Airwaves Racing show true grit after free practice shunt

Airwaves Racing team boss David Bartrum is full of praise for the Motorbase Performance squad’s mechanics and engineers after their miracle rebuild of the #8 Airwaves Racing Ford Focus ST during last weekend’s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season finale at Brands Hatch (October 12/13).

Following Aron Smith’s massive shunt during Saturday’s second free practice session; the Airwaves Racing crew leapt straight into action to ensure that the Mountune-powered Ford Focus ST NGTC was back on top form and ready for action for all three of Sunday’s races.

“I’m ever the optimist and always thinking anything can be repaired" said Bartrum. "But when that car came back in and I looked at all the various elements that needed to be repaired: the shell, the suspension, the chassis, the sub frame and the engine, I thought that was going to be an impossible task to make that car safe and competitive”

Tom Onslow-Cole, Airwaves Racing

Photo by: Pat Cranham

Following the mammoth task and race against time to make Sunday’s opening race; the rebuilt Focus ST then went on to deliver a P10 finish from the back of the grid in race 1; followed up with two P5 finishes in races 2 and 3 in less than ideal conditions - the perfect reward for the Airwaves crew’s hard work and determination.

“I have to say that I was absolutely blown away and very proud as a team boss when that car rolled out for race one,” added the Motorbase Performance Team Principal. “I wasn't surprised that the car produced the results it did because at the point we were at, the boys had done so much work for it we would only get the best out of the car; that’s why it was repaired to get the best out of it, so I knew it would go out and get the results.”

Team manager Oly Collins is equally appreciative of the Airwaves Racing squad’s efforts adding; “It was a perfect example of a complete team effort as everybody within the team on each and every Motorbase car contributed to the repair to make sure that Aron’s car was back out on the grid for Sunday’s races.”

Airwaves Racing