"Weather lottery" will be instrumental at Brands, says Belcher
BTCC rookie Simon Belcher says the weather will be key to success at Brands Hatch next weekend. But a wet test at Donington Park this week, where the Swindon-based driver completed 51 laps, has given him welcome experience.
"We only got a short run on used slicks before the rain came," said Belcher. “We waited for it to stop but it kept coming, on and off, so we decided to go out on wet tyres and showed some good pace, even lapping quicker than some of the established BTCC runners.
"It is a lottery what the weather will be like at Brands, so the laps at Donington could prove useful..
“The hardest thing at Brands is going to be getting clear laps in qualifying with 31 cars on the grid! It’s been an unbelievably busy few months, but to finally almost be there at the first round is a fantastic feeling – I can’t wait.”
Since officially confirming his graduation from the Renault UK Clio Cup feeder series, where he won back-to-back Masters Cup titles in 2012 and 2013, the 40-year-old has been working incredibly hard behind the scenes, as well as behind the wheel, to prepare as well as possible for his BTCC debut..
In just seven days Belcher, and the 30 other drivers racing for the title this season, will take to the track for the first time at Brands Hatch.
See the opening rounds of the BTCC, live from Brands Hatch, exclusively on ITV4 next Sunday from 10.30am