The final event in what has been a landmark season for the Goodyear Touring Car Trophy will see five drivers head to Donington Park on August Bank Holiday Monday, each with a mathematical chance of lifting the title.
The meeting hosts the 2021’s concluding three rounds and with 25 points for a win and another for setting the fastest lap, a potential 78 points are up for grabs. As is customary in end-of-season showdown scenarios, after the mandatory two dropped scores have been taken into account, the variety of permutations is destined to see teams reach for their calculators as the results from each race are confirmed.
Leading the charge is 2020 Champion Lewis Kent. With three race victories to his credit this season, the Essex and Kent Motorsport Hyundai i30N TCR driver heads to Donington with 200 points on the board and an advantage of 21 points over round five winner Dan Kirby, who’s on 179. Consequently, Lewis needs to finish third in all three races and in doing so, score 20 points apiece in order to secure his second title in succession.
However, with just a three-point gap behind Dan and his Power Maxed Car Care Racing CUPRA TCR, Lewis’ brother and teammate Bradley is another who will be gunning for gold. In third place and with 176 points, having also claimed three race wins, he not only needs to keep Lewis and Dan at bay but also put other competitors between him and his two main rivals.
Next up and hungry for the title is winner of the season’s first round, Max Hart. Driving the Maximum Motorsport prepared Hyundai i30N TCR, the 19-year old Irishman currently lies fourth in the standings on 169 points and has regularly shown he has the pace to do what’s needed to achieve the goal he set himself at the start of the season.
But for fifth-place Bruce Winfield, the phrase “it’s not over until it’s over” could not be more appropriate. Having experienced a frustrating start to the season, his determination never faltered and, having taken his maiden win and a second-place last time out at Anglesey, the Area Motorsport CUPRA DSG TCR driver kept his title hopes alive in impressive style.
Add into the mix the allocation and removal of success ballast and the importance of good tyre management as the day progresses, the scene is set for an electrifying end to what has been a truly memorable season.
Photos from Jakob Ebrey Photography.
