Aiello clinches BTCC title

The Nissan Primera driver had won pole, but then completed a lap too many before taking up his grid position.

The penalty for that was to be sent to the pit lane, starting only after the field had gone by.

He was joined there by his team-mate, David Leslie; since he had qualified last, Leslie opted to start from the pit lane and hope that starting on tyres fresh out of their warmers would make the difference.

Then, remarkably, the Renault Laguna of Jason Plato, second on the grid, failed to start, and he too was sent to the pit lane, leaving the front row completely empty.

When the race started in wet conditions Rickard Rydell surged into the lead in his Volvo S40, leaving the Honda Accord of James Thompson and Independent runner Matt Neal, in another Nissan, trailing in his wake.

Neal spun on lap three, dropping him down to seventh and elevating the Vauxhall Vectra of Yvan Muller to third.

On lap six, Neal ploughed into the gravel, and the safety car was sent out while his Primera was retrieved.

However, while the pack was playing follow-my-leader behind the safety car, torrential rain swept the circuit.

Even after the Nissan had been hauled out of the gravel, the safety car stayed out - but conditions worsened, and the decision was taken to stop the race.

With no prospect of improvement, the race was declared complete -and Aiello was champion, despite being well down the results sheet.

Aiello was clearly overjoyed, hugging everyone in the Nissan team when he got back to the pit lane.

'I am very, very happy - my nerves are a little better now', he said.

'It's been very difficult - winning 10 races and still not being champion isn't what you expect.

I have to thank my team -they gave me everything I needed to achieve this.'

BTCC Sprint Race Result