Dan Cammish:
“It’s been a great weekend. We are consistently scoring points and getting the job done. Qualifying was a standout as we dug and dug and found more, so my confidence and motivation grew, and I have a habit of delivering the right lap, when it matters, at the end, when the pressure is on. You used to have to do it once, but qualifying now is three parts so you have to do it three times, and we are peaking at the right moment.
“We didn’t have the performance to win outright, but we kept chipping away and being a nuisance and this is how I nearly got the title done before – by scoring when other people weren’t. I just need the tide to turn a little bit, as we are probably the third fastest car at the moment, and I have made a massive step forward from last year. We’ve had a big uplift, but now I want more.
“I’m proud of the team for the work they’re putting in as we’re doing the basics right, our communication, our starts, the strategy, the use of hybrid, is all good. I’m scoring consistently, so it will be nice to go to Knockhill and have another strong weekend. I think it’s a real Ash circuit, but then we go to tracks which I feel really suit us.”
Dan Cammish enjoyed another strong weekend in the British Touring Car Championship (July 27/28), scoring two podium finishes on home soil at Croft, in Yorkshire.
Coming into the weekend Dan was buoyed by the announcement of his multi-year extension with Alliance Racing and NAPA Racing UK. In free practice, he finished further down the order than expected as the team ran on used tyres but trusted the process to bounce back in qualifying.
He finished second fastest in Part 1, made it through Part 2, and took part in the Quick Six shootout for pole, where he secured a front row start and was best of the Ford drivers.
Starting race one on soft tyres, along with five of the top six runners, he had to defend his position off the line and, taking avoiding action at the chicane, slipped to third place. From then on, the leading cars spread out at the front and while he had to fend off the attentions of teammate Ash Sutton in the latter stages, brought home a podium finish.
Dan held third for much of the opening lap of race two, before Sutton got through at the final corner. Having to run on the hard tyres, he found it difficult to defend against those on softer rubber, but settled into sixth position, where he ran to the flag to score more good championship points.
After the reverse grid draw, he lined up third once again for the final race of the weekend. After falling behind Tom Ingram on the opening lap, he made his way back ahead on the second tour, also passing Aaron Taylor-Smith, and from then on looked comfortable in second position. He reeled in the leader, setting the fastest lap in the process, but couldn’t close the gap in time, taking another good podium finish and remaining well in the championship battle.
Next up for Dan in the BTCC is the undulating Knockhill in Scotland, where he will be racing over the weekend of August 10/11.
BTCC Drivers' Championship
1. Tom Ingram 253 points
2. Jake Hill 232 points
3. Ash Sutton 224 points
4. Dan Cammish 212 points
5. Josh Cook 192 points
BTCC Manufacturers' / Constructors Championship
1. Alliance Racing / Ford 501 points
2. BMW 462 points
3. EXCELR8 Motorsport / Hyundai 435 points
4. Toyota 400 points
BTCC Teams' Championship
1. NAPA Racing UK 446 points
2. Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS 386 points
3. LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ 313 points
4. Team BMW 310 points