Nothing in it for the indie trophy

It’s not just the overall title that’s tied leaving Brands Hatch, as the independent trophy is also a straight fight between Airwaves BMW’s Steven Kane, and Tech-Speed’s Paul O’Neill.

Airwaves BMW driver Steven Kane took 22 points in the independents class at the weekend to tie with Sunshine.co.uk with Tech-Speed’s Paul O’Neill on 79 points in the independents trophy standings.

Both Kane & O’Neill are also just one good race result shy of joint overall leaders and manufacturer backed drivers Matt Neal & Jason Plato – who left the Kent circuit tied on 67 points.

Airwaves BMW also head into the one month break leading both the independent teams championship, but more importantly the overall teams championship by two points from the Honda Racing Team.

Paul O’Neill looked in good stead to keep the lead in the independents championship in race three, after drawing fourth on the grid for the final race – but an engine problem forced Paul’s Honda Integra out of the race before completing the parade lap.
“I feel a bit aggrieved that we haven’t come away with more from the weekend but you have to put things in perspective. I went into that final race second in the overall standings, and could have come away from it leading the championship if the result had gone my way.”

Sunshine.co.uk with Tech-Speed also lie second in the independent teams championship, with a new order taking shape in the category, which was dominated by West Surrey Racing’s BMW’s last year and the then independent RML prepared Chevrolet’s.

BTCC Independent Drivers Standings

1 – Steven Kane – 79
2 – Paul O’Neill – 79
3 – Mat Jackson – 68
4 – Tom Onslow-Cole – 57
5 – Rob Collard – 53
6 – Tom Boardman – 45
7 – Andrew Jordan – 44
8 – Fabrizio Giovanardi – 40
9 – Tom Chilton – 35
10 – David Pinkney – 18