Thompson shines as others slide

James Thompson became the seventh different winner from seven races in this season’s BTCC, as he took victory in an action packed opening race at a soaking Donington Park, ahead of Andrew Jordan and championship leader Matt Neal.

Thompson led almost the entire race to hand Team Dynamics their first victory of 2009, taking victory from Jordan, who recorded his best ever BTCC finish, with Neal rounding out the podium after a storming drive to recover from a first lap off.

In wet conditions, Thompson made a good start to run side-by-side with pole sitter Jordan down the Craner Curves, moving into the lead as they exited the Old Hairpin at the bottom of the circuit.

Behind them Rob Collard made an excellent start to challenge the leaders, securing third as Harry Vaulkhard got sideways on the first run through Redgate.

With conditions described as “treacherous” by Paul O’Neill, it was a surprise to see only one car disappear off the track on the opening lap, and it was that of series leader Neal at the Old Hairpin.

This triggered an excellent comeback drive from Neal, who rapidly made his way through the field, as did his teammate Fabrizio Giovanardi, who was up to ninth from the back row of the grid by the fifth lap.

Onto the fifth tour and Giovanardi passed Stephen Jelley, but as Neal tried to follow suit around the outside of Hollywood, the Team RAC BMW moved across to block and contact was made, with Jelley being fired off to the outside of the circuit and heavy contact with the concrete wall.

The appearance of the safety car for a lap cut Thompson’s lead, but the Yorkshireman made comfortable work of the re-start, pulling away from nearest challengers Jordan, Collard, Vaulkhard and Colin Turkington.

Neal was soon past Turkington, albeit provoking a nervous moment for the VX Racing management as he briefly ran Giovanardi onto the grass as they crossed the start finish line, while pulling out to pass the BMW.

The second Team RAC car wasn’t going much further however, with Turkington spinning off at Coppice in a melee as the pack bunched up when Adam Jones briefly got past Giovanardi.

Ahead Thompson was comfortably extending his lead from Jordan, while the second Vectra of Neal passed Vaulkhard and Jason Plato who were indulging in some synchronised sliding at Redgate.

The next target of Neal’s charge was Collard, who he passed for the final podium spot on lap 12 at McLeans, as the race order settled down.

There was one final change to come though, as a good scrap between Jonathan Adam, O’Neill, Plato and Giovanardi ended with the Honda Integra in the gravel at Coppice.

On the penultimate lap the Techspeed driver had moved across to the inside to block Adam, but contact was made and an impressive drive in difficult conditions by O’Neill was curtailed early.

Behind the three podium finishes Collard took fourth, with Vaulkhard taking a best every fifth position as all three Chevrolet Lacetti’s finished in the top ten.

Third for Neal extends his championship lead to 16 points from non-finisher Turkington, with reigning champion Giovanardi a further eight points back on 50.

Meanwhile Dan Eaves bad luck from Thruxton continued, after the engine in his SEAT Leon exploded during Saturday’s first practice session, forcing the Cartridge World Carbon Zero Racing driver onto the sidelines for the rest of the weekend.