BTCC: Back to the future at Brands Hatch

Gerry Marshall's "Old Nail"

Last weekend’s British Touring Car finale at Brands Hatch was memorable in many ways.

Colin Turkington took the 2009 BTCC title, Jason Plato became only the second driver in the history of the sport to win all three rounds, beating Tom Chilton in the first race by just 0.015s – the closest ever in the championship.

But for me it was the Vauxhall Firenza once driven by saloon car racing legend Gerry Marshall on a side show that I’ll remember. The car, fondly named Old Nail, looks every inch the 1970s racer, with its aggressive snout, small but wide wheels and an unbelievably Spartan interior.

It’s not the car itself that evokes memories of one of my favourite racing drivers – it’s was what he could do with it. The car looked a nightmare to keep on the track, but the big man was a superstar at the wheel.

For those to whom Marshall doesn’t mean much, check out the video below…

And have a look at these other BTCC beauties from Brands…

Stuart Milne