling affair that saw several drivers battling for position in the top three. Sheldon and Neal fought hard to claim the lead, but it was ultimately Sheldon who emerged victorious, followed closely by Neal and Smith in third place. The race was marked by a series of high-speed incidents, with multiple cars involved in accidents throughout the day.

Race Two: Morgan Takes the Chequered Flag

The second race of the day saw Adam Morgan make history by taking his first ever BTCC victory. Starting from eighth on the grid, Morgan worked his way up to third place before passing Neal for the lead. However, with just a few laps remaining, Morgan pulled away from the competition to take the chequered flag, securing his first win of the season.

The win was a testament to Morgan's skill and determination, as he worked tirelessly to overcome the challenges faced by his team. His victory was met with widespread acclaim from fans and pundits alike, who praised his impressive driving skills and his ability to perform under pressure.

Paddock Talk: Morgan Reflects on His Historic Win

After taking his first ever BTCC win, Adam Morgan was beaming with pride as he reflected on the significance of the occasion. "Not the first winner's trophy you've had but the first time you've actually won a race on the road so to speak," he noted. The 22-year-old driver confessed that this victory was one of the best days he'd ever had in motorsport.

Morgan credited his team, Wicks Racing, for their incredible support and teamwork. "They've given me an amazing car, and it makes everything that much sweeter when you come into the pit lane and see everyone there cheering," he said. The young driver also expressed gratitude to his family, who have been a constant source of encouragement throughout his career.

Morgan's win marked a significant milestone in his development as a racing driver, and he expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming rounds of the championship. "I'm really looking forward to it," he said. "It's a very different track to Thruxton isn't it? Yeah, completely."

The circuit at which Morgan will be competing next is Ulster Park, a picturesque circuit that has become synonymous with high-speed racing and thrilling incidents. The young driver acknowledged the unique challenges posed by this circuit, citing its abrasive tarmac and numerous off-camber corners as a major challenge.

Morgan's father, who had been in attendance to support his son, was visibly emotional as he reflected on Morgan's historic win. "It's just fantastic," he said. "You know in Motorsport you have good days and bad days, and this has definitely been one of the best days I've ever had."

