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00:00Greetings from the Thruxton circuit in Hampshire, around three and four of the British Touring Car Championship.
00:08I'll tell you, this is what it all ought to be about. Blue skies, big crowd and a very big race program.
00:13Now we've got some important changes that have been made to the format of the sprint race, more of that in a minute.
00:17We come here to Thruxton with James Thompson and Jason Plato, joint leaders.
00:21And I'll tell you what, they're both the guys to beat around here.
00:24You know, you don't just pick up trophies and championship points for finishing up the sharp end in this series.
00:31It can be fattening as well, in the form of success ballast.
00:35Now, weighting cars for success, well, that was introduced into touring cars a couple of years back.
00:40But this year, the rules are tougher than ever.
00:43Now, take James Thompson, for instance, in the Vauxhall.
00:45Now, he's carrying some serious weight ballast. We use sugar, of course, for illustrative purposes only.
00:5115 kilos. First line here for a race win, 9 kilos because he came third in the other race.
00:57So that's 24 kilos that James has got to haul around the track for one good weekend.
01:02But it gets worse than that. The top weight this year is 60 kilos.
01:06That's like hauling a passenger around.
01:08Well, here's one car that won't be carrying any weight penalties,
01:11although it is great to see that the Lexus has finally made it to the track.
01:16Very different from other touring cars, this one's rear-wheel drive.
01:22The car looks fantastic. Does it drive as well as it looks?
01:25Oh, it feels fabulous. You know, you must remember we've done,
01:28before we came here, we've done 15 laps around a little Mickey Mouse go-kart track.
01:31And to come here at Thruxton, 140 miles an hour through some of these corners, it's awesome.
01:35But she's behaving herself really well. We're really pleased.
01:38At the opening rounds at Brands Hatch, the Peugeots certainly looked the part,
01:42but even in the capable hands of the legendary Steve Soper, the cars were well off the pace.
01:47But they are trying flat-out to catch those Vauxhalls.
01:50At Brands Hatch, you were seriously losing time to Vauxhall.
01:53What steps have you taken to change that?
01:56We haven't actually tested between Brands and here, not on a track,
01:59but we've spent a lot of time in the workshop.
02:00We've had various test equipment, learning more about the suspension,
02:05and we've spent a lot of time on the dynamometer as well.
02:08We've discovered a number of things.
02:10We've got some definite improvements on the suspension,
02:12and we've discovered that we was actually losing out in between the dyno
02:17and the installation in the car with the engine.
02:20So we've found another sort of five horsepower that we'd lost in the transfer, as it were.
02:25Thruxton is an airfield circuit in the heart of Hampshire.
02:29Its main claim to fame, it's simply the fastest track in Great Britain.
02:35We've talked before about what an insanely fast-track Thruxton circuit is.
02:39But you know, every time I come here, I'm reminded.
02:42It's an exciting, but it's a slightly chilly thought.
02:45Thruxton circuit, the fastest track in the country.
02:48Church Corner, the fastest corner on any track in the UK.
02:52Drivers spend the bulk of their time running around here, north of 100 miles an hour.
02:56And you know, from that complex behind me, all the way around to the chicane and the start-finish line,
03:01they barely touch the brake, just a little confidence stab, nothing more than that.
03:06And it's worth bearing in mind, because when drivers in two classes of cars going that quickly,
03:11meet each other out the back here, if there's any misunderstanding between them,
03:15the consequences could be really major.
03:18Thruxton's great. Thruxton's very much a driver's circuit.
03:34There's all this, like, myth about, oh, can you do church flat?
03:39I lift just a little bit, I don't probably lose any time.
03:44It is flat, it can be done flat, but it's not the quickest way.
03:47The heart would say, stay flat, but the head say, no, a little bit.
03:51Thruxton doesn't just test the drivers, it gives the technology a workout, too.
03:56You've had to develop a new set of tyres to Thruxton, tell me about that.
04:01Thruxton has a special set of circumstances that the track surface is very, very grippy,
04:06and so minor modifications have been made to the tyre to give the teams the best performance possible.
04:11And when you're pushing a car to the ultimate degree,
04:13the lessons you learn there are particularly good for road tyres because of safety in the street.
04:17Improve safety by making sure that the tyre operates in the best possible circumstances in emergency situations.
04:23In other words, when something happens, like a child goes across in front of a car,
04:27and the tyre is being asked to do the most difficult job possible, turning and braking at the same time.
04:32Those are the things we learn through racing.
04:42Qualifying was another tense battle.
04:45A bit annoyed that I didn't quite string the laps together, my mistake, but one pole, you know, is good enough,
04:55I would have liked two though, but at least the main thing is for the sprint race, you know, I'm at the front.
05:01That was fabulous, I have to say. Yeah, it's nice to get the fastest lap of the whole weekend so far,
05:11but Jason just picked me for a pole in the second one.
05:20I'm delighted because I'm a lot closer than I was before in terms of time, you know, gap to the others.
05:24But I suppose you never get satisfied, still P4, so, ah.
05:33Tested here two weeks ago, and we were roughly two and a half seconds off the voxels.
05:37We've come here today and slashed the gap to 1.3 seconds, so it's really, really good.
05:42And it's also good for me because I'm learning a lot of Steve Soper, my teammate,
05:46and in that session alone, I pipped him in the one session and he pipped me in the other.
05:54It's my favourite track round here, it's a sort of speciality circuit,
05:57so I'm really, it's a matter of pride, I'm really pleased to be on pole, it's what I wanted.
06:04It was difficult, but I just love to drive and I'm just grateful to be here with my heroes
06:09and I'm just loving it, I love it, it's brilliant.
06:16I said earlier, big changes to the sprint race and this is it.
06:27A combined race between the touring cars and the production cars.
06:30Now what will happen is this, the VTC touring cars will kick off first for a 16-lap race.
06:35Twelve seconds later, the production guys who are revving up already will head off after them,
06:40but they're only doing 15 laps.
06:42That means that as we get to the closing station of this race,
06:45it will be very, very close to see who gets to the line first.
06:49Now that's the regulations and how it works.
06:51John Watson is going to tell us how to get around the track.
06:542.3 miles of trucks and let's go with Jason Plato.
06:57First corner you come to Allard, absolutely flat out.
