BTCC Thruxton

27th April 2009

There were wins for Fabrizio Giovanardi, Colin Turkington and Mat Jackson in last weekend’s BTCC outing at Thruxton, Hampshire.

However, Vauxhall’s Matt Neal still heads the Drivers’ points table, thanks to two podium finishes.

Reigning Champion Giovanardi struck first at Thruxton, leading all the way from pole position in race one to scorer his first win of the season. The Italian led home Vauxhall team-mates Neal and Andrew Jordan in their Vectras to give the VX Racing team a dream 1-2-3 result – its first in five years.

Northern Irish star Turkington won race two with a brilliant display of driving. He first passed Neal before a last gasp overtaking move on the last lap saw him beat Giovanardi to the flag.

Finally it was Jackson’s turn to taste the victory champagne. The 2008 series runner-up missed this year’s opening round, but was immediately up to speed in his new RML Chevrolet Lacetti, leading from start to finish in the last race of the day.

Behind him, James Thompson secured a fine third place on his return to the BTCC after a two-year absence. The Team Dynamics driver managed to secure the podium after keeping his Honda Civic ahead a hard charging duo of Jason Plato and Matt Neal.

Further down the field Adam Jones gave the new Cartridge World Carbon Zero Racing Seat Leon a maiden podium result with second in race three.

Another star of the event was Paul O’Neill in the small Sunshine.co.uk with Tech-Speed Motorsport team’s Honda Integra. He notched up a fifth place finish in race one, and was as high as second in race three until a punctured tyre cruelly denied him of a well-deserved podium.

Elsewhere, Vauxhall/VX Racing has stretched its lead in the Manufacturers/Constructors’ championship, as has VXR in the outright Teams’ table. Turkington has done likewise in the Independent Drivers’ standings, while Team RAC has taken over the lead of the Independent Teams’ Trophy.

Race 1 result

1 Fabrizio Giovanardi        Vauxhall Vectra
2 Matt Neal                Vauxhall Vectra
3 Andrew Jordan            Vauxhall Vectra

Race 2 result

1. Colin Turkington        BMW 320si
2. Fabrizio Giovanardi        Vauxhall Vectra
3. Matt Neal            Vauxhall Vectra

Race 3 result

1. Mat Jackson        Chevrolet Lacetti
2. Adam Jones        SEAT Leon
3. James Thompson        Honda Civic