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00:00It's been Vauxhall dominating all the way with Ivan Muller and Jason Plato batting it out at the top.
00:06Well, this week's action comes from Croft in North Yorkshire,
00:09and Charlie Cox can bring you a meeting that started off in a very controversial way.
00:26This weekend, the championship comes from the Croft circuit in the north of England.
00:30It's a quirky track, and I love it.
00:32And why? Because it's action aplenty.
00:34Really high-speed straights join together with a whole series of quite technical corners,
00:39like this one, the hairpin.
00:40It's the tightest corner in all of Britain.
01:00News is spreading like wildfire up and down the pit lane about a penalty imposed on Jason Plato after the last race at Sneddon.
01:22You might remember he got tangled up with fellow Vauxhall driver Phil Bennett.
01:26Well, he's been penalised 30 seconds.
01:28That knocked him a place down in the race order to third, behind Ivan Muller,
01:32and that put Plato and Muller dead level now in the championship point score.
01:37Jason, you've just been given a penalty.
01:41Yeah.
01:42What's your reaction?
01:45You know, this is a professional sport, and there's professional people administering and looking after it.
01:50And as a professional driver, I had to accept what they give me.
01:53Contact's always been a part of British touring car racing.
01:57We see it every weekend, paint being swapped, nudging in the rear guard.
02:02But what was different about the incident with Jason Plato and Phil Bennett?
02:06Plato got fined 30 seconds on his race time, dropped him out of the top two in the results.
02:11Let's look again at that incident.
02:13You see, lead car is Plato.
02:15Bennett behind gets a great run.
02:17Remember, Bennett's car is lighter.
02:19He's not carrying any weight penalty.
02:20Coming up into Rich's corner,
02:22pulls out, gets alongside Plato,
02:24takes the corner,
02:26is now in the lead.
02:27But of course, by being in the inside, he runs wide.
02:29Plato then puts his car inside Bennett's car,
02:32puts his left run to the right rear of Bennett,
02:35then just simply spins him around.
02:36But worse still, he forces the car sideways.
02:39The result is Bennett goes off the track,
02:41misses the lighting gantry and a marshals post.
02:44That is outrageous.
02:45Let's look at it again.
02:47Watch Plato.
02:48Now he gets a better line in the corner.
02:50He lets the car run out.
02:51There's the contact.
02:52But instead of lifting off,
02:53no look, no brake lights.
02:55He just puts his foot in the throttle.
02:58Bennett is sideways.
02:59Now, there is Muller.
03:00He puts his brakes on.
03:02You can see him slowing down.
03:03He sees an incident.
03:04Plato did something which was,
03:06in my view,
03:07way, way beyond what is considered to be fair play
03:09in touring car racing.
03:11And consequently,
03:12the penalty he earned,
03:13I think,
03:14was well deserved.
03:16So,
03:16a penalty awarded against a Vauxhall driver
03:18for pushing off another Vauxhall driver
03:20at the last race at Snedderton.
03:22Derek Warrick,
03:22you're the team boss.
03:23How do you deal with that?
03:24We obviously have got some internal problems at the moment.
03:28We're going to be talking to our drivers tonight
03:30because obviously we've only had the video evidence today.
03:33And we're going to give them clear instructions
03:35that the ethics that we use within our own team
03:40are quite different than those
03:41that we've probably used outside the team.
03:42So,
03:43there's going to be a few smack wrists tonight
03:45with all four drivers
03:47and remind them that they represent Vauxhall,
03:50not themselves.
03:52Croft is the circuit.
03:54North Yorkshire is the venue
03:55for round 17 and 18
03:57at the AA.com British Touring Car Championship.
04:00Just over two miles in length.
04:02Very challenging.
04:03Now, there's a better view,
04:04a circuit for the brave,
04:05but it is very,
04:06very beautiful indeed as well.
04:08Terrific scenery in North Yorkshire
04:09all around the Croft area.
04:12This really is a crazy sort of a place
04:14with these very, very long straights
04:16and the quite technical natured corners
04:18that link them all together.
04:19It's a bit like mad plumbing
04:21where someone's run a long pipe there
04:22then bent it around,
04:24brought it back,
04:25bent it a little bit furthermore.
04:26It makes it really,
04:27really quite challenging for the drivers.
04:29Like this set of corners here,
04:30what they call the complex.
04:32You first got that left-hander behind me there.
04:33Now, when you get to that left-hander,
04:35you've come hosing down a back straight quite quickly.
04:37The thing tightens up on you.
04:39Then you get to this thing,
04:40a little right-hander straight away behind it.
04:42You can see the banking behind me there.
04:43It's a hugely popular spot for people to watch.
04:46That'll be packed come race time.
04:47Then after that,
04:48this tightens up some more.
04:49There's another right-hander
04:50with sort of a false apex
04:52that you don't really worry about.
04:53And then that takes you up
04:55to that hairpin we just had a look at,
04:56the tightest hairpin in Great Britain.
04:58It's almost like sitting there with a paperclip,
05:01bending it around,
05:02bending it back,
05:02bending it the other way.
05:03And that's this set of corners.
05:04So how does all of that translate for drivers?
05:06Well, what it means is
05:07if your car isn't set up properly
05:09and you get, say, power understeer,
05:10you can't claw your way out of corners around here,
05:13well, they'll eat you alive.
05:16Qualifying now,
05:16and with everything so tight at the top
05:18in the championship table,
05:19getting a good time is more critical than ever.
05:21No, it's good,
05:37especially after, you know,
05:38last weekend.
05:39It's nice to come back
05:40and put it on pole,
05:41so I'm delighted.
05:43Really pleased to feel.
05:44It's been a long time coming for him.
05:45I'm very pleased myself as well,
05:47so at least we've turned the tables
05:48on the Vauxhalls for a change.
05:51Obviously, things have been said,
05:52but now it's time to forget about all that
05:54and, you know,
05:55just get on with the job
05:56that we're, you know,
05:58here to do,
05:58and that's the race,
05:59and hopefully we'll have a good, clean race
06:00and, you know,
06:01the best man will win, I suppose.
06:04Pole position?
06:05Yeah, that's really good.
06:06Working hard for us through this year,
06:08and we're very near sometimes,
06:10but this time was my turn.
06:13So, Jason Plato is penalized
06:15and that costs some championship points.
06:17A good time, then,
06:18to have a look at how
06:19the point score system works.
06:20Well, it's complicated,
06:22so try to keep up.
06:23You get 15 points for a win,
06:2512 for second,
06:2610 for third,
06:27and so on.
06:27But it's much more than that,
06:29and a good driver,
06:29boxing clever,
06:30can actually pick up
06:31a whole host of extra points,
06:33because you can get an extra point
06:34if you get pole position
06:35for either race,
06:37an extra point
06:37if you get faster slab
06:38in either race,
06:39and even a point
06:40for leading a lap
06:41of the feature race.
06:46Croft is one of those
06:47really difficult tracks.
06:49It's difficult for the car,
06:50and it's difficult for the driver.
06:51Technically,
06:52to set the car up right
06:53is very hard,
06:54and the driver works really hard,
06:56possibly harder than
06:57any other circuit.
06:58But let's have a look in car
06:59in my Alpha.
07:01Out of the final hairpin
07:02across the start-finish line,
07:03it's right up to sixth gear,
07:05a maximum speed of about
07:06120 miles an hour
07:08into the first corner.
07:09There's always a lot of action here,
07:11especially on the first lap.
07:13Cars go off in the gravel,
07:14the track's always dirty.
07:15Then you've got to break
07:16through the chicane,
07:17and here it's really bumpy,
07:18and the driver's earning
07:19his keep here,
07:20trying to get as much speed
07:21as he can
07:22to attack this second chicane.
07:24Cold tyres here
07:25can be a problem,
07:26and a lot of people
07:27have gone off here
07:28pushing too hard
07:29too early.
07:31Down towards the tower,
07:32it's bumpy again,
07:33but it's a great overtaking place,
07:34particularly if you've got
07:35a good exit from the chicane.
07:37Third gear,
07:38about 80 miles an hour,
07:40but a good exit here
07:41is vital to get flat out
07:42through the S's.
07:43We go up through the gears
07:44to 6-gear,
07:45and it's flat out to the left
07:47and then flat out to the right,
07:49jumping over the kerbs
07:50as best touring car drivers do
07:51to maximise the width of the road,
07:53and then down to the really fast Barcroft.
07:56Here the car's very hard to stop
07:58because you're braking on a bend.
08:00Into Sunny 1,
08:01still braking,
08:02but then picking up the speed
08:03as hard as possible
08:04for Sunny out,
08:05where the speed is very important
08:07because it's uphill.
08:08And then to one of the only
08:09left-handers on the circuit
08:10at the end of the straight.
