Colin Turkington took the spoils in round 24 of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at
Brands Hatch, as Fabrizio Giovanardi took further points off championship leader
Jason Plato.
Turkington made the most of a coming together between Giovanardi and Mike Jordan mid-way through the race to secure his third win of the campaign, although fourth for Giovanardi – one place ahead of Plato – means the Italian has closed to within four points of the SEAT man heading to the penultimate meeting of the season at
Knockhill in a fortnights time.
When the race kicked off, a fine start from Jordan saw him lead the way into Paddock Hill for the first time, with Giovanardi settling in behind in second place as pole man Adam Jones failed to get away well. However, while Giovanardi quickly jumped up towards the front, Plato had been hung out to dry on the outside of the first corner and ended lap one down in sixth, behind Jordan, Giovanardi, Turkington,
Mat Jackson and Jones. However, by the end of the opening lap, the Safety Car was on track, with Fiona Leggate going off at Paddock Hill Bend having started from the pit lane.
When the Safety Car period came to an end, positions were quickly changing with Gordon Shedden moving ahead of Plato – and the points leader then dropping further back when he slipped behind Gavin Smith and
Tom Onslow-Cole on lap seven.
