Leslie wins after Aiello retires

David Leslie took his second BTCC race win of the season in the Sprint Race at Snetterton.The Nissan driver claimed victory after his championship leading team mate Laurent Aiello dropped out with clutch problems early in the floodlit night race.At the start, the two Nissan led away in formation. Rickard Rydell followed them but James Thompson was at the back, forced to start last after driveshaft problems on the out laps.Further back, Vincent Radermecker passed Jean-Christophe Boullion for 4th and Jason Plato moved up to 6th, giving the race a very symmetrical look: two Nissans leading two Volvo's and two Renaults.Then it all went wrong for Aiello as he dropped back and retired with clutch problems. At the rear of the field, Paula Cook went out with gearbox trouble.James Thompson was carving through the backmarkers and by lap five was up with the works cars..With Aiello out, Leslie was making it look easy, building a 10s lead. Yvan Muller was now in 6th and working hard to pass Plato.Another miserable race for Ford. Anthony Reid retired on lap 11, and a grassy moment for Alain Menu allowed both Honda's to pass him. Thompson and Kox then moved ahead of Matt Neal as well, the leading independent runner saying that defending his position was almost impossible when he couldn't see what was going on behind.On lap 15 Muller made his move. Somehow the Vauxhall and both Renaults ended up going into the Esses side-by-side. Three into one won't go and Muller found himself spinning out of control and T-boning James Thompson. The latter lost a few places but continued, while Muller was less lucky and had to retire.The safety car came out as a result, wiping out Leslie's lead. However, no-one made any moves in the final run to the flag and the Scot was able to claim a comfortable victory. Neal won the Independents' category from Will Hoy, replacing Russell Spence in the Arena Renault.Sprint race results from Snetterton: