Scot after win at ‘home’ circuit

Scots racer Gavin Pyper is aiming for success this weekend as the 2003 British Touring Car Championship visits the high-speed Thruxton circuit. With his GA Motorsport team based at the Hampshire track, Pyper is keen to show again the form that has seen him win the Independents category in a race at each of the previous two meetings - his white Vauxhall Astra a constant at the front of that class.

“I’m really looking forward to Thruxton,” says Pyper from Blairgowrie in Perthshire, “we’ve done a few things to the car and it will be great to have the opportunity to try them out. Now that GA Motorsport are based at the circuit it’ll be a bit like running the car out of the workshop!

“I like Thruxton, and usually go well there even if I’ve never really had good results at the track. Our aim this weekend is a couple of Independent category wins and for the whole team to move forward. We are still learning about not only the car, but also the strategy of competing in the Touring Car class and what that involves.

“I’d be happy with qualifying and finishing in the top six over the weekend. We’re always aiming to be the best of the Independents, and we can show that again at Thruxton.”

Bank Holiday Monday’s raceday features two 25-lap BTCC races, both featuring compulsory pit stops for a tyre change for Pyper and other Touring Class runners. Qualifying is limited to a single 20-minute session on Sunday afternoon to provide the grid for the opening race, the result of that race supplying the grid for the second.