There are some BTCC weekends that feel a little different from the moment you arrive, and Knockhill is definitely one of them. This was my first trip to the Scottish circuit, and rather than bringing the family along, I headed north with a friend who had taken on the driving duties. For once, there were no children asking how long was left, no football boots in the boot and no family timetable to work around. Just two friends, a shared love of motorsport and a weekend of British Touring Car Championship action ahead of us.

Knockhill is one of those circuits that has a character all of its own. It is short, fast and incredibly undulating, with elevation changes that make the racing look spectacular from almost every angle. The famous Duffus Dip is particularly impressive, with the cars charging towards the crest before disappearing from view and reappearing further around the circuit.

It is also a circuit that feels incredibly close to the action. Unlike some of the larger venues, you don’t feel miles away from the cars. You can hear them coming, watch them attack the kerbs and see just how hard the drivers are pushing. For BTCC, it is a brilliant combination.

Scottish weather does what Scottish weather does

Of course, no trip to Knockhill would be complete without talking about the weather. We experienced the sort of conditions that make you question whether you have packed appropriately, despite having packed approximately every item of clothing you own. The weather changed throughout the weekend, adding another element to an already unpredictable weekend of racing.

Mixed conditions always have the potential to shake things up in touring cars. Grip levels change, tyre choices become more important and drivers have to adapt quickly. At Knockhill, where the circuit is already challenging, changing conditions only add to the drama. It also gives racing fans like me another excuse to complain about the weather while continuing to stand outside taking photographs anyway.

The paddock atmosphere

For me, one of the biggest attractions of BTCC isn’t simply watching the races. It is being able to experience the atmosphere around the garages and paddock.

There is a real buzz before every session. Mechanics are working on the cars, engineers are looking at data, team members are moving between the garage and pit lane and drivers are preparing for the next time they head out on track.

The cars might look immaculate when they are lined up on the grid, but the paddock tells a very different story. There are tyres being changed, panels being repaired and teams working against the clock to get everything ready.

I love capturing those details because they show the work that goes into producing the racing we see for those relatively short periods on track. The driver might be the person we recognise, but BTCC is very much a team sport.

A huge weekend for Cataclean Plato Racing

One of the biggest stories of the Knockhill weekend was Cataclean Plato Racing. Having followed the team and Rowbo throughout the season, it was fantastic to see the team achieve a breakthrough result with Adam Morgan taking victory in the opening BTCC race. And it wasn’t just a win. Rowbo followed Morgan across the line to give Cataclean Plato Racing a brilliant one-two.

For a new team, that is a huge moment. There is something particularly exciting about watching a team develop throughout a season and then seeing the hard work translate into a result like this. The atmosphere around the team afterwards really reflected what the result meant. It was one of those moments where you could see the excitement from the people behind the scenes, not just the driver standing on the podium. Morgan continued his strong weekend with another podium in the final race, while Rowbottom remained competitive throughout the weekend.

Three BTCC races and three different winners

The opening race belonged to Adam Morgan, but there was plenty more drama still to come. Ash Sutton took victory in Race Two for NAPA Racing UK, adding another important result to his championship campaign. Then Tom Chilton claimed the final race of the weekend for Team VERTU, securing another BTCC victory at a circuit where he has enjoyed success before. Three races, three different winners and plenty of battles throughout the field.

That is exactly what makes BTCC so enjoyable to watch. You can have a pretty good idea of what might happen before the lights go out, but the racing has a habit of completely ignoring your expectations. Knockhill certainly delivered its share of moments to talk about, from the battles through the field to the changing conditions and the drivers pushing the limits around the circuit.

Finding my place in motorsport

As someone who has become increasingly interested in the BTCC world, I also really enjoy the opportunity to experience weekends like this from a content creator’s perspective. Motorsport has traditionally been a very male dominated environment, and being a woman walking around the paddock with an iPhone taking photos can sometimes make you feel like you stand out. But I’ve reached the point where I don’t really worry about that anymore. I’m there because I genuinely love the sport.

I’m interested in the racing, the teams, the drivers and the stories behind the championship. I enjoy creating content, taking photographs and capturing the atmosphere that doesn’t always make it onto the television coverage.

And I think there is something quite powerful about showing that motorsport isn’t just for one particular type of person. I’m a mum. I’m a blogger. I’m a woman who loves sunsets, family adventures and a good cup of coffee. I’m also someone who will happily spend a weekend standing beside a race track watching touring cars fight for position. All of those things can exist together.

More than just a weekend at the circuit

Although I was away from home without the boys for this particular weekend, it never really felt like I was doing something completely separate from my normal life. Motorsport has become such a big part of my interests and the friendships I’ve made through it that weekends like Knockhill feel like catching up with friends as much as they do going racing.

There is something brilliant about being surrounded by people who understand why you’re excited about a qualifying lap, why you want to photograph the garage rather than simply watch the race and why a noisy touring car going past at ridiculous speed can make your entire weekend. Knockhill was a long way to travel, but it was worth it.

The circuit delivered close racing, unpredictable weather, plenty of paddock atmosphere and a memorable weekend for Cataclean Plato Racing. Add in three different BTCC race winners and plenty of championship talking points and it had everything you could want from a touring car weekend. For me, though, it was also another reminder of why I love being part of the BTCC community.

The racing is the obvious attraction, but it is the people, the atmosphere, the behind-the-scenes access and the stories that make me want to keep coming back. And if the next BTCC adventure involves another long journey, questionable weather and standing trackside with my camera? I’ll be there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Emma Shilton (@mrsshilts)