Points in every race, a third place with fastest lap and moving up two places in the Championship would suggest a fairly successful visit to the Norfolk venue in the latest rounds of this season’s BTCC…

Tom had a much better haul of points at Snetterton compared to two weeks ago at Donington, but he still had a difficult time, including being spun out of third place by Jason Plato in the second race and putting up with brake problems in the third. A fine drive to third place in the first race was testament to the pace Tom had shown in the VXRacing Vectra.

The speed of the Vauxhalls was apparent right from the first free practice session on Saturday when Tom and his team mate Fabrizio Giovanardi were first and second quickest. Tom went on to out-qualify Fabrizio in the afternoon’s qualifying session, but could only manage 4th place as others, notably the BMWs found extra pace.

Getting off the line well enough in the first race, Tom was challenging Shedden’s Honda for 3rd by the end of the first lap. On lap 6 Shedden found a way past Onslow-Cole for 2nd and it was Tom’s turn to put pressure on the BMW driver. In the process of chasing 3rd place, Tom set the fastest lap of the race, but despite his best efforts he couldn’t find a way through and had to settle for 4th. However, the winning BMW was found to be underweight at the end of the race and was disqualified. This elevated Tom to a 3rd place finish.

“I’m happy to get the points for 3rd, but it’s not the same as actually getting on the podium. The car was good in the race though so I think I can get another good result in the next one.”

Tom didn’t get a great start in the second race and had to survive a bruising opening lap, but he had only lost the one place by the time the field completed the lap only to be met with a safety car. As racing resumed Tom was quickly back up to 4th, passing Onslow-Cole at the Esses. On the next lap he dived down the inside at Coram to take 3rd place from Jackson, but ran wide on the exit and was still in 4th as they started lap 9. Tom got an excellent exit from Sear and moved alongside Jackson down the Revett Straight. Plato had also got a good exit and slipstreamed alongside the pair, making it three abreast as they approached the Esses. Plato then turned in on Tom, spinning the Vectra across the grass. Tom kept the car running, but by the time he had scrambled back on he was down in 11th place. He quickly charged back up to 9th before another safety car period occurred. When it resumed, the race only had two laps remaining and 8th place was the best Tom could achieve.

“I’m really pissed off. That would have been a podium; the car was fantastic, better than in the first race. I could challenge the BMWs better than before and if Plato hadn’t have hit me off then 3rd or even a 2nd was on.”

The final race of the day saw the top 6 finishers only start in reverse order so Tom didn’t benefit from that and lined up 8th on the grid. Right from the start he had problems though. A long brake pedal signalling that all was not well with the VXRacing Vectra’s brakes and although he had already got up to 6th on the first lap, he couldn’t stop for Russell and had a trip across the grass. This dropped Tom to 10th. The race was a difficult one as he had to pump the brakes with his left foot approaching the corners. Despite this Tom managed to get past Murray’s Alfa Romeo and Darren Turner in the SEAT to finish a creditable 8th given his problems.

Snetterton had been a tough event. Tom showed great pace when things were going his way and tenacity when they weren’t. Having dropped down the Championship order as a result of the dismal experience at Donington a fortnight ago, Tom’s Snetterton performances have lifted him back up to 7th overall.