VX Racing set for Snetterton
The HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship makes a welcome return to the track next weekend after its seven week summer break. The series arrives at the Snetterton Circuit in Norfolk for the sixth race weekend of the season, kicking off the second half of the 2009 calendar. Reigning Champions VX Racing will be back on track and gunning for victory with Matt Neal and Fabrizio Giovanardi still firmly in the hunt for the driver’s title. Young gun Andrew Jordan will also be pushing for points and victories in a bid to maintain VX Racings hold on the Teams’ and the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ championships. With VX Racing keen to maintain momentum into the second half of the year, the team took part in two official series tests at Snetterton and Rockingham. On a day which was hampered by rain and red flags, the Vauxhall of Giovanardi topped the times at Snetterton, closely followed by Jordan in third place and Neal in sixth. The second outing at Rockingham also saw Giovanardi on the pace with a quickest time of third, Neal fifth and Jordan ninth.
Until the most recent round at Croft Neal had led the championship standings. The Worcestershire driver says of Snetterton, “We’ll have nine kilos less success ballast as we’re not leading the championship and that will make a small difference, but at Snetterton I think all the major players – BMWs, Hondas, Chevys and ourselves will be in the frame so it could be anyone’s game. There’s always plenty of close, rough racing at this track but we’ll just have to roll our sleeves up and get in the thick of it. I didn’t have a good test here recently but it was better at Rockingham, so I’m feeling quite buoyant. It will be tough to get the lead back here. I think it will go to the wire at Brands Hatch.”
Reigning drivers’ champion Giovanardi won’t be sitting back and letting Neal take the spoils without a fight however. The double champion is now only four points behind in third place and is fired up to take his third consecutive title, “I’m sure I can win the championship again, there’s no discussion on that. I’m only racing to win, not to come second or third, so I’ll just need to be quicker than everyone else. Although I was top of the time sheets in testing I still wasn’t happy. We had hoped to do hot weather testing but the rain ruined those plans. I would definitely prefer it to be raining at Snetterton as we know we are quick in the wet. Typical English weather, that’s what I would like for the next race weekend.”
The first half of the season has proved a steep learning curve for youngster Jordan, who is still chasing his elusive first win. The 20 year old from Lichfield became the youngest ever BTCC pole sitter and scored several podium finishes, but admits victories are the aim. Jordan says, “The test at Snetterton went really well for us, I think if the conditions are the same as they were at the test, cold and wet, then we are in with a good shot. I’m certainly looking to be on the front row in qualifying, especially as I have no success ballast. A lot of drivers don’t usually enjoy Snetterton, but I quite enjoy driving it and I’ve always gone well there so I’m really looking forward to the race weekend.”
The Snetterton round of the BTCC takes place on the 1st/2nd August with practice and qualifying on Saturday, before the first of three races start at midday on Sunday.
