Rain can’t hold Gio back

Not even a downpour could dampen Fabrizio Giovanardi’s charge for a second consecutive BTCC crown. The Vauxhall driver scored a victory and a podium place over the course of three races at Silverstone on Sunday.

That gave him a 44-point lead over title rival, SEAT’s Jason Plato. But it was the Leon driver who took first blood in the opening event, leading from pole position all the way to the flag.

He was followed home by Mat Jackson, who hauled his BMW up from 14th on the grid. The final podium place was taken by the second factory Leon, driven by Darren Turner. After having started from 11th, Giovanardi had to settle for fifth. However, the Italian ace struck back in race two, taking the flag ahead of the BMW of Colin Turkington and Adam Jones’ petrol SEAT Leon. Plato led early on, but his tyres lost grip at halfway, and he slipped back to a distant seventh.

He had the same trouble in the final outing, and had to settle for fifth place after leading early on. Again, though, Mat Jackson put in a superb drive. Starting from 13th, the BMW Dealer Team UK racer battled through the field to win ahead of Adam Jones.

Giovanardi finished third, which was enough to secure the manufacturers’ crown for Vauxhall.

Afterwards, the Italian was looking forward to the final round at Brands Hatch on 21 September. “Now there’s just one title to
go,” he said. “I’m pretty confident, as I only need a handful of points.”

Results

Race one
1. J. Plato SEAT
2. M. Jackson BMW
3. D. Turner SEAT
4. C. Turkington BMW
5. F. Giovanardi Vauxhall

Race two
1. F. Giovanardi Vauxhall
2. C. Turkington BMW
3. A. Jones SEAT
4. M. Neal Vauxhall
5. S. Kane BMW

Race three
1. M. Jackson BMW
2. A. Jones SEAT
3. F. Giovanardi Vauxhall
4. C. Turkington BMW
5. J. Plato SEAT

Standings
1. F. Giovanardi 261
2. J. Plato 217
3. C. Turkington 188
4. M. Jackson 185
5. M. Neal 165