Double glory for Muller, but Astras aren't invincible!

The Vauxhall deadlock on the BTC-Touring podium was broken in the feature race at Oulton Park this afternoon, with the JSM Alfa Romeo of Tim Harvey taking 3rd position. Yvan Muller made it a double race win for him, and was followed home by Egg Sport Driver James Thompson. Gavin Pyper was 4th overall and 1st in the Production class, with Gareth Howell 2nd and Simon Harrison third.

The rolling start to the race saw Muller lead away, followed by Plato and then Phil Bennett, Thompson and Kurt Luby. Pyper headed the Production field from the Ceravision sponsored GR Motorsport Ford Focus of Gareth Howell.

It wasn't long before Phil Bennett tried slightly too hard and ran off over the grass, dropping him a long way back down the field. Having made another good start, Kurt Luby was passed by Tim Harvey and then Steve Soper. The pit stop window opened on lap 6, and Thompson was first to come in on the following lap, followed by Yvan Muller. Meanwhile a battle emerged between young Tom Boardman and Mat Jackson, but Boardman managed to fend off the Focus.

Phil Bennett was next to pit, taking his team by surprise when he came in with a shredded front left tyre. Remarkably they still managed to complete the stop in little over eight seconds.

Dan Eaves took an extra championship point for leading the race when Jason Plato made his stop. Plato rejoined the track just ahead of teammate Muller. The Jackson/Boardman battle continued, with the two clashing going in to Knickerbrook, causing Boardman to lose his rear bumper. After 11 laps, Pyper still led the Production class from Howell and Harrison.

Tim Harvey battled with Dan Eaves, before eventually managing to pass the Peugeot and become the first JSM driver to lead a race this year. Not long after, Eaves slowed before coming in to the pits to retire. Roger Moen also retired from the race. Before making his pit stop, Harvey was caught and passed by Muller, but he had done enough to pick up an extra point. His stop was not the best the team will ever have made: "I don't know what time the pit stop took, but it felt like ages", he later commented.

Following the pit stops, Yvan Muller emerged as race leader, followed by Plato and Thompson. Working his way back up through the field, Phil Bennett passed Steve Soper at Knickerbrook on lap 17, before he was forced to retire a couple of laps later.

Tom Boardman remained in the thick of things throughout the race, fending off attacks from various other drivers. He and Pete Cate were both warned for their antics during the race.

With several laps remaining, smoke started to emerge from the Astra of Jason Plato, and he was forced out of the race due to a problem with his power steering. This gave Tim Harvey and the JS Motorsports team the break they were looking for, promoting the Alfa Romeo 147 up to 3rd position. The order remained unchanged through to the end of the race.

Harvey said, "We made a few changes between races, and the car has got more to come". He was understandably impressed with the progress the team have made: "We were there on merit and it's just tremendous. I don't often get emotional in the car, but today I did have a little lump in my throat".

It would be fair to say that it was another good day for the TOCA Tour, with the much needed proof that the Astras are not invincible, and, not that it was needed, even more evidence of the entertainment that the Production class can provide, not to mention how wide open that particular championship is.

According to series director, Richard West, the crowd at Oulton Park was not quite as big as those seen at Thruxton and Brands Hatch, but this was to be expected with recent visits to the Cheshire circuit by the Powertour and British Superbike packages.

Rounds 7 and 8 of the 2001 BTCC take place in two weeks time at Silverstone, on Saturday June 2nd, and will feature the first night races of the 2001 championship. Stay tuned for all the latest and more!