07:01And it remains so all the way up around this long sweeping kerb.
07:05Till you come to Campbell, the first part of the complex is three corner complex,
07:09all the way down the gearbox into second gear.
07:12Cut across the kerb, then get back to the right, then back to the left as you go through Cobb.
07:16And then it's the quick sweep over the crest.
07:19Car gets all airy-fairy out to the left and center of the track.
07:22And that's Seagrave.
07:23Start to climb uphill, up through the gears.
07:25Left-hander at Noble coming here.
07:27The car is very, very light, just on the limit.
07:30You can see, look at Plato's hands and arms working.
07:33Then it's back to the right through Goodwood.
07:35Car, it's a long corner into an apex.
07:38Let the car drift all the way out to the exit.
07:41This is Village Corner, an extension of Goodwood, which then flows into Church.
07:46This is the real corner of the circuit.
07:48Do you take it flat?
07:49A slight lift from Plato.
07:51It's no slower doing that.
07:53If you try it flat, you scrub too much speed off.
07:55And then the long climb up through Brooklands, up Woodland Hill, into Club Chicane.
08:01Braking on a kerb, always difficult.
08:03People trying to go around the outside.
08:05The scene of many an incident.
08:07Up the kerb, up the kerb.
08:09And finally, a bit of mercy on the final kerb, back onto Pitch Straight.
08:16No prize for guessing why Jason was the man taking us round the track.
08:19There he is in pole position.
08:21Very close to James Thompson.
08:22Ivan Muller and Bennett block out the first two rows.
08:25Then it's Eves and Soper in the Peugeots.
08:27Then Ferrier and Pinckney in the pair of Alphas.
08:30Kurt Luby lines up as well.
08:32Last of the touring cars in the Lexus.
08:35Harrison, Moen, Kaye and O'Neill.
08:37Three Peugeots in the top four.
08:39James Kaye there in the lone Honda.
08:41Position three, second row of the grid.
08:43Very close in that class as well.
08:44Then Piper in the Alpha.
08:45Kate in the second Honda.
08:47And a pair of Ford Focuses.
08:48The lights are red.
08:49We're ready for a start.
08:50Off they go.
08:52Plato on the left.
08:53Ivan Muller.
08:54Red car straight through the centre of the screen.
08:56Gives Jason Plato a bit of a tap on the way past.
08:58Brilliant stuff from Muller and he's through.
09:00On the right hand side you can see James Thompson.
09:03Left hand side you can see Jason Plato really pushing.
09:06But that was a blinding start from the second row of the grid for Ivan Muller.
09:09Meantime brace yourself.
09:10Here comes the cavalry.
09:11It's the production.
09:12On board with Collard.
09:14Right behind James Kaye and the Honda.
09:17Screaming around Ellard's corner for the first time.
09:19Up and over the rise like a swarm of angry bees down into the complex for the first time.
09:24Kaye on the inside.
09:25He's making a move down the inside of Moen.
09:28What can he do?
09:30This is a rough old ride and there goes Boardman through.
09:34Bang.
09:35Crashed like sitting inside a garbage bin.
09:37Having it belted on the outside.
09:39Noise.
09:40Lots of contact in the opening laps.
09:41Trying to get in the draft.
09:43Meantime back at the front.
09:44It's Muller from Plato from Thompson.
09:46Steve Soper moving up into the action as well.
09:49There's Kurt Luby in the Lexus.
09:51He's passed both of the Alfels already on this opening lap.
09:53Down through Church for the first time.
09:55Screamingly fast but what an amazing start there for Ivan Muller.
09:59Quite simply Ivan Muller found a sweet spot between the clutch and the throttle.
10:03And just slotted his voxel between Plato and Thompson.
10:06No wheel spin.
10:07Maximum drive.
10:08Took the lead.
10:09Look there Jason Plato desperate to slot his voxel between Ivan Muller and the lead.
10:14As they come across the strike for the first time.
10:17Remember these boys have got to unlap themselves.
10:19These are our race leaders.
10:20There is our race leader.
10:22That's Kate on the inside of Muller.
10:24And he's tagged him and turned him around.
10:26Across the sea.
10:27It's not over yet.
10:28He's just climbing all over the front of it.
10:29Amazing stuff through the jacquette.
10:31What on earth is that all about?
10:32That's just animal.
10:33And I'll tell you what.
10:34It should be in a cage.
10:35Mullen and Kate got involved.
10:38And Kate just drove that Peugeot feather in the grass.
10:41Then he pays the penalty.
10:42Rides the guard up in the air.
10:44Well that's a photograph he'll have for his scrap broken years to come.
10:47But one he'll be very proud of.
10:48Doesn't look like a race driver.
10:49Looks more like a rotting deer.
10:51Meantime Ferrier in one of the Alphas off already.
10:54Bad luck for him.
10:55Big smoke screen.
10:56Yeah it looks like an engine problem.
10:57Could be a radiator.
10:58But I think it's more dire than that.
11:00Okay.
11:01This is the view back from Ivan Muller.
11:02We are staring down the barrel of the bonnets of Jason Plato.
11:05But not anymore.
11:06Plato's lunged down the inside and he's through.
11:09Lovely switchback.
11:10There he is.
11:11Can Muller fight back?
11:13Muller's down the inside now.
11:14This is a right hand corner.
11:16Left if you're looking backwards.
11:17Now down onto the back straight.
11:19We're on board with Plato.
11:20And he's through.
11:21Paul Jackson.
11:22They are good rally cars apparently the focusers.
11:24Scary moment again.
11:25Out in the quickest part of the circuit.
11:27That's out at Church.
11:28Sideways on the grass.
11:29Jackson comes back on track.
11:31But that certainly isn't an early morning wake up call for him.
11:34Jackson will have his eyes on springs.
11:36So is about Muller by the looks of it.
11:37There's Church Corner.
11:39Trying to scythe his way past Jason Plato.
11:41Plato hanging on to the lead.
11:42That was some pass.
11:43It certainly was.
11:44Plato took his heart in his mouth.
11:45He dived down the inside as he came into Campbell.
11:48He got himself alongside Muller.
11:49And job done.
11:50Here they are pushing each other very hard as they slide past the rolling remains of Kate's car.
