Victory for Giovanardi in race 1

Fabrizio Giovanardi has won the first of today’s (Sunday) three title-deciding Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship rounds at the Thruxton circuit in Hampshire.

Vauxhall driver Giovanardi finished ahead of title rival, SEAT’s Jason Plato who took second. Heading into this afternoon’s second race, Plato now leads the championship by the reduced margin of just five points over Giovanardi.

Plato had been on course to finish the race in fourth but both of Giovanardi’s team-mates Tom Chilton and Alain Menu suffered punctured tyres in the final moments. Plato’s own team-mate Darren Turner also suffered a similar plight.

Taking third at the line was Team Halfords Honda driver Gordon Shedden. But Menu struggled home in fourth to give Vauxhall valuable points in its fight with SEAT for the Manufacturers’ title in which the UK make has extended its lead to seven points.

In the Teams’ championship, Vauxhall’s VX Racing squad has closed to within 38 points of SEAT Sport UK.

In the Independents title race, Colin Turkington has taken over the lead in his Team RAC BMW. He finished the race as the highest-placed privateer as previous leader Mike Jordan retired in his Team Eurotech Honda Integra. Turkington now leads Jordan by 12 points who is himself just seven ahead of BMW driver Mat Jackson.