SEAT’s not race favourites: Giovanardi

Vauxhall’s reigning Champion Fabrizio Giovanardi believes the extra torque generated by rivals Jason Plato’s and Darren Turners’ SEAT Leon TDIs makes them favourites to set the pace in qualifying at Thruxton but not necessarily in race trim on Sunday.

Giovanardi, a master of the high-speed Hampshire track with four wins there in 2007, says provided Plato and Turner get clear runs in qualifying then their Leons’ turbo-diesel engines will make it difficult to beat them to pole position.

The Italiani, taking a break from tending to his garden at home in Modena, told BTCC.net: “Provided they get a clear lap in qualifying they will be difficult to beat. But the races I think could be different… the SEAT’s engine means it has a lot more weight at the front and, as we all know, Thruxton really kills the tyres.

“Remember last year, my two team-mates and Turner’s SEAT had front tyres puncture and now the SEATs have extra weight. I think they will have to be very cautious how they set up the cars and drive them over a race distance. I don’t think they will be able to use the tyres to the maximum in the races.

“Maybe the punctures my team-mates (Alain menu and Tom Chilton) had were because of their driving styles. They are perhaps aggressive with the car but I have quite a smooth driving style so hopefully this will be good for me.”

Giovanardi, who won his 2007 title at Thruxton by pipping Plato in the most dramatic of season finales, said he found it difficult to explain why he has been able to get to grips with the calendar’s fastest circuit so quickly. Even his team-mate matt Neal, the champion in 2005 and 2006, has only ever won once before at the track.

Similarly why he appears to be a maestro on slick tyres in light rain – it was in damp conditions at Donington that he came through for his third win of the season. He is the only driver to have won more than once so far in 2008.

Giovanardi added: “I can’t explain it because it is coming naturally. Maybe one of my strengths is that I can get used to the speeds and the levels of grip quickly so that is why I enjoyed the four victories in 2007. Ultimately, your limit is coming from your mental approach. You cannot control that. This makes the difference. It is coming from your mind and your body.”

Source: www.btcc.net