Newsham maintains top 10 place
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DAVE Newsham retained his top 10 place on the drivers British Touring Car Championship leaderboard, despite failing to finish the final race at Donington.
Inverness driver Newsham increased his points tally to 47 in the driver standings, leaving him in ninth position overall, after finish seventh in race one and fourth next time out.
Unfortunately for the 44-year-old, he could not add further points to his tally as a blown engine forced him to retire in the latter stages of the third race.
Newsham, however, at least had the consolation of setting the fastest lap in the second free practice, further confirming the abilities of the Team ES Racing Vauxhall Vectra to be up their competing with the best cars.
After two satisfactory rounds of this year’s BTCC completed, Newsham’s attentions now turn to Thruxton, which takes place on Sunday 29th April.
"It’s the fastest track on the BTCC calendar and I love it," said Newsham, who is currently sixth in the independent drivers leaderboard having amassed 56 points so far.
"But having missed this race last year, I have to admit I have never driven a Touring Car round there before. However, there are no excuses, we should be competitive."
Meanwhile, Newsham has become the first British Touring Car driver to win championship title sponsor Dunlop’s new Drive with Confidence award.
Dunlop is rewarding the driver who sets the fastest lap overall during each BTCC race weekend with a set of its latest high performance Sport Maxx RT road tyres worth almost £1000.
Newsham’s pole position lap in his Vectra during Brands Hatch’s opening round proved to be the fastest of that weekend.
"I’m delighted to win Dunlop’s first Drive with Confidence award for my pole position lap at Brands Hatch," he said. "The Sport Maxx RT is a really high performance road tyre and anyone who’s passionate about driving would love a set on their car."
