This time last year…Rounds 7 and 8 of the 2000 BTCC took place at Knockhill in Scotland in glorious conditions. News
going in to the meeting was that Vauxhall had decided not to continue the use of team orders, which
had seen Jason Plato give way to Yvan Muller at the previous meeting.
No surprises going in to the sprint race, with the three Mondeos occupying the three front grid
positions. Rydell led away from the line, but Reid soon came under pressure from the Honda Accord of
Gabriele Tarquini. The two clashed, and this led to the Italian being forced off on to the grass,
and in to retirement, thanks to damage to the front right suspension.
In Class B, the battle was between Mark Lemmer and Alan Morrison, and it was Lemmer who came out on
top when Morrison retired following damage sustained during their fight.
Independent racer Matt Neal fought off attacks from the Hondas of James Thompson and Tom Kristensen
to finish in fourth position, whilst at the front, there was no change. Rydell led home from team
mates Menu and Reid, giving the Swede his first victory of the season.
The script for the feature race was slightly different. Gabriele Tarquini had secured pole position,
with Menu in second, and Thompson third. When the lights went green, Tarquini got away well, as did
Rydell from sixth. Jason Plato went off at the hairpin after early contact, resulting in damage to
the left rear quarter of his car. Anthony Reid made a strong pass on Vincent Radermecker stick, and
then repeated exactly the same move on Yvan Muller on the next lap.
Matt Neal was again in the thick of the action. Firstly being passed by Anthony Reid, and then
Muller, following a hard battle. Before the end of the race, he also made a good save after being
hit by a frustrated Radermecker. The harsh circuit played a role in determining the result, taking
the scalps of Kristensen (driveshaft), and Menu. Tarquini managed to hold on to his lead to take
victory from Thompson and Sprint race winner Rydell.
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