Trio fly the flag for Yorkshire in the BTCC

Three drivers will be flying the flag for Yorkshire in the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship which gets under way at Brands Hatch this weekend.
Dan Cammish. Picture: Dan Cammish.Dan Cammish. Picture: Dan Cammish.
Dan Cammish. Picture: Dan Cammish.

Morley’s Dan Cammish, Leeds’ Sam Tordoff and Bridlington’s Senna Proctor will all be battling it out in the 30-race series held at 10 circuits across England and Scotland.

Cammish, who is a two-time Porsche Carrera Cup GB champion and one-time British Formula Ford champion, has landed arguably the most high profile drive available by signing for Honda Racing alongside triple BTCC champion Matt Neal.

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And the 28-year-old has fitted seamlessly into the multiple championship-winning outfit.

Sam Tordoff. Picture: Dennis Goodwin.Sam Tordoff. Picture: Dennis Goodwin.
Sam Tordoff. Picture: Dennis Goodwin.

“I’ve settled into the team very well,” said Cammish, who will be driving the new Civic Type R. “It’s been great to build up a rapport with the guys on my side of the garage, and Matt and I are getting on really well. He’s the most experienced driver in the championship, and what he doesn’t know about racing touring cars almost certainly isn’t worth knowing.”

As to his prospects for the 2018 season, Cammish is playing down his chances but judging by his impressive record in all other formulas, he will certainly be battling it out at the front end of the grid.

Cammish added: “I’ll be giving it absolutely everything, and I’ll be disappointed if I’m not fighting for podiums sooner rather than later. I’m really looking forward to letting this car off the leash!

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“I’ve got a great team behind me, and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be able to challenge inside the top ten or even top five from the outset.”

Senna Proctor. Picture: Dennis Goodwin.Senna Proctor. Picture: Dennis Goodwin.
Senna Proctor. Picture: Dennis Goodwin.

Joining Cammish on the grid will be an old friend from his karting days – namely Sam Tordoff.

After dramatically missing out on the BTCC title in the final race of the 2016 season, Tordoff left the series to join the British GT Championship last year but is back for another crack at the title in 2018 in a Ford Focus run by Motorbase Racing.

“It’s exciting to be back in the BTCC,” said Tordoff. “I got a great reception and a lot of people made a point of welcoming me back, so it was great to jump straight back into it and be competitive.

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“The car is in a sweet-spot at the moment. We’re going into the weekend with high hopes and just looking to score some strong points. I think if we can come out of the weekend with three top-six performances then that would be a great way to start the season.”

Sam Tordoff. Picture: Dennis Goodwin.Sam Tordoff. Picture: Dennis Goodwin.
Sam Tordoff. Picture: Dennis Goodwin.

Also, looking to make a strong start to the season will be 19-year-old Proctor.

The teenager claimed the rookie of the award – The Jack Sears Trophy – in his debut season in the BTCC and has re-signed for the Vauxhall-backed Power Maxed Racing team this year.

Proctor said: “Last year was a fantastic year for all of us, and with the work [team manager] Martin Broadhurst and the team have been putting in, and having Josh Cook as a team-mate, I’m confident 2018 will be our year.”

Live coverage of today’s qualifying session at Brands Hatch will be available via the ITV4 website from 3.15-3.45pm with live race day coverage on ITV4 from 10.30am tomorrow.