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00:00You might like a big name to draw a crowd.
00:02You join us at Silverstone on an absolutely cracking day for
00:31rounds 21 and 22 of the AA.com British Touring Car Championship, where the headline news
00:36is that legendary name in British motor racing, MG, joins the series.
00:41The championship hunt itself is as tight as ever.
00:44And Phil Bennett, well, he's back with a vengeance.
01:01Anthony, great to see you out there, finally.
01:11It's been six months in development.
01:13This is your first time against competitors.
01:15What's your immediate feeling?
01:17I'm impressed.
01:19Even I'm impressed.
01:20I didn't expect the car to go this well straight away.
01:23We did have a chat about could we make it, we took a decision we would be here, and we
01:33promised everyone, Toka, MG, that we would have two cars here at Silverstone, so we're
01:38here.
01:39Warren's car was brand new on Wednesday, so we're going down different directions with
01:44each car so we can hopefully speed up the development process.
01:47For MG it's a very big thing that we're embarking upon here, so there's that anticipation and
01:54just, you know, the desire to do well for ourselves as well, you know.
01:58So, but no, it's very exciting to start something quite big, I hope.
02:07Why did you choose the British Touring Car Championship?
02:09Well, it's the premier touring car championship of the world, I think.
02:12This is the one that's seen on the television sets throughout the world.
02:15And, obviously, MG is a proper motorsporting brand, and what better place to come back
02:20to than Silverstone?
02:22Absolutely, Silverstone, the home of British motor racing.
02:25We're racing on the international circuit, a real specialist circuit for touring cars.
02:30And, as usual at Silverstone, qualifying provided some surprises.
02:34Yeah, it was good to come back, and for the time being, anyway, it's going quite well.
02:47We haven't damaged it yet.
02:49And no yellow paint, which Peugeot will be glad to report.
03:01You kept us all guessing there, Roger. You waited until the last minute.
03:04Yeah, I mean, because I have a very heavy car this time, it's very difficult to stop in some of the corners,
03:09so it's difficult to get it right. So for the last lap, I get it right.
03:12And I'm pleased also to have O'Neill for a good time, so it's good.
03:16Fantastic result.
03:18I don't know what to say.
03:21You're 41,000, Professor.
03:25It's a joke, isn't it?
03:27No, it's all right.
03:28Not a joke, a contact that you deserve.
03:31It was hard work, keeping behind Roger, but I just could pick up where he was going wrong.
03:36And I thought he'd be about 4th or 5th, so I'd be 6th.
03:39Thank you, mate.
03:41And then, coming across the radio, everyone was waving, P2.
03:44I was like, oh, front row, this is honestly, it means a lot to me.
03:49It's good.
04:03We're here in the Tech Speed Garage with Paul O'Neill and his sister,
04:06who some of you may have heard of, Mel C.
04:10You've been sponsoring Paul's team.
04:13Yes.
04:14And this weekend, he's on the front row of the grid.
04:17He is, for the first time, and I'm so glad I can be here to see it.
04:20So it's a very exciting weekend for us.
04:23Having your sister here, is that giving you a bit more confidence?
04:26It's just great.
04:27I mean, it's an extra push-on.
04:28Even when my mum and dad turn up, it's an extra push-on.
04:30But knowing yesterday when we were on the front row and I just thought,
04:33I'm going to show the sponsor what I'm actually doing here.
04:36So I did try extra hard.
04:38For that lap, it was ballistic yesterday.
04:41It's been great.
04:42See, I told you he was back with a vengeance.
04:48Phil Bennett returns to the series after his enforced layoff,
04:51and he's only put the car on pole position for the sprint race.
04:54Nice work.
04:55Alongside him is Ivan Muller and the other Vauxhall.
04:58Now, Ivan trails his teammate, Jason Plato, by 10 points in this championship.
05:02So he really needs to make as much as he can at that front row position.
05:06Here's the guy that's leading at Jason Plato.
05:08He's got 260 points, and he's on the second row of the grid.
