Rob Austin

Last updated

Rob Austin
Rob Austin, Brands Hatch, Apr 2012.jpg
Austin at the Brands Hatch Indy round of the 2012 British Touring Car Championship season.
Nationality Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British
Born (1981-02-01) 1 February 1981 (age 42)
Evesham, Worcestershire, England, UK
British Touring Car Championship career
Debut season 2011
Current team Power Maxed Car Care Racing
Car number11
Former teamsRob Austin Racing, DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing
Starts229
Wins3
Poles2
Fastest laps4
Best finish11th in 2013, 2017
Previous series
2012
2010
2008–2009
2008
2007
2005
2000–2004 		VW Cup
Grand Prix Masters
Ginetta G50 Cup
British GT
SEAT Cupra Championship
Formula Three Euroseries
British Formula 3

Robert Christopher Austin (born 1 February 1981) is a British racing driver who formerly competed in the British Touring Car Championship. He was born in Evesham, Worcestershire.

Contents

Racing career

Formula 3

His career started in British Formula Renault in 1998, where he raced until 1999. An accident put him out of racing for the 2000 season, but he returned in British Formula 3 for Alain Menu's team in 2001, where he raced until 2004. He also has Japanese Formula Three experience (2003).

British GT Championship

Austin entered the British GT Championship in 2008 with a brand new Ginetta G50 GT4 under the Rob Austin Racing banner. [1] He drove alongside Hunter Abbott although they missed the first event at Oulton Park when Abbott crashed and destroyed the car. They took the first of three GT4 victories in the third race of the season at Knockhill having taken delivery of a new car. [2] The pair finished the season joint third in the GT4 standings after finishing on the podium at every race they finished, except for their disqualification at Thruxton.

British Touring Car Championship

In 2011, Austin took over the driving duties from David Pinkney in the British Touring Car Championship due to Pinkney's departure from the team after the first round. He competed in a NGTC specification Audi A4 for his own team. [3] Austin qualified a career best fourth at Knockhill but retired in the first race. [4] He took his maiden podium finish in the third race at Rockingham, ending up second behind James Nash. [5] He completed the season in 16th place with one podium finish and one fastest lap.

Rob Austin Racing signed Mark Hazell to drive the team's Audi A4 for the start of the 2012 season, but Austin was the only entry for the season opener at Brands Hatch Indy. [6] He finished eighth in the first race of the season and finished fifth in the following two races. Hazell left the team after Brands Hatch, leaving Austin as the team's only driver for Donington Park and Thruxton. Austin sat out the meeting at Oulton Park while series debutant and 2009 Euroseries 3000 champion Will Bratt was the team's sole entrant at the Cheshire venue. [7] He returned to the car for the next race at Croft, taking his second podium finish in race two. [8] He was unable to find the budget to race at Knockhill, forcing him to miss the event but he returned to the car at Rockingham. [9] He was disqualified from the third race at Silverstone after colliding with Daniel Welch on lap three while fighting for second place. [10] Austin secured a title sponsor for the season finale at Brands Hatch, his car would carry a special NASCAR inspired livery for Wix Filters. [11]

Austin confirmed his return in 2013 with the team running under the WIX Filters banner. [12] Austin led early on in the first race of the season at Brands Hatch, he was then passed by Jason Plato and eventually finished third behind Andrew Jordan. He retired from the following two races, in race three he was collected by Dave Newsham who had spun and Austin had a high speed collision with the barriers before coming to a rest in the middle of the track. [13] He took his first pole position in the BTCC at the Knockhill round. [14] He took his first outright win at the next event at Rockingham; he took victory in race two ahead of Gordon Shedden. [15] After that he only scored 11 more points for the rest of the year, finishing 11th in the standings.

Austin driving the Exocet Racing Audi A4 at Brands Hatch during the 2014 British Touring Car Championship season. BTCC Finale, 2014, Brands Hatch (16276368340).jpg
Austin driving the Exocet Racing Audi A4 at Brands Hatch during the 2014 British Touring Car Championship season.

