BTCC: A weekend to forget for Rob Austin Racing Audi at Thruxton

By Tarek Ramchani

As expected Rob Austin Racing faced a very hard weekend at Thruxton, for the third meeting of the British Touring Car Championship. The two Audi A4 NGTC cars struggled a lot on a very penalizing track.

It all started with a very disappointing qualifying session yesterday, Will Bratt qualified his #14 Audi A4 in eighteenth place and Rob Austin with the #13 car was twenty-fifth. In race 1 Will Bratt again finished in eighteenth place, right ahead of the other Audi with Rob Austin in nineteenth. In race 2 Rob Austin improved one position finishing eighteenth, whilst Will Bratt ended twenty-second. Race 3 was clearly the hardest of the day for RAR. Rob Austin did not finish the race, retiring after eight laps. Will Bratt was seventeenth.

Thruxton race saw a case of Honda domination, the works Honda Yuasa Racing Team won all three races. Matt Neal with the #2 Honda Civic victorious in the first two races of the day. The race three victory went to the 2012 champion, Gordon Shedden, with the #1 Honda Civic.

Rob Austin Racing may have struggled a lot at Thruxton, with a very obvious lack of top speed, however the car is very well balanced, as seen at the previous two rounds at Brands Hatch and Donington Park. Outlon Park is the next stop for the BTCC, a track which could be favorable for the Audi A4s.

Photo credit: Phil Laughton Photography

BTCC: Race 3 at Donington brings a hard day to an end for RAR

By Johan Laubscher

BTCC round two at Donington has proven to be a difficult event for Rob Austin Racing. The first two races saw the two Audis well outside of the top ten and race three was not to turn out any better.

Only one of the RAR Audi A4 cars lined up for the third and final race of the day. Rob Austin retired from race two due to engine related issues and unfortunately he did not take part in race three. This left teammate Will Bratt as the lone Audi in the field.

Bratt started the race in nineteenth and managed to move up through the field. He had moved up to thirteenth by half distance. Ultimately he finished in fourteenth after having gotten as high as twelfth during the race.

It was a very difficult weekend for Rob Austin Racing and the issues surrounding their straight-line speed hampered their progress as well. Regardless of the result it was great to see both RAR Audi cars on track this weekend, following the herculean rebuild of the #13 Audi A4 following the crash at Brands Hatch.

The next round of the British Touring Car Championship will take place Thruxton in May.

Race 3 results can be seen HERE.

Photo credit: Phil Laughton Photography

BTCC: A hard day continues for Rob Austin Racing in Donington Race 2

By Johan Laubscher

The first BTCC race at Donginton proved to be very difficult for the Rob Austin Racing team, and their fortunes unfortunately remained the same during race two. 

Rob Austin worked his way up from his fourteenth place starting position up to just outside the top ten. He then unfortunately dropped back to twentieth where he was ultimately classified as a non finisher. Rob’s teammate Will Bratt had recovered well during race two. He started in twenty-fifth and recovered all the way up to sixteenth, but he was off the track on the final lap when he lost his left rear wheel. Bratt thus crossed the line in nineteenth place.

It has been a very difficult weekend for Rob Austin Racing, hampered by their straight-line speed as well. The RAR pairing rounded out the top twenty during race two with nineteenth and twentieth (DNF).

The third and final race of the day will take place in a few hours. We wish the best of luck to the Rob Austin Racing team, hopefully a good result can be attained during race three. 

Race 2 results can be seen HERE.

Photo credit: Phil Laughton Photography

BTCC: Race 1 at Donington for Rob Austin Racing

By Johan Laubscher

Rob Austin Racing arrived at Donington after a massive repair job on the #13 Audi A4 NGTC. Despite the crash last time out the team were confidant following the strong performances at Brands Hatch. 

At Donington it became apparent that the RAR Audis had a straight-line speed disadvantage and this has hampered them all weekend. The pair of Audis lined up in seventeenth and eighteenth for race one. The race was one that saw the Audis battling outside of the top ten. Rob Austin fought hard and progressed up to fourteenth as he crossed the finish line. His teammate Will Bratt finished in twenty-fifth .

The second of three races will take place later this afternoon. We wish the best of luck to Rob Austin Racing and hopefully they can continue to move forward through the pack.

Race 1 results can be seen HERE.

Photo credit: Phil Laughton Photography

BTCC: Positive qualifying for Rob Austin Racing Audi at Brands Hatch

By Tarek Ramchani

The 2013 British Touring Car Championship kicks of this weekend at Brands Hatch. As in the past two years Rob Austin Racing is the only Audi team of the series. A two car effort with some strong performances today in the free practice and qualifying sessions.

Rob Austin the team owner and driver of the #13 WIX Racing backed Audi A4 NGTC ended in a very strong seventh place in a snow-hit qualifying session. Rob Austin again proving the Audi A4 is one of the best cars of the field.

Will Bratt driving the sister #14 Audi A4 NGTC qualified in fifteenth place. A good result after all the bad luck this morning with fuel pump issues.

The 2013 BTCC is stronger than ever no less than 27 cars at Brands Hatch. Three races are set for tomorrow, we wish the best of luck for both Rob Austin and Will Bratt.

The qualifying results are here

Photo credit: Phil Laughton Photography

BTCC: Rob Austin Racing Audi A4 at Donington Park's Media Day

By Tarek Ramchani

he 2013 British Touring Car Championship season will kick off in two weeks time at Brands Hatch. Before that the BTCC regulars were at Donington Park for the annual Media Day. Rob Austin Racing was there as well with their Audi A4 NGTC cars.

Rob Austin Racing is now the only Audi team in the demanding BTCC. The team is back with the Audi A4 NGTC for the third straight year. The two drivers did well at the Media Day. Rob Austin the team owner and driver of the #13 Audi ended in 12th place. Will Bratt with the sister #14 A4 was just behind in 13th place.

Same as the last races of 2012 season the Audis will carry the WIX Racing colors. A solid sponsorship allowing the team to focus on improving the performances of the cars and fight for the top spots. For two years the team proved that Audi A4 NGTC is among the best of the field even being a fully independent effort. In many races Rob Austin was able to match the pace of factory supported cars from Honda, MG, and BMW. The 2013 will feature breaking record of 31 cars as full season competitors. We wish the team the best of the luck for the 2013 BTCC campaign.

Photo credit:
Phil Laughton Photography on Facebook

Video: Rob Austin scares his wife in a BTCC Audi A4

By Johan Laubscher

Race drivers live a fast passed life, and as the age old saying states: “Behind every man is a women”. In that spirit many racing drivers take their loved ones for a ride with them in their race cars, and when these get filmed you normally have a very funny video, at the expense of the spouse.

Rob Austin Racing was at Silverstone this weekend for a promotional event. During these proceedings he took guests for passenger laps, and his wife was one of his victims. Rob has uploaded the eight minute video of him pushing his NGTC Audi A4 around Silverstone with his wife alongside. Turn up the volume, this is a good one.

More information:

Rob Austin Racing on Facebook