Irishman Jonathan Fildes continued his recent run of good form at Knockhill in Scotland last weekend, the 31-year-old taking his fourth podium of the season with a superb performance during round 14 of the Blaupunkt SEAT Cupra Championship.Along with a richly deserved fourth position during the day’s earlier 13th round of the season, just reward for an excellent drive from eighth on the grid, the Total Control Racing star has now made his way into the top five in the championship standings as he aims to conclude the 2006 campaign with a real flourish.“I’m absolutely delighted with our results this weekend”, said Jonathan at the end of the race weekend, “My sponsors are very happy too and I’m pleased I’ve been able to deliver a podium and a top-four result for them and also the TCR boys who gave me a great car again.”Backed by Applied Signs & Display, Asgard Taverns, Atari Expo and AM Speedsport, the Irish ace started his weekend at the 1.27-mile Fife circuit very competitively during Friday’s test sessions, displaying equally good pace in both dry and wet conditions. In a rain-affected round 13 qualifying on Saturday morning, the Co.Meath resident posted quick times throughout and looked set for a front-row start to the first of Sunday’s races. However, an unfortunate excursion close to the end of the session meant Jonathan missed the decisive final few minutes on the drying track.With several drivers able to put in faster times at the end of the 20-minute period, the Irish ace found himself demoted to ninth on the grid – although a subsequent penalty applied to TCR team-mate Neil Waterworth meant Jonathan would actually start the first of the weekend’s races in eighth position.Round 13 began on a wet track and at the start Jonathan got away well to maintain eighth place as the field headed into SEAT Curve for the first time. Pressuring Carl Breeze for seventh-place during the early stages of the race, both drivers were soon gifted an extra position due to a mistake from Lewis Carter on lap three.However, the TCR sensation’s constant attention soon paid dividends as Breeze made a mistake under braking at the Real Radio Hairpin, allowing Jonathan through into sixth. A lap later and he had claimed another scalp, fifth-placed Ian Churchill falling victim to another quality pass at the hairpin.With almost two thirds of the 20-lap encounter remaining, a podium certainly looked a possibility and on lap seven Ben Winrow proved to be another driver caught-out by the braking area at the hairpin, sliding off into the gravel and thus promoting Jonathan to fourth place.Into the last third of the race, the 2003 Renault Clio Cup Champion was still pushing hard to fight his way onto the podium but a fast-closing Alan Blencowe managed to pass Jonathan at Clark Curve for fourth position.Undeterred, the TCR ace continued to press on and into the final lap he managed to retake fourth at SEAT Curve - although it was at the expense of team-mate Fulvio Mussi who had already lost third position to Blencowe at the end of lap 19.

For round 14, Jonathan was confident of challenging for a podium as he started from fourth position on the grid alongside fellow TCR driver Jonathan Adam. At the start, on a dry track, it was the Irishman who made the best getaway as he managed to move ahead of his Scottish team-mate on the run to SEAT Curve for the first time.Throughout the opening laps he ran at the same pace as second-placed Blencowe but on lap six Adam began to put Jonathan under increasing pressure for the final podium place. Nonetheless, the Co.Meath star wouldn’t allow Blencowe to pull away.As the race neared its conclusion, Jonathan again came under more pressure from team-mate Adam but after losing a gear on lap 18 the latter fell further behind once again, Jonathan crossing the line on lap 20 over five seconds clear and delighted to achieve his second podium in three outings.“Through the second half of the race I knew I wouldn’t be able to make any further inroads into Blencowe with Jonathan right behind me”, explained the Irishman, “Where he was quicker I made sure I held a tight line and exited the corners as well as possible, and where I was quicker I drove as flat-out as I could to try and maintain the gap.“I really am delighted to be on the podium again but the first race wasn’t too bad either, to come from eighth on the grid to fourth was good, although the understeer was unbelievable as the track began to dry out towards the end of the race.”He added: “Our performance this weekend means we’re now up to fifth in the standings which is fantastic. We beat Mussi in both races, Winrow had one non-finish and I’ve been able to capitalise which is superb for our championship.”Both of today’s races, which were covered live on Motors TV, will be replayed in full on Tuesday, 5th September, at 08.30. Sky Digital viewers can tune in to the coverage on channel 413 while NTL customers can watch the re-run on channel 173. Rounds 15 and 16 of the SEAT Cupra Championship will take place three weeks from now, 23rd/24th September, at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit in Kent. 2006 Blaupunkt SEAT Cupra Championship Provisional Driver Standings (after rounds 13&14):1st Mat Jackson, 229pts; 2nd Alan Blencowe, 179pts; 3rd Jonathan Adam, 169pts; 4th Ben Winrow, 142pts; 5th Jonathan Fildes, 121pts