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Cammish stamps this authority on the Jack Sears Trophy
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Dan Cammish has stamped this authority on the Jack Sears Trophy at a crucial time in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, with a great performance at Knockhill.
The Halfords Yuasa Racing driver scored 54 points in Scotland, 13 more than arch rival Chris Smiley, thanks to finishing third in two out of the three races.
With just two BTCC race meetings remaining – at Silverstone (15/16 September) and Brands Hatch (29/30 September) – Cammish leads the Jack Sears Trophy by 41 points.
On an undulating track that historically favours rear wheel-drive cars, Cammish upset the formbook by qualifying his front-wheel drive Honda Civic Type R on pole.
The heavens opened on race day, soaking the picturesque Fife racetrack, but the inclement conditions did not deter Cammish, who leapt off the line into the lead at the start of the curtain-raiser and confidently held sway at the front of the field throughout the opening 11 laps. Although ultimately powerless to resist the rear wheel-drive onslaught, Cammish clung on valiantly to take the chequered flag third – and top front wheel-drive competitor – before replicating that result in race two following a hard-fought battle. The Yorkshireman was denied the opportunity to make it a points-scoring hat-trick in race three by mechanical issues, but could nonetheless reflect upon a thoroughly impressive weekend.
“If you’d offered me two top three finishes before the start of the weekend, I would have snapped your hand off,” said Cammish. “I was over the moon to secure my first BTCC pole position, although I don’t think anybody really gave me a prayer of getting to the first corner still in front in race one – at the end of the day, physics are physics and rear wheel-drive cars launch better than front wheel-drive cars do. I got away very well, though, and I did arrive there first and then made hay for the opening few laps while the RWD boys brought their tyres up to temperature. Eventually, that advantage was negated, but to hold onto third I thought was a really good effort – for me, that was effectively a win. Race two was a pretty sensible job too in very difficult conditions – it would have been so easy to put the car in the barriers trying to be a hero for just one more place. It was obviously a shame to conclude the weekend with the problem in race three, but that doesn’t take the overall shine away.”
Cammish is by no means home and dry, as another good points tally at Knockhill keeps Smiley very much in the reckoning. He scored 42 points in his BTC Norlin Racing Honda Civic, to maintain a strong second place.
Rory Butcher, Matt Simpson, Ollie Jackson and Tom Oliphant complete the top six, although they each need a big points haul next time out to maintain their Jack Sears Trophy title challenge.
The Jack Sears Trophy, which this year is open to drivers who have never scored an outright BTCC podium finish, received its 20th participate at Knockhill, when Carl Boardley joined the series in a Volkswagen CC.
The winner of the Jack Sears Trophy receives a Stilo ST5 GT Carbon helmet, supplied by Nicky Grist Motorsports.
Jack Sears Trophy points after Knockhill (Round 24) 1. Dan CAMMISH (Halfords Yuasa Racing)….351pts 2. Chris SMILEY (BTC Norlin Racing)….310pts 3. Rory BUTCHER (AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing)….275pts 4. Matt SIMPSON (Simpson Racing)….254pts 5. Ollie JACKSON (AmD with Cobra Exhausts)….225pts 6. Tom OLIPHANT (Ciceley Motorsport)….213pts 7. Mike BUSHELL (Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing)….190pts 8. Daniel Lloyd (BTC Norlin Racing)….182pts 9. Brett SMITH (WIX Racing with Eurotech)….175pts 10. Bobby THOMPSON (Team HARD with Trade Price Cars)….168pts 11. Jake HILL (Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing)….147pts 12. Sam SMELT (AmD with Cobra Exhausts)….124pts 13. Michael CAINE (Team HARD with Trade Price Cars)….101pts 14. Josh PRICE (Autoglym Academy Racing)….71pts 15. Ricky COLLARD (Team BMW)….48pts 16. Glynn GEDDIE (AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing)….41pts 17. Ant WHORTON-EALES (AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing)….39pts 18. Dan WELCH (Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing)….24pts 19. Ollie PIDGLEY (Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing)….20pts 20. Carl BOARDLEY (Team HARD with Trade Price Cars)….10pts