Austin returned for the 2014 season. Exocet took over title sponsorship after the departure of WIX Filters. WIX then continued their BTCC tenure with Adam Morgan and his family run team 'Ciceley Racing'. [16]

In March 2014 Hunter Abbott signed for Rob Austin Racing to run in a second Audi A4 in the 2014 season under the AlcoSense Racing Banner. [17]

Other activities

Austin appeared in the Ron Howard film Rush (2013), portraying Brett Lunger and driving his Surtees TS19, which is owned by his father for racing in historic events. [18]

Racing record

Austin, at the Knockhill round of the 2017 British Touring Car Championship. Rob Austin - 2017 BTCC Knockhill (Saturday, FP2).jpg
Austin, at the Knockhill round of the 2017 British Touring Car Championship.
Austin at Rockingham during the 2018 British Touring Car Championship season. BTCC Race1 (44035817751).jpg
Austin at Rockingham during the 2018 British Touring Car Championship season.

Career summary

SeasonSeriesTeamRacesWinsPolesF/LapsPodiumsPointsPosition
2000 British Formula 3 Championship Carlin Motorsport 100000NC
2001 British Formula 3 Championship Alain Menu Racing 250000819th
2002 British Formula 3 Championship Menu F3 Motorsport 260001949th
2003 British Formula 3 Championship Menu F3 Motorsport 1612051107th
2004 British Formula 3 Championship Menu F3 Motorsport 800213216th
2005 Formula 3 Euro Series Team Midland Euroseries400000NC
2007 SEAT Cupra Great Britain R class Startline Services110011608th
Ginetta ChampionshipRob Austin Racing11102516811th
2008 British GT Championship - GT4 Rob Austin Racing1432410802nd
Ginetta G50 Cup 4211413214th
2009 Ginetta G50 Cup Rob Austin Racing600025119th
2010Grand Prix Masters71113N/AN/A
2011 British Touring Car Championship Rob Austin Racing2500112616th
2012 British Touring Car Championship Rob Austin Racing22000112213th
Historic Grand Prix of Monaco - Series F Surtees 10000N/A9th
2013 British Touring Car Championship WIX Racing29112515411th
2014 British Touring Car Championship Exocet Racing30101414712th
2015 British Touring Car Championship Exocet AlcoSense Racing30000012014th
2016 British Touring Car Championship Handy Motorsport 30000312916th
2017 British Touring Car Championship Handy Motorsport 30110217411th
2018 British Touring Car Championship DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing 30000212614th
2020 British Touring Car Championship Power Maxed Car Care Racing 300001322nd

Complete Formula 3 Euro Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearEntrantChassisEngine1234567891011121314151617181920DCPoints
2005 Team Midland Euroseries Dallara F305/001 Toyota HOC
1 		HOC
2 		PAU
1 		PAU
2 		SPA
1 		SPA
2 		MON
1 		MON
2 		OSC
1 		OSC
2 		NOR
1 		NOR
2 		NÜR
1 		NÜR
2 		ZAN
1
12		 ZAN
2
Ret		 LAU
1
21		 LAU
2
Ret		 HOC
1 		HOC
2 		NC0

Complete British GT Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position in class) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap in class)

YearEntrantCarClass1234567891011121314DCPoints
2008 Rob Austin Racing Ginetta G50 GT4 OUL
1
DNS		 OUL
2
DNS		 KNO
1
9		 KNO
2
Ret		 ROC
1
14		 ROC
2
10		 SNE
1
16		 SNE
2
15		 THR
1
14		 THR
2
DSQ		 BRH
1
12		 BRH
2
11		 SIL
1
7		 DON
1
11		2nd80

Complete British Touring Car Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position – 1 point awarded in first race) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap – 1 point awarded all races) (* signifies that driver lead race for at least one lap – 1 point given)

