Chilton wants SEAT beaten

Tom Chilton has vowed to channel all his efforts into helping Vauxhall beat SEAT to this year’s Manufacturers’ title in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

The British make more than doubled its lead over its Spanish rival to 29 points at Snetterton yesterday. Its VX Racing squad also effectively halved the gap to SEAT Sport UK at the top of the Teams’ standings as well, to just 12 points. VXR has the same advantage over third-placed Team Halfords.

Snetterton saw Chilton celebrate his first top three finish since Thruxton’s rounds in early May, although was annoyed with SEAT’s Jason Plato when their cars tangled and ran off the road entering the Esses in race two. Series leader Plato later clashed with Chilton’s team-mate and chief title rival Fabrizio Giovanardi in race three.

“I got spun by Jason Plato at 130mph in race two and things just didn’t get better after that. I can’t believe the bad luck I’m having,” said Briton Chilton.

“From now on, my goal is for Vauxhall to beat SEAT in the Manufacturers’ championship. It’s getting really tough now for everyone. This is a really hard championship.”

Chilton followed up his third place with a pair of eighths yesterday to stay in touch with the battle for fifth overall championship. He is currently seventh outright, just five points adrift of fifth-placed Colin Turkington.