Matt Neal and James Thompson took a win apiece in their Vauxhall Astra Coupés today after two storming opening rounds of the Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). A crowd of 18,500 were treated to two incident-packed races as the 2002 BTCC season kicked off in style at the Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit.

Sprint Race

Egg Sport’s Matt Neal claimed his third BTCC career race win this afternoon after a terrific race long battle with Vauxhall Motorsport’s Yvan Muller. Pole-sitter Muller, who led for 16 of the 19 laps, looked to have the race in hand, but picked up a puncture and was forced to pull into the pits. Said Neal: "I’m speechless! I thought it was going to be Yvan’s day. I kept with him for the first two thirds of the race and could only hope that he’d make a mistake, but he didn’t. When I realised he had a puncture, I was concerned because I’d been pushing just as hard … but it was all sweet to the end." The youngest ever driver to enter a BTCC race also became the youngest ever driver to step onto a BTCC podium today as Tom Chilton sensationally claimed third position for Barwell Motorsport. Chilton, who was in the thick of the action throughout, declared his result to be "just awesome".

Also in the thick of the race action was Paul O’Neil for Egg Sport. O’Neill drove a storming race from ninth on the grid, even managing to out-fox the hugely experienced Harvey with a stunning manoeuvre into Druids. Similarly pressurising Eaves for second with just a lap to go, O’Neill looked determined to make his move – but the only move he made was into the gravel trap at Clearways as he picked up a puncture.

Vauxhall Motorsport’s James Thompson completed just one lap before succumbing to further engine dramas in his Astra Coupé.

Feature Race

Vauxhall Motorsport’s James Thompson made up for the bitter disappointment of the preceding Sprint Race by storming to his first race win of the year from the back of the Touring car grid. Aided by the first of two Safety Car interventions, covering two separate incidents on the opening lap at Druids with Paul O’Neill and Tom Chilton, Thompson was up to sixth place as the round of pitstops began. Promoted to race leader as his rivals dived into the pits, Thompson made an early stop, subsequently benefiting as the Safety Car was actioned for the second time. Rejoining in third behind Aaron Slight for Barwell Motorsport and race leader Warren Hughes, Thompson was sitting pretty as both Slight and Hughes had yet to stop. However, when racing resumed, Thompson found his mirrors full of team mate Muller and had to work hard for several laps to maintain his advantage. With Muller electing to back off over the final part of the race, Thompson took the flag with two seconds in hand.

Said Thompson: "We’ve had a terrible weekend up until now and even though we’ve won the race – and I’m very pleased about that – the non-finish earlier today has hurt us in the early part of the season. It was nice to win from last on the grid though!"

Poleman Muller looked every bit as dominant as in the Sprint Race, as he headed the jostling pack over the initial laps. The first to make his pit stop, Muller rejoined down the order but as a result of the second Safety Car intervention and Thompson’s timing of his own stop, Muller found himself behind his team mate when racing resumed. The identical Vauxhall Astra Coupés lapped as a pair over the latter part of the race, holding off a late charge from Anthony Reid’s MG ZS.

Rounding out the top six was Egg Sport’s Matt Neal, followed by Honda Racing’s Andy Priaulx and Team Petronas Syntium Proton’s Phil Bennett. Rounds three and four of the BTCC action will kick off at Oulton Park, Cheshire, on 21st April.