The Honda Yuasa Racing team head to Thruxton this weekend optimistic of strong results, admitting that the high-speed circuit has historically suited the Team Dynamics-run squad.
The team’s NGTC-spec Civics have won twice at Thruxton, with Gordon Shedden taking two victories in the wet in 2012 on his way to the title. However Shedden is more cautious this season, admitting that the boost equalisation may have an effect on his performances.
“It is a power circuit and every other car in the field will have a power increase, which will make life difficult, but we’ve got to do the best we can,” admitted Shedden. “We had a good balance there last year so hopefully we can get some good results.
“It’s the fastest circuit on the calendar and historically the high-speed corners suit the Civic well. If it rained it’d be great, but the spectators have probably only just dried out from last year so it’d be nice if it stayed dry this time!”
Triple champion Matt Neal agreed with his team-mate that the boost changes are likely to hinder the works’ Honda team this weekend.
“I think we’ll be OK, but the boost increases will hurt us,” added Neal. “Where we score is high-speed stability so hopefully that will balance it out.”
Team Dynamics have taken nine of their 81 BTCC victories at Thruxton, and with a triple victory at the circuit in 2005 remain one of only two teams to have won all three races in a day – the other being RML at the Brands Hatch season finale in 2009.