08:11Here, a little bit
08:12of an itty-bitty corner,
08:14but carrying the speed
08:15through to the last two,
08:16down to second gear
08:17for this tight right-hander,
08:19and then the final corner,
08:20which is a great place
08:21to overtake
08:21by diving up the inside,
08:23but for a fast lap,
08:24you need to come in wide
08:25and swing out
08:26and get the power down early.
08:28A great circuit,
08:30but hard for the driver,
08:31bumpy in places,
08:32fast and smooth in others.
08:34You know,
08:39qualifying for today's two races
08:41was as fluky as I've seen,
08:43really bouncy results
08:44between the grid positions
08:45for the sprint
08:46and the feature race,
08:47but it's produced
08:47some great surprises,
08:48like Phil Bennett,
08:49his first pole for the year.
08:50He's pole man
08:51for the sprint race.
08:52Second row of the grid,
08:53Thompson and Muller.
08:55It's as tight as you like,
08:561.8 seconds.
08:580.18 seconds,
08:59I should say,
08:59actually separates
09:00all four of the Vauxhaws.
09:03Next row back,
09:04Tommy Erdos,
09:04a really good qualifying for him.
09:06He's actually stuck that Lexus
09:07ahead of both of the Peugeots
09:08on the grid.
09:09He's alongside Steve Soper.
09:10Next row back, Dan Eaves.
09:12Then we've got the pair
09:13of Alfa Romeos,
09:14and it's very good to see
09:15both of them up on the grid.
09:17New engines this time around.
09:19Had some trouble,
09:19but they've had a week
09:20to sort the cars out,
09:21so fingers crossed for them.
09:22Now, production,
09:23the surprises continue.
09:24We've got a new pole man
09:25in production as well,
09:26Roger Moen in the Peugeot.
09:28He's alongside Simon Graves
09:29in the Honda.
09:30Now, Simon's a pretty
09:30tough competitor,
09:31so he'll have to work
09:32pretty hard to hang on
09:33to that spot.
09:34Quick word on the track conditions.
09:35It's not raining now,
09:36but very heavy air,
09:37and the track is damp,
09:38so everyone will have
09:38to be very careful
09:39into the first corner.
09:40Remember the rules.
09:41Touring cars start first.
09:4325 seconds later,
09:44the production cars,
09:45but the tourers
09:46do an extra lap.
09:48And if you don't believe me,
09:49there's the proof.
09:50James Thompson in P4,
09:510.18 seconds
09:53behind the pole man.
09:54Tommy Erdos,
09:55great bit of qualifying there.
09:56Soper Eaves,
09:57and Tom Ferrier
09:58inside the top eight.
09:59Didn't get a time.
10:00Tim Harvey had some problems
10:01in qualifying,
10:02but great to see him there.
10:03And Moen and Graves,
10:04as we saw.
10:05Harrison and Piper
10:05always so close.
10:07Then it's Kay and Lemmer.
10:08Lemmer in the second one
10:09of those Honda Accords,
10:10and he's really starting
10:11to get it sorted.
10:12Remember,
10:12he's relatively late
10:13to the championship this year.
10:15Jim Edwards, Jr.
10:16there we just saw.
10:17Beaumont and Clark,
10:17your last two with no time
10:19because of some problems.
10:22And a fabulous Phil Bennett.
10:24He is indeed.
10:25There he is.
10:26The pole man sitting there
10:27tightening up his belts,
10:28getting ready to go.
10:29Tom Ferrier,
10:30a problem for him
10:31back in the pits.
10:32Lights turned the red,
10:33they're ready for a start.
10:35Everyone away cleanly,
10:37I think.
10:37Tommy Erdos,
10:38a stunning start there
10:39on the right,
10:39just pulling past
10:40Devon Muller.
10:41Left on your screen,
10:42Phil Bennett right behind him.
10:43Erdos,
10:44Jason Plato alongside.
10:45Plato tucks in.
10:46Just ducks in.
10:50There goes Tommy Erdos.
10:52He's feeding his way through,
10:53running a little bit wide now.
10:55Tucking in behind him.
10:59Leaping across that jacquine
11:00for the first time
11:01and the drag onto the back straight.
11:02Meantime,
11:03in the small frame,
11:04it's the cavalry charge.
11:06The production boys
11:07have taken off.
11:08Now we're on board
11:08with Steve Soper.
11:09Nice high view there
11:10in the tower corner,
11:12turning in late,
11:13getting the power on,
11:14screaming out the back.
11:15Great start there
11:16for Tommy Erdos.
11:16Really flew.
11:18Fifth place in the grid
11:19up to third place.
11:19That's the advantage
11:20of rear-wheel driver
11:21to start.
11:22Yep,
11:22really jumped up
11:23but now he's coming
11:24under some big pressure
11:25from those Peugeots
11:25and he's lost position
11:26as well
11:27to all of the Vauxhals.
11:28All four ahead of him.
11:30Devon Muller making good
11:32that spot he lost earlier
11:33and Steve Soper
11:34there really chomping
11:35on the back
11:35of that Lexus
11:36as we go out
11:37through the very quick
11:38double of Sunny in
11:39and Sunny out.
11:40Now we're coming up
11:41towards this
11:41massive complex of corners.
11:44Left and a right,
11:44then a right,
11:45then a left again.
11:48Feeding through one
11:48after the other.
11:49Here's the tight
11:49right-hander
11:50and well,
11:51Steve Soper
11:52threw them off again.
11:53That was quick
11:53for a second.
11:54Well,
11:54Steve had a shot at it
11:55but the shot
11:56was never on
11:56and that's the result.
11:58Yep,
11:58big misfire indeed.
11:59Tommy Erdos
12:00said after you
12:00and then stepped back
12:01and drove right behind him.
12:02Now,
12:03safety car out.
12:04This is the view
12:04from Jason.
12:05Whoa,
12:05what's going on here?
12:06A bit of confusion.
12:07I thought,
12:07are they waving to them
12:08or waving them through?
12:09That's the reason why.
12:10Tom Boardman stuck there.
12:11Tom Boardman was off.
12:12I think Bennett
12:13didn't even see the safety car.
12:14He was focused
12:14on the track ahead of him.
12:16Well,
12:16now here's a replay
12:17at the start
12:17of the production race.
12:18Might throw a bit of light on it.
12:20Big problem there
12:21for James Kaye
12:21behind Harrison
12:22who decides for best reasons
12:24best known to himself
12:24to open the door.
12:26I think all he could do
12:27was some signal,
12:28I'm in trouble.
12:29He couldn't get his hand
12:30out the window
12:30quick enough,
12:31could he?
12:31Well,
12:31don't get out now,
12:32mate,
12:32because cars are still
12:33trying to pass you.
12:34Now,
12:34we're going into the first corner.
12:36Now,
12:36let's see.
12:36There's Tom Boardman.
12:37Contact there.
12:40This gets tagged,
12:41spins to the infield.
12:42Skittles time
12:43at the start of the race.
12:43It doesn't matter.
12:47It's still going to be
12:48waved through.
12:48No,
12:48not necessarily.
12:49It's all.
12:50The car requires
12:51a decision
12:51when he waves
12:52them by,
12:52Derek.
12:53Well,
12:53paperwork's going to be
12:54held,
12:54Waddy,
12:54trying to work out
12:55who gets waved through,
12:56who doesn't.
12:57And a very unhappy
12:57Derek Warwick
12:58trying to work out already
12:59what is going to happen
13:00on this restart.
13:01Well,
13:02we're on board now
13:03with Jason Play-Doh
13:04and as you can see now
13:05the touring cars
13:05we've been getting heat
13:06in their tyres.
13:07They've been waved through.
13:08Now,
13:09the safety car has picked up
13:10the lead production car
13:11which,
13:12of course,
13:12at this stage of the race
13:13is actually
13:13the lead car
13:14on the track.
13:19So there's nothing
13:19governing their position
13:20on track now.
13:21I'm still trying
13:22to work it all out.
13:23I think you're right
13:23in what you said.
13:26Well,
13:26that's a worry
13:26for both of us
13:27if I'm right.
13:28So,
13:28the touring cars,
13:29they are moving around
13:30to join the pack
13:31of the crocodile
13:31but the safety car's in
13:32and the race is restarted.
13:34There's our race leader,
13:36Graves,
13:36coming,
13:36streaking down the pit straight.
13:38The rest of the touring cars
13:39are out the back
13:40of the field somewhere.
13:41So it's Graves.
13:42You can just see
13:42Gavin Piper there
13:43darting around
13:43trying to pick up
13:44some position
13:44if he possibly can.
13:46Roger Moen
13:46in second position.
13:49Feeding through
13:50the left,
13:50right,
13:51clubbing the curves,
13:51Gareth Howell there.
13:52Go at the start line,
13:54go at the start line.
