Robertshaw Racing enjoyed its best qualifying session since joining the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship after Matt Allison and Harry Vaulkhard both secured top ten grid slots for the third round of the year at
Donington Park.
Benefitting from a 20 kilo reduction in the weight of the Chevrolet Lacetti, Allison was on the pace from the outset at the East Midlands circuit as he started the weekend with a solid top ten performance in the first free practice session, with Vaulkhard in 16th.
After the pair then finished in tandem in 14th and 15th in the second session, qualifying was when the Lacetti really shone, with second year driver Allison holding provisional pole early on before eventually settling for ninth – the former Motorbase man ending up as the second quickest Independent runner behind
Colin Turkington.
"We thought this would be a circuit that was good for the car," he said. "I think I might have been overdriving a little this morning but we found something – I don't know what – that improved the car and it was very welcome!
"The loss of the weight doesn't suddenly make the car like a Porsche, but every little helps and 20 kilos is 20 kilos. I think it would be good if we can stick with the guys ahead in the race and even if we only finish in ninth, if it's a competitive ninth then it will be a good result for us."
Vaulkhard meanwhile secured a fine tenth place and was less than a second off the pace of polesitter
Tom Onslow-Cole as he now looks to secure his first points since moving up to the BTCC at the start of the year.
"That was mega and was a proper result," he said. "I think the weight had hurt us a bit so this is more of a level playing field now. I also pulled my finger out a bit and there is more to come. I know drivers always say it, but I missed out on my best lap but the team was brilliant again.
