Turkington takes narrow win ahead of Jackson

Colin Turkington won the third and final race of the British Touring Car Championship 2008 premiere. The Brit had a very hard fight with Mat Jackson who took second place ahead of Matt Neal.
“I had a lot of pressure during the entire race but the fight with Jackson was good. The weekend started terribly but I am delighted now,” said Turkington.

Mike Jordan held pole position but could not defend his position in to the first corner from the fast starting BMW of Turkington. Another very fast starting BMW was the one of Jackson who made it up to second place in after the first corner, taking the outside line of Jordan.

But the race very quickly calmed as the safety car was brought out. Tom Onslow-Cole had a very big crash with Gordon Shedden. Onslow-Coloe’s Vauxhall was destroyed while Shedden could continue.

The accident was caused by Jason Plato trying to squeeze past the both on the inside. There was not room for three cars and Plato touched Shedden who slid in to Onslow-Cole. The SEAT-driver commented the incident live from his car to the ITV-live broadcast.

“I got a good exit while two guys in front did not. I went left to sneak past but there was not enough room and we touched very slightly,” said Plato.

Another victim of the first lap was SEAT-driver Darren Turner. He got pushed off the track in turn two by Shedden and got stuck in the gravel.

The restart lasted not a complete lap before the safety car was brought out again. Again Shedden was involved as he tried to go around the outside of Adam Jones. Shedden retired after touching the tyre wall and Jones had to change tyre because of a puncture.

Neal enjoyed his first podium finish for Vauxhall. The previous Honda-driver had a hard fight with Mike Jordan and could finally get past after a very smooth move coming in to the final corner.
“It was a very smooth move, Jordan is a hard man to get past. I am delighted with third place,” said Neal.

But all eyes were on the fight for the lead and it was not until the very last corner of the last lap things got to the limit of edge. Jackson was noticeably quicker than Turkington and launched his BMW on the outside of the final corner. Turkington made his BMW very wide and Jackson was briefly on the grass out on to the start/finish straight.
“I tried several times. I tried around the outside but Colin did what I expected him to do and I think it was fair. I am happy with second though,” said Jackson.

Next up for the British Touring Car Championship is Rockingham in two weeks!