|
[BTCC] Vauxhall Back In Race For Manufacturers Title |
|
|
|
|
Sunday, 04 June 2006 |
VAUXHALL BACK IN RACE FOR MANUFACTURERS TITLE
Vauxhall has closed up on rival SEAT after today’s rounds of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Thruxton.
Vauxhall scored 56 points at the fast, sweeping Hampshire circuit, compared to SEAT’s 45 points, bringing the Luton-based manufacturer within 34 points of its adversary.
VXR’s Tom Chilton narrowly missed out on a podium in the first race of the day after making a strong start to hold second place for nine laps. But the 21-year-old, from Reigate, struggled in the second half of the race as the aggressive set-up of the car wore away his tyres, eventually finishing fourth.
In race two, Chilton clung on for ninth place to score two valuable points, despite suspension damper failure, and in the day’s final race he came home eighth.
Fabrizio Giovanardi has vowed to prove himself after suffering another non-finish today, when on-track contact damaged his steering. The Italian went on to lead his team-mates home for the second race in eighth place, but scored no points in race three.
Giovanardi, who has won European, Italian and Spanish touring car titles, says there will be no holiday for him between now and the races at Croft in six weeks, as he works with the team to hone the car to his technique.
Dubliner, Gavin Smith, consolidated his eighth place in the Drivers Championship, finishing sixth in the first race and seventh in the last ahead of his two team-mates.
Ian Harrison, Team Principal:
|
News