Round 26: Giovanardi takes controversial win

Vauxhall’s Fabrizio Giovanardi has taken victory in the wet in the second race of the day, his fifth of the season, ahead of Team RAC’s Colin Turkington and Adam Jones.

Click here for full Round 26 results.

Giovanardi’s win was surrounded in controversy, however, after the Italian twice made contact with SEAT’s Darren Turner, forcing him off the track the second time. Turner would later retire from the race after spinning into the gravel at Brooklands along with Michael Doyle, bringing out the safety car.

The start of the race saw race one winner Jason Plato battling it out with Mat Jackson, the BMW driver briefly heading the pack. As the race went on however, Giovanardi caught the leading duo and survived an incident with Jackson who would eventually finish in 13th with a damaged car. This left Plato leading the race but troubles with tyre wear meant he was struggling and Giovanardi was able to slip by with ease. Plato would eventually finish in seventh place, suffering a huge blow to his championship hopes as he was unable to keep pace with the cars around him.

Colin Turkington came through to second, and first in the Independents class, with Adam Jones completing the podium. The Birmingham-based racer had a close fight with fellow Midlander Matt Neal, the two rubbing bodywork down the straights, with Neal eventually having to settle for fourth.

Steven Kane came alive late in the race to take a thoroughly deserved fifth place finish after having started from 22nd. The Ulsterman headed home the third Vauxhall of Tom Onslow-Cole in sixth, with Plato in seventh.

Gordon Shedden was eighth, Rob Collard ninth and Mike Jordan completed the top ten finishers.

Tom Chilton was a notable non-finisher after the Team Halfords driver was left with nowhere to go as Mat Jackson spun in front of him. The two made contact with Chilton being forced to retire immediately. Stephen Jelley also failed to take the chequered flag when he aggravated an old shoulder injury and couldn’t properly steer the car. He is expected to be able to start the third race of the day.