Adam takes maiden win at Brands
Jonathan Adam claimed his maiden British Touring Car win in the final race of the day at Brands Hatch, putting the Motorbase Performance BMW squad on the top step of the podium for the second time in the space of a few hours
Adam, who started the race from second on the grid, grabbed the lead at Paddock Hill Bend on lap two, hitting Jason Plato's RML Chevrolet hard from behind and forcing the 2001 champion to catch the massive resultant tank-slapper and keep his car on the track.
After that, Adam was able to run and hide, eventually winning by 2.5 seconds at the end of the 25-lap race.
Plato ran second from then on, although he came under severe pressure from the Vauxhall of race one winner Matt Neal during the closing stages.
Neal made contact with Plato to snatch second, although his rival was back in front by Paddock. Then, as the pair came up to lap the AFM BMW of Nick Leason on the final lap, Plato just managed to keep in front to the flag.
Colin Turkington too was in close contention and came home fourth with his BMW, Neal and Plato were covered by just half a second.
Neal's three podiums from three races means he leaves Brands Hatch with a six-point lead over Turkington at the top of the championship.
Gordon Shedden, who ran third for much of the race, finished fifth in his Team Dynamics Honda, while Dan Eaves and Adam Jones were next up, ensuring that new squad Clyde Valley Racing scored points in all three races.
Rob Collard finished eighth, although the Motorbase driver was left playing catch-up after an incident on the second lap.
Collard and WSR's Stephen Jelley banged wheels at Druids and did so at least three more times on the run down to Graham Hill Bend, resulting in Jelley, on the grass and unable to stop, spinning Collard off, putting his own car out of the race and forcing Fabrizio Giovanardi to drive his Vauxhall off the circuit in avoidance.
Giovanardi later retired with resultant damage, while Andrew Jordan also pulled out of the race with a mechanical problem, allowing Harry Vaulkhard's Tempus Chevrolet and Martyn Bell's Tech-Speed Honda to complete the top-10.
Pos Driver Car Time 1. Jonathan Adam BMW 21:18.500 2. Jason Plato Chevrolet +3.845 3. Matt Neal Vauxhall +4.123 4. Colin Turkington BMW +4.245 5. Gordon Shedden Honda +6.115 6. Dan Eaves SEAT +9.731 7. Adam Jones SEAT +10.502 8. Rob Collard BMW +10.599 9. Harry Vaulkhard Chevrolet +11.302 10. Martyn Bell Honda +21.067 11. Tom Chilton Ford +27.094 12. Alan Morrison Ford +35.579 13. Martin Johnson Vauxhall +38.602 14. John George Honda +39.119 15. Nick Leason BMW +1 lap Retirements Andrew Jordan Vauxhall 23 laps Fabrizio Giovanardi Vauxhall 17 laps Liam McMillan SEAT 7 laps Stephen Jelley BMW 1 lap David Pinkney Honda 0 laps Fastest lap, Adam 49.597
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