Snetterton race 2: Giovanardi takes win

Fabrizio Giovanardi has won the second of today’s three Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship rounds at the Snetterton circuit in Norfolk.

Italian Giovanardi, driving a Vauxhall Vectra, passed early leader Gordon Shedden’s Team Halfords Honda Civic and stayed in first position to the end.

Shedden retired in the closing stages, leaving his team-mate, the reigning champion Matt Neal, to finish second after starting back in 18th position. Neal also set the race’s fastest lap during his drive through the order.

Third was series leader, SEAT’s Jason Plato whose advantage over Giovanardi at the top of the table is now down to 16 points heading into today’s third race which is scheduled to start at 15.20 with live terrestrial television coverage on ITV1.

The race was disrupted by two safety car periods, the first after Fiona Leggate’s Kartworld MG dramatically flew up in the air in a start line collision with Chris Stockton’s BTC Racing Lexus.