Photo: BTCC media

Jonathan Adam wins on debut

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Jonathan Adam cruised to his first ever BTCC victory on his debut appearance in the Series, taking Airwaves BMW’s second victory of the day, in race three at Brands Hatch. Behind Adam, pole man Jason Plato just held on to second place ahead of Matt Neal and Colin Turkington while reigning champion Fabrizio Giovanardi continued his day to forget after retiring with accident damage.

Both Adam and Plato had made excellent starts, with the Chevrolet leading the BMW all the way around lap one until the pair entered the braking zone at Paddock Hill Bend.

Nose to tail, Adam nudged the Lacetti, sending Plato sideways across the track and forcing a remarkable save from the 2001 BTCC champion, who managed to correct the slide and hold onto second position while behind the pack bunched up.

In the ensuing chaos, Stephen Jelley tried to go down the inside of race two winner Rob Collard into Graham Hill Bend, only to find the door firmly shut, which sent the two BMWs across the track and into the path of Giovanardi. Jelley was out on the spot, with Giovanardi also eventually forced out thanks to the damage sustained.

Adam then pulled away, extending the lead that he’d never relinquish, while behind him Gordon Shedden began to pressurise Plato. Further back the hard charging pair of Neal and Turkington made their way past Dan Eaves, with the VX Racing driver using his trademark move under braking at Clearways to get past the SEAT Leon.

Plato earned respite from Shedden as Neal and Turkington closed up on the Scot, forcing him to concentrate on his mirrors, until once again the Vauxhall and BWM found their way past.

Neal immediately closed onto the back of Plato but couldn’t find a way past the Lacetti over the last three laps as the Chevrolet, Vauxhall and BMW ran nose to tail. Ahead of them Adam sealed his first every BTCC victory by over three seconds, completing a memorable day for Kent based Motorbase, which saw the teams first and second ever victories in the championship.

Turkington took fourth behind Neal, while Shedden held off the Cartridge World Carbon Zero Racing duo of Dan Eaves and Adam Jones, for fifth, with Collard, Harry Vaulkhard and Martyn Bell rounding out the top ten.

Neal’s third podium of the day ensured he leaves Brands Hatch in the lead of the BTCC on 38 points, with Turkington in second on 32 points, three points ahead of Collard.