Toyota’s George Gamble has a weekend to forget in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship race at Brands Hatch

Epperstones’ George Gamble’s last race weekend of the season at Brands Hatch in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship wasn’t one that he would want to remember in a hurry reports Paul Horton.

The 27-year-old Toyota Gazoo Racing UK BTCC team driver missed out on points as he failed to finish two of the three races.

With his two teammates Rory Butcher and Ricky Collard, all three were striving to sign off the season in style with more points in the bag and starving for some podium finishes as well.

Gamble’s two Free Practice sessions on Saturday looked good, as he achieved some fast laps.

However, things went bad in the afternoon in the 30-minute qualifying test after Gamble put a rear tyre on the grass coming out of Sheene Curve and the car flipped around and into the barrier backward.

The impact split the tyre wall and a red flag came out.

Gamble was fine, but the Toyota Corolla’s rear had suffered some extensive damage.

It was deemed the car couldn’t complete the session and Gamble had to watch his time slide down and settle for 22nd in the pack for race one.

Sunday's first race saw Gamble’s car all ready and waiting.

Teammate Butcher lined up second on the grid after a blinding qualifying session, Collard was on row six.

After moving up a few positions, the road was blocked for him.

After teammate Butcher's race ended with a puncture the safety car came out and Gamble had to settle for 16th.

For Race Two Gamble lined up on row eight.

The safety car was soon out again and Gamble soon pushed up into the twelfth position.

The race was extended to 18 laps and by lap six, Gamble was into tenth spot.

The car then developed a problem, and on lap 12 Gamble pitted the car with mechanical problems, retiring in the pit lane as the car failed to get back out for the rest of the race.

Gamble’s weekend had gone from bad to worse, it was all now down to the final race of 2023.

The third race saw Gamble back of the pack, he was straight up into 17th.

The safety car was back out once more and Gamble took advantage, moving up to 12th.

On lap eight Gamble got caught out on the brakes coming into Druids and his Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Corolla crashed into the One Honda of Jade Edwards, forcing them both out of the race.

Gamble finishes the Drivers’ Championship in 21st place with Toyota Gazoo Racing UK placing fifth in the Teams Championship and Toyota finishing fourth in the Manufacturers/Constructors Standings.

Images: Steve Hindle.