Although unable to repeat the form that saw him win twice at
Brands Hatch, Fabrizio Giovanardi has extended his lead in the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship following the second round of the season at Rockingham.
The VX Racing man, who took two wins at the Northamptonshire venue last season, suffered in qualifying due to the success ballast onboard his Vectra and had to settle for tenth on the grid for the opening race but battled to a solid fifth place in the opening race after managing to find a way past team-mate
Tom Onslow-Cole on the closing stages.
The defending champion looked set to take his third win of the season in race two after a storming start saw him quickly up with leader Darren Turner, taking the lead from the SEAT man at Gracelands on lap ten – although brief contact between the pair would damage a wheel on the Vectra.
A slight error at Yentwood the following lap allowed
Mat Jackson through into the lead and left Giovanardi to settle for second place.
With wet conditions arriving for the final race, the Italian took a fifth place finish that sees him extend his lead over Jackson in the standings after the
BMW man failed to finish.
"It was a strange weekend for me," he said. "It could have been worse considering the issues we had in qualifying on Saturday.
"The team told me my overtaking manoeuvres during the second race were very exciting to watch. When I had the fight with Darren Turner in the SEAT I damaged my rear right wheel and from then I was unable to push harder. It was a shame I couldn't fight with Mat Jackson for the win, but I was happy to finish in second.
"I struggled throughout the third race as my car was set-up for dry weather conditions and it was just too wet out there for me to really attack.
"I got a podium place which I'm happy about but at
Donington Park we will be pushing for victory again."