11:55Plato still hanging on to the lead.
11:58Making the track as short as possible.
12:00And, uh, hi teammate.
12:01How you doing?
12:02I think it meant something like that or other.
12:03But of course racing drive as well.
12:05Known for hand gestures.
12:06On occasions gets them into trouble as well.
12:08Now here are the trio of cars actually in the race lead at the moment.
12:11Because the production cars still lead and they are all Peugeots.
12:14It's Harrison in a Peugeot.
12:15O'Neill in a Peugeot.
12:16And Boardman in a Peugeot.
12:18Through the chicane.
12:19Making it look easy at the moment is Harrison.
12:21There's O'Neill Boardman.
12:22The youngest driver out there.
12:23The youngest guy ever in touring cars.
12:25Right behind him.
12:26Collard next.
12:27Then the Ford Focus.
12:28Now Jason Plato in the meantime out the back of the circuit.
12:31And the touring car is coming under some sustained pressure from Muller.
12:35And of course Plato is trying to run down the half-lap distance between the lead car,
12:39Simon Harrison, and Plato who is leading the touring cars.
12:42From Muller making him work.
12:44This is all working very much in favour.
12:46As we join Dan Eves.
12:48As we go down to the infamous Church Corner in the Peugeot.
12:51This is all working up the front for James Thompson.
12:53Staying in third position and staying in touch.
12:55Picks the kerb.
12:57Soper.
12:58Soper to the left.
12:59Running wide through Church Corner.
13:00And that was frightening for Soper.
13:02He just didn't appear to take the corner.
13:03And I wonder is that the beginning of a tyre problem that Peugeot have had here at Thruxton in testing.
13:08On board now with David Pinckney.
13:10And he is closing up now on the back of Kurt Luby.
13:12Luby started off the back of the touring grid.
13:14And managed to get past both of the Alphas.
13:16One Alphas is out already.
13:18Luby up there in the rear wheel drive.
13:19Lexus.
13:20And David Pinckney really monstering those kerbs and coming up very close to him.
13:24Two new cars in the series still developing while racing.
13:27But making progress.
13:29Soper in.
13:30Look what the problem is there.
13:32In the meantime Harrison is making it look extremely easy.
13:35And very sensibly too.
13:37Staying well off the kerbs.
13:38Driving cleanly neatly.
13:39Not over driving.
13:40Trying to keep ahead of the pack.
13:42But mainly keep ahead of the cars that will be catching up very shortly the Touros.
13:46And that is a very scrappy pack indeed.
13:48Collard.
13:49In the yellow and black Renault.
13:51Piper right alongside him there on the Red Alpha.
13:55Streaming through Allard's corner.
13:57These three have been really, really close together.
14:00Howell they're the third of them.
14:01Down in the suitcase.
14:04Big puff of smoke there from Piper.
14:06And these two came to blows at Brands Hatch some three weeks ago.
14:09And it looks like they're still got that grudge match going.
14:12Hammer and tongs.
14:13This is the last part of the complex.
14:15They feed the power on out and run out to the back of the circuit.
14:18Where it's an extremely fast part of Thruxton track.
14:22Big puff of smoke there from the back of Jason Bader's car.
14:24They're really on tender hooks these cars under brakes.
14:27Yes, and they're trying very hard.
14:28Of course brakes standardized this year.
14:30Not the kind of Formula One technology we've ever seen.
14:32And look, Eves.
14:34It's not a replay. That's Dan Eves off.
14:36Exactly the same place as Super went off.
14:38Well, if Super came in, it didn't look like it had a problem.
14:40But Dan Eves certainly does.
14:42This is coming to Church.
14:43Watch as he turns in.
14:44Sees what happens.
14:45We've seen the result.
14:46Here's the driver's eye view.
14:51And not one of the driver wants to feel too often in Church Corridor.
14:54That tyre wall was coming up fast.
14:56He managed to control it and drag it back onto the track.
14:59Very focusing moment indeed.
15:01And Eves, there you look.
15:02Yeah, it's definitely a problem.
15:04You can see the tyre.
15:05And it's absolutely flat.
15:06In fact, it looks like the tyre is almost about to come off the rim.
15:10He's dancing.
15:12He's over there having a look.
15:14Thinking to himself, that's what happened to me.
15:16Both will send him out again.
15:17Yes, I mean, you've got to go out and put another tyre on.
15:18Just tell the driver to be careful.
15:19But the tyre will be taken away and inspected by BF Goodrich.
15:20Just to make sure it isn't a fault of a tyre.
15:21Team boss isn't happy.
15:22But what happened?
15:23I think something's got into the throttle chamber and jammed the throttle open.
15:26I don't know if that was before.
15:27That was the reason I went off or whether that was when I went off it sucked it all in.
15:31It's probably the reverse way around.
15:33It probably came after the off as I came across the grass.
15:36Such is life.
15:37Wotty?
15:38He looks remarkably calm for someone who just had the throttle jam open in Thruxton.
15:39Scary place and Steve not too keen to go back out again.
15:40Wotty to check out what that problem was.
15:42Well, it's true.
15:43Yaw, aged all the throttle chamber and jammed the throttle open and it didn't have a lot
15:44of travel in the throttle chamber and jammed the throttle open.
15:45I don't know if that was the reason I went off or whenever that was.
15:46I went off or whether that was when I went off.
15:47It sucked it all in.
15:48It was probably the reverse way around.
15:49It probably came after the off as I came across the grass.
15:54Such is life.
15:56Wotty, he looks remarkably calm for someone who just had the throttle jam open at Thruxton.
16:03Scary place.
16:04And Steve, not too keen to go back out again.
16:06Well, either that will leave it to Dan Eves to do it, the younger member of the team who is out there circulating in the other Peugeot.
16:12Now, here is that scrap and it continues. That's Boardman in the pink Peugeot and right behind him now is Collard in the Renault Clio as they make their way through Church Corner.
16:24Doesn't look quite as hairy as the touring cars leaping and bounding through there, but side by side they are.
16:30There's a chicane that they've got to negotiate, the pair of them any second now. Boardman's doing a manful job of holding him off.
16:36Collard's running around the outside of him side by side, giving him a little bit of a nipple tuck. He's actually giving him a real hip and shoulder.
