BTCC 2009 - Donington Park - Rounds 7, 8 & 9

[Allyc85]

Saturday morning and theres no Donington park thread whats going on! ;)

Any way first practise has been and gone with Jelley fastest. Chilton was 12th which is a bit of encouragement for the team after the first two rounds.

1. Stephen Jelley Team RAC BMW 320si 1min 13.634secs I
2. Jason Plato Racing Silverline Chevrolet Lacetti 1min 13.764secs I
3. Rob Collard Airwaves BMW BMW 320si 1min 13.782secs I
4. Fabrizio Giovanardi VX Racing Vauxhall Vectra 1min 13.813secs C
5. James Thompson Team Dynamics Honda Civic 1min 13.870secs I C
6. Jonathan Adam Airwaves BMW BMW 320si 1min 13.921secs I
7. Colin Turkington Team RAC BMW 320si 1min 13.975secs I
8. Harry Vaulkhard Tempus Sport Chevrolet Lacetti 1min 14.087secs I
9. Matt Neal VX Racing Vauxhall Vectra 1min 14.193secs C
10. Adam Jones Cartridge World Carbon Zero Racing SEAT Leon 1min 14.347secs I
11. Andrew Jordan VX Racing Vauxhall Vectra 1min 14.630secs C
12. Tom Chilton Team Aon Ford Focus ST 1min 14.688secs I C
13. Dave Pinkney Team Dynamics Honda Civic 1min 14.741secs I C
14. Mat Jackson RML Chevrolet Lacetti 1min 14.836secs I
15. Paul O'Neill Sunshine.co.uk with Tech-Speed Honda Integra 1min 15.085secs I B
16. Martyn Bell Sunshine.co.uk with Tech-Speed Honda Integra 1min 15.302secs I B
17. John George TH Motorsport with JAG Honda Integra 1min 15.302secs I B
18. Alan Morrison Team Aon Ford Focus ST 1min 15.606secs I C
19. Martin Johnson Boulevard Team Racing Vauxhall Astra Coupe 1min 16.963secs I B
20. Liam McMillan Maxtreme SEAT Toledo 1min 17.367secs I
21. Nick Leason AFM Racing BMW 120d 1min 22.732secs I
22. Dan Eaves Cartridge World Carbon Zero Racing SEAT Leon No time

[AndySpeed]

4 BMW's inside the top 7! Could one of them finally get a win this year?

[MattL]

4 BMW's inside the top 7! Could one of them finally get a win this year?

Collard at Brands and Turkington at Thruxton?

[VkmSpouge]

Looking at the speed traps the Fords have made a significant step forward.

[AndySpeed]

Collard at Brands and Turkington at Thruxton?

I should probably have worded it better - a BMW has not won at Donington since 1993.

[VkmSpouge]

Jelley tops second practice with Vaulkhard a very close second.

I hope Nick Leason and Dan Eaves make it out for qualifying.

[Allyc85]

Dan eaves couldnt buy any luck could he, hope it changes for him soon.

[Allyc85]

Times from crash.net as autosport cant be bothered to report the times very quickly :p

1. Stephen Jelley Team RAC BMW 320si 1min 13.402secs I
2. Harry Vaulkhard Tempus Sport Chevrolet Lacetti 1min 13.405secs I
3. James Thompson Team Dynamics Honda Civic 1min 13.443secs I C
4. Jason Plato Racing Silverline Chevrolet Lacetti 1min 13.660secs I
5. Fabrizio Giovanardi VX Racing Vauxhall Vectra 1min 13.729secs C
6. Matt Neal VX Racing Vauxhall Vectra 1min 13.743secs C
7. Jonathan Adam Airwaves BMW BMW 320si 1min 13.783secs I
8. Colin Turkington Team RAC BMW 320si 1min 13.786secs I
9. Andrew Jordan VX Racing Vauxhall Vectra 1min 13.827secs C
10. Rob Collard Airwaves BMW BMW 320si 1min 14.189secs I
11. Paul O'Neill Sunshine.co.uk with Tech-Speed Honda Integra 1min 14.272secs I B
12. Adam Jones Cartridge World Carbon Zero Racing SEAT Leon 1min 14.464secs I
13. Tom Chilton Team Aon Ford Focus ST 1min 14.561secs I C
14. Dave Pinkney Team Dynamics Honda Civic 1min 14.695secs I C
15. Alan Morrison Team Aon Ford Focus ST 1min 14.763secs I C
16. Mat Jackson Racing Silverline Chevrolet Lacetti 1min 14.788secs I
17. John George TH Motorsport with JAG Honda Integra 1min 14.826secs I B
18. Martyn Bell Sunshine.co.uk with Tech-Speed Honda Integra 1min 14.893secs I B
19. Martin Johnson Boulevard Team Racing Vauxhall Astra Coupe 1min 15.388secs I B
20. Liam McMillan Maxtreme SEAT Toledo 1min 15.457secs I
21. Nick Leason AFM Racing BMW 120d No time I
22. Dan Eaves Cartridge World Carbon Zero Racing SEAT Leon No

