Mangan Magic In Chaotic Season Opener - Motorsport.Ie RTA BTCC Round 1 Review

By Evan Dalton for RTA Virtual Motorsport


Oscar Mangan returned to RTA Virtual Motorsport with a victory as he won two of three races on opening night in Brands Hatch, with Wayne Douglas also stepping on top of the rostrum. 


It was the first outing for Mangan since being crowned Mustang Americas Cup champion over seven months ago. He was immediately the pace setter in the TCR cars, and managed to take pole position ahead of the evening’s three heat races. 


HEAT 1 

Mangan received a warm welcome from former rival Ronan Doherty upon his return, as Doherty flew around his outside in the very first corner to take the race lead. It kick started a battle amongst the front two and third place driver Wayne Douglas. 


Darragh Halley battled hard with Robbie Callaghan in the early phases. Their fight continued, until both McClements’ brothers managed to push their way past into turn three on the fourth lap of proceedings. 


As the heat reached the fifth minute, Mangan went for a move on race leader Doherty into the final braking zone of the lap. He dove to the inside, out broke himself, and sent Doherty spinning. It was a rare error from Ireland’s highest rated driver on iRacing. Doherty would recover to seventh by the chequered flag. 


The drama was not over for Mangan however, as he made contact with the remaining car in the fight for the win, Douglas. Into turn three once again, they ran door to door in traditional TCR style, but Douglas was sent wide by Mangan and his momentum was killed. Douglas would remain in second, but far away from Mangan who took the race win. 


HEAT 2 

Despite returning to race winning form immediately, the organisational cobwebs had not been dusted from the Dubliner. He failed to grid for Heat 2, and was forced into a pit lane start. This gave Douglas a clean run through ‘Paddock Hill Bend.’ 


It was a not clean run for all however, as contact between Callaghan and Shaun McGoldrick sent the Oxfordshire resident flying into the barrier, and back out in front of the innocent bystander that was Rory O’Shea. McGoldrick had to return to the pits for repairs. 


The trend was set, and elbows were firmly out for the remaining 15 minutes. RTA sophomore Jacob Hobbs made contact with Dave Collier, Nathan Sweeney’s car was stripped of its bumper and Evan Walsh set up his own multi carriage train service that would put Iarnród Éireann to shame. He kept Keith Stewart, Peter McCann and Conor Melia behind for the majority of the race. 


With just two minutes to go, Doherty perfectly executed a lunge into the ‘Graham Hill Bend’ to get past Douglas. He nailed his braking, got alongside at the apex and kept close to the kerb on the inside. A perfect example of TCR racing. The ‘Boy From Dunloy’ did not have to wait until Round 6 this season to get a win on the board. 


HEAT 3 

After racing his way up the field in Heat 2, Mangan was blessed with pole position on the reserve top eight feature race. He was joined by Dylan McClements on the front row, who kept with Mangan for the opening laps before Mangan put the hammer down. 


Doherty had to work his way through the top eight to challenge for the podium, and he did so, with impressive moves all the way. None more impressive than his move on ICCR’s new Fiesta Zetec sensation Walsh. Doherty had to head onto the grass on the main straight to find a gap past, braking later than the Tipperary man into turn one, and completing the move. 


The rest of the heat, in comparison to the earlier evening shenanigans, was rather tame, but still entertaining. Doherty, Walsh, Douglas and McClements battled for second, with McCann, Melia, McCaughan and Stewart fighting in the midfield. 


No one was catching Mangan however, as he soared to victory at the Brands Hatch Indy circuit. 


It is not the only trip to West Kingsdown this season, as the circus will return to run the full circuit variation later on in the season. Next up is Donington Park, where last season saw a slippery evening provide the entertainment. Action can be viewed from 9pm next Tuesday, on GantryTV.


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