16:44Oh, push me off, will you, says Boardman. Take that, mister.
16:47Well, that was a bit tough. Collard, a lot more experienced, a lot more grown up, one might say, than young Tom Boardman and he certainly gave him a hard time in the chicane.
16:55Collard, not adverse to using body contact in this form of racing.
17:00Nice stuff from the young man, Boardman. Run me off the circuit, will you? Oh, really?
17:04Now, here's the view back from Gavin Piper and that is Jason Plato in the touring car coming past us on the inside at Church Corner.
17:10Well, you see the speed differential in the corner, but in fact, down this main straight, the speed isn't so much different.
17:16That's the difference between downforce and grip.
17:20Very, very close between the pair of those cars on the long, very, very fast back straight at Thruxton.
17:26Really working those kerbs, though.
17:28Well, that Alfa Romeo got a right thrashing going across the kerbs. That doesn't do a car any good at all and it's not any quicker either.
17:34Yeah, very hard on the tyres as well, I guess, which is already an issue.
17:40Now, Jason Plato, our race leader, is coming up on Collard in the Renault as he negotiates his way through.
17:46It's Howell in the forward focus and Howell and Collard make contact going into the...
17:50Oh, and he's sliding through the infield. Broken front suspension and he was taken out again.
17:56Well, some might say that was justice, but certainly the contact going into the Campbell ended up in Seagrave.
18:02There, look at the forward focus. That's not what the Renault looks like, but front suspension is steering all over the place.
18:07Poor old Collard must be running out of corners on that Renault. It'll never get rusty, that's for sure.
18:12Tons of contact, lap after lap. That looked very rough stuff.
18:15Yeah, it is, and that's the nature of production racing right now.
18:18A little bit less roughness would probably enhance the field, make these guys' job much more difficult.
18:22They've had an open path to drive all the way through to the front.
18:25Well, talk about open paths. Here are the two race leaders. Harrison is the race leader ahead of us in the Peugeot.
18:31And Jason Plato is the touring leader and he is about to take the overall race lead with only about a handful of laps left.
18:38He's just slipped through. Jason Plato now leads the race.
18:42Yes, Harrison tried to hold him up going into Allard, but he was on the outside, the wrong part of Allard to be.
18:47Plato had the line and has taken the lead.
18:50Okay, down comes Muller and Thompson as well. That's the view back for Muller's car.
18:54Thompson lunging at us. Second part of the chicane.
19:00Now this isn't helpful for James Thompson.
19:03Simon Harrison holds an inside line. Nicely done. I don't think James has held up too much there.
19:07Not really. I mean Harrison saw the inevitable coming. He's done a great job.
19:10He's led this race up until the last couple of laps and now he's just got to accede to the performance of the touring cars.
19:16Important point to make. How far out in front Simon Harrison is stunning lead from him.
19:21Yes, a clean race from Harrison. He used the advantage of being at the head of the field for so long to drive his own race and just maintain that advantage.
19:28Well, Jason Plato will be pretty pleased with himself. We have to remember that although he was the pole man, he was in third place pretty well into the first couple of corners.
19:35Things are pretty good for Jason right now.
19:37Yeah, well, he'll be well pleased with himself. Muff the start maybe, but he's clawed it all back again. Last lap working his way through the chicane.
19:44Yeah, let's just hit it once more for good measure. Everybody's buttoned off. Nice drive for Jason Plato.
19:50Moves up towards the wall to take the chequered flag. Are you happy with that? Are you what?
19:54Well done, John. Well done, Gaz, everybody.
19:58Yeah, well done, John. To you too.
20:00Great race. Well done. Good race, Jason. Very good. Well done. Thank you.
20:04Another good race here. Simon Harrison across the line in the Peugeot to win the production race miles ahead of his competition.
20:11Yeah, really good. I enjoyed that. I think the new format worked really well. I don't know if I won overall. Did I win overall?
20:17Yeah. Tell me about the start. What happened?
20:21My talent disappeared at the start. I just made a rubbish start. I didn't, I messed it up completely.
20:29But you recovered?
20:30Yeah, it was good. I mean, we knew, we knew in the test we did here, our race pace, our race balance we had on the car was really good.
20:36So, you know, we just had to try and keep it on the island, not take too many risks. I did a good move on Ivan.
20:41And then Ivan on the first lap brake very early for the chicane and he realized this and then I got him on the second lap and he thought I was going to brake late for the chicane.
20:49I didn't, I braked early. And I got a right good whack up the back but it was all, you know, it was innocent enough.
20:55But yeah, it's great to get my first win. It's good for the team.
20:59I'd like to have beaten the series today but today wasn't the day but I'm sure it will come. I think they got me about four laps to go. But, you know, at that point I had a bit of a lead. But my tyres were beginning to drop off quite badly. So, you know, I had to first and foremost look after those and look after the lead of production class. I'd love to have been able to race them but I couldn't beat them today.
21:23I reckon you did a pretty good job of racing them all, son. But there's the confirmation. Plato and Muller in one team. Thompson and Bennett in the second.
21:30Four Vauxhall's in the top four. Good drive from Bennett. Great drive from Harrison and from Nick Beaumont as well. Right up there in P6 and second in class. Then Kay and Alan in a pair of horns.
21:41Now this guy here, no matter where he finishes, he always gets maximum respect. I used to watch Steve when I was at home, you know, watching television. I used to watch Steve racing and, you know, you used to look up to him and think, you know, one day I'd really love to, you know, love to do that. I'd like to aspire to what he's doing.
21:57You know, I don't personally know Steve. I'd love to meet him. I've watched him race for many years and it's a privilege to be in the same race as him.
22:04I'm here with Steve Soper, who really is a legend in motorsport. He's won 154 races. And in fact, he began racing before I was born. What would you say was the main ingredient of your first break?
22:17We've been in the right place at the right time. An awful lot of luck. And also being determined and being able to win races. I'm now old and, you know, grey and I'm still employed. So something's working.
22:31Something's working. I had two young children.
22:35Yes. Does that affect your driving killer instinct psychologically?
22:39No, I don't. I don't believe it does. But as soon as the car has a problem and you are no longer in a position to win that race and you're driving around in 20th position, then you start thinking, what the hell am I doing this race for?
