Ant Whorton-Eales secured AmD Tuning’s best finish of the current British Touring Car Championship season in race one at Silverstone, before being turned around on a straight by Jake Hill in race three.
Whorton-Eales secured the best-ever qualifying result for the team’s Audi S3 on Saturday, before following it up with the car’s best race result in sixth in the first race of the day.
Things turned sour in race two, however, as Whorton-Eales was turned around by Hill on the Wellington straight, dropping him from what was then 15th to the rear of the field on lap 14.
The 23-year-old then fought back in race three to take 13th by the chequered flag and score points twice in one weekend for the first time in his BTCC career, despite running on the less favourable harder rubber.
“It’s been a good weekend and I’m pleased to come away with my best qualifying performance and my best race result so far,” said Whorton-Eales. “We showed really good pace in race one and it was great to run at the sharp end of the field.
“I’d hoped to try and match it in race two, but we didn’t have the same speed in the car for some reason, perhaps because of the extra success ballast we had to carry.
“Being turned round on a straight wasn’t a nice experience either and I was lucky that the guys behind didn’t collect me when I was sent spinning off at Brooklands. It’s a high-speed part of the circuit and to get taken off like that is just dangerous.
“I’m a bit shocked that we managed to come through to 13th on the hard tyre in race three but I stayed out of trouble and once we got the performance in the tyres, I had the legs on the guys ahead and could battle my way into the points.
“It’s a shame we just missed out on the Jack Sears Trophy win and I’ll be pushing for it when we get to Brands Hatch.”
Team Principal Shaun Hollamby was vocally critical of the driving standards at the weekend, as his other driver Ollie Jackson was forced to retire from both races two and three due to accident damage.
“On one hand, we’ve picked up our best starting position and best result so far with the Audi, but on the other hand we’re also taking a damaged car back to base through no fault of our own,” added Hollamby. “Both Ant and Ollie have done a good job this weekend and have shown really good pace, particularly in the opening race.
“We should have been able to build on that in races two and three but stupid incidents that could – and should – have been avoided mean we’ve only picked up one more points finish and have got one badly damaged car.”
With the race three incident which Jackson got caught up in being triggered when Josh Cook, who had already served a one-race ban earlier in the day, made contact with Jason Plato, Hollamby had some firm words regarding the penalties system which is being used.
“When people are given penalties and then go back out on track and do exactly the same thing again, it’s clear that something needs to change so they are made accountable for their actions.”