Well after a pulsating and dramatic day of racing, that's it for another year for the British Touring Car Championship. What a season it has been! And nobody will have fonder memories of a classic year than newly crowned champion Colin Turkington.
Here's a round up of the day's action.
Here's a round up of the day's action.
TURKINGTON GOT IT DONE EARLY
It only took 1 race for Colin Turkington to lay his hands on the most coveted championship prize in British motorsport. After almost taking the lead from 4th position on the grid, Turkington grabbed 3rd to clinch the BTCC title for his 2nd time. Jason Plato did all he could to prevent the inevitable by winning the race, but it was not to be.
Turkington can hold his head up high. He has driven superbly all year and taken all opportunities presented to him. It must mean a little more to him after defeating a record 6 other champions.
After the title triumph, the rest of the day didn't go well. He scored a DNF when he was taken out by Jason Plato - perhaps bitterly who knows -at Paddok hill beed before claiming only 20th in the final race of the day, but this won't matter to him at all.
Colin Turkington also won the Independents Trophy easily whilst his team West Surrey Racing swept up the double winning the Indpendent Teams Trophy and outright honours.
Job well done Colin and the WSR boys!
It only took 1 race for Colin Turkington to lay his hands on the most coveted championship prize in British motorsport. After almost taking the lead from 4th position on the grid, Turkington grabbed 3rd to clinch the BTCC title for his 2nd time. Jason Plato did all he could to prevent the inevitable by winning the race, but it was not to be.
Turkington can hold his head up high. He has driven superbly all year and taken all opportunities presented to him. It must mean a little more to him after defeating a record 6 other champions.
After the title triumph, the rest of the day didn't go well. He scored a DNF when he was taken out by Jason Plato - perhaps bitterly who knows -at Paddok hill beed before claiming only 20th in the final race of the day, but this won't matter to him at all.
Colin Turkington also won the Independents Trophy easily whilst his team West Surrey Racing swept up the double winning the Indpendent Teams Trophy and outright honours.
Job well done Colin and the WSR boys!
MG WIN CONSTRUCTORS TITLE
Another strong showing from the 888 MG outfit allowed the MG marque to win the BTCC constructors title for the very first time. It was another good day for MG, with a 1-2 finish in the first race of the day. However, Plato was given a 20 second time penalty and had to start from the back of the grid on race 3 for tapping newly crowned champion Turkington off the road. Despite all this though, MG have beaten Honda to the title for the very first time and should be proud of their achievements.
Another strong showing from the 888 MG outfit allowed the MG marque to win the BTCC constructors title for the very first time. It was another good day for MG, with a 1-2 finish in the first race of the day. However, Plato was given a 20 second time penalty and had to start from the back of the grid on race 3 for tapping newly crowned champion Turkington off the road. Despite all this though, MG have beaten Honda to the title for the very first time and should be proud of their achievements.
HONDA LOSE THEIR TITLE
In contrast, Honda have been beaten for the first time this decade, and it seems weird. Questions will be asked over the winter break, and they will need to work hard to resurrect the problems they've suffered this year.
Both works drivers were caught up in the race 1 carnage at Druids, Shedden having been involved at the start of the incident.
Gordon suffered a 28G impact, but it all came good as he stormed to take the final race victory of the season, in very similar circumstances to last year's final race. In the wet, Shedden further stamped his claim to be the rain master.
Matt Neal on the other hand was not so fortuitous. Coming into the weekend he was suffering from fractured ribs, and it's becoming something of a tradition for Matt to head into the finale with some kind of injury.
Neal was taken to hopsital for precautionary checks after being involved in the accident at Druids. He later tweeted this:
"Thank you to all the Circuit Med team, air ambulance, & all Kings College Trauma Dept, been discharged & ok but what absolutely lovely people"
We're glad to here he is ok!
In contrast, Honda have been beaten for the first time this decade, and it seems weird. Questions will be asked over the winter break, and they will need to work hard to resurrect the problems they've suffered this year.
Both works drivers were caught up in the race 1 carnage at Druids, Shedden having been involved at the start of the incident.
Gordon suffered a 28G impact, but it all came good as he stormed to take the final race victory of the season, in very similar circumstances to last year's final race. In the wet, Shedden further stamped his claim to be the rain master.
Matt Neal on the other hand was not so fortuitous. Coming into the weekend he was suffering from fractured ribs, and it's becoming something of a tradition for Matt to head into the finale with some kind of injury.
