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Back to Donington Park then for the eleventh and twelfth rounds of the Auto Trader British Touring Car Championship. You may remember from rounds 1 & 2 that James Thompson blew the opposition away with the then-new Honda Accord. The team were proclaiming that this was to be their season. Little did they suspect that Nissan had a little something up their sleeves! Remember also how Matt Neal, a privateer won the feature race outright in his 1998 Nissan Primera GT. This was certainly an indication of things to come as Matt continues to fight at the front of the grid, almost keeping pace with this year's super-Primeras driven by Leslie and Aiello.
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Drawing provided by PA Graphics
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The BTCC weekend began in Thompson's favour! He has struggled in the middle of the grid since the first two rounds, barely competitive. It appeared that Honda had given up development while the other teams forged ahead. Things suddenly changed last Saturday as the drivers started their qualifying laps. Thompson managed to grab the front row for both races! Nissan, I am sure were shocked. To add insult to injury neither Nissan were on the front row for the sprint race as Volvo's Rickard Rydell qualified second. The spectators at Donington were certainly in for a treat.
The rest of the grid was mixed for both races. Yvan Muller (a favourite with the crowds) was sent to the back of the grid for the feature race as his Vauxhall Vectra failed the ride-height check. The same fate awaited Cleland for the sprint race. Both drivers were gutted but made up for their disappointment by storming through the field in spectacular style to achieve a 4th, 5th and 6th. Peter Kox suffered a similar disappointment as his Honda Accord failed to start at the weighing scales. He was in provisional pole, but was forced to start from the rear of the pack. He never finished the feature race after he rammed Cleland's Vectra, and only managed 7th in the sprint.
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Photograph provided by Jakob Ebrey Photography
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The first race of the day, the sprint was incident-packed as ever! Rydell sprinted away from the line to get ahead of Thompson. Jason Plato, on the third row of the grid in his Renault Laguna steamed up the middle of the Nissans. Aiello didn't see him come and tried to dive inside the Honda Accord of Thompson. Inevitably there was contact and Aiello's Primera spun into the pit-wall, resulting in the damage you can see on the left. That ended the championship leader's race and slowed everybody else down as the safety car came out for four laps. Rydell resumed his lead with Thompson, Plato and Leslie close behind.
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However, the Volvo S40 soon developed an engine problem and Rydell retired in the pits. James Thompson raced into the lead. Behind him David Leslie overtook Plato quickly and began to reel the Honda in. The Nissan was obviously quicker in most parts of the circuit but the Accord was superior in the hairpins and Thompson managed to hold onto his much-needed victory. He crossed the line only 0.613 seconds ahead of the Nissan.
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Rounds 9/10
Photograph provided by Jakob Ebrey Photography
Photograph provided by Volvo