05:11So anything's possible.
05:13James Thompson alongside.
05:15Now, real strange turn of events as we just passed here.
05:18Tommy Erdos and the Lexus, Dan Eves and the Peugeot.
05:21Dan's teammate, Steve Soper, had actually put his Peugeot on the second row of the grid.
05:26Rotten luck.
05:27They did an engine change overnight.
05:28The rules say he's got to go to the back of the grid.
05:31Here are our two Alphas.
05:33Now, talking about the back of the grid, Anthony Reid.
05:36He had a fabulous taboo in the MG P6.
05:41But because of some modifications that they had to perform to the car,
05:45they've had to move it further down the back of the grid.
05:47Still really encouraging and a stunning car to watch for.
05:50There's his teammate there, Hughes.
05:52And then another absolute revelation in the production ranks.
05:55Look at that.
05:56Paul O'Neill, he's on the front row of the grid.
05:58Only four hundredths of a second behind Roger Moen and the other Peugeot.
06:02Really stunning qualifier for him.
06:03Remember, this is the sprint race.
06:05The touring cars start first on the lights.
06:07Twenty-eight seconds later, the production cars kick off and they do one lap less.
06:15A qualifying sheet.
06:16Phil Bennett will want to frame and take home.
06:18Pole position ahead of Muller and the rest of them.
06:21Tommy Erdos in P5.
06:22Dan Eaves in P6.
06:24Then those Alphas as we saw.
06:26Then Soper, Reid and Hughes.
06:28There's another qualifying sheet that Paul O'Neill will want to take with him.
06:31And they are followed by the pair of Hondas.
06:33Then Jackson, Piper, Tom Boardman.
06:35Gareth Howell on the next row.
06:36Then another pair of Ford Focusers.
06:38Then Allen and Blair.
06:40And we've got another new mark entering the championship as well.
06:43P15.
06:44Steve Wood in a Proton joins the production.
06:46Rebs are up, ready for a start.
06:50Lights go to green and they're away.
06:53Bennett and Muller lighting the front tires up.
06:56Just dumping the clutch and getting away cleanly.
06:58Good start for them.
06:59Bennett on the right.
07:00Jason Plato just sliding in behind.
07:03Now we're on board with Steve Soper.
07:05Ahead of us is Ivan Muller and Jason Plato.
07:09You can tell because they're both red voxels.
07:13Just on the right of your screen you can see.
07:15Good start there for production.
07:18A couple of smoke from the rear of those voxels.
07:22Plato just in front of Muller.
07:24Moving down the back straight for the first time.
07:27This is a Soper eye view.
07:30Jockeying for position.
07:32Muller just trying to find a way past Plato.
07:34Plato defends.
07:35Thompson around the outside.
07:37Bit of contact there as well between Tommy Erdos.
07:39And Anthony Reid in the MG.
07:42Now back on board with Steve Soper.
07:45Muller on the right.
07:47Thompson on the left.
07:49Bridge corner very fast.
07:51Very fast indeed.
07:52And we're on board with Soper.
07:53Has he got past?
07:55Just slots in behind James Thompson.
07:58Plato just holding off Ivan Muller at the same time.
08:03This is frenetic stuff.
08:05Really really pushing hard.
08:06Well second, third and fourth.
08:07Pretty exciting stuff.
08:08Even fifth place.
08:09But Phil Bennett.
08:10He's just off and running.
08:12And there's no truth that he took a photograph of Andy Prio in the car.
08:16Just to make sure he stayed sharp all race.
08:19Okay.
08:20Well these guys have really got their hands full.
08:21And that's really Fat Plereti playing into Phil Bennett's hands as well.
08:24They're keeping each other busy.
08:26There's Bennett.
08:27There's the lead.
08:28Then it's Jason Pato.
08:29Then Ivan Muller.
08:30James Thompson.
08:31And Soper really pressing hard in the Peugeot.
08:33Really working.
08:34Just trying to get an inside line there over James Thompson.
