BTCC opening round

Reigning champ Fabrizio Giovanardi kicked of his HiQ BTCC title defence in fine style during a thrilling opening round at Brands Hatch. The Italian driver took his VX Racing Vauxhall Vectra to two wins at the Kent circuit to open up a two point advantage at the top of the standings.

In race one Giovanardi forced his way up to second by the third lap after a poor start dropped him to fourth. A mid-race shower of rain then gave him the oppourtunity to get passed race leader Mat Jackson in the Dealer Team UK BMW 320si.

The Vauxhall driver only just managed to hold Jackson back, crossing the line just 0.215 seconds ahead of the 26-year old, with SEAT’s Jason Plato securing third in his Leon TDI, the first ever BTCC podium for a diesel-engined car.

The outcome was the same for Giovanardi in the second race as he lead all the way to the chequered flag from pole position. Behind him there was some extremely close racing with Gordon Sheddon bringing the Team Dynamics Honda Civic home in second after a tight battle with third-placed Jason Plato in the SEAT. The Spanish team underlined the potential of the diesel engined Leon, with Darren Turner finishing fifth overall and setting the fastest lap.

It was an all BMW affair in the final race of the day. Colin Turkington scored an extremely tight victory in the Team RAC 3-Series ahead of the similar car of Mat Jackson, with the pair sprinting for the finish side-by-side.

Behind them Matt Neal secured his first podium for Vauxhall, while Giovanardi finished a lonely sixth in a race that saw two safety car periods.

The first of these was for Tom Onslow-Cole after his Vectra was pitched spectacularly into a tyre barrier by Gordon Sheddon’s Honda.

Giovanardi will be hoping for no such trouble as he seeks to extend his advantage at the next round, to be held at Rockingham on 13 April.