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Kane and Jackson take 1-2 for Airwaves BMW

BTCC News | Sun 4th April 2010

Steven Kane led home Mat Jackson in race three at Thruxton, taking a first 1-2 in the BTCC for Airwaves BMW.

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By Matt Lamprell

Former Airwaves driver Rob Collard suffered contrasting fortunes, being spun out of the race lead after a clash with Matt Neal halfway through the race.

Collard started the race from pole position after the top nine finishers from race two were reversed and led away from the grid, ahead of Kane, Mat Jackson and Matt Neal. Neal and Jackson switched places going into the chicane at the end of the opening lap.

Behind the lead group, Jason Plato appeared to be slower than the two Uniq Racing Vectras he was managing to keep at bay. Glew was ahead of Giovanardi in the early stages, but the pair soon switched. However, even the double champion failed to find a way past Plato, who was in full defensive mode.

At the front, Kane was pressurising Collard and made several attempts to pass at the chicane. The WSR driver was able to resist, but in the process, they were both caught by Neal. The Honda driver moved to the outside as they all headed up Woodham Hill and passed Kane in the first part of the chicane. He tried to take Collard in the same move, but was not far enough up the inside and contact followed. Collard spun into the tyres on the outside of the track while Neal slowed and retired on the following lap.

The position of Collard's BMW brought out the safety car for the first time this season, which closed up the pack. The track officials decided to leave the BMW where it was and racing resumed two laps later, without a clearly irate Collard.

Steven Kane was now in the lead of the race, with Airwaves BMW teammate Mat Jackson behind him. The pair initially came under pressure from Plato in third, before opening up something of a gap at the front. Jackson looked to have the edge on Kane, but there were no risky moves and they held station through to the end of the race.

The Airwaves BMWs crossed the line in a formation finish, ahead of Plato in third. Gordon Shedden passed Giovanardi to finish fourth, with the Italian in fifth. Paul O'Neill finished sixth to complete a strong weekend for Sunshine.co.uk. Tom Onslow-Cole and Tom Chilton finished seventh and eighth respectively for Team Aon while Alex MacDowall and David Pinkney completed the top ten.

Steven Kane said: "I started off the weekend not being very well and then I broke a driveshaft in the first race, but then it all came together for the last race. It's all about the championship, so we need to get as many points as possible over the next nine race weekends. This is a great way to start the year for Motorbase and Airwaves BMW, though."

In the championship standings, Fabrizio Giovanardi leads by seven points from Jason Plato, who's three points ahead of Mat Jackson.

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