22:52I've got two lovely children at home. And I actually used to drive down the Mursam Strait at 230 miles an hour in the middle of the night and actually think of my two children.
23:03Finally, do you have any dreams left in motorsport?
23:07Peugeot's never won a BTCC race. So it would be lovely if I could do that. But certainly this year, you know, it's a team effort to get this car to be competitive and to be a race winning car.
23:21That's a one object. And the rest of it, as soon as I feel I'm uncompetitive or I've lost an edge, then I'll stop.
23:30Well, I don't reckon that'll be for ages. He still looks pretty quick to me.
23:37If you thought the changes to the sprint race regulations were an exciting turn of events, well, you ain't seen nothing yet.
23:43The format for the feature race this afternoon has been changed dramatically as well.
23:47It's not a 32 lap race anymore. It's 30 laps. And much more importantly, these touring cars, which normally have one pit stop, have to stop twice.
23:55The reason? Well, as we all know, Thruxton is an absolute tire muncher of a circuit. We've seen that before because it's so fast and the corners are so long and flowing.
24:04We've seen that demonstrated again today. So in order to keep these cars competitive, the organizers will bring them in twice, give them two opportunities to throw on some new boots.
24:13Now, that'll be great news for us because it means the production guys down the back have got even better a chance of taking an outright win. I reckon I'll do it, Wadi.
24:21Well, not if they drove the way they drove in the sprint race, that's for sure.
24:25There'll be a war of attrition. Thompson and Muller on the front row.
24:28Then Jason Pato and Bennett on the second row.
24:31They're all getting ready for their rolling start.
24:34As you can see in the background, Soper and Eves on the third row.
24:37Then Ferrier and Pinckney in the pair of Alphas.
24:40Bringing up the rear, Luby and Harrison. That man Harrison up there on the front row again.
24:44His teammate Moen and James Kaye on the next row. O'Neill and Piper, they had a great race last time out.
24:50And Kate, if he's still running, with Jackson.
24:53Now, the lights are off on the safety car. The field is backing up.
24:57The man on the left-hand side of the screen.
24:59In the green and blue Vauxhall, he will control the pace.
25:02He's the pole man. Alongside him in the red and white Vauxhall is Ivan Muller.
25:06Behind him in the second red and white Vauxhall is Jason Plato.
25:10Then Phil Bennett behind them on the second row on the right.
25:13James Thompson being cool as you like. He's not vaulting.
25:16No one can pass until they get to the start-finish line. He's being cool.
25:21Ready. Off pedal to the metal and away he goes.
25:25Thompson is in a strong position. Muller goes with him.
25:28But Jason Plato looks down the inside in the second red and white Vauxhall side by side over the crest of the hill.
25:33Remember, everybody started together. A whole gaggle of cars just pouring into the complex for the first time.
25:39There's Luby still in touch. Muller production boys closing down as well.
25:43There's the re-wood view. That's Thompson we're looking at.
25:45And that is Ivan Muller we're looking at. And that means that the race leader is Jason Plato.
25:50I don't know how he pulled that off, but now he's in front.
25:53Plato did it stunningly in the first race. He's done it again in the second race.
25:56You'd think his teammates might have learned something by now.
25:59Well, I'll tell you what. James Thompson certainly didn't have the right script because James came around in the lead.
26:06As we join them now through the very fast sweeping parts of the circuit.
26:09Ivan Muller's car literally slipping from side to side with the tyres still getting warm, speaking through Church Corner for the first time.
26:16There go all the tourers. David Pinckney down into Church, leaping and hopping. Sofa, Eves.
26:27Everyone through safely. The view back from Jason Plato's car. We're going to stand on the brakes now.
26:35Big puffs of smoke. Muller looking for a way through and climbs those curbs.
26:39Yes, but interesting. He doesn't get quite so close to the bumper of Plato as Plato did to Muller first time around in the first race this afternoon.
26:46OK, let's cross the strike now. Everybody regrouping. The first lap's underway.
26:51And through. The tyres are warm. Everything should be working. Actually, in touring car terms, a pretty handy lead for Jason Plato so far.
26:58And that's Collard in. Collard in the Renault who had so much rough and tumble in race one.
27:05And look, already, Roger Moen in one of the Peugeots has actually got past David Pinckney.
27:10He's being avalanced actually. Oh, problems for the right. That's Harrison's Peugeot.
27:14Big, big off suddenly. Not sure that was a tyre, an engine or maybe a drive shaft, but he pulled off just simply quickly as possible to the right.
27:21He's out of this race. Yeah, lots of smoke there as he's just still driving across the grass.
27:25So maybe it was mechanical, but bad luck for Harrison after that race one win.
27:30Absolutely. And he did a stunning job in race one. Now, literally one lap into the race and he's out.
27:35Smoke coming out from under the grill. I guess it's mechanical.
27:38This is a problem for Jason Plato. That's Muller lunging down the inside.
27:41James Thompson is coming around the outside. We're coming up into the chicane.
27:45Thompson's going to take the long way around. Oh, really? This is going to be complicated.
27:48Contact between the pair of them, but everyone's still running.
27:51But Derek Warwick in the pit saying, for goodness sake, don't get into contact, don't knock each other off.
27:57Bad luck there for Paul O'Neill and that Peugeot.
27:59Saw him pitting there. He's running so well.
28:03The lads have worked hard all weekend and mechanical faults like that, really.
28:07You can't do much about so. I'm pleased though. We're up there and people say I'm no good.
28:12I mean, I can't be that bad for the top three. So, no, it's good anyway.
28:16Keep a smile on your face. Let's go to the next round.
28:19He's a happy camper. I reckon he's pretty good too.
28:21Yeah, he's pretty good though. It was an SLK Mercedes-Benz that was lying in the Mercedes workshops.
28:24It wouldn't testify to that.
28:26Okay. Well, that's inside knowledge that only you know what he...
28:29Inside knowledge indeed is working for Roger Moen here because he is now climbing all over the back of that touring car.
28:34Alpha K to the left-hand side of the screen in the Honda, trying to get past Moen in the red Peugeot.
28:41K right behind him in the silver and blue Honda.
28:44Down over the dip. There. And then onto the back of the circuit where horsepower reigns supreme.