YearTeamCar123556789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930DCPoints
2011 Rob Austin Racing Audi A4 BRH
1 		BRH
2 		BRH
3 		DON
1
Ret		 DON
2
Ret		 DON
3
13		 THR
1
Ret		 THR
2
DNS		 THR
3
DNS		 OUL
1
Ret		 OUL
2
12		 OUL
3
16		 CRO
1
Ret		 CRO
2
NC		 CRO
3
Ret		 SNE
1
15		 SNE
2
Ret		 SNE
3
10		 KNO
1
Ret		 KNO
2
Ret		 KNO
3
Ret		 ROC
1
7		 ROC
2
9		 ROC
3
2*		 BRH
1
13		 BRH
2
14		 BRH
3
13		 SIL
1
Ret		 SIL
2
12		 SIL
3
6		16th26
2012 Rob Austin Racing Audi A4 BRH
1
8		 BRH
2
5		 BRH
3
5		 DON
1
Ret		 DON
2
DNS		 DON
3
DNS		 THR
1
Ret		 THR
2
18		 THR
3
13		 OUL
1 		OUL
2 		OUL
3 		CRO
1
5		 CRO
2
3		 CRO
3
7		 SNE
1
12		 SNE
2
Ret		 SNE
3
Ret		 KNO
1 		KNO
2 		KNO
3 		ROC
1
9		 ROC
2
16		 ROC
3
10		 SIL
1
5		 SIL
2
5		 SIL
3
DSQ		 BRH
1
17		 BRH
2
10		 BRH
3
7		13th122
2013 WIX Racing Audi A4 BRH
1
3*		 BRH
2
Ret		 BRH
3
Ret		 DON
1
14		 DON
2
Ret		 DON
3
DNS		 THR
1
19		 THR
2
18		 THR
3
Ret		 OUL
1
13		 OUL
2
8		 OUL
3
5*		 CRO
1
13		 CRO
2
14		 CRO
3
11		 SNE
1
15		 SNE
2
14		 SNE
3
12		 KNO
1
3*		 KNO
2
2		 KNO
3
4		 ROC
1
3		 ROC
2
1*		 ROC
3
9		 SIL
1
12		 SIL
2
Ret		 SIL
3
17		 BRH
1
Ret		 BRH
2
Ret		 BRH
3
18		11th154
2014 Exocet Racing Audi A4 BRH
1
5		 BRH
2
Ret		 BRH
3
11		 DON
1
29		 DON
2
18		 DON
3
Ret		 THR
1
17		 THR
2
DSQ		 THR
3
12		 OUL
1
5		 OUL
2
2		 OUL
3
5		 CRO
1
13		 CRO
2
Ret		 CRO
3
Ret		 SNE
1
11		 SNE
2
13		 SNE
3
18		 KNO
1
2		 KNO
2
3		 KNO
3
Ret		 ROC
1
12		 ROC
2
5		 ROC
3
1*		 SIL
1
9		 SIL
2
Ret		 SIL
3
18		 BRH
1
Ret		 BRH
2
16		 BRH
3
15		12th147
2015 Exocet AlcoSense Racing Audi A4 BRH
1
14		 BRH
2
10		 BRH
3
5*		 DON
1
10		 DON
2
18		 DON
3
Ret		 THR
1
14		 THR
2
9		 THR
3
17		 OUL
1
15		 OUL
2
13		 OUL
3
Ret		 CRO
1
13		 CRO
2
7		 CRO
3
Ret		 SNE
1
25		 SNE
2
9		 SNE
3
8		 KNO
1
7		 KNO
2
6		 KNO
3
5		 ROC
1
19		 ROC
2
6		 ROC
3
7		 SIL
1
11		 SIL
2
NC		 SIL
3
17		 BRH
1
18		 BRH
2
Ret		 BRH
3
Ret		14th120
2016 Handy Motorsport Toyota Avensis BRH
1
Ret		 BRH
2
14		 BRH
3
11		 DON
1
18		 DON
2
10		 DON
3
8		 THR
1
14		 THR
2
10		 THR
3
7		 OUL
1
15		 OUL
2
Ret		 OUL
3
16		 CRO
1
11		 CRO
2
12		 CRO
3
12		 SNE
1
13		 SNE
2
9		 SNE
3
3		 KNO
1
10		 KNO
2
12		 KNO
3
7		 ROC
1
20		 ROC
2
14		 ROC
3
Ret		 SIL
1
3		 SIL
2
Ret		 SIL
3
Ret		 BRH
1
2		 BRH
2
Ret		 BRH
3
14		16th129
2017 Handy Motorsport Toyota Avensis BRH
1
5		 BRH
2
DSQ		 BRH
3
18		 DON
1
3		 DON
2
Ret		 DON
3
13		 THR
1
9		 THR
2
5		 THR
3
5		 OUL
1
9		 OUL
2
8		 OUL
3
7		 CRO
1
11		 CRO
2
8		 CRO
3
4		 SNE
1
Ret		 SNE
2
15		 SNE
3
Ret		 KNO
1
23		 KNO
2
Ret		 KNO
3
20		 ROC
1
31		 ROC
2
26		 ROC
3
Ret		 SIL
1
9		 SIL
2
5		 SIL
3
5		 BRH
1
9		 BRH
2
9		 BRH
3
1*		11th174
2018 DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing Alfa Romeo Giulietta BRH
1
Ret		 BRH
2
6		 BRH
3
3*		 DON
1
15		 DON
2
21		 DON
3
11		 THR
1
16		 THR
2
13		 THR
3
16		 OUL
1
10		 OUL
2
7		 OUL
3
Ret		 CRO
1
Ret		 CRO
2
15		 CRO
3
Ret		 SNE
1
6		 SNE
2
Ret		 SNE
3
13		 ROC
1
11		 ROC
2
Ret		 ROC
3
18		 KNO
1
14		 KNO
2
9		 KNO
3
13		 SIL
1
26		 SIL
2
9		 SIL
3
5		 BRH
1
15		 BRH
2
9		 BRH
3
3*		14th126
2020 Power Maxed Car Care Racing Vauxhall Astra DON
1 		DON
2 		DON
3 		BRH
1 		BRH
2 		BRH
3 		OUL
1 		OUL
2 		OUL
3 		KNO
1 		KNO
2 		KNO
3 		THR
1
12		 THR
2
12		 THR
3
11		 SIL
1 		SIL
2 		SIL
3 		CRO
1 		CRO
2 		CRO
3 		SNE
1 		SNE
2 		SNE
3 		BRH
1 		BRH
2 		BRH
3 		22nd13

