Fabrizio Giovanardi wants better luck

Fabrizio Giovanardi says a reversal of fortune is required at Snetterton this Sunday (29 July) if he’s to take a chunk out of Jason Plato’s sizeable Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship lead. Giovanardi endured a dismal time at Donington Park eight days ago when his Vauxhall Vectra’s windscreen wipers twice packed up in the rain and he slipped 25 points behind Plato who stormed to a pair of victories.

The Italian, who’d already spent the first half of the season clawing back a similar gap to SEAT driver Plato, knows that with just four meetings left he needs luck to smile on him at Snetterton.

Last week he was back at Donington testing his Vectra which, with strong high-speed characteristics, should be in formidable form along Snetterton’s long Senna and Revett straights.

He said: “I’m confident for Snetterton and we can’t afford to lose more points, but then again anything can happen as we saw at Donington.

“Jason Plato had a string of good luck, but I hope this will turn around and we will have the good luck now.

“Last year was a difficult weekend for us at Snetterton and I only had one finish, which was a third place, but I will be really focused to achieve the best.”

While Vauxhall remained on top of the Manufacturers’ table at Donington, its VX Racing squad lost the lead of the Teams’ championship to SEAT Sport UK. But like Giovanardi, his team-mate Tom Chilton is determined to put VXR back in front in both title races.

The 22-year-old Briton, who also suffered a tough time at Donington, added: “I hope the curse has been lifted and hopefully we will be back on track for the rest of the season. I learnt a lot at Donington in terms of the car’s new set-up.

“Snetterton is my favourite circuit as it’s a great combination of twisty corners and fast straights. It’s a circuit where you can really tell the bad drivers from the good. I get a real buzz when I drive there and I believe I still hold the un-official lap record from a couple of years ago.”