Neal was taken to hopsital for precautionary checks after being involved in the accident at Druids. He later tweeted this:
"Thank you to all the Circuit Med team, air ambulance, & all Kings College Trauma Dept, been discharged & ok but what absolutely lovely people"
We're glad to here he is ok!
ADAM MORGAN MAKES HISTORY
Ciceley's Racing Adam Morgan made BTCC history in race 2 as he claimed the first ever race victory for Mercedes-Benz in the championship, taking his debut win in the process. He drove a blinder in race 2 before succumbing to the pressure of a charging Plato late on the race. After Plato's penalty was imposed however, Morgan inherited the victory, and truly deserves it! Hopefully he and his stunning looking A Class can deliver some strong results in 2015!
JACK CLAKRE GOING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH
After a great showing last time out at Silverstone, Jack Clarke was hoping for more of the same this weekend around the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit.
And he dually delivered in race 3. Starting on reverse grid pole, Jack brought his Focus home in 2nd, taking his first ever BTCC podium. Well done Jack!
The race to me was reminiscent of last year's final race, with Gordon Shedden taking the victory on a wet track and new podium finisher coming in 2nd. Last year it was Jack Goff.
Ciceley's Racing Adam Morgan made BTCC history in race 2 as he claimed the first ever race victory for Mercedes-Benz in the championship, taking his debut win in the process. He drove a blinder in race 2 before succumbing to the pressure of a charging Plato late on the race. After Plato's penalty was imposed however, Morgan inherited the victory, and truly deserves it! Hopefully he and his stunning looking A Class can deliver some strong results in 2015!
JACK CLAKRE GOING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH
After a great showing last time out at Silverstone, Jack Clarke was hoping for more of the same this weekend around the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit.
And he dually delivered in race 3. Starting on reverse grid pole, Jack brought his Focus home in 2nd, taking his first ever BTCC podium. Well done Jack!
The race to me was reminiscent of last year's final race, with Gordon Shedden taking the victory on a wet track and new podium finisher coming in 2nd. Last year it was Jack Goff.
DAVE NEWSHAM WINS JACK SEARS TROPHY
The Jack Sears Trophy - for the driver who achieves the greatest improvement from their respective grid positions over the course of the season - has been won by AmD Tuning's Dave Newsham in the Ford Focus.
Swiss ace Alain Menu had held the lead for much of the season but was surpassed by Newsham only this weekend. The Ford Focuses have definitely improved over the second half of the season.
So after a classic season of BTCC, it is Northern Ireland's Colin Turkington that has emerged as champion for the 2nd time. Jason Plato was once again in the mix with the Hondas of Shedden, Neal and Jordan having a largely lacklustre season.
2014 was a classic, and 2015 looks set to be the same!
More articles will be coming your way soon, including a season review and analysis of Turkington's sometimes crushing success. Couple that with photos from the finale and an upcoming exciting competition, your BTCC fix will continue beyond the finale!
Thanks for reading. Don't forget to like us on Facebook
www.facebook.com/thegriduk
and follow us on Twitter
www.twitter.com/@thegriduk
It's been a pleasure to write for you all throughout the second half of the season. I look forward to enjoying 2015 with you!
Luke Barry - BTCC The Grid Reporter
Laurence Johnson - Editor/Photographer
The Jack Sears Trophy - for the driver who achieves the greatest improvement from their respective grid positions over the course of the season - has been won by AmD Tuning's Dave Newsham in the Ford Focus.
Swiss ace Alain Menu had held the lead for much of the season but was surpassed by Newsham only this weekend. The Ford Focuses have definitely improved over the second half of the season.
So after a classic season of BTCC, it is Northern Ireland's Colin Turkington that has emerged as champion for the 2nd time. Jason Plato was once again in the mix with the Hondas of Shedden, Neal and Jordan having a largely lacklustre season.
2014 was a classic, and 2015 looks set to be the same!
More articles will be coming your way soon, including a season review and analysis of Turkington's sometimes crushing success. Couple that with photos from the finale and an upcoming exciting competition, your BTCC fix will continue beyond the finale!
Thanks for reading. Don't forget to like us on Facebook
www.facebook.com/thegriduk
and follow us on Twitter
www.twitter.com/@thegriduk
It's been a pleasure to write for you all throughout the second half of the season. I look forward to enjoying 2015 with you!
Luke Barry - BTCC The Grid Reporter
Laurence Johnson - Editor/Photographer