Delight swept the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship paddock yesterday afternoon as VX Racing - the series' most successful team in recent times - took its 100th win in the prestigious championship.

In one of the most thrilling races in BTCC history Fabrizio Giovanardi snatched the lead from Jason Plato on lap six after starting fourth on the grid.

The two-times European Touring Car Champion then had to hold off the relentless efforts of first Plato, then Darren Turner and finally Matt Neal for 26 laps before he and the team could finally celebrate their 100th race win in 17 years of racing.

Gavin Smith made it Vauxhall's best race of the season by racking up his third podium of the season, finishing third behind Darren Turner.

Fabrizio Giovanardi: “I’ve finished the nightmare! I’m thrilled but I’m very tired now.

“Today I didn’t make any mistakes like in Donington. I was in first place and I stayed in first place.

“I think it’s great to win the 100th race. It was not so easy to win but then I don’t like to win too easy! Today was great.

“It’s not the first hard battle for me. It’s a really, really good circuit. You can make the difference if you are not in the best conditions.

“For the last race I will start in the back but to overtake for me isn’t too hard! I’ve seen lots of places to play with the other drivers.”

Ian Harrison, VX Racing Team Principal: "I told Fabrizio it was a great drive. It's what we knew he could do but we've only just given him a car that allowed him to show that.

"This gives the guys a lift. They've all won a bit of price money ... I think they'd forgotton what it looked like but they desere it. When things are tough you start to see who the good outfits are. These guys have hung in there and kept focused and they've delivered. It's great."