Brands Hatch this weekend. We are down to 27 cars for this weekend as despite insisting not too long ago that they would have both cars at Brands, Paras Racing will only be running Derek Palmer Jr, while Dan Welch broke his foot earlier this week meaning he is unable to race.
My championship predictions for the field, I've based Jackson, Cole and Hamilton's positions on them running full time.
1. Andrew Jordan
With Dynamics running another new car and WSR losing Turkington, I think this will be MG's best chance to win a drivers championship.
2. Gordon Shedden
Despite adapting to a new Civic, I'm predicting that the championship will be between Jordan and Shedden.
3. Colin Turkington
As amazing as their driver lineup is, I don't see BMR being ready to win a championship yet. Turkington and Plato will certainly win plenty of races.
4. Jason Plato
See Turkington but I think Plato will come out second best as I think Turks is the best driver on the grid at the moment.
5. Mat Jackson
Surely an outsider for the championship, if only Motorbase were actually running the full season. Now I'm fearing that missing the first part of the season might harm the team's form. Massive shame as Mat is easily the best driver without a championship title.
6. Sam Tordoff
Going out on a limb but I think Tordoff will be WSR's top driver. They are the opposite of BMR, they certainly have the car to win the championship but probably not the drivers.
7. Jack Goff
Should get his first win this season but championship contention will be just out of reach.
8. Rob Collard
Always hard to predict with Rod as one season he's up there winning the occasional race then the next he's nowhere. Will probably win at least one race but lack of consistency will again keep him well out of championship contention.
9. Aron Smith
Will most likely by upstaged by Turks and Plato, might win some more reverse grid races though.
10. Matt Neal
Depends on whether last season was the first of the decline of his form or just a blip, if the former then this is about where he'll end up.
11. Andy Priaulx
Might be a bit harsh but based on recent form elsewhere I don't think Andy is as good as he used to be. Therefore given he'll have to relearn most of the tracks after twelve seasons away I think he'll be the lowest of the WSRs though he might sneak a win later on in the season.
12. Adam Morgan
Might get another win or two but the depth of the field will keep him from the top ten overall.
13. Tom Ingram
Hope to see his first podium but I don't see any wins since Speedworks are still yet to prove they can win anything.
14. Rob Austin
I doubt Rob or the A4 will ever be consistent enough to finish any higher in the championship.
15. Jeff Smith
With their gentleman driver lineup and now aging cars, Eurotech will at best be a midfield team this season. Without Andrew at the team, Jeff will likely get enough attention from the team to allow him to be at least someway respectable and he's capable of contending for a reverse grid win. (Till he chokes it away).
16. Aiden Moffat
Aiden will have a much better car this season so nothing less than top tens are expected.
17. Dave Newsham
His sixth team in five seasons! Dave will have his usual midfield championship position with occasional top tens, assuming the Cruze is up to it.
18. Mike Bushell
My pick for the Jack Sears Trophy (this year contested by the rookies), surely his one off in 2013 doesn't make him ineligible? Should do about as well in the AMD Focus as Newsham did last season.
19. James Cole
I'm still yet to see anything from Cole that has been anything more than mediocrity and I'm amazed he keeps getting rides, hopefully with Motorbase though he can finally score his first top ten.
20. Hunter Abbott
Will probably be a bit closer to Rob this season but still nothing more than occasional top ten.
21. Dan Welch
I really hope the team's engines are better this year as their chassis is one of the best out there. Hopefully a return to his 2012-13 form?
22. Warren Scott
Will likely continue to waste a great car. Might score a few more top tens though.
23. Josh Cook
Sears trophy would be between him and Bushell if Josh had as strong a car. Should be good for minor points and might give Newsham a run for his money.
24. Martin Depper
See Warren Scott only Martin is an even worse driver in a lesser car. Might we see his first top ten? I'm not holding my breath.
25. Stewart Lines
I have no idea what Stewart has raced in before or how he performed but I doubt he'll do any better than Lea Wood did.
26. Alex Martin
As with Lines, I have no idea how good he is.
27. Kieran Gallagher
Kieran wasn't particularly good in his one off back in 2013 and I doubt Gilham's barmy army will be far from the back either.
28. Richard Hawken
All I know about Hawken is that he was linked to Thorney Motorsport back in their 2012 attempt. I don't see Paras/Infiniti doing anything despite their 'works' status but Hawken will probably be the better driver.
29. Simon Belcher
In my opinion, the weakest driver during 2014 and only won't be this year as I rate at least one of the below drivers as even worse.
30. Derek Palmer Jr.
Know nothing about him other than he's the son of the team principal. Certain backmarker.
31. Andy Wilmott
All I remember from Andy's 2013 one off in the Passat is that he got overtaken by an S2000 car driven by Liam Griffin of all people. Is only not last because Hamilton probably has a worse car.
32. Nicolas Hamilton
Has done nothing in his career so far but then neither have plenty of rookies that come into the series and he certainly won't be the last. I put him last as the S3 is probably the weakest car on the grid.
Consider me surprised, and also for BMR making up the rest of the top 4, and Jordan only making 10th.
He will replace Richard Hawken.