08:37Can't do it.
08:38But very much in touch with these lead Vauxhalls.
08:43Now here's a replay at the start of production.
08:45And it was an absolutely cracking start by Graves.
08:47Weaving his way through.
08:49And stealing a march on Moen on the right.
08:51Jackson in behind him in the yellow focus.
08:54And then Kaye and Boardman.
08:57Now here's a replay.
08:59You can just see there.
09:00Gavin Piper just ducking down the inside.
09:03Some contact there as well from Blair.
09:05And Paul O'Neill.
09:07O'Neill of course had started on the front row.
09:09But it did not go his way.
09:10Falling back through the field.
09:12Meantime back at the front.
09:14It's Plato Muller right behind.
09:15And remember way out in front is Phil Bennett.
09:17Now here's the Plato view.
09:19There's Muller.
09:20Muller's down the inside.
09:21And duck past it side by side.
09:23Bit of contact there.
09:24Muller trying to find enough track space.
09:26Jason trying to hold him out.
09:27Great stuff.
09:28Well not on Plato cars.
09:30Absolutely identical in performance.
09:31And it's really just a question of who gets the best position.
09:34Well not the corner you're in.
09:35But the one you're going to come up to.
09:37And there's a dream ended early.
09:40Great qualifier for Paul O'Neill.
09:42Rotten luck obviously.
09:43A mechanical problem there.
09:44No mechanical problems here though.
09:46Plenty of tyre smokers.
09:47Ivan Muller absolutely rings the neck of that cock saw.
09:51Trying to stop it.
09:52Jason Plato is right with him now.
09:53He can throw a blanket over the pair of them.
09:55Down the back straight.
09:56Now look at that.
09:58Muller trying to cover heaps of tyre smoke.
10:01And really working himself hard.
10:02Has he overcooked it?
10:03Has he overcooked it?
10:04There's Plato.
10:05There's Muller.
10:06Side by side.
10:07He looked like he upraked himself.
10:08Yeah.
10:09All done very well.
10:10Read the situation well.
10:11Got position.
10:12Now alongside.
10:13Into bridge.
10:14What a handful Muller's got.
10:15He's not going to yield.
10:16Has Plato got him?
10:17He's down the inside.
10:18Muller fights back.
10:19We've got to turn left here guys.
10:21Just told you.
10:22He's a lucky, lucky boy as Muller.
10:24Now Plato's going under pressure.
10:25James Thompson having a storming race here as well.
10:27Really bringing these guys into account.
10:30On board with Plato.
10:31He's head tilting to the right because that's the long right-hander onto the straighter.
10:39Pass me please.
10:40I doubt it very much.
10:41Well I don't know what that signal indicated but certainly maybe a nervous twitch from Jason
10:45Plato.
10:46Okay.
10:47On board now with Roger Moen.
10:48He is trying to get back that lead position.
10:51Has he got it?
10:52Side by side with Graves.
10:53Yes he has.
10:54He's pulled it back because Graves beat him on the start.
10:57Great spotting stuff.
10:58That just shows you the squirt that the Peugeot has got up the hill.
11:01Honda had no answer to the Peugeot power.
11:03Now I'll tell you what that Ford Focus is pretty much as touched as well.
11:06Now that's Dan Eves making a move on Anthony Reid.
11:09Did he touch him?
11:10Reid's run deep off onto the grass.
11:12Still moving but lost position.
11:14Tommy Erdo sliding there through as well.
11:16Now here's a replay.
11:17Dan Eves, Anthony Reid.
11:18Well Anthony welcome back to Touring Cars.
11:20A sight and a feel you're familiar with from many years in the past.
11:24Yeah just a touch of Braille driving there I think from Dan Eves.
11:27Production battle now.
11:28And a battle it is too.
11:30Look at them all.
11:31Jackson off.
11:32Did he jump or was he pushed?
11:34Definitely pushed.
11:35Simon Graves tagged him as he came into Abbey.
11:37Now watch again.
