Bennett's second podium position - a triumph of enthusiasm over experience

Thruxton: Egg Sport driver, Phil Bennett, proved himself more than worthy of a place on the podium this afternoon, crossing the line third in the 30-lap Feature race of the second meeting of the 2001 British Touring Cars Championship season. Just 0.8 of a second behind Jason Plato and ahead of his team-mate, James Thompson, new kid on the grid, Bennett, proved the old adage, 'two wheels good, four wheels bad' to be true, spending a much of the Feature race riding high on the chicanes.

Ladies' man, Bennett finished fourth in the earlier Sprint race but believes that the two pit stops in the Feature, to which all Touring Cars were subjected, made for a really exciting race. 'Our pit stops were absolutely phenomenal. The Egg Sport team was working like clockwork. I think that I was slightly luckier than Thompson with my pit stops. The second time James came in, he seemed to be a couple of seconds slower getting back out again. I was able to take advantage of this and held on to the bitter end.'

Bennett, who at the tender age of four was badgering his father to take him to greasy spoon cafes so that he could hang out with the big trucks (and even bigger truckers), could not conceal his glee at being on the podium for the second time in two Feature races. 'It is a great feeling to have a cup in one hand, magnum of champagne in the other and being surrounded by beautiful women. Long may it continue.'

Despite finishing a couple of seconds behind Bennett in the Feature, Thompson still had his five minutes of fame on the podium when he came in third in the Sprint race earlier in the day. He also managed the fastest lap time during the afternoon's racing. 'I was slightly disappointed not to have finished in the first three of the Feature race. It felt like I was breathing down Phil's neck for the last half a dozen laps. I am really chuffed for Phil. He is definitely starting to hit his stride and I think that we are all going to have to watch out for him as the season progresses.'