13:56James Thompson just getting
14:05confirmation there
14:06that the race
14:06has actually started again
14:07and look at the gap,
14:08he's way behind.
14:09Indeed,
14:10but it was very confusing
14:11particularly for the touring cars.
14:13Pretty confusing there
14:14for Roger Mines as well.
14:15Just getting tagged by
14:16Tom Ferrier.
14:18Let's have another look.
14:20Ferrier in the quicker car
14:21just comes down inside.
14:22There was never any way
14:23of making the pass.
14:24Contact was inevitable.
14:25Now that is what's been
14:26talked about
14:26over the last week
14:27at Snedderton
14:28and I think Tom Ferrier
14:29should take it to note.
14:31Well,
14:32there is our race leader
14:33Graves now.
14:34Roger Moen
14:34is really trying to
14:35shoe on the back of him
14:36through the very,
14:37very tight hairpin
14:38onto the pit straight.
14:39Gavin Piper
14:40still very much in touch.
14:41So are both
14:42of those Ford focuses.
14:44Now,
14:44meantime,
14:45back at the front,
14:45race leader Phil Bennett
14:46well not anymore.
14:47Jason Pater just slips
14:48through a tower bend
14:49and so does Ivan Muller
14:50does he side by side.
14:52Nothing much in it.
14:53The very fast
14:53left-right's coming up.
14:55Muller thinks better of it.
14:56Tucks in behind.
14:57That was easy.
14:58Well,
14:58after all the threats
14:59Bennett made.
15:00I'm going to destroy
15:00Pato's championship.
15:02He couldn't have made
15:02the door wider.
15:03He let Pato drive
15:04straight through.
15:05Manners break out
15:06at Croft.
15:07Tire smoke
15:08from the back of Muller's car
15:09breaking unbalanced
15:10as he goes through
15:10Barcroft
15:11then the sunny in
15:12and sunny out.
15:13That part of the circuit there.
15:15Streak down the back straight.
15:16And hook into this
15:17mind-snapping complex of corners.
15:19Left, right, left, right.
15:20Round they go
15:21one after the other.
15:21Jimmy T there
15:22has closed up the gap
15:23a little bit
15:23that he lost
15:24at the start of the race.
15:25Tommy Erdos in touch as well.
15:28Okay, here's that hairpin.
15:31And now look.
15:32Muller straight down
15:32the inside of Bennett.
15:33Side by side.
15:34Will there be room?
15:35Will there be room?
15:36Dear me, after you.
15:38Two cars in one lap.
15:39That's the pole sitter
15:39has gone from first to third.
15:41I just wonder
15:42are there team orders
15:43in play here?
15:44Well, very sporting stuff
15:45there from Phil Bennett
15:46as we watch Phil Bennett
15:47and Ivan Muller
15:48work it out
15:49down the end of the pit straight.
15:50Yellow flags there
15:51so that means no passing
15:52and Andy Templeton
15:54I think
15:54one of the Peugeot
15:55stranded there on the gravel.
15:56Of course, yellow flag
15:57indicates no overtaking
15:59in that zone.
16:00Look for the green flag
16:01then you can recommence racing.
16:02And you can see actually
16:03Ivan Muller
16:04stomping on the brakes
16:05as Phil Bennett
16:07has a bit of a tank slapper
16:08there out of the chicane.
16:09Very focusing.
16:10But of course
16:10Bennett got past Muller
16:12he shouldn't have done that.
16:14Well, Muller's now
16:15that's exactly where
16:16Jason Plater
16:17got through a lap ago
16:18and now Muller slipped through.
16:20Well, I think Bennett
16:20saw the wisdom of his error.
16:23In other words
16:23he made a mistake
16:23he tried to correct it
16:24and let Muller get ahead.
16:26Yep, that's good sensible stuff
16:27but he's now
16:28really pushing back again.
16:30Phil Bennett
16:30right on the tail
16:31of Ivan Muller.
16:32We're going to
16:33jink right here.
16:34We're going to
16:35stand on the brakes
16:35jink right again.
16:37Sonny in
16:38get on the gas
16:39try to hold the line
16:40jink right again
16:41and then on the power
16:42down the back straight.
16:43He's really on a charge
16:45old Bennett
16:45even though he's lost
16:46a couple of places
16:46he's still in touch.
16:48Production battle.
16:50Graves
16:50there's our leader
16:51Roger Moen
16:52right behind him
16:53there in the Peugeot.
16:54Moen having a look
16:55down the inside
16:56this is close
16:56Graves is quick
16:57but he's under pressure.
16:59But the Honda's
16:59got lots of power
17:00and Craft is a circuit
17:01that pays dividends
17:02for that horsepower.
17:04Well, here's a
17:04Moen's eye view
17:05let's see.
17:06They're lunging
17:07down the inside
17:08this is the tight
17:08complex
17:10I was waiting
17:10for some contact
17:11there you can hear
17:12the engine die
17:12well you hear
17:13the brakes lock
17:14we don't know
17:14where Graves went to
17:15he's somewhere
17:16to the right of Moen
17:17he's led to safety
17:19now here's that
17:20very tight hairpin
17:21he's taking a wide line
17:22maybe Graves are still
17:23in there somewhere
17:24but
17:24from the windscreen view
17:26at least
17:27he's our leader
17:27there's Graves behind
17:28he's really stuck
17:29one in here
17:30from Moen
17:30he's definitely
17:32stamped his authority
17:32on it
17:33in fact if anything
17:35it looks like
17:35Gavin Piper is moving
17:36right up onto the
17:37back there of Graves
17:38well Gavin would have
17:39seen all the action
17:40ahead of him
17:40he could position
17:41himself to take
17:42full advantage of it
17:43but has he got the speed
17:44well here we are now
17:45on board with Graves
17:46can we fight back
17:47boom
17:52that Moen just
17:53clubs those tyres
17:54on the way through
17:55it was inevitable
17:56those tyres are always
17:57in a vulnerable part
17:58of the track
17:58an inch too far
17:59to the left
18:00and that's what happens
18:01yeah the driver's
18:01really trying to
18:02step on the gas there
18:03and get maximum
18:04of speed
18:05down the back straight
18:05here's the first set
18:06of tyres
18:07on the way past
18:08this really big
18:09carousel part
18:10of the track
18:10here's the exit
18:11oh just missing
18:14those tyres
18:15we've lost it
18:16oh that Armco
18:20looks so close
18:21Bill Bennett
18:21under the circumstances
18:23lucky to get away
18:24with that
18:24crunch time for Bennett
18:26let's look again
18:26on board
18:27now look
18:27you can see
18:28Muller avoids that tyre
18:30but Bennett
18:30maybe unsighted
18:32by Muller's car
18:32but maybe just
18:33looking ahead
18:34too far
18:34not looking
18:35what's directly
18:36in front of him
18:36makes the mistake
18:37gets the brakes on
18:38but clubs the barrier
18:40yeah it could have
18:41gone in a lot harder
18:42than that
18:42it's obviously
18:43wrecked his race
18:44but even so
18:45Simon Graves
18:51does exactly
18:52the same thing
18:52I don't know
18:53what Graves
18:54is going to say
18:54because there
18:55didn't appear
18:55to be a tower
18:56in the middle
18:56of the track
18:57this time
18:58but nonetheless
18:58the result's
18:59pretty much the same
19:00but of course
19:00able to continue
19:01well our top guys
19:02dropping like flies
19:03here
19:04Simon Graves
19:05remember was in
19:06second position
19:06and Phil Bennett
19:07although he wasn't
19:08leading at the time
19:09he was the pole man
19:10at the start of this
19:11Gavin Piper now
19:12okay
19:16making a bit of a
19:18recovery there
19:18Gareth Howe
19:19oh no
19:19there's Phil Bennett
19:21well
19:22got a flat tyre
19:24after all that
19:24he's gone from
19:25pole to a hole
19:26well that's a tough one
19:28for Phil Bennett
19:29worked very hard
19:29to get that pole position
19:30but really
19:31you could see
19:32the pressure
19:32he was under
19:33and he wasn't able
19:34to deal with it
19:34maybe as well
19:35as some of the
19:35more mature drivers
19:36well Roger Moen
19:37is certainly
19:38dealing with the
19:39pressure very well
19:39he's got a very big
19:40gap there
19:41over Gavin Piper
19:41in second position
19:42in production
19:43Ivan Muller
19:44meantime still
19:44very much in touch
19:45in second position
19:46in the touring car ranks
19:48there goes Moen
19:49making it look
19:49pretty easy
19:50coming up there
19:55to put a lap
19:57I think