11:38Here's the onboard view from Piper's car.
11:40There's the Honda going down the inside.
11:42Jackson on line.
11:43Bang in the right rear corner.
11:45Jackson's furious.
11:46Graves is picked up on position.
11:48Yeah well at this stage at least.
11:50Now Gavin Piper moving up on the inside of Tom Boardman.
11:53And there goes James Kaye.
11:54Looks like it's fun to leap off the track.
11:56I think it was unassisted.
11:57Well we'll have to wait and see on that one.
11:59Certainly hard to tell whether that was forced or unforced.
12:02But here's the onboard view.
12:04James Kaye coming up into Priory.
12:05Well then all of a sudden back goes to the front and he's into the gravel.
12:09Well Harrison has picked up a place behind him but there you go.
12:13All by himself.
12:14Totally unforced error.
12:15James Kaye will say well those are points I've just thrown away.
12:18Yeah he is a championship contender in production.
12:21He'll be kicking himself.
12:22And talking about kicking himself.
12:23Gavin Piper absolutely shovels.
12:25Poor old Tom Boardman.
12:26A great save.
12:27Fantastic save from Boardman.
12:28Talking about car control.
12:29He cut the car side but he's kept his boot in it.
12:32And he's still there behind the Alfa.
12:34Now it's time for some self control because he'll be desperate to make amends.
12:37And he'll be highly tempted I'm sure to repay Gavin Piper the compliment of the little tap and the boost.
12:42Back at the front of the touring car ranks now.
12:44James Thompson and Jason Plato.
12:46They're still close together.
12:47Now this is the view from Anthony Reid's car.
12:49It's a wings eye view ahead of us.
12:51You've just got the Lexus there.
12:53Tommy Otis looking down the inside of Eves.
12:55He's touched him.
12:56Bit of contact there.
12:57Oh and Anthony Reid's coming through as well.
12:59Skittles timed and Reid has come off worst.
13:02Sadly Reid saw the situation.
13:04Had the chance to take advantage.
13:06But he just couldn't resist driving into the door of the Lexus.
13:10There's the Lexus down the inside.
13:12Bit of contact there with Eves.
13:14Just rubbing up and down each other.
13:16And then hi it's me.
13:17Can I play too?
13:18Well the way the track is that it's coming back on Reid.
13:22He was going out to the left.
13:23There was two cars coming back to the right.
13:25Anthony you should have known better.
13:27Well two ops in a couple of laps there.
13:29It's been a busy time for Anthony Reid.
13:31Very colourful.
13:32Now Steve Soper running strongly.
13:35But he's just fallen away a little bit from those guys in the Vauxhall.
13:38And he's off.
13:39Unbelievable stuff.
13:42I don't know what these guys have had for breakfast this weekend.
13:45But there have been so many unforced errors today.
13:48Well make sure you don't have it again at Donington Park.
13:50Well here's another view.
13:52On board with him.
13:54Just loses it.
13:55Two-part corner up at Beckett.
13:58Now you hear the clatter, clatter, clatter.
13:59There's the camera angle.
14:00There's the gravel over the beach at Silverstone.
14:02Back onto the track.
14:03But he'll be kicking himself for that unforced error.
14:06Yeah well points for elegance.
14:08It was definitely lovely to watch.
14:09On board now with Blair.
14:10Trying to get past Hughes.
14:11Left hand turning.
14:12Oh and another one.
14:14It's all going off.
14:15There must be something.
14:16What is it not in the breakfast?
14:18It's in the air.
14:19Warren Hughes in his first touring car race in the gravel.
14:22Now we're on board with Warren.
14:23We've got to turn left now into the complex.
14:25Lines it up.
14:26Bang.
14:27Very elegant Mark Blair.
14:29Well one has to say.
14:31I don't know what these guys are doing today.
14:33Great entertainment.
14:34But it's pretty poor driving.
14:36That terribly familiar walk through the gravel.
14:38You can't describe it as a driver.
