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VX Racing’s title hopes are on course
this afternoon after the team recorded a 1-2-3 in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship qualifying at Thruxton.
Lead
driver, Fabrizio Giovanardi, is nine points
off the championship lead and Vauxhall is winning the manufacturers
battle making tomorrow’s three races, the last of the season,
absolutely
crucial.
The
Italian will start from second on the grid
after team-mate Tom Chilton put in a stunning lap of 1:17.269, 0.170s
ahead of Giovanardi. Vauxhall’s guest third driver, double BTCC
champion
Alain Menu, will start from third.
Giovanardi’s title rival Jason Plato
stole fourth place in the last few minutes of the
30-minute session after circulating in sixth for much of qualifying.
 Tom Chilton
#7
“I
loved it! I basically knew 15 minutes
into the qualifying that pole position would be mine. I had to avoid
Fiona Leggate coming out of the last chicane and lost two-tenths so my
pole
position time could have been even quicker.
“The Vauxhall Vectra was
absolutely perfect! I couldn’t have wished for better.”
Fabrizio Giovanardi
#5
“We can’t be too happy because
Plato is still in fourth, but it’s still a brilliant situation to have all three cars on the front of the grid.
“The car got the best balance you can
have around this circuit. To me it feels like the calm before the storm; the nerves have not started yet.”
Alain Menu #88
“It
is the perfect scenario for Vauxhall.
It was always going to be difficult for me; alright, I know Thruxton
but I haven’t been here for seven years. I did help Fabrizio a little
bit.
I gave him a tow and then went out and improved my own time.”
Provisional Qualifying Results
Thruxton
1. Tom Chilton, (Vauxhall Vectra) 1:17.269
2.
Fabrizio Giovanardi (Vauxhall Vectra) +0.170
3.
Alain Menu (Vauxhall Vectra) +0.342
4.
Jason Plato (SEAT Leon) +0.587
5.
Matt Neal (Honda Civic) +0.618
6.
Colin Turkington (BMW 320si) +0.660
7.
Darren Turner (SEAT Leon) +0.678
8.
Mike Jordon (Honda Integra) +0.750
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