Interview with champion Giovanardi

Italian Fabrizio Giovanardi secured the title for Vauxhall in the British Touring Car Championship 2007. Recently Giovanardi was featured in an interview at the official website of the BTCC. Among other things the Italian speaks about his title fight with SEAT-driver Jason Plato.

“I think Snetterton was the turning point in the season. Inside the car, inside me, there was no way Jason Plato was going to beat me this time. I think Jason’s mistake was to come across the track towards me to try to shut me out because I had momentum on him from the previous corner,” said Giovanardi to BTCC.net.

“But it meant I was prepared for it and now I can say something quite strange – the grass in the UK is very abrasive! Our cars were both off the track but always I was in control. There was still enough grip. When the contact came and continued there was a tremendous feeling inside me to stay in front. He was not coming in front of me. I couldn’t let this happen.”

“I tell you, I was very happy when I got out of the car. I had beaten him in all three races on that day. Psychologically, this was really important for me and my team. Just look at it now – I won the title by three points. If he had pushed me behind in that race, he would have gained two more points and I would have lost two… it was a big moment.”

The fight between the two went on through the season. At one point during the season it looked like Plato could run away with the championship, but Giovanardi never gave up.

“After Donington, it was almost time to restart my season! But I was not panicking because I knew we still had half the season to close the same gap as we had after the first rounds at Brands in April. I knew we could do it.

“We did seven races in front of him and it was coming back to us. But even in the sixth of those races I was left feeling a bit empty inside. It was race three at Brands Hatch – near the end I was in fourth and he was eighth. We finished the race with me still in fourth but he was fifth because the three cars in front of him crashed together so still he only lost two points to me!

“Knockhill in race two it would have been eight races in a row that I had beaten him, but then I was put off the track by Tom Onslow-Cole. This was the moment in the season when I was really angry. If I had finished in front of Jason he would have had a lot pressure in race three, but again he was able to keep some distance in front.”

At Thruxton it all was decided. Plato headed the standings coming to Thruxton, and with two of the three races of the weekend run, Plato still was ahead – but only with one point.

“I was alongside but behind him on the grid. I concentrated so hard on my start because I knew it was my big chance to overtake him. When I completed lap one in third and I could see him in my mirrors back in sixth I knew I probably had it.

“His car was lighter than mine on its tyres in the second half of the races but now I had the space, the chance to drive carefully and protect the tyres in case he came strong towards the end.

“The feeling when I crossed the line… it was a great feeling for me, but it was the feeling that everyone in the team had won. This was special because of what we had done with a new car and because we had twice come from a long way behind. All the work that everybody had put into the season. At the same time I felt sorry for Jason because he made winning very difficult for me and so the sensation was greater. But someone has to win and someone has to lose…”