“We couldn’t do it without the help of the guys and gals in orange who volunteer their time”…. etc. It’s not uncommon to hear drivers and commentators talk about the marshals at race weekends in this way. In fact, it’s the last thing Titch (see our Q & A – 10,000 races) says at the end of every BTCC meeting if you’re still lurking around circuit waiting for the traffic to subside when he knocks off air.

We all think we know what the marshals do, what they get out of it and that it’s a volunteer position but there’s a bit more to it and it’s as steeped in history and as governed by politics as the on track activity.

Long time YRC member Graeme Fowler is typical of many marshals. They have very little in common with one another but a love of motorsport – brought together by a keenness to be more involved in a race weekend than watching from the grassy banks.

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Titch

YourRacingCar.com brings you the latest in our behind the scenes interviews with the people who are the fabric of the British Touring Car Championship. Ian Titchmarsh epitomises this series of Q and As, primarily, because only a handful of people have ever seen his face.

You have to get up early to catch a glimpse of the lesser spotted ‘Titch’ at a British Touring Car Championship weekend. We know he hides out in the commentary box and every BTCC spectator since… well a long time ago… will instantly recognise his voice as part of the trackside commentary (and often comedy) due of ‘Alan (Hyde) and Titch’. (more…)

The British Touring Car Championship wouldn’t quite be the same without Matt James, Deputy Editor of our favourite weekly rag, Motorsport News. So who the devil is this chap and what does he think about our beloved BTCC?

"Paul and Matt"

Full Name: Matthew James (but only my mum calls me that…)

Job Title: Deputy Editor, Motorsport News

Favourite BTCC Circuit: Knockhill

Favourite race car of all time: TVR Tuscan

What’s your road car: I don’t have one…

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Lawrence Tomlinson, owner of Ginetta Cars, is one of the most recognisable characters in the British Touring Car Championship support series paddock.

However, it’s not just his lofty stature that sets him apart; it’s the fact that he’s normally found chatting in the pit awning of one of his Ginetta customers. It’s his familiarity that makes him well known.

YourRacingCar.com started life as part of the Ginetta Paddock in 2009 with our very own fan-powered Ginetta G50. We came 4th in the Championship that year despite some horrid luck and we’re big fans of the Yorkshire based racing organisation.

We caught up with Lawrence as he juggles the many businesses he heads up under the LNT Group banner. (more…)

In 2009, our TCR team mate Carl Breeze had a blummin’ horrid accident at Oulton Park. He was lucky to be in the dedicated and brilliant hands of ‘Doc Traff’, TOCA Doctor to you and I. We pulled this interview out of the vaults because British Touring Car weekends simply couldn’t happen without him.

TOCA Medical Delegate, Doctor Paul Trafford’s official title seems to grossly undervalue his role and responsibilities as our on-site doctor so we thought you might find a Q & A with this enormously important man enlightening.

So vital is his position at race weekends that without him present, the show simply can’t go on. (more…)

This was from our 2010 series of interviews with the most important people in the BTCC and those that you, the fans and supporters of the sport, wanted to know more about.

Alan Hyde is your trackside commentator tamping up and down the pit lane all weekend long to bring you the latest stories, as they happen. His partner in crime ‘Titch’ is the voice from the commentary box and their legendary partnership provides the soundtrack to your BTCC race weekends.

YRC: OK so who are you and where’d you come from?

AH: I’m Alan Hyde, born in 1966; someone who talks into microphones at race meetings in pit lanes, paddocks, on podiums, radio studios, and occasionally, in commentary boxes. Probably best known for being in the BTCC pit lane.

I live in Orpington in Kent – ten minutes from Brands Hatch, which was integral in my suggesting to Dad, at the tender age of four, that THIS was where we needed to live. Fortunately, it is also near London and the train station, which was probably more of a deal breaker for Daddy Hyde. (more…)

Martin Byford Photo: Moe Myall

Usually a word associated with posh girls is white frocks parading at a fancy ‘do’, our man Martin Byford adopted an entirely different look as a debutante at the Snetterton round of the BTCC last week.

We didn’t pester him for an immediate reaction, instead choosing to let the dust settle before asking him the usual round of YRC questions. And here we have it – Martin’s inaugural BTCC race weekend. (more…)

Martin tests the Leon

You’d be forgiven for asking the question because despite his long (hope he doesn’t mind us describing it as that!) and successful career in motor racing, he’s kept a reasonably low profile. It’s time we changed all that because he’s now part of the highest profile motor racing series in the UK

We’ve received a number of questions from curious YRCers and that seems like a perfect place to start!

(Photo: Martin tests the infamous SEAT Leon TDI in 2009) (more…)

By now we all know what happened at the weekend – Tom split with the team and you can find out all the details in Matt’s press release here.

So what else is there to say? We’ve seen Shaun’s incredibly diplomatic approach to the situation and who can blame him – there’s nothing he can do to change the situation and getting cross about it certainly won’t do him any favours. The consummate professional and a real gentleman. (more…)

TOC joins YRC

There’s a new boy in town

Far be it from us to gloat but – ha! We got ourselves a shiny new piece of kit!

We’re rather chuffed with the announcement that hit the headlines this morning – Tom Onslow-Cole is joining our YRC Crew in the AmDMilltek engineered VW Golf for the 2011 season. He’s taking the place of Shaun Hollamby who has graciously stepped back to allow the young gun behind the wheel. Shaun’s an ambitious team owner and so when the opportunity to put Tom in the car arose, he and all here at the team agreed that it was the best thing that could have happened. (more…)