Thruxton: Muller gets his revenge

"I'm happy with that," he said later, "but overall I am frustrated. I was fastest in qualifying and I've led all six races this year, but I've only won two. That's motor racing, I have to accept it."

Muller led away from the rolling start and stayed at the front for all but the laps in the compulsory pit-stop window. His Vauxhall team-mate James Thompson followed him home for their second one-two finish of the year. The Astra men were in sensible mode this time though, calling an early halt to hostilities in their own private battle, as Thompson - 66kg heavier than Muller this time - conceded and the pair concentrated on nursing their cars home, both worried about the possibility of punctures on the abrasive Hampshire track.

Muller felt a vibration in the closing laps and also had an overheating problem, so though they crossed the line nose-to-tail, the result was never in doubt.

Matt Neal's third place certainly was though. He survived strong challenges from Anthony Reid, Andy Priaulx and finally Tim Harvey to grab his second solid result of the weekend.

It leaves Muller, Thompson and Neal tied at the top of the championship table with 59 points each.

Harvey was fourth after out-fumbling Priaulx in the late-race struggle to nip ahead of Neal, which he just failed to do. Priaulx had another strong run in the Honda. Reid though was probably Neal's strongest rival, until his move on the Egg Astra ended in disaster.

Colin Turkington - lapped after a puncture on the Team Atomic Kitten MG tried to pass Neal at the same time as Reid, on the way into Allard. Three into two wouldn't go and the two MGs crashed out. "I shouted out in the car and then just backed off," said Neal after his close escape.

Dan Eaves was sixth fighting a handling imbalance after an early run-in with Warren Hughes - who then lost almost a lap with a wheelnut problem during the pit-stop.

James Kaye won the BTC Production class after fighting up through the field. He'd been severely delayed when Tom Chilton spun on the first lap and was hit by Spencer Marsh's Honda BTCP car, bringing out the safety car.


1 Yvan Muller, works Vauxhall Astra, 45m36.654s
2 James Thompson, works Vauxhall Astra, +0.507s
3 Matt Neal, Egg Vauxhall Astra, +7.847s
4 Tim Harvey, VLR Peugeot 406, +8.432s
5 Andy Priaulx, Honda Civic, +8.712s
6 Dan Eaves, VLR Peugeot 406, +10.325s
7 Paul O'Neill, Egg Vauxhall Astra, +16.752s
8 Alan Morrison, Honda Civic, +17.284s
9 David Leslie, Proton Impian, +31.457s
10 Warren Hughes, MG ZS, +1m23.677s


1 James Kaye, Honda Civic, +1 lap
2 Alan Blencowe, Alfa Romeo 156, +1 lap
3 Jim Edwards Jr, Honda Accord, +1 lap