Thompson becomes a repeat winner

It has taken eight races, but at last in 2009 the British Touring Car Championship has a double winner, in the shape of James Thompson, who added a dry victory in round eight to his earlier wet win in round seven.

Despite carrying maximum ballast, Thompson managed to hold off the challenge of championship leader Matt Neal, who finished second, one place ahead of VX Racing teammate Fabrizio Giovanardi.

In dry conditions far removed from those of race one, the Team Dynamics driver led from lights to flag, surviving the first corner attentions of a fast starting Rob Collard, who held second place in the early stages.

As in the earlier race the safety car made an early appearance after Nick Leason’s BMW became beached in the gravel at the first corner, a turn which also see Paul O’Neill and Martyn Johnson coming together in the middle of the pack.

Thompson once again made a perfect re-start from behind the safety car, with Collard having to defend from Neal, who slid past at the Old Hairpin, before the Airwaves BMW was tagged by Neal’s Vauxhall teammate Andrew Jordan.

Collard spun back across the pack, delaying some and forcing Harry Vaulkhard onto the grass on the outside of the Schwantz Curve, while Jordan only lasted until McLeans before pulling parking at the side of the circuit with damage to his front left.

In the chaos Giovanardi took advantage to move up in to fourth past Matt Jackson, while a couple of laps later the Italian was onto the podium when he passed Jonathan Adam.

Ahead Neal was pressuring Thompson, but to no avail as the Civic driver drove a perfect, mistake free race to take his second win of the weekend.

Adam then lost a further place as Jason Plato forced his way past on the run down to the Old Hairpin, on his way to fourth place, while Colin Turkington and Jackson also found their way past at McLeans, going on to finish fifth and sixth, ensuring that the top six finishers were all winners in this seasons championship!

The Airwaves BMW driver held onto seventh, with Adam Jones having a quiet race to eight ahead of a recovering Collard in ninth.

After his earlier off Vaulkhard managed to salvage tenth, a position which grew in importance when Donington Park boss Simon Gillett drew the number ten in the post-race draw, putting the Chevrolet onto pole for the third, reverse grid race.

Speaking after the race, winner James Thompson praised the efforts of Team Dynamics, describing the victory as “just rewards” for the team, and claimed, “never say never” for a potential title challenge.

“It was pretty tough, with a little bit more pressure than in the first race. I have to say it’s nice to win in both conditions though.

The balance of the car is the best it has been all weekend, we’ll just have to keep winning some races to keep the ballast on it.”