Gavin Pyper took his third 2003 British Touring Car Championship Independents Cup victory of the season in round five of the championship at Thruxton, Hampshire, today. In a superb race for the 23-year-old Scot, Gavin brought his GA Motorsport Vauxhall Astra home sixth overall, leading home a number of the big-budget factory entries.

With his team based at the high-speed Thruxton circuit, Gavin was looking forward to the race, and stunned the BTCC regulars by posting sixth quickest time overall in the first of Sunday’s Free Practice sessions. In the all-important 20-minute qualifying session, he was sixth quickest, a position that disappointed Gavin after his pace of the morning.

In the opening race he emerged from a first lap melee that eliminated several cars, to run in fifth for much of the early laps. After the compulsory pit stops he lost a place to a works Honda, but was well clear of his nearest Independents Cup rival an easily took the win in that category.

“I had a touch with another car exiting the first corner,” explained Gavin, “but I either had the choice of driving onto the grass or holding my position. It was a good race, I was on my own for a while and the works Honda only got past when I made a mistake.”

A highlight of Gavin’s race was twice going past works cars on the entry to the high-speed Church corner – one of the quickest in British motorsport.

“Church was good for me,” confirmed Gavin, “I was able to commit to the inside through there, and if you do that then the car on your outside knows they have to let you have the corner or they have a good chance of ending up on the grass. Apart from the first lap it was good clean racing, we aim to do the same in the second race.”

Sadly, Gavin’s ambition of recording his first double victory of the year proved beyond him as his car refused to fire up on the grid for round six of the BTCC.

“The car simply wouldn’t start on the grid,” explained Gavin. “I went to start the engine at the one minute board, and it wouldn’t fire up – and that was it.

“After being so strong in the first race, another Independents win was on for us. I’m determined to take two wins at a meeting – but it wasn’t to happen here.”

Next Races: Silverstone, Northants, June 8.