14:40Now here's Tom Boardman.
14:42And he's coming under some big pressure from Simon Harrison.
14:44And from Kaye.
14:45Bill Bennett meantime.
14:46Our race leader.
14:47Remember him.
14:48So far off into the distance.
14:49But he's off.
14:50He's gathered up again.
14:51And he hasn't lost position.
14:52But that could have been very embarrassing.
14:54Keep concentrating.
14:55You can do this.
14:56Not long to go.
14:57Keep concentrating.
14:58Bill.
14:59Keep your eyes on the road.
15:00Don't think of the checkered flag just yet.
15:02Well.
15:03A wake up call.
15:04Probably a welcome one.
15:05Tom Boardman now getting a little bit of a tap there.
15:07From Simon Harrison.
15:08And another tap.
15:09And he must be thinking himself.
15:10Have I got a target written on my car?
15:12Side by side.
15:13Pushes back again.
15:14Fair enough stuff from Tom.
15:15Now Harrison's got to find another way around.
15:17Boardman's covering the inside line.
15:19Simon's trying to run around the outside.
15:21Bill Bennett meantime.
15:22Is trying to thread his way through.
15:23Because he is the touring car race leader.
15:25Tom Boardman.
15:26Probably disadvantages himself a little bit there.
15:28By hooking out of the way.
15:29Quick smart.
15:30Well they're racing for the lead of this race.
15:32Of course Bennett's having to come up through the field.
15:34And he's saying.
15:35Well all of a sudden.
15:36What are these guys doing?
15:37They don't know I'm here.
15:38I don't want to get damaged.
15:39I've got to keep out of their way.
15:40I got pink cars.
15:41Orange cars.
15:42Can't find my way through.
15:43He has done so.
15:44Now Tom Boardman's got to fight back.
15:45Simon Harrison I think has come out best there.
15:47Boardman's obviously got a really good engine in this car.
15:50Very much in touch.
15:52In fact he came out of that corner more tightly than Simon.
15:55And is still hanging onto the back of him.
15:57Well I think Tom Boardman's got a huge weight advantage over Simon Harrison.
16:00It's all about 10 pounds.
16:02But any little bit helps here today.
16:04I don't think he's that scrawny.
16:06But he isn't carrying the success ballast that Simon is carrying.
16:10And that makes his life easier.
16:11Because they're side by side now.
16:12Can he make it stick?
16:13He can't quite make it stick.
16:14And there are Vauxhall's now trying to thread their way through as well.
16:17Ivan Muller ducks to the inside.
16:19Once again Boardman gives way.
16:22Which is good stuff.
16:23But it's cost him track place.
16:24It has.
16:25But I must say I'm very impressed with Tom Boardman.
16:27He's driven a very very strong race.
16:28And he hasn't been forced into making errors.
16:30Which he was doing earlier in the season.
16:32Now there is Phil Bennett coming down into Abbey Corner.
16:35So being much more careful this time around.
16:37Part of the smoke there from Simon Harrison.
16:39Persio under brakes.
16:40Anthony Reid.
16:41Tommy Erdos in the Lexus.
16:42Mark Blair right behind him in the Alfa.
16:44They've been having a race long chase with each other.
16:49Now all he's got to do Phil Bennett.
16:51He's got a win.
16:55Is win this race as you can hear.
16:57And he reckons he is.
16:58Because that's his last corner.
16:59And of course he is.
17:00Great stuff.
17:01And a great response to the fine performance from Priu two weekends ago.
17:04Two weekends ago.
17:05And look at the body language of that car.
17:07A swerves into the pit wall.
17:08Convincing win as well.
17:10Ivan Muller in second place.
17:11Valuable points for him.
17:13Jason Plato in third.
17:14And James Thompson bringing up fourth place.
17:17Well he might have souvenired the qualifying sheet.
17:19But there's a results sheet that Phil Bennett will want to take home and frame as well.
17:23He won that race.
17:24Ivan Muller second position.
17:25Closing the gap on Plato by two points.
