Vauxhall faces race to fix cars for Croft

As the Triple Eight Engineering-run team races to fix its cars for round 10 of the championship, Plato and Muller, who lie first and second in the championship separated by just four points, are both to be issued with a warning after coming to blows last weekend.

The duo collided several times during the feature night race at Snetterton and both finally went off on lap 17, while fighting for the lead at the Esses. They recovered to finish second and third, but Vauxhall motorsport boss Mike Nicholson plans to have words with both drivers before they take to the track this weekend.

"We always thought this would happen and could sense it building," said Nicholson. "We have always said that they're free to race and they can. This is not what we want, though, and we'll be having a word with them."

To make this weekend's preparations yet more frantic, Phil Bennett also ran into trouble in his Egg-backed sister Astra. The Brit attempted to take Plato for the lead, but hit his team mate and spun out of the race, adding another car to the Triple Eight squad's fix list.

"Our biggest problem is the lack of time between the races," said Triple Eight director Ian Harrison. "We have three cars with a great deal of bodywork damage, not to mention replacing radiators and other things that were damaged at Snetterton and very little time to do it. It is not the best position for anyone to be in with back-to-back races."

With Muller now trailing Plato in the points standings, the Frenchman is hoping to get back on top this weekend, but remains open-minded about his championship chances.

"I will keep concentrating on doing my best in each race," said Muller. "If that means I am champion at the end of the year, then that will be good, but I cannot say how the season will finish."

Plato meanwhile is looking forward to heading north to Croft, despite the difficulties of car set-up at the Yorkshire track.

"I like it. It's a good circuit with a bit of everything," he said. "It makes it quite difficult to set the car up, but there is a real buzz at Croft. You can lose yourself in it."