A-Plan Academy Subaru BMR Driver Josh Price took his best finish of the season at the opening race at Rockingham - taking 9th position with an accomplished drive, despite the Subaru BMR BTCC Team having boost levels restricted for this event.
Going into the eighth round of the season for races 22-24 of the British Touring Car Championship, A-Plan Academy Driver Josh Price was keen to continue to improve onboard in his Subaru Levorg GT after a strong show of pace at Knockhill.
In Qualifying, around a circuit that rear-wheel drive cars such as the Subaru's were expected to struggle - Price delivered a strong qualifying with the 12th fastest time, in a surprisingly strong session for the team due to the reduction in boost levels going into the event, which left the team expecting a difficult time around the power sensitive circuit.
Price made a strong start from 12th on the grid, vaulting himself into 10th position early on - moving ahead of BTCC legend teammate Jason Plato amongst it all.
As the race wore on, the warm conditions contributed to increased tyre wear - which swung the pendulum in favour of the rear wheel drive cars. Price began to reel in his rivals infront, but having to make his attacks in the second and third sector due to a lack of straight line speed.
With the field strung out after incidents early on, Price was able to make up one position to take 9th position at the chequered flag - just in the slipstream of taking another place as he crossed the line.
This was the young A-Plan Academy driver's best finish of the season after a determined drive on a circuit they were expected to struggle at. Price's reward was the Jack Sears Trophy Win for BTCC Rookie's to cap off a strong start to the weekend.
Price would start the second race from 9th on the grid. Another good start making the use of the rear wheel drive off the start saw him and teammate Plato challenge their rivals in-front going into turn two. Price dropped a couple of places in traffic as the field jostled for position as they all bunched up at the hairpin.
Unfortunately for Price, he was unable to avoid before a coming together with
the AMD Audi of Ollie Jackson after being pushed from behind in all the melee. Serious damage was caused to the front end of his Subaru Levorg - Price did however manage to limp his damaged Subaru
back to the pits for repairs, ultimately though he was forced to retire due to the extent
of the damage sustained.
The third and final race was all about trying to make as much progress as possible. Price's A Plan Academy liveried Subaru would start from the back of the grid
following his race two retirement as the team worked tirelessly to get
the car fixed and ready for the final race of the day.
After a good initial launch and through the long run down into the hairpin, Price had moved himself up a few places.
Later around the lap, there was further drama when teammate James Cole when he was caught up in an
incident with a number of his competitors, causing cars to scatter to avoid the drama unfolding.
Once again Price was powerless to avoid contact and was again extremely unlucky to once again receive some
substantial damage forcing him to limp back to the pits for repairs and
into retirement.
After another weekend of promise, sadly Price was not able to show the full potential of his A-Plan Academy Subaru Levorg around the Rockingham Speedway.
Josh Price "It was another tough weekend for me at Rockingham, I was pleased with my ninth place finish in race one but it all went downhill from there.
Huge thanks to the team for getting my car back out for race three. Roll on Silverstone."
The next round and penultimate round of the British Touring Car Championship takes place at Silverstone, on the national circuit for races 25-27 of the championship.
Price goes into the next round 4th overall in the Jack Sears Trophy, with his aim to be in contention for more victories and strong overall results.