17:28And look at that.
17:29John Boardman.
17:30His first podium position.
17:31To be quite honest with you.
17:32It hasn't really sunk in.
17:33You know.
17:34Because I'm a bit overwhelmed.
17:35You know.
17:36I made a little mistake when I was driving out there.
17:38I got held up a little bit with the traffic.
17:40But in the end.
17:41Fortunately.
17:42I built up quite a good lead at the start.
17:44And with Ivan and Jason fighting.
17:47It helped me a bit.
17:48So yeah.
17:49Job done.
17:50Happy days.
17:51Cheers.
17:53At this stage.
17:54Every point counts.
17:55Yeah.
17:56Every point is important.
17:57Even the fastest lap.
17:58Unfortunately.
17:59I don't have it.
18:00But Jason has not as well.
18:01So.
18:02That's okay.
18:07Quite a good fight going on there.
18:08Between Ian and Simon though.
18:09Yeah.
18:10I think something happened behind me.
18:11But.
18:12Of course.
18:13I overtake him.
18:14On the low stretch.
18:15So that's working quite fine.
18:16But.
18:17I think the start of the race.
18:18Was Simon Harris and Tom Boardman.
18:19How does it feel?
18:20Well.
18:21My heart.
18:22In my head.
18:23Has never tingled.
18:24And my heart.
18:25Never beat it as fast as.
18:26Always done today.
18:27And.
18:28It's a real big shock.
18:29Is that.
18:30During the race as well?
18:31Mostly during the race.
18:32And when I come up here.
18:33It's just.
18:34Unbelievable.
18:35It's really shocking.
18:36We've talked before about what it takes to set up a car for a round of the British Touring
18:43Car Championship.
18:44But if you ever stop to think about what it actually takes to set up a round of the championship
18:48itself.
18:49A race meeting like this at Silverstone is weeks and weeks in the preparation.
18:53The organisers have even got a computer generated model.
18:56Of every single paddock area.
18:58That's the bit here behind the pits.
18:59Of every circuit in the UK.
19:01So they can work out millimetre perfect.
19:03Where each and every one of these trucks has to park.
19:05They work out this really detailed parking plan.
19:08And if the trucks are late.
19:09And bear in mind.
19:10They've got to start parking up more than two days ahead.
19:12They get a thousand pound fine.
19:14If they miss their ten minute window.
19:16That applies to all of these trucks here.
19:18And even this truck here.
19:19Which is carrying some particularly important cargo indeed.
19:22You hear us talking in commentary about looking after the tyres.
19:28Saving them.
19:29Not pushing them too hard.
19:30That sounds a bit nonsensical if you think about it.
19:32Because surely a guy jumps in a race car.
19:34Rings the car's neck.
19:35Fast as he can till it's all over.
19:36Well it's not quite like that.
19:38There's more to it.
19:39Once the tyres start to wear.
19:42The car gets slow around the track.
19:44And the reason for that is.
19:45The race tyre is basically flat and smooth.
19:48A big piece of rubber gets hot and sticky.
19:50And it's a real science making sure that that works properly.
19:52They even use one of these things.
19:53A pyrometer.
19:54To measure the heat on the tyre.
19:56On the inside edge.
19:57In the middle.
19:58And the outside edge.
19:59Every time the car comes in.
20:01If it slides the car too much.
20:02Then it can cause a lot of friction.
20:03It generates heat.
20:04When it gets too hot.
20:05It stops being grippy.
20:06And actually your traction eases.
20:07Think of it like this.
20:08Your hand's on the tyre.
20:09You push on it.
20:10Okay.
20:11You're getting grip.
20:12You push harder.
20:13And you start to lose grip.
20:14Three things happen.
20:15Your hand's slipping.
20:16It actually hurts.
20:17And on top of that.
20:18Your hand gets hotter.
20:19Just like your tyre does.
20:20And what does that mean?
20:21Less grip.
20:22And you're not leaning on it.
20:23On your tyres any more than you have to.