28:49K just trying to get close enough to the back. Now on board with Danny. He's coming down into Church Corner.
28:56In the touring Peugeot. Ahead of us is Soper, his teammate. There's the right-hander.
29:02Quick old part of the circuit. Rock and roll through there.
29:05Oh no, not again. I don't believe this.
29:08And this is even before we get to the first round of pit stops.
29:11So Soper definitely heading straight to the pits.
29:14Here we see the view from Soper's car. John Behan, Cure just ahead of him.
29:18And that's the point the tire goes down. Oh no!
29:28Steve very unhappy. He had a big shunt two weeks ago. Root the car off.
29:31Be careful. And he's had two looks at the same accident this afternoon.
29:34He's out of it for the day. And he's suggesting his teammate should also come in.
29:38Okay, Dan with Steve has a side problem. Decision is to stop.
29:44So to the pit this lap, please mate. Decision is to stop.
29:50Okay, well, time for the toys to go back in the toy box. Dan Eves as well.
29:55Everybody, I would remind you, is running on the same tyres in this race.
29:59They have the two boys in the lead running on the same tyres.
30:02Jason Plato in the first of those red and white Vauxhalls.
30:05And his teammate, Van Muller, who's becoming very used to the backside of that car in second position.
30:10Well, Peugeot have had a real trauma all weekend.
30:14Left front tyres have been a problem. And that's something the team's going to have to work on.
30:17Vauxhalls, no problem. Peugeot, big problem. Seems to be the answer that lies at Peugeot.
30:22Well, this is Leisurely Luby coming in for his first pit stop.
30:26Two pit stops, remember to change tyres. Very unhurried though, wasn't he?
30:30Yes, I've seen quicker pit stops, but it is the first event for the team.
30:33They've been working absolutely flat out through the winter months to get this car ready.
30:37And there's another one coming along very shortly.
30:39So let's not be too hard on them this first race at Alton Park.
30:42If they don't do a bit better than, what, 21-odd seconds, they'll be on the case big time.
30:47Well, he might have sauntered in, but he's left with plenty of flurry.
30:50Great stop. On board now with James Kaye. Race leader Roger Moen ahead of us.
30:55What? Big engine blow. Oil everywhere.
30:57Yeah, that is a major hemorrhage. And poor James Kaye. Traumatic weekend.
31:01He got it all over his windscreen. And that will make his task a little bit more tricky.
31:05Well, I'll tell you what, those Peugeots are dropping like flies in the production
31:08because that is exactly the same place that we saw Roger Moen's teammate,
31:11Simon Harrison, pull off a few laps ago.
31:14Now, back to the touring lead. Jason Plato, we're looking back at his teammate.
31:18It is going on and on. Ivan Muller lunging now, trying to work out a way past through the complex.
31:23It is a good place to pass. Jason Plato himself has demonstrated that, but it's not working for Muller.
31:28No, Muller hasn't been as assertive or as aggressive as we've seen him in other seasons.
31:32And, in fact, I think he's looking for points this weekend.
31:35He's not just going to quite and blindingly take a chance and die for a lead which may take him out.
31:39Well, this is looking reasonably assertive in the fast staff.
31:41We've got a big, fast right-hander coming up now, and we are side by side.
31:45And he's cut back to the inside. How close do you want it?
31:48Heading down the hill now. We're getting faster and faster and faster.
31:51Church Corner is coming up, even going backwards, and it's making me feel sick watching.
31:55But any second now we are going to go rocking and rolling and leaning past.
31:59There we go. Through Church backwards. Hold your breath.
32:02And don't they look stunning? You can see there's a proper four-wheel drift, even if these are front-wheel drive turning cars.
32:09Absolutely terrifying stuff. Great car control. Ivan Muller known for it.
32:13Jason Plato known to be the last of the late breakers, but Muller is having a lunge around the outside.
32:18Just can't quite do it, but that is so close.
32:23It is close and in spite of having a very wide-angle lens, but look, dive straight into the pit.
32:28And here is a critical point. So easy to lose those vital seconds.
32:32And with less than half a second between Plato and Muller, this pit stop could see the race lead change
32:37once these two get back out on circuit again.
32:39And remember, this is stop once.
32:417.5 seconds, first stop. There we see James Thompson, yes.
32:45Okay, this is key.
32:48And that was .7 or so of a second slower than Plato.
32:52Thompson will not be happy.
32:54Yeah, and I think it was a little bit difficult for Plato getting out there, though.
32:58Thompson's car was right in front of him. That may well have helped James.
33:01But either way, both of them now out there on cold tires. This guy is not.
33:04And Ivan Muller certainly has got the message.
33:06We expect him in at the end of this lap, so he's got to maximize clear track.
33:10Look at the way that thing's swirling around, coming down into Church Corner.
33:14Absolutely flat out. He's going to try to get flat over the tip.
33:19Yeah, the back of the car just flicks out.
33:21That's one of those little buttock clenching moments a racing driver is so familiar with.
33:27Ivan Muller absolutely on a charge.
33:29Critically important for him to get a clear run up into the pits.
33:32Doesn't want to get tangled up with anybody as he comes up into the chicane.
33:35Straight after the chicane is the pit entrance.
33:38Is the slowing him down. Over one kerb, over the other.
33:41Please hop out of my way, Paul Jackson. Thank you. And in he goes.
33:45Ivan Muller, he's done a good in lap. He must get stopped.
33:50Ooh, a bit late in the breaks, Ivan.
33:52The guy's had to jump back out of the way.
33:54And that's not going to help your in-out time in total.
33:57Good stop from the guy. Seven and a half seconds.
34:00But overall, he maybe lost a second with that overshoot of the pits.
34:04Now, here's the key. Jason Plato.
34:06Muller is coming down the pit lane.
34:08Plato is coming down the pit straight.
34:10They're going to meet at the end of this Armco railing.
34:12This is going to determine who's in the lead.
34:14And it's pretty clear to see because there is Muller and there's Plato.
34:17Get on the gas, says Muller.
34:18Wait for me, says Plato.
34:20But it's as simple as that. Big margin.
34:22Plato's up to speed. Muller's got to get up to speed.
34:24You can see Plato Ryan Allard absolutely on the limit.
