Motorsport

Giovanardi closes on Plato as BTCC gets set for classic finish

This year's BTCC looks set to go to the wire as leading pair locked together with just 2 races to go

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Jonathan Gill

24th August 2007

Only four points now separate Jason Plato and Fabrizio Giovanardi in their battle for this year’s Dunlop British Touring Car Championship crown.

Both survived some heart-stopping scares at Brands Hatch on Sunday to keep their respective title hopes alive, but it was the Italian who left the Kent circuit with a bigger smile on his face.

Two wins plus a fighting fourth place behind the BMW of third race winner Colin Turkington helped the Vauxhall ace to slash the gap on Plato with just two meetings left.

Giovanardi said: “The two victories were perfect – for me, my team and the championship. We were 25 points behind six races ago, and have had a great run of results. We must keep the pressure up now. Plato is a very clever driver – everywhere I finish, he is right behind, making sure that I don’t take away too many points from him. I think we both have great respect for each other. It’s going to be very close, and will probably go right to the final lap of the season.”

Plato avoided an 11-car pile-up at the start of the opening encounter, plus several other close calls, to finish one place behind Giovanardi in all three rounds and so retain his lead.

“It was a pretty hard day at the office,” he admitted. “A few things didn’t go our way and Fabrizio got a few breaks, but I’m still leading. Sure, he’s closed up, but I’d rather have a four-point advantage than be four points behind. We need to start beating him again, but with the cars so well matched, it will be a cliff-hanger.”