19:57on Colin Blair
19:58and the other
19:59Alfa
19:59don't be confused
20:00the one right behind
20:01Roger Moen
20:01is in second place
20:02that one is
20:03some time down
20:05down through the
20:07complex for the
20:07last time
20:08looking into this
20:09very very tight
20:10new turn
20:10he's still leading
20:12the race in his
20:13class and of course
20:14he's still leading
20:14the race outright
20:15and also most
20:16importantly he's got
20:17a clear track ahead
20:18of him
20:18no pressure
20:19and he's going
20:19to do it
20:20coming down
20:21to get that
20:21start finish line
20:22now
20:22checkered flag
20:23out
20:24well done boys
20:25well done
20:26well done everyone
20:29I'll tell you what
20:30how many times
20:31did I get
20:31to the top
20:31here with the
20:32traffic
20:32well done boys
20:33good race
20:34well not too many
20:35times because you
20:35won your class
20:36so you can't be
20:37happier than that
20:38Roger Moen
20:39winning outright
20:39great race from him
20:41Jason Plato
20:41wins touring cars
20:42and second outright
20:43Ivan Muller
20:44and Gavin Piper
20:45onto the leaderboard
20:46second in his class
20:47and fourth outright
20:48James Thompson
20:49James Kay
20:50Howell and Tommy
20:50Erdos
20:51that was a very good
20:54good race for me
20:55a clean race
20:56had a little fight
20:56with Grace
20:57in the beginning
20:57I think he dropped
20:58the start
20:58so he came ahead
20:59from the start line
21:00but it was a very good
21:02clean race
21:02I'm very happy to win
21:03the car was perfect
21:04the team
21:05doing a brilliant
21:06job
21:06it was a good race
21:14I mean the middle
21:15bit of the race
21:16was a bit
21:16uneventful
21:17because I managed
21:18to get that gap
21:19when I got past Phil
21:19so then I was up the road
21:21and then it was just
21:21I had to work the traffic
21:22but it didn't work
21:23but it kept me on my toes
21:24that's for sure
21:24but it's good
21:24yeah it's nice
21:25to win again
21:25unfortunately
21:26something happened
21:31with the safety car
21:32and we didn't expect
21:34we was in racing
21:35so I was maybe
21:37two seconds behind
21:37the leader
21:38and James was even
21:39far back behind
21:41so it was a surprise
21:43we were still
21:43turning to warm up
21:45the tyre
21:46when by radio
21:47they tell us
21:48okay you are on race
21:49yeah well you were
21:50confused mate
21:51so were we
21:52that it's tough
21:53at the top
21:54must be especially
21:55tough if you're
21:56a new kid on the block
21:58driving for a big
21:59hard works team
22:00for the first time
22:00Dan
22:02your first season
22:03in touring cars
22:04how do you think
22:05it's going so far
22:05well it's very difficult
22:07to say
22:07the only sort of
22:09direct comparison
22:10I've got is my teammate
22:11which is Steve Soper
22:12and he's sort of
22:13renowned as being
22:13one of the best
22:14touring car drivers
22:15in the world
22:15I compare myself to him
22:17and in that respect
22:19I've done quite well
22:20side by side
22:22up over the top
22:22of coffers
22:23no you're not
22:23seeing double
22:24that's Soper and Eves
22:25when I first met him
22:27and he jumps in the car
22:28the first thing that
22:29struck me was his
22:29professionalism
22:30obviously in the way
22:33that he drives as well
22:34you know there's
22:35even if you start to
22:37think if a corner
22:38would be sort of
22:39flat out
22:39Steve's already done it
22:40so in that respect
22:42it pushes me to the limit
22:43Dan Eves there as well
22:45starting from side to side
22:46trying to get his way
22:47past James Thompson
22:48very much in touch
22:48having a great race
22:49it's made me a better
22:51person a better driver
22:52and I hope it'll help me
22:53sort of go on
22:54and do better things
22:55in the future
22:56what was it like
22:57when you got a contract
22:59to drive the works pleasure
23:00and I knew the sort of
23:02people that were phoning in
23:03all of the top line
23:04touring car drivers
23:05Formula 3000 drivers
23:06Formula 3 drivers
23:07and you start thinking
23:09am I good enough
23:11to do this job
23:11because at the time
23:12you know you hear the names
23:14and you think well
23:14they're the best in the world
23:16recently you've had
23:19a couple of
23:20quite big crashes
23:22the mechanics have a lot
23:25of work to do
23:25how do you feel about that
23:27the crash at Snetterton
23:29was bad enough
23:30because it actually hurt
23:31it hurt my back
23:32it hurt my neck
23:33it was a hundred mile an hour
23:34impact
23:35and the car was
23:36absolutely obliterated
23:38the mechanics
23:41have worked so hard
23:42on the car
23:42to build the car
23:43we've been making steps forward
23:44and then
23:45when something like that
23:46happens
23:46it's just
23:47all just sort of
23:48thrown down the drain
23:49I was just gutted
23:51touring cars
23:54just
23:54but you know
23:55that's the place
23:55I've wanted to be
23:56I've basically wanted to race
23:58in the British Touring Car Championship
24:00since I was about six
24:01you know
24:02Steve was one of my heroes
24:03in times gone by
24:04then
24:04I had his autograph
24:05I had Mike Smith's autograph
24:06and to be alongside him
24:08as a teammate
24:08is amazing
24:09I think it's the pinnacle
24:10of British motorsport
24:12the crowd
24:12love it
24:13it's always where I've wanted to be
24:14so now I'm here
24:16I've just got to
24:17do the job
24:17to try and keep me here
24:19as I said
24:35at the start of race one
24:36very topsy-turvy
24:37grid positions here
24:38here's Jason Plato
24:39he won that first race
24:40but now he's in position four
24:41for the start of the feature race
24:43ahead of him
24:44Ivan Muller
24:44now Ivan is his
24:45arch rival
24:46if you like
24:47in the championship
24:47he's on the front row
24:48look who's on pole
24:49James Thompson
24:50James was P4 last time around
24:52what a shuffle
24:52he's a local York man
24:54knows his way around here
24:55the only guy to make it
24:56into the 1 minute 25s
24:57so definitely a good chance
24:59for him
24:59Phil Bennett
25:00he'll want to make amends
25:01really for what happened
25:02this morning
25:02he was on pole
25:03and it didn't really
25:04as we saw
25:05go his way
25:06now remember
25:07this is the feature race
25:08as we work our way
25:09through the body of people here
25:11this is the feature race
25:1230 laps long
25:13twice as long as this morning
25:14and tyre wear
25:15is going to be
25:16a real factor here
25:1730 laps
25:18really really nailing
25:19the tyres hard
25:20these touring cars
25:21will make a pit stop
25:21at some point
25:22so they at least
25:23have some flexibility
25:24and like the production cars
25:25they're really stuck
25:26with their tyres
25:27for the entire duration
25:29of the race
25:29another facet of this race
25:31will be wheel damage
25:32of all things
25:32these wheel rims
25:33are getting a real belting
25:34as the guys
25:35hit the kerbs very hard
25:36trying to get exit speed
25:37down the back straight
25:38Phil Bennett alone
25:39has knocked over
25:39half a dozen
25:40and on top of all of that
25:41one last factor
25:42as you can see
25:43it's starting to rain
25:44everyone is still
25:45on slicks
25:46yep at the minute
25:47but they're still
25:48got their wets laid out
25:49as well
25:49it's going to be decided
25:50in the next couple of minutes
25:51well the rain
25:54is just getting heavier
25:55and heavier
25:56wet tyres coming out
25:58all over the place
25:59Tom Boardman retiring
26:01bit of bad luck there
26:02and both those Ford Focusers
26:04will have to start
26:05from the pit lane
26:06as they were in the pit lane
26:07when the parade lap began
26:08now remember
26:09this is a rolling start
26:10the feature race
26:11and James Thompson
26:12this time
26:12is our pole man
26:14hooking into this tight
26:17left-hander
26:19Yvonne Muller
26:20will line up
26:20alongside him
26:21as they go down
26:21the start
26:22finish straight
26:23with Phil Bennett
