at trying track for Vectra

Masterful car control from VX Racing’s Fabrizio Giovanardi kept the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship title fight alive yesterday at Knockhill, with all still to play for heading into the final round.

An exceptional drive from the Italian in race one saw him pass title-rival Jason Plato for fourth place. His efforts were thwarted, however, when Team RAC’s Tom Onslow-Cole tried an over-ambitious move, which would later see him excluded from the results, sending the Vauxhall Vectra into a spin.

Giovanardi defied physics by keeping the Vauxhall Vectra on track but was passed by several cars in the process including championship rival Plato. The SEAT driver went on to finish third behind his team-mate Darren Turner who took his first of two victories at the home of Scottish motorsport.

In race two, Giovanardi was determined to claw back the points deficit and yet again managed to pass Plato on track. He then held back a persistent Gordon Shedden, the home favourite who went on to win the third race, and after 24 laps finished third.

VX Racing team-mate Tom Chilton was just outside the points in 11th after starting from the back of the grid following his earlier retirement after a race incident. His third race did not see an improvement in the 22-year-old’s luck, with another retirement following a trip into the gravel.

From sixth on the grid, meanwhile, Giovanardi made short work of independent driver Adam Jones in fifth place to face the bumper of Jordan’s Honda Integra. The Vauxhall Vectra was all over the back of Jordan right to the chequered flag, despite carrying substantial “success ballast”, and the resulting fifth place means Giovanardi is now nine points behind Plato with three races to go.

Fabrizio Giovanardi #5

“I was having such a good first race and I don’t know why Onslow-Cole just ruined it. I am aiming for the championship and he isn’t, so I don’t know what he was doing.

“Race two was really hard but the Vectra was a really good car today. I had to push a lot to keep Gordon (Shedden) behind me. It was a tough, but clean, fight.

“There are 52 points up for grabs at Thruxton and I’m confident we can fight back. Thruxton has always been a good circuit for Vauxhall and we have won the most races there.”

Tom Chilton #7

“The incident in the first race basically spoilt my second race. In the final race I slowed down for yellow flags but lost grip and hit a tyre barrier. The accident damaged my car and I retired.

“I have had a disappointing weekend but hope that I can score more points at Thruxton to support VX Racing’s title chase.” Sweet taste of champagne for Giovanardi’s third placeBTCC Drivers Championship 20071. Jason Plato (265)2. Fabrizio Giovanardi (256)

3. Gordon Shedden (188)

9. Tom Chilton (115)

BTCC Manufacturers Championship1. SEAT (561)

2. Vauxhall (564)

BTCC Teams Championship1. SEAT Sport UK (402)

2. VX Racing (356)

3. Team Halfords (320)

BTCC Round 25 Race Result1. Darren Turner (SEAT Leon)

2. Colin Turkington (BMW 320si)3. Jason Plato (SEAT Leon)4. Adam Jones (SEAT Toledo)5. Mike Jordan (Honda Integra)6. Fabrizio Giovanardi (Vauxhall Vectra)7. Gavin Smith (SEAT Leon)8. John George (Honda Integra)

DNF Tom Chilton (Vauxhall Vectra)

BTCC Round 26 Race Result1. Darren Turner (SEAT Leon)

2. Colin Turkington (BMW 320si)3. Fabrizio Giovanardi (Vauxhall Vectra)4. Gordon Shedden (Honda Civic)5. Jason Plato (SEAT Leon)6. Matt Neal (Honda Civic)7. Adam Jones (SEAT Toledo)8. Mike Jordan (Honda Integra)

11. Tom Chilton (Vauxhall Vectra)

BTCC Provisional Round 27 Race Result1. Gordon Shedden (Honda Civic)2. Matt Neal (Honda Civic)3. Jason Plato (SEAT Leon)4. Mike Jordan (Honda Integra)5. Fabrizio Giovanardi (Vauxhall Vectra)6. Colin Turkington (BMW 320si)7. Darren Turner (SEAT Leon)8. Adam Jones (SEAT Toledo)

DNF Tom Chilton (Vauxhall Vectra)