SERIES BOSS GOW ENJOYING PLATO-GIOVANARDI RIVALRY
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship Series Director
Alan Gow has likened this year’s title fight to a top-flight
football match as it reaches its mid-way point – with
neither Jason Plato nor chief rival Fabrizio Giovanardi wanting
to be behind entering the season’s second half.
SEAT driver Plato leads Vauxhall’s Giovanardi by just
two points as they prepare for their next rounds at Oulton
Park, Cheshire on 24 June. The event will witness rounds 13,
14 and 15 of the 30-round championship.
Gow, who made the BTCC a household name in the Nineties,
reckons the battle to win Britain’s most prized motor
racing title this year is among the hardest-fought he’s
seen.
“Oulton’s BTCC race day traditionally attracts
a bumper crowd and the circuit is always one of the biggest
challenges for the drivers,” says Gow. “This year
the championship arrives there for what could well be a decisive
moment in the title battle – one of the closest I can
recall.
“It’s a little like a top-level football match,
and certainly as competitive as any you’d see at the
top of the Premiership – Jason will want to keep hold
of his lead going into half-time and Fabrizio will be determined
to at least get level before the second half of the season.
This is a psychological battle as much as anything.
“Ultimately, people love rivalries and it’s great
to see two top sportsmen pushing each other so hard.”
Gow believes that it’s not too late for other rivals
to emerge as threats to the two leaders. Although 46 points
adrift, reigning champion Matt Neal’s Team Halfords
Honda appeared to have the legs over Plato’s SEAT and
Giovanardi’s Vauxhall in the most recent rounds. The
BMW name also returned to the top step of the podium thanks
to a win for Team RAC driver Colin Turkington.
“It’s not just about Jason and Fabrizio and it
could be that neither ends the season as champion as there’s
still plenty of time for fortunes to change,” adds Gow.
“There’s a grid of 24 drivers and at least half
of those have the ability to win.
“In the previous meeting at Croft the nine podium positions
in our three races were all filled by nine different drivers.
It’s that competitive.
“We also saw BMW return to the winner’s circle,
SEAT driver Darren Turner achieve his first victory in the
BTCC and reigning champion Team Halfords start to come on
very strong with its new Honda Civic.
“We very much look forward to welcoming the public
to Oulton Park on 24 June. It’s going to be a great
day of racing and excitement.”
The track action at Oulton on 24 June begins at midday with
the first of three BTCC rounds. However, the public is advised
to get there early for the popular Pit Lane Walkabout session
when the crowds are invited into the pit lane to meet the
drivers for autographs and giveaways. In addition there will
be another six races on the Sunday bill, featuring the supporting
BMW, Porsche, SEAT and Renault championships.
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