26:23and Jason Plato
26:24making out the top four
26:26greasy conditions
26:28going to be very
26:29very tricky
26:29into that first corner
26:30everybody pretty much
26:32on wet tyres now
26:33lights go to green
26:36flag marshal happy
26:38that's a start
26:39down into the corner
26:40for the first time
26:41Thompson
26:41Bennett to the left
26:42Muller right behind
26:43Muller straight through
26:44just see Steve Soper
26:47there running
26:48a little bit wide
26:49on board
26:49with Jason Plato
26:50now there's the view
26:51they're coming up
26:52towards the chicane
26:53oh a bit of a touch
26:54there that was
26:54Soper
26:55just tagging him
26:56on the way past
26:56pushing through
26:57and he didn't take
26:58any prisoners
26:58in that move
26:59Soper very focused
27:00please don't get
27:01out of my way
27:02John
27:02got nothing wrong
27:04with the car
27:04got active under
27:06this
27:06car won't throw him in
27:07well it's wrong
27:09John
27:09he's gone straight
27:10he won't do anything
27:11okay mate
27:13you've got to try
27:14and stick with it
27:15well that's not
27:16what he wanted to hear
27:17he wants sympathy
27:17it certainly is
27:18nobody wants to hear
27:19and that was why
27:20Soper got past
27:21you could hear
27:21Plato really struggling
27:23to get traction
27:23but Soper had tons
27:25of it
27:25okay
27:26down into
27:28the fast fast
27:29back section
27:30of the circuit
27:30there's Steve Sopag
27:32moving up on
27:32Phil Bennett
27:33just in front
27:35of Jason Plato
27:36and he's straight
27:37through
27:37well Jason
27:39might be having
27:39trouble with
27:40front end grip
27:40but so is
27:41Steve Soper
27:41straight off
27:42well that's just
27:43simply a matter
27:43of going into
27:44sunny two
27:45too quickly
27:46no way for
27:47the grip
27:47it's quite
27:53elegantly held
27:54yes it was
27:55plenty of room
27:55to play with
27:56and of course
27:57no damage
27:57to the car
27:58Steve Soper
28:00just diving
28:00on that corner
28:01it's mine
28:01it's mine
28:02all of it
28:02straight into
28:03the grass
28:03there's his
28:04teammate Dan Eves
28:05coming into
28:08that tight set
28:09of complex
28:09corners now
28:10just behind
28:12Tom Ferrier
28:13Tim Harvey
28:14in the second
28:14of the Alphas
28:15giving him
28:15some pressure
28:15James Thompson
28:16meantime
28:16he is leading
28:17this race
28:17Muller second
28:18Bennett third
28:19and Jason Plato
28:20starting the big
28:21fight back
28:22what can he do
28:23still pretty tight
28:25at the top
28:25Muller on the
28:26right hand side
28:27got a pretty
28:28good run out
28:29of that corner
28:29but Jimmy T
28:30has just got
28:31enough momentum
28:31to carry him
28:32through
28:32and Phil Bennett
28:35off straight
28:36ahead through
28:36the gravel
28:37he bags it
28:39back on again
28:40well for a
28:41weekend that
28:41promised so
28:42much for Phil
28:43Bennett
28:43it couldn't
28:44have gone
28:44much more
28:45wrong
28:45yeah time to
28:47regroup
28:47see what he
28:47can do
28:48he's still
28:48come on
28:49ahead of
28:49Jason Plato
28:50so it's not
28:51really been
28:51terrible in
28:52track position
28:52terms
28:53Phil kept
28:53up the
28:53momentum
28:54worked it
28:55through
28:55he's fallen
28:56behind one
28:57of the
28:57Ford
28:57focus production
28:58cars but
28:58he's quickly
28:59made amends
29:00there down
29:00into Tower
29:01Corner now
29:01very important
29:03to get the
29:03power on here
29:04difficult in
29:05these conditions
29:06but so important
29:06because of the
29:07long back
29:07straight now
29:08there's our
29:09production leader
29:09Honda Accord
29:10Mark Lemmer
29:11Jim Edwards
29:12Jr.
29:12second position
29:13also Honda
29:14Accord
29:14bit of a gap
29:19there so far
29:20at least for
29:20Mark Lemmer
29:21he looks
29:21comfortable
29:21and he started
29:22in sixth place
29:23but of course
29:24in these conditions
29:24it's always a case
29:25of more
29:26haste
29:26less speed
29:27Bill Bennett
29:30will be thinking
29:31after he's a little
29:32off down the pit
29:33straight although
29:33as we said
29:34earlier
29:34no harm done
29:35now he's into
29:36the pits
29:36the first man
29:37in and you can
29:37see it is still
29:38raining there
29:39and this is the
29:40earliest opportunity
29:41that Bennett could
29:41have made a pit
29:42stop
29:42so it brings
29:43the Vauxhall
29:43in
29:44very careful
29:45make sure
29:45you don't
29:46lock up
29:46slide into
29:47your crew
29:47front of the car
29:49up
29:49new set of
29:50fronts on
29:51wait for the car
29:53to come down
29:53seven
29:53eight
29:54eight and a half
29:55seconds for Bennett
29:56well he'll not be
29:56too disappointed
29:57but I'm sure
29:58Vauxhall
29:58can do better
29:59than that
29:59well he's a man
30:01who'd be pretty
30:02interested in that
30:03Phil Bennett's
30:04team mate
30:04James Thompson
30:04the gap is
30:056.2
30:06Jason has tyre
30:07problems
30:07he's coming in
30:08this lap
30:09he has tyre
30:09problems
30:096.2
30:10behind you
30:11well there's
30:13the word to
30:13Ivan Muller
30:14he knows
30:14exactly where
30:15he is
30:15and Ivan Muller
30:16of course
30:17very keen
30:17indeed
30:18to get back
30:19into the lead
30:19of this
30:19championship
30:20with Plato
30:21winning that
30:21first round
30:22in the sprint
30:23race
30:23well we just
30:23heard that
30:24Jason Plato's
30:24got tyre
30:25problems
30:25he's darted
30:26into the pits
30:26now
30:26maybe that
30:27can resolve
30:27those matters
30:28sometimes you
30:29get a rogue
30:29set of tyres
30:30but I think
30:31maybe Jason
30:31got pushed
30:32back at the
30:32start
30:32and he thought
30:33maybe the tyres
30:33are the problem
30:34but 6.8
30:35seconds
30:36that's going
30:36to help him
30:37get back
30:37to the front
30:38James Thompson
30:40back at the
30:41front
30:41still out in
30:43front there
30:44these conditions
30:49are not getting
30:49any nicer at all
30:51Ivan Muller
30:52you just saw
30:52behind him there
30:53James Thompson's
30:54got a little bit
30:55of a handy gap
30:56here
30:56weaving your way
30:57through traffic
30:57in the tight part
30:58of the circuit
30:58very difficult
30:59and of course
31:00in these conditions
31:01getting past the
31:02slower traffic
31:02is not that easy
31:03Thompson's deciding
31:04now is the time
31:05to go in
31:05OK
31:06I play one ball
31:07because he come in
31:08one ball
31:09next stop
31:09a late decision
31:11there by Ivan Muller
31:12obviously his crew
31:13you can see right
31:14behind James Thompson
31:15they were ready
31:15to stop as well
31:16but he's decided
31:17to stay out
31:17it's critical
31:18that Ivan Muller
31:19makes sure he gets
31:20a clean run
31:20into the pits
31:21but look at this
31:22problem for Thompson
31:23left front
31:24that's terrible
31:24almost 12 seconds
31:26and that's going
31:26to cost some time
31:27he'll find hard
31:28to make up
31:29back on the circuit
31:29just the reverse
31:31of what he'd have
31:32been looking for
31:32as Phil Bennett
31:34had a pretty handy
31:35stop as we saw
31:36there's Steve Soper
31:37in the Peugeot
31:39James Thompson
31:40just pulling out
31:41in front of Tom Ferrier
31:42in the Alpha
31:43and there is
31:46Jason Plato
31:46that's the all
31:48important position
31:48we need to work out
31:50Phil Bennett
31:50is behind him
31:51but the one
31:52we have to see
31:52who is yet to make
31:53his pit stop
31:54is current race leader
31:55Ivan Muller
31:56and he will be in
31:57I think at the end
31:58of this lap
31:58yeah that will sort
31:59the whole shuffle out
32:00as we see Jason Plato
32:01just moving up
32:01behind Tom Ferrier
32:02side by side
32:03down the back straight
32:04Tom on the very
32:06wet part of the circuit
32:07Jason Plato
32:08streaking past
32:10on the outside
32:11very quick part
32:11of the track there
32:12he's got to wash
32:14off so much speed
32:15and also
32:15there's a lot more
32:16water lying in the track
32:17it's not
32:18in some parts
32:19of the track
32:19draining away
32:20okay here's