[MattL]

I should probably have worded it better - a BMW has not won at Donington since 1993.

Ah, ok - had me confused!

[cos]

Gio on pole, from Jordan, Vaulkhard, Thommo, Plato and Jelley.

[VkmSpouge]

Qualifying Results:

1 Fabrizio Giovanardi 1m13.171
2 Andrew Jordan 1m13.241
3 Harry Vaulkhard 1m13.256
4 James Thompson 1m13.278
5 Jason Plato 1m13.365
6 Stephen Jelley 1m13.384
7 Rob Collard 1m13.493
8 Colin Turkington 1m13.573
9 Matt Neal 1m13.753
10 Jonathan Adam 1m13.795
11 Mat Jackson 1m13.836
12 Paul o'Neil 1m13.902
13 Dave Pinkney 1m14.343
14 Alan Morrison 1m14.464
15 Adam Jones 1m14.638
16 John George 1m14.783
17 Tom Chilton 1m14.796
18 Martin Johnson 1m14.980
19 Liam McMillan 1m15.072
20 Martyn Bell No Time
21 Dan Eaves No Time
22 Nick Leason No Time

Star of the session undoubtedly is Harry Vaulkhard for getting 3rd place. Great performance, especially considering he beat Jason Plato and Mat Jackson driving an identical car.

[MattL]

Giovanardi's Vectra failed to start after being weighed at the end of the session. He loses his times and will start from the back. Andrew Jordan inherits pole position.

[AndySpeed]

Giovanardi's Vectra failed to start after being weighed at the end of the session. He loses his times and will start from the back. Andrew Jordan inherits pole position.

Which puts Vaulkhard up to an excellent second position and a front-row grid slot! I hope he maximises that fully! :D

[stevevxr]

Well done Andy Jordan and Harry..... nice too see the chevy up there !!!

Roll on tomorrow !!!

[AndySpeed]

Eaves' bad luck continues. He will not be racing tomorrow owing to the team giving the spare engine to support Adam Jones.

[VkmSpouge]

A real shame for Dan Eaves. He had a good time at Brands Hatch but since then he has had some woeful luck.

[mattie007]

Well so far we have had:

1 - Neal - Vauxhall
2 - Collard - BMW
3 - Plato - Chevrolet

1 - Gio - Vauxhall
2 - Turkington - BMW
3 - Jackson - Chevrolet

So I predict!:

1 - Jordan - Vauxhall
2 - Jelley - BMW
3 - Vaulkhard - Chevrolet

[VkmSpouge]

Race 1:
1 James Thompson
2 Andrew Jordan
3 Matt Neal
4 Rob Collard
5 Harry Vaulkhard
6 Jonathan Adam
7 Jason Plato
8 Fabrizio Giovanardi
9 Adam Jones
10 Mat Jackson
11 Martin Johnson
12 Tom Chilton
13 Liam McMillan
14 Dave Pinkney
15 Martyn Bell
16 Alan Morrison
17 John George
DNF Paul o'Neill
DNF Colin Turkington
DNF Stephen Jelley
DNF Nick Leason
DNS Dan Eaves

James Thompson makes it seven winners in seven races! He completely dominated the race. Great racing behind him too.

Harry Vaulkhard getting a really good result in 5th, he clearly has good race pace too.

I feel really sorry for Paul o'Neill, on for another good result but spun out after contact with Jonathan Adam. I think it was merely a case of two cars trying to occupy the same piece of track at the same time.

I wonder what happened to Alan Morrison he was right up there just behind Adam Jones for a while but then he just fell back very quickly. He might have scored a point.

Well done to Martin Johnson too! 11th place and just shy of a championship point.

[AndyRAC]

Interesting race, some 'interesting' driving as well, okay the usual BTCC standards.

[Allyc85]

Really enjoyed that first race with lots going on and positions changing all the time. Gutted for oneil as he was driving superbly and hard luck for Jelley, I really cant see that coming out for the rest of the day.

