BTCC FINALE @ BRANDS HATCH // QUALIFYING REPORT

While all attention was on championship rivals Turkington, Giovanardi and Plato,Tom Chilton stole the show in qualifying to record Ford’s best starting spot of the season taking pole for race one of the final BTCC meeting of the year at Brands Hatch.

Chilton who’s fastest lap records Ford’s first pole in the series since 2000 said “Its fantastic to put the Ford name back at the front, I just hope we can hang on tomorrow and maybe score a win."

The battle for the 2009 championship gained further intrigue as Jason Plato will line up along side Chilton on the front row with Fabrizio Giovanrdi starting in third spot . Series leader Colin Turkington endured yet another frustrating session and will line up tenth for the first of Sunday’s races around the Brands Hatch GP circuit. Colin who as championship leader was carrying 45kg of success ballast commented “I am not too concerned as we have seen over the last few meetings that the front wheel drive cars have the edge over us in qualifying but we come on strong in race trim... [read more]

Giovanardi’s 3rd place grid spot was all the more impressive as the Italian ended free practice two in the gravel at Graham Hill bend after just 3 laps, Gio commented that with the car set up for the GP circuit the overall balance was much different around the familiar “Indy” part of the circuit which led to his mistake at the downhill left hander.

So all is set for the conclusion of the 2009 Championship with a bumper crowd expected through the gates at the Kent circuit. Turkington has work to do but as he should be able to make up some places away from the line over the front wheel drive cars around him he still has the advantage over his two rivals.

HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship @ Brands Hatch // Qualifying Results:

1 10 I Tom Chilton Ford Focus ST 1m33.159s 11 -- 88.91mph
2 3 I Jason Plato Chevrolet Lacetti 1m33.180s 13 +0.021s 88.89mph
3 1 Fabrizio Giovanardi Vauxhall Vectra 1m33.183s 14 +0.024s 88.89mph
4 5 Matt Neal Vauxhall Vectra 1m33.367s 9 +0.208s 88.71mph
5 77 Andrew Jordan Vauxhall Vectra 1m33.415s 14 +0.256s 88.67mph
6 2 I Mat Jackson Chevrolet Lacetti 1m33.618s 15 +0.459s 88.47mph
7 12 I Jonathan Adam BMW 320si E90 1m33.645s 16 +0.486s 88.45mph
8 11 I Robert Collard BMW 320si E90 1m33.731s 14 +0.572s 88.37mph
9 29 I Paul O'Neill Honda Integra 1m33.752s 14 +0.593s 88.35mph
10 4 I Colin Turkington BMW 320si E90 1m33.805s 11 +0.646s 88.30mph

Photo/Editorial: Neil Tozer