Oliphant at Knockhill produces stunning overtake on two wheels

Tarporley racing driver Tom Oliphant produced a gritty performance to notch a trio of points finishes in the latest British Touring Car Championship round at Knockhill.

Oliphant, who secured his third podium of the season at Oulton Park a week earlier, capped off a busy start to the season with four events in just five weeks.

The 30-year-old was only able to set the tenth fastest time in qualifying at the Scottish circuit.

But launching his BMW 330i M Sport off the fifth row of the grid, he battled hard in the opening encounter around the undulating 1.27-mile circuit to make progress and take the chequered flag in eighth.

Shedding a substantial amount of success ballast, Oliphant continued marching forwards in race two and clinched another hard-fought points finish.

Progressing in the early stages, the former Ginetta GT4 Supercup champion went on to run inside the top six throughout the remainder of the race and again bank pivotal points.

Starting sixth virtue of the reverse grid draw for race three, Oliphant capped off his weekend with a fine drive which was headlined by notable overtaking manoeuvres.

Oliphant flies around Knockhill circuit
Oliphant flies around Knockhill circuit

The original race was red flagged early due to an accident but once restarted, Oliphant was a man on a mission as he leapt over the kerbs and up the order.

He produced a stunning move on Chris Smiley on two wheels through Duffus Dip, and set off after third placed Tom Chilton but was ultimately unable to find a way past – settling for fourth in the end.

Oliphant sits fourth in the overall Drivers’ Championship as the halfway marker approaches.

He said: “It’s been a solid weekend.

“I wouldn’t say it has been the most spectacular but we grounded out the results and fought hard so to come away with a score of 31 points as well as maintain fourth in the standings is a job well done.

“I’d hoped for a bit more in qualifying but the weight we were carrying played its part so it was all about taking it one race at a time.

BTCC at Knockhill

“I struggled to see the lights in race one so didn’t get the best of starts but once we were underway the pace in the car was good and we moved forward to eighth.

“Getting ballast out of the car helped us in race two and I was happy to come away with sixth.

“Fourth in race three was a solid end to the day and I was able to make a few big moves, including one I’m rather proud of on two wheels through Duffus Dip.

“On the whole it has been a successful month. I’ve scored my first BTCC race win and we’re fourth in the points.

“There is a plenty of racing still to come so I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel at Thruxton in a few weeks’ time.”

Rounds 13, 14 & 15 of the 2020 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will take place around the fastest circuit on the calendar, Thruxton, on September 19/20.

(Images courtesy of Jakob Ebrey Photography)

Tom oliphant
Tom Oliphant

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