[mattie007]

RAC should put some tusks on the front of the BMW, then perhaps they can return the favour to VX.

Looks like my prediction has gone out fo the window! Still, 7 different winners is incredible! I wonder who can keep the run going? Jordan, Harry or Adam perhpas?

[VkmSpouge]

Race 2:
1 James Thompson
2 Matt Neal
3 Fabrizio Giovanardi
4 Jason Plato
5 Colin Turkington
6 Mat Jackson
7 Jonathan Adam
8 Adam Jones
9 Rob Collard
10 Harry Vaulkhard
11 Paul o'Neill
12 Dave Pinkney
13 Alan Morrison
14 John George
15 Martyn Bell
16 Martin Johnson
17 Tom Chilton
DNF Andrew Jordan
DNF Nick Leason
DNF Liam McMillan
DNS Stephen Jelley
DNS Dan Eaves

Not as exciting as race one.

James Thompson becomes the first driver this season to take two victories. He drove pretty flawlessly despite pressure from Matt Neal.

A good drive by Colin Turkington to go from 19th to 5th.

Both Fords were running in the points at one stage, a shame they couldn't hold their position.

EDIT: Harry Vaulkhard on pole position for race 3.

[Sarah]

Wish I'd put some money on Jimmy now had a feeling he might win race one but to win two is awesome.

[mattie007]

10 comes out again! 3 times in a row!

[AndySpeed]

I believe that Harry Vaulkhard would be a good bet for the win in race three... Chevrolet is strong around Donington.

[MattL]

All on wets for race three except: O'Neill, Thompson & Jones who have slicks on front and wets on rear.

[VkmSpouge]

Race 3:
1 Rob Collard
2 Colin Turkington
3 Jason Plato
4 Mat Jackson
5 Fabrizio Giovanardi
6 James Thompson
7 Harry Vaulkhard
8 Matt Neal
9 Tom Chilton
10 Dave Pinkney
11 Andrew Jordan
12 Martin Johnson
13 Jonathan Adam
14 Liam McMillan
15 Alan Morrison
16 Paul o'Neill
17 John George
18 Nick Leason
19 Martyn Bell
DNF Adam Jones
DNS Stephen Jelley
DNS Dan Eaves

Rob Collard claims his and Motorbase's second victory of the season. He pretty much led from start to finish.

Harry Vaulkhard pretty much cost himself a podium finish, he should have been more patient behind Fabrizio Giovanardi.

James Thompson did very well in the end but the race was about 3 laps too short for him to get the victory.

And well done for Tom Chilton for scoring the Ford Focus' first points.

[MG2004]

Congratulations to Rob Collard. Only the second man to win 2 races so far this season :)

[UltimateDanGTR]

im beginning to think that without seat the btcc is still great. after vauxhall leave next year, we will find that the btcc will be independents only-but still with about 6 different makes of car-maybe that will be for the better-like the old days before the manurfacturer years........

[Chris2k6]

wow! this is why i love the BTCC sooooo much. Another great day of racing, superb racing. I'd go see this over F1 any day! Thompson surprised me today, great to see him back, but please get pinkney out of that car and sheddon back! Shame for Vaulkhard, on another day he could have got a win

[wedge]

Crikey! Matt Jackson didn't have much of problem keeping up with Plato.

That kid never fails to amaze me!

[stevevxr]

very impressed with the chevy's yesterday !!! think Harry V needs too chill out a bit and get rid of that red mist !! think his mistakes (quite a few) cost him big time !!! well done anyway !!

Is gio becoming rattled ????

Think this season could be one of the best !!!

Roll on Oulton pk !!!

[vfj]

Had a great day, Thanks to all BTCC drivers. and the support races. me thinks Paul Oneil will shine at oulton

[wedge]

Is gio becoming rattled ????

Dunno but Matt Neal did a solid job of proving his critics wrong at the weekend.

[BDunnell]

Just watched the highlights on ITV4. I really think Vaulkhard was lucky not to be excluded from race three.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

Just watched the highlights on ITV4. I really think Vaulkhard was lucky not to be excluded from race three.

I think Gio hit Vaulkard earlier in the race when Gio passed him. I noticed Vaulkard carried on tapping Gio. He got a little carried away though.

[PDS]

I think Gio hit Vaulkard earlier in the race when Gio passed him. I noticed Vaulkard carried on tapping Gio. He got a little carried away though.


Yeah.. great picture! http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=1454