- “Home” races for Scottish BTCC newcomer Geddie
- Cole wants to make a point of earning himself belated birthday present
The latest three rounds of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship are staged at the narrow eight-corner, 1.27-mile Knockhill track just north of Edinburgh in Scotland next weekend (23-24 August) – the shortest circuit on the calendar.
It’s the Leeds-based team’s first ever foray to Scotland and the BTCC’s only visit north of the border and so means a “home” race for series “rookie” Glynn Geddie, who was born and lives in Aberdeen – a further 100 miles north.
Not surprisingly, Knockhill was the venue for Glynn’s first ever race, a Scottish MINI Challenge event eight years ago, and the reigning European Supercar champion has gone on to chalk up more than 20 races at the venue.
Fellow UA Toyota Avensis driver James Cole, armed with a new bodyshell and engine, will also be looking to lock out a good grid position on Saturday – seven days after the Merseysider celebrated his 26th birthday.
One of Knockhill’s defining features are the high kerbs that launch the BTCC cars onto two wheels as they try to find passing opportunities and faster lap times.
#20 Drivecool / Autoglym / HELLA – Toyota Avensis
James Cole (GB)
Age: 26. Born: Southport, England. Lives: Liverpool, England.
“I’m looking forward to getting back to Knockhill. I last raced there in 2009 in a Formula Ford single-seater.
“It’s a fantastic short track with lots of aggressive lunges. I’m really hoping the twisty circuit will suit the Toyota. I have a new ‘bodyshell’ and engine so I’m looking forward to the next three races on a circuit that hopefully will give us the opportunity to post good results.”
#21 Autoglym / HELLA – Toyota Avensis
Glynn Geddie (GB)
Age: 24. Born & Lives: Aberdeen, Scotland.
“My first car race was not surprisingly at Knockhill in 2006 when I contested the Scottish MINI Challenge and I’ve probably raced there in excess of 20 times – the last time in 2012 in a Porsche. It’s been pretty much a happy hunting ground for me having won around 12 Mini or Porsche races.
“I like the track although it’s short in length and narrow in width so it’s very tight for overtaking. I really hope my ‘home’ track is a changing point in my maiden BTCC season – it’s been a hard first year to date. We’ll need some luck in qualifying with more than 30 cars on a tight circuit.”
Richard Dean, Team Owner and Managing Director, United Autosports:
“We are really looking forward to heading to Knockhill. It’s Glynn’s home race so the Scottish race fans will be cheering him on I’m sure. As we saw at Snetterton, we have the ability to be in the top half of the grid, we now just need to be more consistent throughout the weekend and maintain those good results. James’ car has had a ‘re-shell’ in between Snetterton and Knockhill, so there’s been a lot of work back at our workshop to get his car back to where we want it to be and hopefully he can have a good weekend.”