32:22Ivan Muller
32:22he has yet to stop
32:24we can see that
32:24by the yellow strip
32:26above his name
32:27this is the last
32:29set of corners
32:29before the pit entrance
32:30you reckon this time
32:31I think he's going to be
32:32in this time
32:32but he's going to be
32:33on tender hooks
32:34because he must get in
32:35cleanly
32:36have a quick stop
32:37get back out
32:38to ensure that he
32:39retains the lead
32:40of this race
32:41well that slightly
32:42awkward stop
32:42that James Thompson
32:43had
32:43may well play
32:44into his hands
32:45it's all to play
32:45for now
32:46so bring it in
32:47slowly
32:48be careful
32:48look how wet
32:49the pit lane is
32:49very tentative
32:51brings the car
32:52to a standstill
32:52the car up
32:53again the guys
32:54it's one of those
32:55things of
32:55again just take it
32:56easy
32:57don't try and go
32:57quickly
32:587.6 seconds
33:00that should be
33:01enough
33:01to get Muller
33:02back out in the lead
33:03in the head
33:03of James Thompson
33:04well there is Muller
33:06where are they
33:06down the pit straight
33:07that worked a treat
33:09for Ravann Muller
33:10ok Ravann it worked
33:13you're out in front
33:13of Thomas
33:14it worked ok
33:15you're leading now
33:16and there's your
33:17confirmation
33:18Thompson
33:19Sopa still in
33:21second position
33:22at the moment
33:22because he hasn't
33:23pitted yet
33:24but James Thompson
33:24critically in third
33:26place
33:26and he has pitted
33:27now James Thompson
33:30moving up on the
33:30back of Sopa
33:31up through the
33:32chicane
33:32and running wide
33:33two wheels on the
33:34grass
33:34that's scary
33:36you're running so
33:36close
33:37the car ahead of you
33:38you really don't
33:38see where the track
33:39ends
33:39and that was an
33:40error from Thompson
33:41ok
33:42he's got away
33:44with it though
33:44still in behind
33:45Steve Sopa
33:46just slips past
33:47on the inside
33:47well I think
33:48Sopa decided
33:49look I'm going
33:49to let you go
33:50I'm probably
33:50coming into the
33:50pits anyway
33:51at the end
33:52of this lap
33:52I'll drive
33:53alongside you
33:54for a little
33:54bit just to
33:54annoy you
33:55but basically
33:55I have let
33:56you through
33:56as we go
33:57through the
33:58very fast
33:58left right
33:59jink
33:59you can see
34:01James Thompson
34:02really on the
34:02edge
34:03and both cars
34:04have gone
34:04their outside wheels
34:05and backed
34:06off the racetrack
34:07very spectacular
34:08very committed
34:09stuff from the
34:09pair of them
34:10Thompson turns in
34:11Sopa runs wide
34:12again
34:13almost onto the
34:14grass
34:15I'll tell you
34:16what he's
34:16magnetically drawn
34:17to that patch of
34:17grass
34:17I reckon
34:18he'll be a
34:19greenkeeper
34:19when he retires
34:20well there's a few
34:21more years in him
34:22yet but I think
34:22the Peugeot really
34:23struggles at a
34:24certain point of the
34:25corner the front end
34:26just washes away
34:27on the wet circuit
34:28well Plato's trying to
34:29put that theory to the
34:30test
34:30Sopa holds it
34:31tight
34:32Plato decides to
34:33run around the
34:33outside
34:34Kep in next
34:37but it's very
34:38tight
34:38holds the line
34:41it works
34:42yes
34:43and let's see
34:43if a Super
34:44is coming in
34:44he is
34:45that signal
34:46all the way back
34:47half a lap earlier
34:48Tower corner
34:49well no schedule
34:52stop for Simon
34:53Harrison
34:53that's a big
34:54problem for him
34:54let's see what the
34:56Peugeot guys can do
34:57just front wheels
34:59being changed
35:006.8 is the
35:03quickest we've seen
35:03today
35:037.8
35:04almost on par with
35:06Miller
35:06and Super
35:07can be too
35:08unhappy about that
35:08ok
35:10Gavin Piper now
35:11coming down
35:11towards Tower
35:12Bend
35:12problem
35:14big problem
35:15I got it
35:16I got it
35:17I've got it
35:18no I haven't
35:19it just looks like
35:20it lost all
35:21commitment into the
35:22corner
35:22didn't look like
35:23it was going too
35:23quickly
35:23but he just
35:24let the car run
35:25too wide
35:26gets on the grass
35:27then the job
35:27is done
35:28well he's a fair
35:29way into that
35:29mud as well
35:30that's going to
35:30take some
35:31removing
35:31now Mark
35:32Lemmer
35:33production leader
35:34Edward second
35:35Hal third
35:35coming down
35:37into the same
35:37corner
35:37that's the way
35:39around it
35:40just tippy-toe
35:41but he still
35:41missed that apex
35:42it's not easy
35:43Tower Bend's
35:44always been a
35:44problem but
35:45particularly in the
35:45wind nobody
35:46seems to be able
35:47to make an apex
35:48well great to
35:49watch Mark
35:49Lemmer he's
35:50really on the
35:50charts here
35:50doing very
35:51very well
35:52as is Jim
35:52Edwards Jr.
35:53in second
35:54position
35:54still in touch
35:55he's a little
35:56way back but
35:56not that far
35:57behind
35:57and Lemmer's
35:58running a little
35:58bit wide there
35:59maybe there's
35:59some grip out
36:00wide
36:00there's Jim
36:01Edwards Jr.
36:01in second
36:02and here's
36:02Ivan Muller
36:03the upright leader
36:04the touring car
36:05leader and he's
36:05making it look
36:06easy
36:06safety car
36:08ah that is
36:10going to turn
36:10everything on its
36:11head
36:11and Tim Harvey
36:13just gets in
36:14before the pit
36:15lane window
36:15closes
36:16we haven't seen
36:17much of Harvey
36:17in the Alfa
36:18Romeo this year
36:18let's hope we
36:19see a lot more
36:19before the end
36:20of the season
36:20but it is an
36:21Alfa that's off
36:22the track
36:22that's Piper's
36:23car and that's
36:24the reason why
36:25the safety car
36:25has been brought
36:26out
36:26yeah it's in a
36:27difficult position
36:28right at the end
36:30of that breaking
36:31zone on a corner
36:31that we've seen
36:32a lot of people
36:33have some difficulty
36:34with this afternoon
36:35just pulling it
36:36out now
36:36went a fair way
36:37into that mud
36:37well the grass
36:38is extremely
36:39slippery
36:39and of course
36:40there's no grip
36:41on wet grass
36:42well let's try it
36:43again
36:43Ivan Muller now
36:44that lead has
36:44gone
36:45James Thompson
36:45right behind him
36:46then Plato
36:46then Bennett
36:47then Soper
36:47everybody close
36:48together
36:49the race
36:49has restarted
36:51Ivan Muller
36:52has it all to do
36:52again
36:53across the line
36:53coming down
36:55into Claveau
36:55the first corner
36:56for the first time
36:57since the restart
36:58feeding them through
36:59one after the other
37:00everything through
37:01cleanly
37:02yep good to see
37:04just threading
37:05their way
37:06over the bumps
37:06now Periscope
37:09missed the view
37:10from the back wing
37:11of Steve Soper's
37:11car
37:12and what a filthy
37:13day
37:13and look at
37:16those conditions
37:16and look
37:17what are the
37:17voxels on
37:18yeah mud
37:19and gunk
37:20all over the place
37:20that was somebody
37:21putting
37:21I can't even
37:22see who it was
37:22two wheels
37:23out onto the mud
37:24it was Phil Bennett
37:25and Steve Soper
37:27side by side
37:28with him
37:28down into Tower Bend
37:29very very close
37:31rear wheel off
37:33bit of a tag
37:34there from Bennett
37:35Soper hangs on
37:36this is getting tough
37:37and Steve Soper
37:38fights back
37:38yeah Bennett
37:39thought he had a chance
37:40of getting through
37:40Soper just held on
37:41by his fingernails
37:42and kept that position
37:43for damage
37:44to the right side
37:44of his Persia
37:45well it ain't over yet
37:46both of them driving
37:47off the circuit
37:48really getting into it
37:49Hammer and Tong
37:50straight off the kerbs
37:51standing water
37:53now getting worse
37:54and worse
37:54sheets of it
37:55all over these cars
37:56as they try to get
37:56the power down
37:57then stand on the brakes
37:58wash the speed off
37:59Steve Soper slipping
38:00and sliding all over
38:01the place
38:01so is Phil Bennett
38:02maxo commitment
38:03and Bennett's got to
38:04run at Soper
38:05as they come up
38:05into this final chicane
38:07well there's Thompson
