SEAT team-mates James Thompson (Harrogate) and Jason Plato (Oxford) shared the race victories in yesterday's opening three rounds of the 2006 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. But the day ended in disaster for reigning Champion Matt Neal (Droitwich) who crashed out of the final race - his first retirement in more than a season of racing and he is back in fifth in the current championship standings.
Instead, it is Thompson - only contesting a part-season for the SEAT Sport UK team - who leaves the Kent circuit as the championship leader. Second and third are the BTCC's two rising British stars, Team RAC's Colin Turkington (Portadown) and Vauxhall's Tom Chilton (Reigate), with Plato in fourth.
The day was a resounding success for SEAT, whose new Leon model, with victory in all three opening rounds of the new season, has shown it will be a major challenger for championship honours in 2006: the Spanish marque also leads both the Manufacturers' and Teams' championships. Meanwhile, Turkington and Team RAC are the leaders of the Independents Trophy's Drivers' and Teams' standings.
The BTCC now heads to the Mondello Park circuit in Ireland for its next three rounds on Sunday 23 April. As at Brands Hatch, the event will receive live terrestrial television coverage on ITV1.
Round 1, 27 laps (32.94 miles)Weather/Track: Overcast/Dry
Thompson wins round oneJames Thompson, making his return to the BTCC, gave SEAT's new Leon a dream UK race debut when he drove it to victory. Thompson, the 2002 and 2004 BTCC Champion, was one of six drivers fighting for the lead in the early stages and gradually worked his way through to overtake Tom Chilton's Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch for the lead in the closing stages.
Chilton, who had started from pole position and also set a new race lap record, held on to second under pressure from reigning Champion Matt Neal's Team Halfords Honda Integra and Colin Turkington's Team RAC MG ZS. Neal had worked his way through from 15th on the grid after a crash in qualifying and only just managed to force his way past Turkington with a lap to go.
On its BTCC debut, the Team Eurotech Racing with John Guest team celebrated a fifth place finish with driver Mike Jordan (Sutton Coldfield) in its Honda Integra. Vauxhall's Gavin Smith, having relinquished the position to Jordan late on, was sixth.
But there were problems for two of the favourites: SEAT's Jason Plato and Vauxhall's Fabrizio Giovanardi both retired with crash damage to their cars.
Result:1. James THOMPSON (GBR), SEAT Sport UK/SEAT Leon, 23m49.571s2. Tom CHILTON (GBR), VX Racing/Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch +1.320s3. Matt NEAL (GBR), Team Halfords/Honda Integra +2.020sFastest Lap: Chilton, 49.190s (NEW LAP RECORD)
Weather/Track: Overcast/Dry
Thompson Doubles UpThompson, despite the fact his car was now carrying maximum success ballast, led all the way from pole position to secure his second victory of the day, while Turkington was able to hold off Neal to finish in second in his 100th BTCC race.
Vauxhall's Gavin Smith drove defensively to finish fourth. He was eventually left clear after three drivers behind him - Jordan, Plato and Team Halfords' Gordon Shedden (Dunfermline) - were involved in a multiple collision. Jordan and Shedden retired from the race, but Plato continued, re-passing Team RAC's Robert Collard to finish fifth. Plato also set the race's fastest lap time as he opened his 2006 points tally. Collard finished sixth.
The race proved tough for Chilton, who started from pole position second but slipped back to seventh. However, this was to prove lucky for the 21-year-old. Under new rules, the starting grid order for race three is the result of race two, but with the leading positions reversed. The number to be swapped is picked in a draw by the race two winner - in this case Thompson - who drew number seven. Thus Chilton would start race three from pole position.
Result:1. James THOMPSON (GBR), SEAT Sport UK/SEAT Leon, 20m04.481s2. Colin TURKINGTON (GBR), Team RAC/MG ZS +0.543s3. Matt NEAL (GBR), Team Halfords/Honda Integra +1.039sFastest lap: Jason Plato (GBR), SEAT Sport UK/SEAT Leon, 49.289s
Round 3, 20 laps (24.40 miles)Weather/Track: Overcast/Dry
Plato wins shortened third race, Neal crashes out
From third on the grid, Plato overtook Collard away from the start and further round the opening lap also nipped past Chilton to take the lead. From there, the 2001 BTCC Champion drew clear for a comfortable victory.
However, officials ended the race four laps early after Neal's Honda got involved in a brush with Collard's MG and crashed heavily into the barriers as the two drivers fought over second position.
Collard was provisionally classified second but later excluded by officials for his part in the incident with Neal. Collard will be further penalised by a six-place relegation on the first starting grid at Mondello Park. However, Team RAC has appealed the exclusion so it remains subject to a Motor Sports Association tribunal.
Provisionally, then, Turkington has been promoted to second and Chilton to third, with Shedden, who set the race's fastest lap time, fourth following an impressive drive through the field. Thompson and Giovanardi were next up.
Result:
1. Jason Plato (GBR), SEAT Sport UK/SEAT Cupra, 16m43.263s2. Colin TURKINGTON (GBR), Team RAC/MG ZS +4.012s3. Tom CHILTON (GBR), VX Racing/Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch +5.880sFastest lap: Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR), Team Halfords/Honda Integra, 49.281s
Leading BTCC points after Brands Hatch (provisional):
Drivers: 1. James THOMPSON 38pts
2. Colin TURKINGTON 32pts
3. Tom CHILTON 30pts
4. Jason PLATO 23pts
5. Matt NEAL 20pts
6. Gavin SMITH 17pts
=7. Gordon SHEDDEN 9pts
=7. Rob COLLARD 9pts
9. Fabrizio GIOVANARDI 8pts
10. Mike JORDAN 7pts
Manufacturers: 1. SEAT 67pts
2. Vauxhall 50pts
Teams:
1. SEAT Sport UK 57pts
2. VX Racing 44pts
3. Team RAC 41pts
4. Team Halfords 28pts
