TURNER & SHEDDEN WIN AT KNOCKHILL, TITLE RACE GOING
DOWN TO WIRE
Jason Plato’s and Fabrizio Giovanardi’s battle
to become the 2007 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Champion
will be decided on BTCC Finals Day at Thruxton, Hampshire
on 14 October following today’s penultimate three rounds
at the Knockhill circuit in Fife which were won by Darren
Turner and Gordon Shedden.
SEAT driver Turner won the first two races – each from
pole position – to inject new life into what has been
a topsy-turvy season. But the biggest cheers of the day were
saved for Shedden who came through the order in race three
to achieve a dream victory in front of his home Scottish crowd.
Behind, Plato and Giovanardi, just as they have all season,
took turns to take points out of each other in the three races,
with the Briton twice getting the upper hand over his Italian
rival. SEAT driver Plato, who arrived at Knockhill just four
points in front, has managed to increase his lead to nine
points but knows that Vauxhall’s Giovanardi, with a
maximum of 52 on offer from Thruxton’s final three rounds,
still has a strong chance of lifting what is the most coveted
crown in UK motor sport. Coincidentally, Plato will celebrate
his 40th birthday on race day at Thruxton.
Plato, who has only once been led in the championship this
season, said: “From a sporting point of view, it’s
fantastic that it will go to Finals Day with Fabrizio. It’s
going to bring out the absolute very best in both of us and
our teams and is going to be an extremely close finish which
is exactly how it should be for the all the fans at the circuit
and those watching on television. I won the title in 2001
in a similar set of circumstances – up against one of
the very best touring car drivers in the world – and
know exactly what will be required. It’s just been such
a competitive season and the title will mean something very
special to whoever wins it.”
Giovanardi, with seven European and national touring car
titles to his name, added: “It’s been a frustrating
day because I would have been almost level with Jason if I’d
not been pushed off the circuit in race one. But, then again,
I am still very close and we’ve managed to make the
Vectra work again on a circuit that many people thought would
be better for the SEAT. I am really looking forward to Thruxton
and feel very confident about that day because the Vectra
is very strong around there and Vauxhall has had many, many
wins at Thruxton before. Jason is a great driver and I know
he will push to his maximum to keep me behind. But I will
also be at my maximum!”
Meanwhile, a strong day for SEAT has seen it slash Vauxhall’s
lead in the BTCC Manufacturers’ title race down to just
three points with a maximum of 81 still available at Thruxton.
The same margin is all that separates Mike Jordan and Colin
Turkington at the top of the Independents Drivers’ table.
In the outright Teams’ championship, SEAT Sport UK has
increased its advantage over nearest rival VX Racing. In the
battle for the Independents Teams’ Trophy, Team RAC
now has a virtually unassailable points lead over its rivals.
BTCC points after Knockhill, rds25, 26 & 27 (provisional):
Drivers:
1. Jason PLATO, 265 points
2. Fabrizio GIOVANARDI, 259
3. Gordon SHEDDEN, 188
4. Matt NEAL, 172
5. Colin TURKINGTON, 171
6. Darren TURNER, 155
7. Mat JACKSON, 132
8. Mike JORDAN, 127
9. Tom CHILTON, 115
10. Tom ONSLOW-COLE, 107
Manufacturers:
1. Vauxhall, 564 points
2. SEAT, 561
Teams:
1. SEAT Sport UK, 402
2. VX Racing, 358
3. Team Halfords, 320
4. Team RAC, 260
5. Jacksons MSport, 130
6. Eurotech/John Guest-Speedfit, 122
Race reports…
Round 25, 24 laps (30.5112 miles)
Weather/Track: Overcast/Dry
TURNER SEES OFF SHEDDEN
Turner took his second win of 2007, but only after Shedden
retired with damage to his Team Halfords Honda Civic when
he tried wrestling away the lead from the SEAT driver in the
closing laps. Until that point, Shedden had set the fastest
lap as he gradually caught up to Turner. But when he made
his move their cars collided and the Honda’s suspension
was knocked out of kilter, forcing the home hero to retire
in the pit lane.
