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VX Racing Clinches Top Spot In Qualifying At Thruxton |
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Sunday, 06 May 2007 |
VX Racing’s Fabrizio Giovanardi registered another landmark in his Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship career today at Thruxton, where he scored his first-ever BTCC pole position.
Currently second in the Drivers Championship after two race wins at Rockingham, Giovanardi was carrying 36kg of “success” ballast but despite that only needed two flying laps to post the fastest time of the day.
The Italian was out of his Vauxhall Vectra with time to spare at the
end of the 30-minute session, but would not celebrate until the last
car had crossed the line, fearing a repeat of Rockingham two weeks ago,
when SEAT’s Darren Turner snatched pole in the dying seconds.
VX Racing team-mate, Tom Chilton, will start tomorrow’s first of three
races three places behind Giovanardi, but says the second row will be
enough to mount a strong fight.
The first BTCC race will start at 10.55am tomorrow morning.
Fabrizio Giovanardi: "It's great, I'm starting to feel at home now; not
because it looks like Italy with the lovely weather we’re having today
but because I'm in England and I enjoy this championship now. I love
the team and this is a great pole position which we all worked for.
"In the first qualifying lap I found a car in front of me. I had one
more lap so I had to concentrate. When they said I was in first
position, it was unbelievable. For tomorrow I am really comfortable."
Tom Chilton: “I’m annoyed! I ran the car with too much over-steer. Up
until Church corner I was really quick but the set-up didn’t work round
the second half of the circuit. My car went too sideways, because I ran
something on the edge.
“I think I’ve got a very good race car and from the second row I am sure I can get a good result tomorrow.”
Mike Nicholson, VX Racing’s Operations Manager: “That was brilliant! We
always thought the car would be quick around here, but you can never be
sure. We are carrying a lot of ballast and to be P1 with that is pretty
brilliant. It was a great job!
“Fabrizio sat on his jacks for most of qualifying, so we have plenty of
tyres for tomorrow’s race. It’s looking very positive; long may it
continue.”
BTCC Provisional Qualifying Results:
1. Fabrizio Giovanardi (Vauxhall Vectra),1:17.476
2. Darren Turner (SEAT Leon), 1:17.503
3. Mike Jordan (Honda Integra), 1:17.708
4. Tom Chilton (Vauxhall Vectra); 1:17.800
5. Colin Turkington (BMW 320si); 1:17.906
6. Gordon Shedden (Honda Civic); 1:18.023
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