Reigning BTCC champion Fabrizio Giovanardi made it two wins from two at Brands Hatch. Starting from pole position, the VX Racing driver enjoyed a relatively straightforward run, leading from lights to flag.

“I didn’t expect to be so fast but I’m really happy”, said Giovanardi following his second win of the day. “It’s difficult to say what exactly we changed on the car to make the difference, but there has been improvements all round. Carrying ballast made some difference, but I was still able to pull away fairly easily. I will be starting from ninth on the grid in the next race so it will be a case of keeping an eye on the first corner because anything can happen."

The opening laps saw the top seven drivers running together as the success ballast on Giovanardi’s Vectra looked to be taking its toll. However, Giovanardi’s pace was enough to hold out until lap five when the safety car was deployed. Rob Collard found himself entrenched in the Paddock Hill gravel trap after a knock from behind from Team RAC driver Stephen Jelley. The Motorbase Performance BMW was deemed to be in a dangerous position, despite coming to a rest before the barrier on the outside of the first corner.

At the restart, Giovanardi was able to open up a gap as Mat Jackson slipped from second to fourth, being passed by Gordon Shedden and Jason Plato. That was how the podium positions remained through to the chequered flag, but there was still plenty of action to come further down the order.

Colin Turkington, Mike Jordan and Adam Jones scrapped over eighth position, while Tom Onslow-Cole got the better of his more experienced Vauxhall teammate, Matt Neal, claiming sixth spot at Druids on lap 17.

What started as a very promising weekend for local team Motorbase Performance quickly went from bad to worse during race two. As if Collard’s off was not enough, he was joined in retirement by teammate Steven Kane. On lap 18 of 27, Kane was defending from Mike Jordan going into the start-finish straight when the John Guest Racing driver tagged the back end of the BMW, turning him round and sliding him into the pitwall. Fortunately Kane emerged just a little shaken from the impact, but the subframe on his new-for-2008 car was damaged, meaning he would be unable to take part in the day’s third race.

There was one last battle to resolve in the closing stages of the race, with Colin Turkington and Tom Chilton fighting it out for eighth position. Turkington passed the Team Halfords driver going into Surtees, but Chilton tried to defend, only to carry too much speed into Clark Curve. It sent the Civic into the side of the BMW, damaging Chilton’s suspension. Turkington lost time but held his position.

At the chequered flag, Fabrizio Giovanardi, Gordon Shedden and Jason Plato filled the podium positions, ahead of Mat Jackson and Darren Turner. Vectra pairing Matt Neal and Tom Onslow-Cole were sixth and seventh respectively, while Colin Turkington, Mike Jordan and Adam Jones completed the top ten.