After a disappointing first couple of races, Jason Plato looked set to redeem his weekend after being handed the reverse grid pole position for the final race of the day. He led off the line, but Tom Boardman, who started second, looked quick in the turbo-powered Seat Leon. Plato held the lead for the first couple of laps, but Boardman was quick along the straights. Such was Boardman’s pace
down the hill and onto the grass on the inside. He kept the Chevrolet pointing forwards but could do nothing to keep it out of the tyres. Plato’s frustration was evident as he slammed the door of his Chevrolet before trudging back to the pits. Speaking after his early exit from the race, Plato described his championship challenge as being ‘over’, especially as he expects the season finale at Silverstone to
suit the turbocharged NGTC engines. While not mathematically out of the race, making up a 35-point deficit will be tough for Plato. While the safety car was on track to allow the recovery of Plato’s car, Tom Boardman led the race. Having come a long way since his debut in the Production class in 2001, Boardman had his first outright victory firmly in his sights. There was still time for further controversy, though, as the 27-yearold slowed the pace at the restart. Boardman reduced his speed heading towards the hairpin as the safety car was due to peel off left into the pitlane. The slow speed was enough to cause confusion behind. The biggest casualty was debutant Aron Smith, who hit the back of his Triple Eight teammate James Nash. Smith’s Vectra was stranded on track and the safety car was straight back out once again.
Chilton hit the top of the times in part two of the 30minute session, but there was more still to come from the 26-year-old, as he improved his laptime a further three times around the 1.3 mile circuit. It was the first pole position for Team Aon’s Global Ford Focus and the first for Chilton since Donington Park last year. While Chilton claimed pole, with Matt Neal alongside him, there was another season’s best on the second row. Dynojet’s Frank Wrathall clinched third in his
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It was a delighted Boardman that took to the top step of the podium after race three, but his involvement in Plato’s demise and the safety car restart could still bring a revised result when officials investigate at Rockingham.
championship table on 182 points, just one point ahead of Honda Racing teammate Matt Neal. Mat Jackson drops to third after his disastrous weekend, on 159, while Jason Plato sits fourth on 147 points. With more than 150 points still up for grabs, there is plenty to race for in the final nine races of the season, but the momentum appears to be with Honda. A strong performance at Rockingham will be crucial for Jackson or Plato if either is to remain in contention into the final few races.
Shedden’s 32-point haul leaves him sitting pretty at the top of the
When the race eventually resumed, Boardman led from
CHILTON TAKES POLE AS NGTC CARS STAR IN QUALIFYING It was a first pole of the year for Team Aon as Tom Chilton flew over the Knockhill kerbs on his way to a best lap of 53.038 seconds. A stop-start session, with three red flags caused by John George, Andy Neate and Paul O’Neill made it tough for any of the drivers to find a rhythm.
Collard and Wrathall. Rob Collard, who took his first BTCC victory at Knockhill in 2005, chased Boardman for the remainder of the race, but his efforts went unrewarded. Boardman held on and was first across the line when the chequered flag fell after 27 laps. Collard finished second, with Wrathall third.
Dzenis/PSP
that he touched the back of Plato’s Cruze heading along the start-finish straight at the start of lap four. A second tap heading round the right-hander was enough to send Plato sliding
Dzenis/PSP
had a few lurid slides all over the place, so it was just a matter of time before we got past him. Then I was able to knick through and take the lead from Matt [Neal].”
Toyota Avensis – the best performance so far for a ‘Next Generation Touring Car’. He was joined on row two by the equally impressive Rob Austin.
QUALIFYING TOP TEN: 1 Chilton 52.999 (S2000 chassis/NGTC engine); 2 Neal +0.202 (S2000/NGTC); 3 Wrathall + 0.223 (NGTC/ NGTC); 4 Austin +0.228 (NGTC/NGTC); 5 Shedden +0.299 (S2000/NGTC); 6 Plato +0.339 (S2000/S2000); 7 Jackson +0.378 (S2000/ NGTC); 8 MacDowall +0.423 (S2000/S2000); 9 OnslowCole +0.473 (NGTC/S2000); 10 Collard +0.581 (S2000/ S2000).
RACE RESULTS - TOP 10s RACE ONE TOP TEN: 1 Chilton 27 laps, 27:02.441 (S2000/NGTC); 2 Neal +6.341 (S2000/NGTC); 3 Shedden + 6.937 (S2000/ NGTC); 4 Wrathall +7.281 (NGTC/NGTC); 5 Collard +8.278 (S2000/S2000); 6 Nash +12.043 (S2000/ NGTC); 7 Plato +13.925 (S2000/S2000); 8 Boardman + 15.431 (S2000/NGTC); 9 Jordan +15.952 (S2000/ NGTC); 10 A. Smith +19.306 (S2000/NGTC). Fastest lap: Tom Chilton – 53.450 (lap 15). Independent winner: Tom Chilton. RACE TWO TOP TEN: 1 Shedden 27 laps, 25:41.710 (S2000/NGTC); 2 Neal +0.804 (S2000/NGTC); 3 Wrathall +1.126 (NGTC/ NGTC); 4 Chilton +2.797 (S2000/NGTC); 5 Collard +2.865 (S2000/S2000); 6 Boardman +4.629 (S2000/
NGTC); 7 Plato + 8.557 (S2000/S2000); 8 Nash +9.217 (S2000/NGTC); 9 Jordan +10.153 (S2000/NGTC); 10 Foster +13.033 (S2000/ S2000). Fastest lap: Mat Jackson – 53.682 (lap 6). Independent winner: Frank Wrathall. RACE THREE TOP TEN: 1 Boardman 27 laps, 26:09.236 (S2000/NGTC); 2 Collard + 0.197 (S2000/ S2000); 3 Wrathall + 3.237 (NGTC/NGTC); 4 Neal +6.755 (S2000/NGTC); 5 Shedden +7.007 (S2000/NGTC); 6 Chilton + 7.751 (S2000/ NGTC); 8 Onslow-Cole + 10.486 (S2000/NGTC); 9 Foster + 10.646 (S2000/ S2000); 10 MacDowall +10.997(S2000/S2000). Fastest lap: Wrathall – 53.598 (lap 10). Independent winner: Tom Boardman.
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