38:09Plato really pressuring
38:12this is for position
38:14and there's real pressure
38:16as well
38:16that's Bennett and Soper
38:17tags
38:18he pushes him
38:18and again
38:19hip and shoulder
38:20pushed wide
38:22now and Soper
38:23fights back
38:24Soper nails
38:25Phil Bennett
38:25straight into the back
38:26of the car
38:27Soper's in front
38:27Bennett's still going
38:28well I'll have a bit
38:29of that since Tom
38:29Ferrier
38:30looks like fun
38:31well the last time
38:32I saw driving like this
38:33was in Bogner Regis
38:34on the dirt jump
38:35well here's where
38:36it all started
38:37that's Tower Bend
38:38that's the view
38:39from Soper's car
38:40and that's Bennett
38:40okay that was start one
38:42now we're into the complex
38:43yes and Bennett
38:44has another pop
38:45both cars get in the grass
38:46Bennett really not able
38:47to do very much
38:48Soper on the outside
38:49then the slap on the side
38:50now it's Soper
38:52behind Bennett
38:52let's see what happens
38:53push
38:56push
38:58well out you hear
39:01Bennett's throttle
39:02is wide open
39:03he's just pushing
39:04that Vauxhall
39:05into the side
39:05of the Peugeot
39:06well just left off
39:09Steve Soper's
39:09Christmas card list
39:10of that there is
39:11no doubt
39:11now here's the end
39:13of it
39:14this is the third
39:16time these drivers
39:17have got together
39:18started at Donington
39:19carried on a
39:20Knock Hill
39:20and of course
39:21here in Nylancroft
39:22some Ferrier
39:26just leaping in
39:27on the end of it
39:27attacking Phil Bennett
39:28now here's the
39:31Bennett view
39:32stands on the
39:34brakes but
39:35oh dear me
39:38I mean it's just like
39:39Piccadilly Circus
39:40you've got cars
39:40ahead of you
39:41braking
39:41cars behind you
39:42overrunning
39:43you're caught
39:43in the middle
39:44the insurance claim
39:46form will be very
39:47complex to fill out
39:48indeed
39:49Steve Soper
39:50meantime
39:51still running
39:52but look at the
39:52front of that car
39:53you can park
39:54your bicycle in it
39:54I wonder if it's
39:55going to be any quicker
39:56that aerodynamic
39:56modification
39:57you never know
39:58sometimes does
39:59help a car
39:59well it ain't pretty
40:01but it's still
40:02running
40:02that's what
40:04they used to
40:05look like
40:05and he's off
40:06Phil Bennett
40:07absolutely sideways
40:09save of the day
40:10he's brought it
40:11back from nowhere
40:12I bet you he didn't
40:13even know where he
40:13was
40:14there's so much
40:14spray out there
40:15he just floored the
40:16throttle and the car
40:17straightened itself
40:17up
40:17now lunging down
40:18the inside of
40:19Tim Harvey
40:20tower bend
40:21straight ahead
40:22he's off
40:22can he keep it
40:26running
40:26can he
40:27no he's just
40:28caught in that mud
40:29that's the end of it
40:29yeah it's just too
40:30heavy out there
40:31Bennett's day
40:31what an eventful
40:33day it's been
40:33now
40:37here's another look
40:38through the chicane
40:40stands on the gas
40:44and saves it
40:45yeah he did
40:45that's all you can
40:46do in a front wheel
40:46drive touring car
40:47nail the throttle
40:48it will sort itself
40:49out
40:49look at those
40:50conditions
40:51two wheels on the
40:54grass
40:54oh dear me
40:56straight across
40:56well what a
41:05measured couple
41:06of laps
41:06I've been hit by
41:10Bennett
41:10hit by Bennett
41:11I don't know
41:11what the damage
41:12is
41:12can you have a
41:13look this car
41:13around please
41:14yeah it looks
41:15like just the
41:15back wing
41:16Tim
41:16everything looks
41:17okay from me
41:18what I can see
41:18on the telly
41:19all right I'll
41:19give a good look
41:20when you go past
41:21yeah
41:21just a little bit
41:23of damage there
41:24to the back of
41:24Tim Harvey's car
41:25Dan Eves and the
41:26Peugeot slipping
41:27through
41:27and Tim Harvey
41:28once again trying
41:29to put that
41:30Alfa Romeo
41:30into contention
41:31and once again
41:32the safety car
41:33is out and we
41:33know why
41:34now meantime
41:35back at the
41:36front
41:36while we were
41:37watching Phil
41:38Bennett and his
41:38problems
41:39this is what
41:39happened just
41:40before the
41:40safety car
41:41came out
41:41that's Plato
41:42that's Thompson
41:43and that's a
41:43pass
41:44and it's a
41:44very very wet
41:45part of the
41:46racetrack as well
41:46Plato's going to
41:47have to do a very
41:48good job
41:49he got an apex
41:49he kept the car
41:50in good driving
41:51from Plato
41:52that's Steve
41:54Sofa
41:55no prizes
41:55for guessing
41:56safety car
41:59still running
42:00around
42:00everyone banking
42:01up behind it
42:02the whole field
42:02closing in
42:03and Tim's
42:04into the pits
42:04again
42:05like following
42:09three juggernauts
42:09down the motorway
42:10in the rain
42:11you just can't
42:11see anything
42:12but you know
42:13there were cars
42:14going off
42:14anywhere
42:14Bennett made
42:15a silly mistake
42:16he lost it
42:17coming out
42:17of the chicane
42:18lost all his
42:19momentum
42:19I went past
42:21him and he
42:21tried to overtake
42:22me at the very
42:22next corner
42:23and could never
42:23ever stop
42:24he just went
42:24sailing past
42:25me on the
42:26inside
42:26with brakes
42:27all locked
42:27up
42:27golden rule
42:28in racing
42:29is if you
42:29make one mistake
42:30don't make
42:30another at the
42:31next corner
42:31well thanks
42:32for those
42:32thoughts
42:32chairman
42:32Harvey
42:33who said
42:34you learn
42:35nothing
42:35in touring
42:35car racing
42:36Steve Soper
42:37in
42:38I suppose
42:39there are no
42:39surprises there
42:40bringing the
42:40remains of
42:41the Peugeot
42:42paperweight
42:43in
42:43another saga
42:46to another
42:46race
42:47isn't it
42:47you know
42:48but just
42:50for the
42:50record
42:50I didn't
42:52retaliate
42:52quite
42:53prepared
42:54to stay
42:54behind him
42:55because I
42:55thought he'd
42:56probably get
42:56a 30
42:57second penalty
42:58or something
42:59anyway
42:59it might
43:01look as
43:01how I
43:01retaliated
43:02but that
43:02was not
43:03the fact
43:03as I
43:04said
43:04he
43:04rushed off
43:05out of
43:05the corner
43:06and the
43:06Toyota
43:07maybe
43:08brake
43:08differently
43:08to a
43:09front wheel
43:09drive car
43:10he put
43:11the anchors
43:11on and
43:12I run
43:13in the
43:13back of
43:13him
43:13it's a
43:14shame
43:14it was
43:14at the
43:14very next
43:15corner
43:15Phil Bennett
43:17thought that
43:17too
43:18yeah I have
43:18to say
43:19Steve
43:19I mean
43:19I've heard
43:20some stories
43:20but you
43:21should have
43:22known that
43:22Toyota
43:22might break
43:23early as
43:23well
43:23so you
43:24should
43:24have
43:24been
43:24prepared
43:24to avoid
43:25Phil Bennett's
43:26Vauxhall
43:26very
43:28very busy
43:28piece of
43:29concertina
43:29racing there
43:30but now
43:30we're off
43:31and running
43:31again
43:31Muller on
43:32the right
43:32Thompson in
43:33the middle
43:33Plato on
43:34the left
43:34coming down
43:34to Claveau
43:35corner
43:35yet again
43:36on another
43:37restart
43:37Vauxhall
43:38Vauxhall
43:39Tommy Erdos
43:40he's been
43:41up and
43:41at him
43:41all day
43:41he's right
43:42up there
43:42again
43:43in fourth
43:43position
43:43Ferrier
43:44fifth position
43:45in the
43:45Alpha
43:46on board
43:46with Jason
43:47Plato
43:47eyes on
43:48Storks
43:49now back
43:54at the front
43:55of the
43:55production
43:55battle
43:55that's
43:56Mark
43:56Lemmerin
43:56he's running
43:57wide
43:57and he's
43:58losing places
43:59big time
43:59Howell slipping
44:00through
44:01Howell up
44:02into second
44:03position
44:03and Howell
44:05almost running
44:05too deep
44:06there
44:06it's all
44:07going off
44:07in production
44:08as well
44:08Matt Jackson
44:09wants a piece
44:10of this
44:10as well
44:10Simon Harrison
44:11he's just
44:12caught up
44:13in this
44:13remember
44:13he was in
44:13the pits
44:14when he
44:14needed
44:14to beam
44:15and at
44:15the front
44:16of it
44:16all
44:16it's
44:16this guy
44:17Jim
44:17Edwards
44:17Jr.