34:27Yeah, but Muller will be delighted with this.
34:29That's in touring car terms. A bit of a breather.
34:32Heard for the moment at least. Did you see that squirm?
34:35Oh, I did indeed.
34:36He squirmed all the way out of the Seagrave corner.
34:38He's a busy boy.
34:39Now, here is the production leader, James Kaye, meantime, in the Honda Accord.
34:43Working his way around the back of the circuit.
34:46Very fast part of the circuit in a production car as well.
34:51He's got his window down as well.
34:52It must be hot work there, but that can't be good for the aerodynamics.
34:54That passenger window wide open.
34:56I don't know whether that's just a fault or whether James decided he wanted a bit of extra fresh air,
35:00but touring cars work better with the windows wound up.
35:03Even though the drivers hate it because it is very hot work,
35:05but that would be in a very fast circuit like this.
35:08Not aerodynamically helpful, but his lead looks pretty comfy anyway.
35:11Speaking of leads, this guy hasn't got one.
35:14Pinckney limping into the pits. That looks like a problem.
35:17They need a lot more testing. The car potentially could be very quick, but it's going to take time.
35:23Tough luck for David Pinckney, but the work continues.
35:26Now, here's our race leader, Evan Muller in the Vauxhall.
35:29Bearing in mind, he still has to have another pit stop.
35:32He slides down the inside of Annie Templeton in one of the Peugeot 306s.
35:37He has to have another pit stop, so can the production cars actually hold out?
35:42Will the pit stops be enough to slow these guys down on the lap times they're doing?
35:46I don't think so.
35:47Now, into the pits comes Jason Plato for his second stop already.
35:51Wow.
35:52Well, the team decided to take the opportunity, get the fresh towers on, run to the end.
35:56Plato comes and stops right on the dime.
35:59Good stop. 7.8 seconds. Plato will like that one.
36:03Okay, now we're going to have to wait to see when Evan Muller pits again,
36:07what the shakeout is and who's where and what's going on.
36:10At the moment, Muller is leading the touring class.
36:14Up Woodham Hill towards the chicane again.
36:19Still cocks a rear wheel every time up into that part of the circuit.
36:23Now, here's an interesting comparison.
36:25Evan Muller leading in the touring car class,
36:27coming up on James Kaye leading in the production class.
36:30Kaye driving the Honda Accord, Muller driving the Astra.
36:33The Astra, of course, got a lot more downforce in the car for the wings and aerodynamics
36:37and about 50 horsepower more.
36:39But the production car has got no aerodynamics,
36:42which, of course, allow it to run very quickly in a straight line.
36:45But in terms of grip, braking and cornering, this car's got it sorted.
36:51Just like a little rat running through a maze.
36:53Left, right, left. Very quick and darty through there.
36:56Although in straight line, it doesn't look like too much of a gap here.
36:59The balance is about lap time, not about top speed.
37:02This car's got the lap time. The Honda's got top speed.
37:05James Thompson comes in.
37:08Stops perfectly. Car goes up.
37:12Well, the right front's gone on. The guys are clear.
37:14The left front, there's a problem. Remember, standardised hubs, hub nuts.
37:18None of the tricky stuff we've seen in previous years.
37:20And the clock's ticking away.
37:22Thompson must be going absolutely mad.
37:2414.4 seconds, and I have to say, justifiably two.
37:28Well, it might be more low-tech, but I tell you what,
37:30you could have timed that with an hourglass.
37:32Really bad luck for James Thompson.
37:34Just one of those things.
37:35Now, this is getting important because this is our race leader,
37:38Ivan Muller.
37:39He has not stopped twice.
37:41He's coming through the chicane, into the wall, and in he goes.
37:44Ivan, this is your big chance.
37:46Now, don't overshoot the pitch as you did in your first stop.
37:49Bring the car in. Stop it right on the line.
37:52Perfect. Now, look. Just one wheel tire being changed left side.
37:56That's all you're required to do within the rules.
37:59And the benefit is a 6.9 second for Ivan Muller.
38:0240 miles an hour down the pit lane, and then back on racetrack.
38:05Well, here's Jason Plato coming through the chicane now.
38:08And there is Muller coming down the pit lane exit.
38:11This gap is actually looking more comfy for Ivan Muller this time round before.
38:15There he is. There he is. And there's Plato. That's a bigger gap, Tom.
38:19Yeah, Muller did a good job this time, and he's seen the benefit.
38:22That one tire wheel change certainly worked to his advantage.
38:25Now, here's our race leader, Phil Bennett.
38:28He's yet to make his second stop.
38:31James Thompson, his teammate, had that problem with his stop.
38:34And Bennett is preparing to come. He is into the pit lane now.
38:37Well, let's see if Phil Bennett does the same trick Ivan Muller did.
38:40It certainly worked for Muller. Bennett brings it down, stops perfectly.
38:44They're deciding to go with two fronts.
38:46Inexperience at the power to Phil Bennett. Don't take any risks.
38:49Just give him a car that he can drive comfortably.
38:52But a brilliant stop. 6.5 seconds.
38:54Lovely stuff. Lights up the bags on the way out.
38:57Jason Plato, meantime, has it all to do.
39:00He's going to be a busy boy. There is Ivan Muller.
39:02There is Ivan Muller. There is Jason Plato.
39:04Up and over the rise.
39:05Out of the pit lane now comes Bennett. There's your race order.
39:08And, of course, teammate to Bennett, James Thompson,
39:10suffering from that very long 14-second pit stop.
39:12Nowhere in sight.
39:15Just shows how critical they are,
39:16and shows how well Mr Bennett here is doing.
39:18Still in touch.
39:19Yes, I saw him the other day at Silverstone,
39:21and he was curious to know what we thought of him.
39:23We gave him a little sort of pat on the head.
39:25Said you're doing a very good job, Phil.
39:26Remember, a lot of pressure driving in a full factory team.
39:29Well, you give this bloke a bit of a pat on the head as well.
39:31James Kaye driving the leading production car,
39:34the Honda Record.
39:35As we see Jason Plato and Ivan Muller
39:38in the leading touring car sliding past him.
39:40So much for my big prediction of a production win, though.
39:43Well, I have to say it wasn't a bad punt to take, Charlie,
39:45and the production cars, in the case of James Kaye,
39:48he's got nobody chasing him.