As Morgan prepares for the next round of the championship at Ulster Park, he expressed his determination to continue pushing forward and claiming more victories. "We're pushing on now towards the front, the car is really coming from strength to strength," he noted. With Morgan's confidence and talent on the rise, fans can look forward to an exciting season ahead.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enafter an incredible start to the season it was little surprised to see thousands upon thousands of Spectators descending on Hampshire for round 78 and nine of the 2015 danop MSA British Touring Car Championship at throm the on track drama commenced in qualifying when an unfortunate incident between the Ford Focus of Mike Bushell and the Toyota Avensis of Simon beler forced both both drivers out of the weekend's action the two cars touched as bushell's AMD machine left the pit Lane with beler coming passed on a timed flyer and the end result was a high-speed smash into the barrier bushel was treated at Southampton general hospital with severe ligament damage but the rookie is hopeful of a return to action at Alon Park next month when the action resumed it was team bmr's Aaron Smith who scored a maiden pole position with a blistering lap the lap set by the VW driver was enough to Halt Honda's charge to a front row Clean Sweep with Gordon shadam and Matt Neil missing out by just 200s and 700s of a second respectively the gaps throughout the order were extremely tight with the top 16 cars separated by less than a second it was shedon who blasted off the line and into the lead at the start of race one and he was followed through by teammate Neil after he nipped by the slow starting Smith Andy PR's BM W locked up at the complex on the opening lap as the battle for fourth intensified it was the Mercedes of Adam Morgan that gradually crept away from the chasing pack to join the fight for third as a trio of cars went nose to tail the scrap effectively ended on lap eight however when Aaron Smith's Volkswagen slid wildly at high speed after suffering from a puncture there were battles glore in the lower end of the top 10 with Josh cook Tom Ingram Sam toor off and Rob card among those scrapping for valuable points until the Finish despite an incredibly Topsy Turvy race for btcc rury Andy prio he was eventually able to finish fifth exactly where he started the contest after coming out on top of An Almighty three-way tussle across the Line Andrew Jordan also benefited after contact between Jack gof and reigning Champion Colin turkington as the dust settled it was shedon who showed his class by heading home mahonda one2 with Neil in second continuing the success story for the Japanese manufacturer at the fastest Circuit of the country the result for the new Civic Type R was the eighth victory for Honda Machinery in the last nine races at throm which has impressively spanned three models of car Morgan claimed another eye-catching Podium but he would go even better later in the day Honda's dominant reign in Hampshire came to an end in the second encounter when Jason Plato's volksvagen enjoyed a racong joust with West s racings Rob Collard Plato lost out to Collard off the line but all eyes were initially behind the lead Duo as a coming together between PR's BMW and Morgan's Mercedes sparked Mayhem down the order Jeff Smith's Eurotech Honda and Josh Cook's Power Max racing Chevrolet were able to take evasive action from the incident but both collected the lightweight Dunlop advertising hoardings as they skittled across the grass with banners attached to the front of their machines they were both forced to pit to avoid their cars from overheating back up front and Plato was able to get the run out of church before making a move back into the lead before the cars reach the final chicane on lap two shedon had settled into third ahead of fourth place battle it was Aaron Smith and McNeil's Honda hard at work that tussle came to an abrupt end on lap seven when Neil Civic tyar made contact with the team BMR machine at the complex it was a heavy hit and one that falls Neil into retirement with Smith only able to limp to a lowly 11th Place finish the race will be remembered however for the classic duel between Plato and collard with the latter having the pace in all the wrong places card's BMW would close the gap at will through the slower corners while Plato's Vault fargon would then pull away through the fast sections Plato never put a wheel wrong and proved why he is is the most successful btcc driver in history by going on to take an incredible 90th career Victory Collard was second shed and bagged third starting the day's finale from Pole Position Morgan was fully focused as the lights went out and he fended off the attentions from Andrew Jordan's mg and S tof's BMW on the run down to the complex for the first time there were immediate battles down the field as shadon and Plato squabbled with Rob Austin's Audi A4 over eighth position Josh cook also enjoyed his fair share of action after contact with teammate Dave Nan that was followed by his own dramas with Austin and Neil which eventually led to contact between the Honda and the Chevrolet Morgan was more than 3 seconds up the road by mid distance before his Advantage was wiped out by a safety car period which was deployed following an accident involving Warren Scott's Volkswagen the young Mercedes driver h his nerve after the restart and immediately set about working up a similar Gap to his previous effort in truth he never came under pressure and cruised to his second ever btcc Victory much to the Delight of his Wicks racing team it made for a happy Podium with Jordan and toor off joining Morgan for their first Podium of the day with the series now heading to the Northwest to the picturesque ulton Park circuit in June we caught up with race three star Adam Morgan ahead of his home event well Adam not the first winnner trophy you've had but the first time you've actually won a race on on the road so to speak so it's been a great day for you here at thron hasn't it it's been fantastic uh you know in Motorsport you have good days and bad days and this has definitely been one of the best days I've ever had uh to be on the podium twice in in one day in the touring cars is fantastic and uh just a massive thank you to everyone at Wick's racing uh they've given me a brilliant car and you know it makes everything that much sweeter when you come into the pit Lane you can see everyone there cheering and I think my dad was great in so it's yeah it's brilliant brilliant day well you got a little bit of time to mop up the tears and have a few drinks before we head off to W Park your home track so that's one you're very much going to enjoy isn't it yeah it would be nice if we could do the same at my home track uh you know we should hopefully have a load of people there a load of fans and family there and uh you know I do a lot of work Alton um you know I know it like the back of my hand so hopefully we can uh pick the pace up and and have another repeat of today it's a very different track to Thruxton isn't it yeah completely thron is completely unique in in in terms of speed and uh how abrasive the tarmac is uh ultum itself is you know very very bumpy uh there's lots of off-camber Corners uh you know lots of dips and rises again it's quite a fast circuit uh it's very narrow um but you know makes for great racing and uh yeah really looking forward to it and it's a a race that's always really well attended huge fans there very enthusiastic fans as well yeah I think Alton attracts uh the biggest crowd sometimes so it's you know if we could replicate this this sat of weekend it would be even better but uh no it's a great venue um the track itself is fantastic to drive and uh yeah just really really really can't wait for it so clearly you're hoping to be in the hunt who you expecting to be in battling against to get more of these trophies you know the usual suspects um you know both Honda guys um you know I think Jason is normally really quick round Alton um so you know we're pushing on now towards the front the car is really coming from strength to strength and hopefully now we can just keep trying towards the front and you know more podiums and some more uh more race wins will be lovely see you there thank you very much youu\n"