BTCC articles archive

My laptop died during the second Brands Hatch race so here are my delayed thoughts on the other two BTCC rounds. I spoke to Fabrizio Giovanardi before the second race and asked him if he was worried about keeping the BMWs behind him at the start. He said not, and that his problem at the … Continue reading BTCC Brands Hatch 2 & 3: Giovanardi and Turkington take wins

I’m at Brands Hatch today for the first round of the British Touring Car Championship. I was standing opposite the front row of the grid as the race got underway and it was striking how much quicker the rear wheel drive BMWs of Mat Jackson (pole position) and Colin Turkington (third) leapt away from second-placed … Continue reading BTCC Brands Hatch 1: Giovanardi edges Jackson

Very disappointing to read that the 2008 British Touring Car finale can’t be held on the full length Brands Hatch circuit. Once again the noise restriction regulations are to blame – nearby home owners crying “Not In My Back Yard” prevent the circuit from being able to use the excellent Grand Prix loop for more … Continue reading Joyless Kent NIMBYs spoil British Touring Car finale

Fabrizio Giovanardi snatched the British Touring Car Championship from Jason Plato at the final round by just three points. The Italian finished second with team mate Tom Chilton between himself and Plato as Mat Jackson took his second victory of the year.

The British Touring Car title duellists Fabrizio Giovanardi and Jason Plato finished first and second in the first race at Thruxton. The first of the three races that will decide the title was hit by a spate of tyre failures that affected most of the title contenders’ team mates. It leaves Plato six points ahead … Continue reading BTCC Thruxton 1 – Giovanardi leads Plato home

The British Touring Car Championship will return to Silverstone next year after missing the home of the British GP this year. The short National circuit will be used. Also new for next year will be a race on the full Grand Prix circuit at Brands Hatch. The season-closing event will see the championship end in … Continue reading 2008 BTCC calendar revealed

Team Halfords were rewarded for the effort of re-building Matt Neal’s car after Brands Hatch with a one-two finish led by home racer Gordon Sheddon. But the championship fight between Jason Plato and Fabrizio Giovanardi will go down to the wire as Plato came home third with the Vauxhall driver fifth.

Darren Turner was chased across the finishing line by Colin Turkington for a second time today but Fabrizio Giovanardi kept in the title hunt by taking third. Giovanardi survived heavy contact with Gordon Sheddon to take third off Jason Plato. Sheddon also got ahead of Plato as Giovanardi slowed the pack and defended his position. … Continue reading BTCC Knockhill 2: Two for Turner

Darren Turner gave Seat a victory in the first race at Knockhill. He survived an attack by Gordon Sheddon at the hairpin on lap 18 which caused Sheddon to retire with suspension failure. Colin Turkington was second and Jason Plato took a vital third to add to his championship haul. It fell into his lap … Continue reading BTCC Knockhill 1: Turner’s triumph

It stayed dry for the third race of the day at Brands Hatch but it produced perhaps the most exciting race of them all. Fabrizio Giovanardi looked in with a chance of taking a hat-trick of victories until he collided dramatically with Mike Jordan. Meanwhile Jason Plato clawed his way into the points to keep … Continue reading BTCC Brands Hatch 3: Turkington triumphs in thriller

Title rivals Fabrizio Giovanardi started first and second and finished the same way – but Plato had to charge from the back of the pack after an early collision with Tom Chilton. With several cars still missing from the first race including Matt Neal and Fiona Leggate there were hopes for a clean second start. … Continue reading BTCC Brands Hatch 2: Second win for Giovanardi

Brands Hatch greeted the return of the British Touring Car Championship for its second event of the year with wet weather. It provoked an enormous crash on the first lap that left two drivers hospitalised, blocked the circuit and caused the race to be restarted. After a action-packed race it was the championship leaders that … Continue reading BTCC Brands Hatch 1: Giovanardi wins through carnage

Two of the three British Touring Car rounds at Brands Hatch next week will be shown live on ITV. In addition to the third race being shown live on ITV1, the second race will be live on ITV4, and preceded by a full replay of the first race. See below for race times:

Tom Onslow-Cole was gifted pole position for the third race at Snetterton – and converted it into his first BTCC win. But all the action went on behind him, with Fabrizio Giovanardi surviving an off-road collision to take third place off championship rival Jason Plato.