20:24So it's up to the driver.
20:25To get harder.
20:26And you start to lose grip.
20:27And you start to lose grip.
20:28Three things happen.
20:29Your hand's slipping.
20:30It actually hurts.
20:31And on top of that.
20:32Your hand gets hotter.
20:33Just like your tyre does.
20:34And what does that mean?
20:35Less grip.
20:36So you have to really.
20:37While still driving at the limits.
20:40Make sure that you're.
20:41As smooth as you can be.
20:42And make sure that you are.
20:43Not leaning on it.
20:44On your tyres.
20:45Any more than you have to.
20:46So it's up to the driver.
20:47To get harder.
20:48And you start to lose grip.
20:49And you start to lose grip.
20:50To.
20:51So it's up to the driver.
20:52To be.
20:53Finessing the steering wheel.
20:54Finessing the throttle.
20:56Because if you don't.
20:57What happens is.
20:58You turn too aggressively.
20:59The front wheels will slide away.
21:01Well I think really.
21:03Flat out.
21:04All of the time.
21:05Gets you into the trouble.
21:07That I've been into recently.
21:10You put the power on.
21:12Too aggressively.
21:13You'll get wheel spin.
21:14And all of this.
21:15Overheats the tyre.
21:16Causes the tyre to go over.
21:17It's performance envelope.
21:19And results in.
21:20Lots and lots of understeer.
21:22You have to be a bit more controlled.
21:23And the more controlled you are.
21:25The quicker you go.
21:26The more accurate you are.
21:27With your lines.
21:28Because again.
21:29You can tend to overdrive.
21:30And make mistakes.
21:31And then the time never.
21:32Never comes.
21:36Well he did it once.
21:37Can he do it twice?
21:38We saw in race one.
21:39How well Phil Bennett.
21:40Used that pole position.
21:41Well he's only the pole man.
21:42For race two as well.
21:43Race one.
21:44He disappeared into the distance.
21:45Remember.
21:46He's also an expert.
21:47Because he's an instructor here.
21:48And his car's a little bit lighter.
21:49Than the other Vauxhall's.
21:50Not carrying the same success ballast.
21:52Let's wait and see.
21:53He's joined this time.
21:54On the front row.
21:55By Jason Plato.
21:56Remember last time out.
21:57Plato was on the second row.
21:58Of the grid.
21:59And it was Ivan Muller.
22:00Alongside.
22:01Well now Ivan.
22:02Is on row two.
22:03Now Muller.
22:04Edged the gap.
22:05A little bit closer.
22:06With Plato this time around.
22:07But Jason is still.
22:08The championship leader.
22:09Still on the third row.
22:10Real story here as well.
22:11Because this time around.
22:12Anthony Reid.
22:13And the MG.
22:14And also.
22:15Steve Soper.
22:16In the Peugeot.
22:17Have been restored.
22:18To their rightful grid positions.
22:19Remember last time out.
22:20They were sent to the back of the grid.
22:21Because of car changes.
22:22Between.
22:23Qualifying and the race.
22:24Well now they're both on race three.
22:26Really keen to make amends.
22:27Especially.
22:28Anthony Reid.
22:29Who had some problems.
22:30And really turned himself around twice.
22:32Rolling start remember.
22:33And pit stops in this race.
22:35That rolling start.
22:36Means that they're weaving from side to side.
22:38Right now.
22:39Trying to get some heat into those tires.
22:40Around the last couple of corners.
22:42An important race for Anthony Reid.
22:44Very impressive debut for the MG.
22:46And this time.
22:47With his rightful grid position.
22:48He'll be very pleased indeed.
22:49The MG.
22:50Certainly adding.
22:51A great deal of spectacle.
22:52The colour scheme outstanding.
22:53But more so.
22:54The performance.
22:55Anthony Reid will want to.
22:56Get in behind these four foxholes.
22:58At the earliest opportunity.
22:59And get dragged along.
23:01Plenty of experience of rolling starts.
