Gavin Pyper took his second win in the Independents category of the 2003 British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch today, taking his GA Motorsport Vauxhall Astra to victory in Round Three of the series. The 23-year-old Scot finished a superb eighth overall in the race, amongst the well funded 'factory' teams, though hopes of a double success were dashed late in the afternoon when he was forced into retirement in the second race of the day.

In his first season in the premier class of the BTCC, Pyper is competing in the Independents Class of the prestigious series, for private teams running Touring Cars against the might of the manufacturer squads. He leaves Brands Hatch lying second in the Independents drivers championship, but if it hadn't been for a mechanical problem, he could have taken the points lead.

"At the end of the day we are here to win the Independents, and that's what we did today," said Pyper, from Blairgowrie in Perthshire. "We're trying to dominate the category and we're doing well, the team are still learning the car, the pit stops and the strategy, and we're all working hard to get good results.

"My pitstop in the first race was awesome to be honest, the guys did a great job. It was quick, clean - no problems at all. The car was good, we still have a few areas to improve, but in general it is fantastic. I'm pleased to win - we just needed to do the same again in the second race."

"The second race was a disappointment - we were on for two Independents wins this weekend but it seems the drive shaft broke. I made an awesome start, but just chose to go the wrong way in the pack. I went left but should really have gone to the inside and lots of people tried to batter me off into the gravel.

"I got myself composed, went past a Peugeot, was closing on the leading Independent runner, everything was going well and then bang - race over. We would have definitely been on for two Independent wins, and should definitely have been leading the championship.

"When the car is running well we are quickest Independent. There are a few things we need to do to get up there with the works teams, but they have more money than us! We need some good solid weekends where we can finish both races."