Gavin Pyper claimed Independents Cup victory in rounds seven and eight of the 2003 British Touring Car Championship at Silverstone today, bringing his victory tally this season to five, and catapulting the young Scot into the championship lead. Before Silverstone Pyper had declared his intention to aim for a double victory - and he pulled it off on style,

The 23-year-old Scot had taken pole position for the first race, and such was his domination that he led his class all the way in both races, and was a star of the live TV coverage, dicing with the manufacturer teams for much of both 25-lap events in his GA Motorsport Vauxhall Astra. In the opening race he brought his car home sixth overall.

“That wasn’t the easiest of races,” said Pyper after his opening win. “I always seemed to be battling with someone. I made a pathetic start, then it was hard work trying to get past Paul O’Neill in the Vauxhall – and once I did the leaders were long gone. I got O’Neill down the inside at Copse, a move I planned way back.

“It’s good to get another win, and I just need to do the same in the second race and we will be laughing.”

His prediction came true as, despite having to work harder to finish seventh overall, and take his second class win of the day. A strong start saw Pyper running as high as fourth overall in the early laps, again the TV cameras focussing on him as he battled the big-budget factory cars in his privately-entered Astra.

“It was good to get the double points,” said Pyper. “The first race was great - the car was great and we were great - but in the second I think we had a few small problems, maybe with the tyres. The car wasn’t good in the second half of the race and I was glad to see the end of it!

“We are now leading the championship by 15 points which is good, we just have to keep scoring doubles.”