Second win of the day for Giovanardi

Jason Plato and Fabrizio Giovanardi will go into today’s final round of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship dramatically separated by just one point. Vauxhall driver Giovanardi has just won the second of the day’s three races at Thruxton, Hampshire to add to his victory in race one. Finishing second, just as in race one, was SEAT driver Plato.

Their cars twice made contact while fighting for the lead and at one stage were completely off the road, but Giovanardi held on to win.

It effectively means that whichever of them finishes ahead in race three will be crowned the new 2007 BTCC Champion. The race is due to start at 4.20pm and will be shown live on television on the ITV1 channel.

Fittingly, outgoing champion Matt Neal finished the second race third in his Team Halfords Honda Civic after also challenging for the victory.

Finishing fourth as the highest-placed privateer was Team RAC BMW driver Colin Turkington and he is now the provisional Independents Champion.

SEAT Sport UK is also provisionally the Teams’ champion, but the battle to win the Manufacturers’ crown – between Vauxhall and SEAT – will come down to the final round.