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References

  1. ↑ "AUSTIN POWERS BRITISH GT ASSAULT". GTGateway.com. Archived from the original on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  2. ↑ "Hunter Abbott Returns to Take British GT Win after Nightmare Crash". British GT Championship . Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  3. ↑ "Austin to race at Donington". btcc.net. British Touring Car Championship. 8 April 2011. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
  4. ↑ Turner, Kevin. "Chilton gives Global Ford Focus first BTCC pole at Knockhill". Autosport . Haymarket Publishing . Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  5. ↑ Turner, Kevin. "James Nash holds off Rob Austin to take maiden British Touring Car win at Rockingham". Autosport . Haymarket Publishing . Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  6. ↑ Hudson, Neil. "Rob Austin to race the team's second Audi A4 at Brands". TouringCarTimes. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  7. ↑ Hudson, Neil. "Will Bratt to race for Rob Austin Racing at Oulton Park". TouringCarTimes. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  8. ↑ "Victory number six for Shedden". BTCC.net. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  9. ↑ "Trio to miss Knockhill". BTCC.net. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  10. ↑ Hudson, Neil. "Penalties handed out for Wood, Wrathall & Austin". TouringCarTimes. Archived from the original on 24 November 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  11. ↑ "New livery for Rob Austin at Brands Hatch". TouringCarTimes. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  12. ↑ "RAR confirms Wix, Bratt". British Touring Car Championship . TOCA. 10 January 2013. Archived from the original on 13 April 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  13. ↑ Mitchell, Scott (31 March 2013). "Brands Hatch BTCC: Neal Heads Remarkable Honda 1–2". The Checkered Flag. BlackEagleMedia Network. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  14. ↑ "Austin takes maiden pole". British Touring Car Championship . TOCA. 24 August 2013. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  15. ↑ Anderson, Ben (15 September 2013). "Rockingham BTCC: Rob Austin secures maiden victory". Autosport . Haymarket Publications . Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  16. ↑ Mason, Dan (9 January 2014). "Austin to Run Under Exocet Racing Banner in 2014". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  17. ↑ "Hunter Abbott joins Rob Austin Racing for 2014 BTCC".
  18. ↑ "Rob Austin: Movie Star!". Rob Austin Racing. Rob Austin Motorsport Ltd. 30 March 2012. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
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