From there, Turner was untroubled en route to victory, keeping
comfortably ahead of Team RAC driver Colin Turkington. On
course for third had been Giovanardi – a result that
would have drawn him level on points with Plato – but
in the closing lap his car was sent sliding off the track
in a clash with Tom Onslow-Cole’s Team RAC BMW. Their
incident enabled the following Plato to move into third ahead
of Onslow-Cole, with Giovanardi an annoyed seventh. Later,
though, Giovanardi would be promoted to sixth as officials
excluded Onslow-Cole from the results for his part in the
incident.
Behind, there were welcome points finishes for John George
and Martyn Bell who took eighth and ninth in their TH Motorsport/JAG
Honda Integra and Allaboutproperty.com BMW 320i respectively.
In tenth, scoring a point on his BTCC debut, was newcomer
Alan Taylor in Robertshaw Racing’s Honda Integra.
Notable retirements included reigning champion Matt Neal
and Mat Jackson whose Halfords Honda and Jacksons MSport BMW
320si were involved in a lap one clash. Vauxhall’s Tom
Chilton would also drop out with damage to his Vectra.
Result:
1. Darren Turner (GBR), SEAT Sport UK/SEAT Leon, 21m45.478s
2. Colin Turkington (GBR), Team RAC/BMW 320si, +1.654s
3. Jason Plato (GBR), SEAT Sport UK/SEAT Leon, +15.635s
FASTEST LAP: Gordon Shedden (GBR), Team Halfords/Honda Civic,
53.313s (85.84mph)
Round 26, 24 laps (30.5112 miles)
Weather/Track: Cloudy/Dry
TURNER DOUBLES UP
Turner added to his race one win with another lights-to-flag
victory in race two, although this time in the closing laps
came under pressure from the ever-present Turkington who again
had to settle for second.
Third on this occasion was Giovanardi who, after passing
Plato early on, spent the majority of the race fending off
the charging Shedden – up from 12th on the starting
grid. Shedden, who again set the race’s fastest lap
time, ultimately took fourth ahead of Plato in fifth and Neal
in sixth.
Result:
1. Darren Turner (GBR), SEAT Sport UK/SEAT Leon, 21m36.562s
2. Colin Turkington (GBR), Team RAC/BMW 320si, +0.536s
3. Fabrizio Giovanardi (ITA), VX Racing/Vauxhall Vectra, +8.205s
FASTEST LAP: Gordon Shedden (GBR), Team Halfords/Honda Civic,
53.470s (85.59mph)
Round 27, 24 laps (30.5112 miles)
Weather/Track: Sunny/Dry
DREAM VICTORY FOR SHEDDEN
Live on ITV1, Shedden achieved a great personal ambition
by winning a BTCC race on his home circuit to send the enormous
crowds that filled the spectator banks into great cheers of
delight.
Jordan, on pole position thanks to the reversed grid draw,
led the early stages but was then overtaken for first place
by Neal. Shedden was next to move in on Jordan and was soon
up into second and closing on his team-mate. Around mid-distance,
to a roar of approval from around the circuit, he pounced
and once ahead drew clear for a dream victory.
Neal completed a Team Halfords 1-2 finish by holding off
Plato, in third, to the line, while Jordan did the SEAT driver
a great favour by finishing fourth ahead of the fifth-placed
Giovanardi.
Result:
1. Gordon Shedden (GBR), Team Halfords/Honda Civic, +21m48.929s
2. Matt Neal (GBR), Team Halfords/Honda Civic, +0.494s
3. Jason Plato (GBR), SEAT Sport UK/SEAT Leon, +1.146s
FASTEST LAP: Shedden, 53.340s (85.79mph)
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