44:18leading
44:18in production
44:19and you
44:20can see
44:20with Howell
44:20how easy
44:21it is
44:21to overrun
44:22going
44:22into
44:22sunny
44:23one
44:23Muller
44:25Plato
44:25Thompson
44:26there's
44:26your top
44:26three
44:27across the
44:29strike again
44:30Jason Plato
44:31still very much
44:32in touch
44:33and James
44:33Thompson
44:33not far
44:34behind
44:34either
44:34but the
44:35real battle
44:35for the
44:36championship
44:36is between
44:36Muller
44:37who wants
44:37to win
44:37Plato
44:38who feels
44:39he has
44:39to win
44:39and it's
44:40going to be
44:40difficult
44:41for Plato
44:41Muller
44:41will not
44:42give up
44:42that lead
44:43easily
44:43Ferrier
44:44Dan Eves
44:46and safety
44:46car
44:47again
44:47banking up
44:50the field
44:50once more
44:51these conditions
44:52are catching
44:52a lot
44:53of drivers
44:53out
44:53and I
44:54think
44:54all the
44:55common
44:55criticism
44:55there
44:56we see
44:56Paul O'Neill
44:56he's
44:57off
44:57that tower
44:58the most
44:58popular
44:59corner
44:59to park
45:00your car
45:00on the
45:00field
45:01at
45:01this
45:01weekend
45:01scrap metal
45:02merchant
45:02could have
45:03made a fortune
45:03down there
45:04this afternoon
45:04they just keep
45:05fighting
45:06one after the
45:07other
45:07restart again
45:08Muller
45:08Plato
45:09Thompson
45:09and Erdoss
45:10and Erdoss
45:10and Erdoss
45:10Sperrier
45:10you've heard
45:11it all
45:11before
45:11it's
45:11deja vu
45:12but they
45:13are running
45:14once again
45:14and for
45:16Ivan Muller
45:17of course
45:17he's got
45:17the clear
45:17track
45:18ahead of
45:18him
45:18no spray
45:19he's got
45:20to capitalize
45:20on that
45:21advantage
45:22every time
45:22he capitalizes
45:23on the
45:24advantage
45:24out comes
45:25the safety
45:25car
45:26and everyone
45:26closes up
45:27again
45:27but here
45:28we go
45:28once again
45:29same race
45:29order
45:29as last
45:30time
45:30there's
45:32Kay
45:33Graves
45:34behind him
45:35but it's
45:36Jim Edwards
45:36Jr.
45:36who's
45:37leading
45:37in production
45:37because those
45:38two are
45:38a lap down
45:39and Lemusov
45:40same corner
45:40but he's
45:41further in
45:42than everybody
45:42else
45:42this is like
45:43shot port
45:44so you can
45:44get the car
45:44further in
45:45and there's
45:46Jackson
45:46and he's
45:48run very
45:48wide
45:49as Jim Edwards
45:49Jr.
45:50he's clubbed
45:50the pylon
45:51at the end
45:52of the
45:52pit straight
45:52and he's
45:53still running
45:54Jackson's
45:55in front
45:55no he's
45:56not
45:56Edwards
45:56is back
45:57in front
45:57talk of
45:58you couldn't
45:58kill it
45:59with a stick
45:59the damage
46:00to the side
46:01of the Honda
46:01the speed
46:02he hit that
46:03barrier
46:03that car
46:04is running
46:05right now
46:05and leading
46:06his class
46:06lifts
46:07over the
46:07gravel
46:08doesn't really
46:08slow down
46:09very much
46:09side swipes
46:10the tyres
46:11then he has
46:12another go
46:12at the barrier
46:13and he still
46:14keeps going
46:14his boots
46:15flatten the
46:15throttle
46:16I reckon
46:16he was the
46:17stunt driver
46:17in bullet
46:18back on the
46:19track
46:19at this point
46:20he's still
46:20in P2
46:21but he clawed
46:21his way back
46:22this fella
46:23hasn't clawed
46:23his way back
46:24from anywhere
46:24he's been
46:25leading all the
46:25way through
46:25as a
46:26Van Muller
46:26and the
46:26happy man
46:27he's going
46:27to be
46:28to take
46:28another race
46:29victory
46:29today
46:29very important
46:31to his
46:31championship
46:31okay 10
46:41out of 10
46:41for the
46:41boys then
46:42that's the
46:42verdict
46:43it was
46:45junior
46:45just drags
46:47the thing
46:47across the
46:48line
46:48great race
46:50Matt Jackson
46:50there in that
46:51focus
46:51a worthy
46:52competitor
46:52bringing it
46:53home in
46:54second in
46:54the class
46:55there's your
46:55confirmation
46:55outright
46:56Muller
46:56Plato
46:57and Thompson
46:57and look
46:58at that
46:58Tommy Erdos
46:59and the
46:59Lexus
46:59top four
47:00great stuff
47:01Dan Eves
47:02Jim Edwards
47:03Jr
47:03Jackson
47:03and Howell
47:048th win
47:08of the season
47:08in conditions
47:09that you
47:10say you don't
47:11like
47:11yeah it was
47:13a bit better
47:13than what I
47:14like
47:14because it was
47:15more wet
47:16than greasy
47:16that was a
47:19tough race
47:19for me
47:20because after
47:20first we
47:21do a good
47:22strategy
47:22beginning
47:25was planned
47:25to stop
47:25a bit early
47:26and then I
47:27decided to
47:27stop just
47:28after
47:28James
47:29and it
47:30worked
47:31so I
47:31had
47:31seven
47:31second
47:32lead
47:32I
47:33lose
47:33all
47:33the
47:33second
47:34second
47:34with
47:34the
47:34safety
47:35car
47:35after
47:36the
47:36safety
47:36car
47:37again
47:37three
47:37second
47:38again
47:38safety
47:39car
47:39and
47:39like
47:39this
47:40three
47:40times
47:40so it's not
47:42very good
47:42for
47:43for
47:43for
47:43the
47:43hard
47:43starting
47:49from pole
47:49position
47:49you'd expect
47:50to win
47:50the race
47:51so that's
47:53disappointing
47:53got to pick
47:54ourselves up
47:54and go
47:55forward to
47:55the next
47:56one
47:56but
47:56unfortunately
47:57we're running
47:57out of time
47:58now
47:58you've got to
48:00get your skates
48:00on James
48:01because look
48:01it's tight
48:02at the top
48:02and they're
48:02moving away
48:03Muller moves
48:04up
48:04Plato moves
48:05down
48:05but there's
48:06only three
48:06points in it
48:07then a bit
48:08of a gap
48:08back to James
48:09then Phil
48:09Bennett
48:09and no
48:10contest in
48:11the team's
48:11championship
48:11Vauxhall Motorsport
48:13all the way
48:14what can I say
48:16extraordinary
48:17unbelievable race
48:18everything happened
48:19that race
48:19the last lap
48:20there I went
48:21off into the
48:21gravel
48:21and I was
48:22closing my eyes
48:23thinking this is
48:23total car
48:24right off
48:25end of story
48:25open my eyes
48:26and we've still
48:27got all the wheels
48:27going in the same
48:28direction
48:28let's get going
48:29excellent
48:30let's have another
48:31look at this
48:32talk about a
48:33lucky escape
48:34made it a huge
48:36day for the
48:37whole family
48:37not too much
48:54of the commentary
48:55thanks dad
48:55that's my job
48:56sounded a bit
48:58too good to be
48:59true
48:59and there's some
49:01confirmation for you
49:02James K moves up
49:03Simon Harrison
49:03bad weekend
49:04moves down
49:05then it's
49:05Moen
49:05Jackson and
49:06Hal
49:06those focuses
49:07are there or
49:08thereabouts
49:08every weekend
49:09and GR Motorsport
49:10they're clearing
49:11off into the
49:12distance
49:12well a great
49:16day for one
49:17bloke and his
49:17dad
49:18Jim Edwards
49:18Junior
49:18and Jim
49:19Edwards
49:19Senior
49:20absolute
49:20unbridled
49:21delight
49:22a rotten
49:22day for this
49:23man though
49:23Phil Bennett
49:24holds up
49:25the piece
49:25of paper
49:26he has
49:27received
49:27the
49:27stiffest
49:28penalty
49:28imposed
49:29by the
49:29stewards
49:29so far
49:30this year
49:31for that
49:31fracar
49:32with Steve
49:32Soper
49:32Phil Bennett
49:33has been
49:34banned
49:34for a race
49:35he'll miss
49:35the next
49:36touring car
49:36round
49:37unfortunately
49:37he's got
49:39into a
49:39skirmish
49:40with
49:40with a
49:42Peugeot
49:42again
49:42never mind
49:43one of those
49:44things
49:44are you going
49:44to appeal
49:45no
49:46I'm a bit
49:47battle weary
49:49I think
49:49from this
49:50weekend
49:50and I think
49:52I'll go home
49:52and have a nice
49:53cup of tea
49:53probably a top
49:55plan
49:55go home
49:56regroup
49:56the weekend
49:57looks so good
49:57for Phil
49:58he's still on a
49:59charge and he's
49:59still quick
50:00he was a pole
50:00man for one
50:01of today's races
50:02well it couldn't
50:03be closer
50:04we came here
50:04with Muller and Plato
50:05dead heating
50:06now they've won
50:07a race each
50:08so it's wide open
50:09as we head up to
50:10Walton Park for the
50:11next two rounds
50:12it'll be great fun
50:13thank you