You Are Here > Home > Triple Jump For Joy As Seat Sport UK Leads The BTCC
SEAT Sport UK celebrated the start of the 2006 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship in magnificent style, by winning all three races at Brands Hatch yesterday (Sunday 9th April). James Thompson leads the Drivers��� Championship after winning Rounds 1 and 2, while Jason Plato���s engineers worked wonders to repair his new Leon after it was damaged in Race 1, enabling him to win the third and final race of the day. SEAT currently leads both the British and the FIA World Touring Car Championships.
James recovered from a poor start in Race 1 when he dropped from 3rd on the grid to 6th, only to charge back and win the race by 1.320 seconds. Jason also had a bad start, but fought back and was lying 4th when he was hit from behind by Fabrizio Giovanardi on the tenth lap. The impact broke his car���s rear suspension, forcing him out of the race.
James started Race 2 from pole, with 45 kg of success ballast on board, but eventually beat Colin Turkington to the chequered flag. Jason started from 14th place on the grid in a car that had undergone some rapid repairs. Time had run out for the team to complete the set-up, but despite this Jason set the fastest lap of the race to finish in 5th position.
A new rule for 2006 sees the winner of the day���s second race draw to decide who will start Race 3 from pole. James randomly selected number seven, meaning the top seven drivers from Race 2 started Race 3 in reverse order. Jason made a fantastic start and took the lead soon into the race. An accident involving Matt Neal brought out the red flags, meaning that the race was stopped two laps early with Jason declared the winner. James drove an intelligent and steady race to finish 6th, ensuring more valuable points for SEAT in the BTCC Manufacturers��� title race.
Jason said: “This has been a phenomenal race weekend for the team. It could have been better for me personally had Giovanardi not hit me, but winning the third race was great. I���m confident that we have a good package to really challenge for the title.”
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