39:49He's just driving to finish, leading his category very, very comfortably.
39:53These men in front in the red and white Vauxhalls
39:55have made their two pit stops,
39:56still find themselves ahead of James Kaye.
39:59The leading production man, Tom Boardman, in one of the other Peugeots.
40:03He's had a pretty good race, showing very good promise.
40:06The youngest man in touring cars still finds himself in the sharp end
40:10of the production battle and keeps well away of these leading touring cars
40:14as they go through the chicane.
40:16Well, these four Vauxhalls, let's put James Thompson out of the equation,
40:19are all racing four positions.
40:21This is not just a display.
40:22They are out there going at maximum attack.
40:25Plato trying to run down Ivan Muller
40:27and, of course, Phil Bennett benefiting from the trouble
40:29that Thompson had in his pit stops.
40:31Well, I guess it depends a little bit on how easy they've been on their tyres
40:34and how easy they've been on their cars,
40:35but he is running out of time, Jason Plato, if he's going to catch his teammate now.
40:39Well, Ivan Muller has done a great job in this feature race
40:42and I think that single wheel change in the second pit stop play to his advantage
40:46totally within the rules and that's what touring car racing is all about,
40:49covering every corner.
40:51It's so, so critical though, isn't it?
40:53We saw Jason Plato just held up the tiniest amount as well
40:56having to get past James Thompson out of his first pit stop
40:59and he still hasn't clawed that back because these two go so quickly, lap after lap,
41:03so relentlessly close to each other.
41:06Well, it's been pretty easy for Vauxhall in the first four rounds of this year's championship,
41:10but don't write Peugeot off.
41:12They are making progress.
41:13They find about five or six horsepower with the exhaust system
41:16so that alone will give them some advantage at Olsen Park
41:18and, of course, the difficulties they've had here with tyres
41:21should not be a problem up there.
41:23Well, there have been no problems at all for this man, Ivan Muller,
41:26as he comes through the chicane for the last time.
41:29He was not the quickest man in qualifying.
41:32He did not take the pole position, but it has not mattered
41:34because he's coming up to the strike for the last time
41:36and to take that magical chequered flag.
41:38Jason Plato right behind him.
41:40Phil Bennett, great drive for him as well.
41:41And there's Jimmy T in fourth place.
41:43James Thompson, what a drive.
41:45I have to say I'm very impressed.
41:46Bennett close to the top two.
41:48He's going to get better.
41:49Now, here's our production winner.
41:51James Kaye did not win outright, but definitely won his class.
41:54Flashes his headlights to let us know.
41:56And also weaving in celebration, Kurt Luby in the Lexus.
41:59Finished their first race.
42:01Cool stuff.
42:02So just check those results.
42:03Muller, Plato, Bennett and Thompson in fourth place.
42:06Good player out of luck on the day, James Thompson.
42:08And look at that, Kate and Jackson,
42:10second and third in production and in the top eight.
42:13You began third place and ended up winning.
42:16Yeah.
42:17I struggled a bit yesterday with the setup of the car.
42:20A bit of the first race and we found definitely
42:23a good setup for the long race.
42:25So I'm particularly happy because we have made a good job
42:28this weekend again.
42:29I was struggling a little bit in the quick corners.
42:30I just couldn't quite be as quick in as I wanted
42:33because I was sliding around.
42:34And then we put the pit stop tyres on.
42:37And I had to come in early after those
42:39because I had a big vibration on my left front
42:41and I didn't want to, you know, get a puncture.
42:43So I stopped early and then I got another big vibration.
42:46So I had to nurse the car to the end.
42:47I mean, down the straights, I've got left-hand lock on
42:50and it feels dreadful.
42:51So I think maybe the tyre's about to go bang.
42:53So I had to just say, okay, second's okay.
42:55It's points in the bag.
42:56It'd be nice to win, but not in the future.
42:59My line's quite a lot different from theirs.
43:02So where I'm on the throttle there, sort of not on the throttle
43:06and it kind of disrupted the first part of the race,
43:09but no, delighted, happy days.
43:12Another podium.
43:13Yeah, another podium. Great.
43:14Good for the championship, eh?
43:15He just keeps on keeping on
43:17and Plato does so in the championship.
43:18Leading from his teammate Ivan Muller,
43:20James Thompson is in third outright
43:21and Mr. Bennett's still in touch, in fourth.
43:24Now they're all Vauxhalls, no Peugeots, but we know why.
43:27Not a good weekend.
43:28We've had a number of tyre failures.
43:30Every time the tyre fails, the car is completely...
43:33the driver loses control.
43:35It's usually at Church,
43:36which is an extremely fast part of the circuit.
43:38Two weeks ago at a test, we had the same problem
43:40and caused £25,000 worth of damage.
43:43In the last race, despite the fact there were two pit stops
43:46to try and get over it,
43:47Dan and Steve had another tyre go after.
43:50I think it was seven laps.
43:51We just can't afford the risk to drive a car or a spectator,
43:54so we had to pull both cars out.
43:56Very disappointing.
43:57Frustratingly shows in the results.
44:00Peugeot a distant third at this stage.
44:02Team-Makes Sport in the lead.
44:03Vauxhall Motorsport second.
44:05Luckily the Peugeots retired very early.
44:08They had an overheating problem due to following another car too close.
44:11I think Simon had an entire issue.
44:13We just, as soon as they're gone,
44:14we can then cool our pace and just last to the end of the race.
44:17So the tyres will do another 50 laps.
44:19I won't.
44:20Hasn't done his championship hunt any harm at all.
44:24James Kaye in the lead from Harrison in second,
44:26Matt Jackson in third place and Roger Moen in fourth.
44:32Nice stuff James just keeps getting better
44:34because his team leads the team's championship as well.
44:36GR Motorsport in second and HTML round out the top three.
44:40So as the celebrations kick off for Ivan Moeller and for Jason Plato,
44:44Moeller for a great drive and Jason Plato for a terrific point tall.
44:48Bad luck for James Thompson mind you.
44:50It hasn't gone so well but the whole table could turn in two weeks time
44:53because remember, success ballast James Thompson will be driving
44:56a much lighter car than Jason Plato.