VX Racing dominates at BTCC season opener

VX Racing got off to a fantastic start to the 2008 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season at Brands Hatch, Kent, today, when the reigning BTCC Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ Champion took home two race wins, paving its way to defend its titles.

Race one
Fabrizio Giovanardi started race one from second spot on the grid and following a slow start he fought his way back to close in on race leader Mat Jackson in the BWM 320si.

With changeable weather conditions, the reigning BTCC Champion closed the gap to Jackson and took advantage following a mistake by the BMW driver going into Druids. The Italian kept a clear head, taking the chequered flag in his Vectra VXR to take victory.

Team-mates Matt Neal and Tom Onslow-Cole had an action-packed race, fighting for positions as the rain fell throughout with VX Racing’s title rivals. Neal finished the race in fifth place, with Onslow-Cole coming home in seventh position.

Race two
Despite running with 45kg success ballast following his win in race one, Giovanardi went off to a great start to dominate race number two from start to finish.

Following a spin on lap seven of Robert Collard’s BMW 320si in Paddock Hill Bend, the safety car was deployed. Racing commenced on lap 12, with Giovanardi maximising his advantage at the re-start to take a well-earned second victory.

Meanwhile, VX Racing’s Matt Neal and Tom Onslow-Cole had a close-fought battle, until rising star Onslow-Cole ‘squeezed’ through going into Druids on lap 17 to take sixth position.

Race three

Fabrizio Giovanardi #1
“What a great way to start the season with a win. I had a very good battle with Mat Jackson in the BMW, he had a better start than me but I managed to catch up with him.

“When I was close to him he made a mistake coming into Clearways and I passed him on the inside. I really look forward to the second race now.”

Matt Neal #4
“I was punted off into the grass at the start and I damaged the front splitter on my Vectra VXR. Despite that the car was absolutely fabulous. When it started to rain it was great to drive and I felt much more confident compared to our opponents.

“I actually wanted it to rain a bit more and maybe with five more laps to go we could have climbed a few more places. I’m very happy with fifth, it gives us a great platform for the second race.”

Tom Onslow-Cole #10
“It’s good to take points in my debut for VX Racing but I had a lot of problems with back markers throughout the race. I usually enjoy driving in these conditions, but today couldn’t really make most of them. Despite the car feeling good it dropped away slightly towards the end of the race, but it was fairly consistent throughout.”