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British Touring Car Championship (BTCC)

BTCC Rounds 22-24

Hard-fought wins for Plato, Gionvardi and Matt Neal at Knockhill

There were hard-fought wins for Jason Plato, Fabrizio Giovanardi and Matt Neal as the British Touring Car Championship made its annual trip to the tight and twisty Knockhill track in Fife, Scotland.

Giovanardi’s long-overdue success in race two not only ended Vauxhall’s year-long victory drought, but also gave the manufacturer an historic 100th win in the championship.

“I’ve finished the nightmare, and it’s great to have finally helped

Vauxhall reach its century,” said the Italian multiple touring car champion, who has struggled in the VX Racing Astra Sport Hatch since joining the UK series.

Neal’s victory in race three, ahead of Halfords Honda team-mates Gordon Shedden and Gareth Howell, means the defending title holder has virtually doubled his championship lead over his two main rivals.

MG driver Colin Turkington and SEAT’s Jason Plato, who are second and third in the standings, now only have six rounds remaining – three at Brands Hatch in Kent and three at the season finale at Silverstone – to close the gap.

Turkington endured a torrid weekend north of the border. His best finish was a seventh in the first round of the day, and as a result the MG driver has slipped from 27 to 53 points adrift of Neal.

Aside from victory in race one on a soaking wet track, Plato was also totally out of luck in Fife. He failed to score in the other two encounters, as his Leon was damaged beyond repair after a last-lap pile-up in the second showdown.