Feature race: Thompson pips Plato in thriller

Despite there being only seven of the new-rules BTC Touring machines on the grid, the British Vauxhall Astra Coupe drivers proved that the post-Super Touring era is going to be rich with wheel-to-wheel racing.

Thompson and Plato passed and re-passed each other three times in 12 laps in a thrilling duel during the middle of the race, and the former was never able to relax as they raced to the flag. Just half-a-second separated the two machines at the finish, Plato trying a tentative move to try and unsettle Thompson at the final corner.

But both men were lucky that runaway early leader Yvan Muller hit mechanical problems on the lap before his pit stop. The Frenchman's Astra lapsed onto three cylinders and, despite plugging on for a few further laps, he elected to stop rather than risk total engine failure, which would have used up one of his quota of allowed powerplant changes for the season.

Plato had problems of his own. Early in the race he had been wrongfooted in traffic and hit a backmarker at Clearways.

"I had to punt him really hard," said Plato. "The engine inlets were affected and from then on it was a bit sick. Every time I put the throttle down there was a crackle and I was losing half a car length down the straights, but I was better on the brakes than him [Thompson] so we were equal."

Talking of the battle with Thompson, he said: "It was great. Really clean. There was a bit of rubbing but that's all right. Good fun."

Thompson concurred: "We were hard but I think we were fair. It's always good if you've got a few panels dented! But there was none of that trademark BTCC shunting up the back.

"It was the most enjoyable race I've had for a long time - it really put a smile on my face. It's nice to race with Jase and one of us not end up in the gravel!"

Thompson also gave the thumbs up to the new BTC Touring rules. With both men in identical Triple Eight-prepared Vauxhalls and lapping at similar lap times that could have produced a processional race in the Super Touring era.

"It's much, much better," he enthused. "Your braking points through the race are always pretty consistent and the good thing is you can outbrake each other, even though we're evenly matched. Once we get a couple more manufacturers in there it will be great."

Thompson's Egg Sport team-mate Phil Bennett took third in a strong performance, the BTCC rookie managing to lead a lap at his debut touring car meeting during the pit stop cycle.

Steve Soper led on-the-road for a large proportion of the race after electing to make a late stop, giving some glory to Peugeot. He eventually took fourth from a brake-troubled Matt Neal and new boy Dan Eaves in the sister 406s.

Just as for Muller, there was heartbreak for Simon Harrison in the Production class. After trailing HTML Peugeot team-mate Roger Moen in the early laps he managed to get past the Norwegian. With five laps to go he had enough in hand over a closing James Kaye to complete a Brands double, only for his left-front wheel to fall off and send his 306 careering into the gravel trap at Paddock Hill Bend.

Kaye, who got the better of Moen in a lengthy mid-race scrap, inherited the win in his Barwell Motorsport Honda Accord. "I was catching him [Harrison] but I would have needed 400 laps!" he quipped. "I could see Simon was having brake problems and I kept putting him under pressure."

Behind Moen, Mat Jackson completed the BTC Production podium in his GR Motorsport Ford Focus, despite a flat exhaust, after getting the better of a battle with Gavin Pyper's Alfa and GR team-mate Gareth Howell.

The result means Plato and Thompson tie at the top of the BTC Touring points table, while the consistent Moen, with two seconds, leads the BTC Production class.


1, James Thompson (Egg Sport Vauxhall Astra Coupe) 53 laps
2, Jason Plato (Vauxhall Astra Coupe) +0.500
3, Phil Bennett (Egg Sport Vauxhall Astra Coupe) +21.889
4, Steve Soper (Peugeot 406 Coupe) +42.429
5, Matt Neal (Peugeot 406 Coupe) +47.727
6, Dan Eaves (Peugeot 406 Coupe) +1 lap
Fastest lap Yvan Muller (Vauxhall Astra Coupe) 49.226
Points: 1= Thompson & Plato 26; 3 Muller 20; 4 Bennett 19; 5 Soper 13; 6= Eaves & Neal 11.


1, James Kaye (Barwell Motorsport Honda Accord) 52 laps
2, Roger Moen (HTML Peugeot 306) +9.287
3, Mat Jackson (GR Motorsport Ford Focus) +1 lap
4 Gavin Pyper (GA Janspeed Alfa Romeo 156) +1 lap
5, Gareth Howell (GR Motorsport Ford Focus) +1 lap
6, Paul O'Neill (Tech-Speed Peugeot 306) +1 lap
7, Peter Cate (Barwell Motorsport Honda Accord) +1 lap
8, Toni Ruokonen (CAM Motorsport Mitsubishi Carisma) +1 lap
9, Jim Edwards Jr (TCR Honda Accord) +2 laps
10, Rick Kraemer (GR Motorsport Ford Focus) +2 laps
Fastest lap Simon Harrison (HTML Peugeot 306) 51.799
Points: 1 Moen 25; 2 Harrison 20; 3 Jackson 18; 4= Kaye & Howell 16; 6 Pyper 12.