Race three report

Sun 31st May 2009 James Thompson took victory in round 12 of the 2009 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship at Oulton Park, matching Colin Turkington’s tally of three wins for the season so far. However, Matt Neal regains the lead of the championship after finishing in third position.

Thompson started the race from pole position after the top seven finishers in race two were reversed to form the grid and led away from the line. Positions were maintained at the start, with Andrew Jordan and Jonathan Adam trailing the leader.

In contrast to Jonny Adam, Rob Collard, in the second of the Airwaves BMWs, started from the back of the grid. Collard started as he meant to go on in the final race of the day and climbed to 12th position, from 20th, by the end of the opening lap.

Adam and Collard’s opposite fortunes continued when Adam was turned around after contact from Matt Neal at the Island hairpin on lap four. Hopes of a podium finish were dashed as the BMW dropped out of the top ten.

At the front, Thompson eased away from Andrew Jordan, who now had VX Racing teammate Matt Neal behind him in third. Winner of the first two races, Colin Turkington was running seventh with a third of the race completed.

Meanwhile, Collard’s impressive run continued. On lap four, he passed Stephen Jelley at Knickerbrook to go tenth. Jonny Adam’s demise made that ninth and then a pass on Paul O’Neill at Cascades on lap six meant he was up to eighth. Colin Turkington was the next target and it wasn’t long before Collard claimed that spot, too. There was contact between the pair as they ran down to Hislop’s on lap seven, but it was Collard who emerged with the position.

Lap eight saw Collard pass Adam Jones’ Cartridge World SEAT at the Island hairpin to move up to sixth. Fabrizio Giovanardi, Jason Plato and Matt Neal now stood between Collard and a remarkable podium finish. Giovanardi and Plato were duly despatched at Island and Old Hall respectively, leaving Collard with three and a half laps to close down and pass Neal.

The Airwaves BMW was flying and soon caught the Vauxhall. Collard made a couple of attempts to pass at the Island hairpin and at Old Hall, but his efforts were in vain. With just a couple of laps remaining, Neal was able to drive a wide Vectra around the Cheshire circuit and denied Collard what would have been a remarkable visit to the podium.

Back at the front, Thompson cruised to victory, ahead of Andrew Jordan. Neal, of course, was third and Collard fourth. Fifth went to Jason Plato, ahead of Fabrizio Giovanardi in sixth. Adam Jones was seventh, Mat Jackson eighth and Paul O’Neill ninth. Alan Morrison was tenth in a repeat of his race two result, doubling his points tally.

After takign victory, James Thompson said, "That just shows what teamwork can do. The boys have worked hard this weekend and they gave me an outstanding car in that race. We lost out in qualifying but we always thought we would have strong race pace. It's fantastic when it comes together and it's great to have got two wins at Donington and another one here. We just need to see if we can keep the roll going now."

Heading to Croft in two weeks’ time, Matt Neal leads the championship by two points (111) from Colin Turkington (109). Fabrizio Giovanardi is third (92) and Jason Plato fourth (87). Rob Collard is fifth (78).