Fabrizio Giovanardi has today been crowned as the 2007 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Champion.
The
Vauxhall driver
finished the season’s final round at Thruxton, Hampshire in second
position to score the points he needed to overcome SEAT’s Jason
Plato and win the title. Plato, driving in pain from burns he suffered
in the week, finished the race back in fourth having gone into
it leading the championship by just a point.
Jacksons MSport BMW driver Mat Jackson won the race which was stopped early because of an
accident further down the field.
Italian Giovanardi said: “This is incredible. It has been an amazing fight all year and Jason has always kept ahead
until this, the last race. I have won touring car titles before but this is the toughest.
“Even
on the last lap I knew Jason was close.
It’s been like this all year. He has been a great rival and what he has
done today with the injuries he suffered in the week was really brave
– a really fighting spirit. I’m really pleased we had this battle.”
Vauxhall, in its first year with its new Vectra
model, has regained the Manufacturers’ title from SEAT, but it is the Spanish make’s SEAT Sport UK squad which has lifted the
Teams’ trophy. Team RAC BMW driver Colin Turkington has been crowned the Independents’ Champion.
BTCC Thruxton race 3
result (provisional):
1. Mat Jackson (GBR), Jacksons MSport/BMW 320si, 17m33.434s
2. Fabrizio Giovanardi (ITA), VX Racing/Vauxhall Vectra, +2.659s
3. Tom Chilton (GBR), VX Racing/Vauxhall Vectra, +3.463s
4. Jason Plato (GBR), SEAT Sport UK/SEAT Leon, +4.322s
5. Matt Neal (GBR), Team Halfords/Honda Civic, +4.644s
6. Darren Turner (GBR), VX Racing/Vauxhall Vectra, +4.897s
Final BTCC points (provisional):
1.
Fabrizio Giovanardi (ITA), 300 points
2. Jason Plato (GBR), 297
3. Gordon Shedden (GBR), 200
4. Matt Neal (GBR), 195
5. Colin Turkington (GBR), 184
6. Darren Turner (GBR), 160
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