Vauxhall trio left trailing at Snetterton

The three VX Racing drivers experienced a difficult day at Snetterton today. Matt Neal had initially qualified fourth, but had his time taken away after he was judged to have cut part of the Esses. As a result he had to settle for 9th, which was claimed using his next fastest time of the session.

Double BTCC champion, Fabrizio Giovanardi, will start from 5th on the grid, as he seeks his third championship in a row. He identified that his car was “quicker on a damp track than later when it dried out”, and so will work hard at finding how to improve the setup before Sundays opening race.

He also added that “we should be able to get in the thick of it”, which will make pleasant reading for all the BTCC fans out there who enjoy the intense, and close racing which the BTCC provides.

Matt Neal was obviously disappointed with his lowly grid position, and summed it up well by saying “it was a tough qualifying”. He will not be holding back once the lights go out for the first race tomorrow, and he added that Snetterton is often a “battle ground of very exciting, close racing”.

Neal was hoping for rain during qualifying, as “we know we’re strong in wet conditions, but it didn’t happen.”

The best of the VX Racing drivers, was youngster Andrew Jordan. He will be starting from fourth, alongside double champion James Thompson, but was hoping for more from his qualifying, “It wasn’t pole, which I thought was in my sights today, so I’m a bit disappointed” he said after the session. However, the car’s good and I’m confident we can have some good races. “I’m alongside Fabrizio for the start, so I’ll be pushing to beat him into the first corner.”