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SIMON BELCHER IN HIGH SPEED THRUXTON CRASH Car overturns in British Touring Car Championship
Competing in his first season of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), Handy md Simon Belcher survived a high speed crash at Thruxton last weekend witnessed by a huge Bank Holiday crowd and millions watching on TV.
During Race 3, Simon's Karcher-sponsored Speedworks Motorsports prepared, Handy Motorsport Toyato Avenis suffered a steering system failure at 120mph when entering Church corner at the extremely fast Hampshire circuit. The car left the circuit and somersaulted over the safety barrier, which had also seen two other accidents during the meeting. Fortunately, Simon soon appeared from the woods and gave a thumbs up to the crowd around the circuit watching on huge TV screens.
"I am a bit sore and shaken up," says Simon, "but otherwise perfectly OK. The protection in the car really saved me from serious injury, but someone did ask me whether I needed a ticket to get back into the circuit!"
Now, the team face a race against to time, and money, to get the car ready for the next round of the Championship at Oulton Park in four weeks time. "There is significant damage to the shell, but it's repairable needing a new roof, doors and rear panels. However, the bad news is that we need a new engine and gearbox, hefty items that we did not allow for in this first season."
Having made an encouraging start to his parctipation in the exciting hugely popular BTCC 2014 series during the first two rounds at Brands Hatch and Donnington, Simon says, "It had always been my ambition compete at this level and obviously the Thruxton crash has been a major set back, but the guys at Speedworks are confident they can get us make on track for the next meeting."
In the meanwhile, Simon is raising extra funds to support his return to the BTCC series including having a special T-shirt made, available from EBAY, the proceeeds of which will help with the extensive repairs required to the car.