23:03As has.
23:04Steve Soper.
23:05Soper in the Peugeot.
23:06Right alongside.
23:07Really impressive stuff from the Peugeot as well too.
23:09Running smartly.
23:10The field bunching up now.
23:12The safety car should peel off.
23:13Yep.
23:14The field's got to stay close and tight.
23:15Right up to the line.
23:16Bennett's controlling the pace.
23:18He's our pole man.
23:19Look at Ivan Muller.
23:20Pushing right behind him.
23:22As they cross the line.
23:24Now for a race start.
23:25And Muller was as close as he could be.
23:27Great stuff.
23:28Plato on the right.
23:29Bennett on the left.
23:30James Thompson to the far right.
23:31Soper to the far left.
23:32Now.
23:33How's it going to sort itself out?
23:34Round the first quarter fine.
23:35On board with Tommy Erdos.
23:37Contact.
23:38That's Soper and Thompson.
23:39Now Soper's off to the infield.
23:41Everyone else still running.
23:42That's great.
23:43Someone else has taken to the Sand Dunes.
23:45That's Annie Templeton in the Peugeot 306.
23:48Now.
23:49Here's a view from Tommy Erdos.
23:51Let's have a look again.
23:52Well Erdos in the middle.
23:53Thompson comes from left to right.
23:55Tags the back of the Peugeot.
23:56Soper goes sideways.
23:57Almost into the pit then exit.
23:59Back on track.
24:00And suddenly we've got Dan Eves ahead of Erdos.
24:03Great opportunistic stuff.
24:04Talk about opportunistic stuff.
24:06That's Plato having a look down the inside there.
24:08Still Bennett.
24:09Cars off everywhere into the gravel just on the right-hander.
24:12Now look.
24:13Bennett has lost places.
24:14Hand over fist.
24:15He's in P4.
24:16Nightmare.
24:17Now they're ahead of us.
24:18That's Ivan Muller getting a little bit of a squeeze there
24:20from Jason Plato.
24:22On board to James Thompson.
24:24Abbey Corner.
24:25Very tight right-hander.
24:26How are we all going to get around here?
24:27It looks like we're three abreast.
24:29Jason Plato just in front of us.
24:31Muller ahead.
24:32Boy oh boy.
24:33Bennett back in fourth.
24:34Dan Eves up into fifth.
24:35Then the MGs.
24:36Up over the crest of the hill.
24:38Sweeping right-hander.
24:39Oh.
24:40Roger Moen.
24:41Poleman in production off.
24:42Well Moen's on a...
24:43Well we don't know whereabouts on the track it is
24:45but certainly looks like he's got a puncture
24:47or certainly damage to the left front suspension.
24:49Okay.
24:50Now back at the front of the field.
24:51Muller, Plato, Thompson and Bennett.
24:53Phil Bennett will be scratching his head
24:55trying to work out what happened in that opening lap.
24:57He really got hung out to dry and lost a couple of spots
25:00but he's still in touch.
25:01Plenty of room there.
25:02And Colin Blair off as well.
25:05Somewhere in the Sahara.
25:07Back around to start.
25:09What an eventful opening lap.
25:10Well we've seen action all day.
25:12Well that's the result now.
25:13We've got the safety car ride so
25:15whatever the reason it can be for Colin,
25:17that's what it is.
25:18And that's big contact indeed.
25:20That's Matt Jackson's focus.
25:21That's Roger Moen's Peugeot.
25:23Now let's try to piece this together.
25:25On board with Gavin Piper.
25:26Let's look ahead.
25:29Now that was O'Neill and Graves.
25:31Well O'Neill hits Graves.
25:33Graves comes straight across the front of Piper.
25:35We don't know what happens after that.
25:37Let's have another look.
25:39There's Graves.
25:40There's O'Neill.
25:41Yeah O'Neill right on the grass.
25:43Hits Graves on the side.
25:45That must have been the start of some big chain reaction.
25:47Now let's have another look.
25:48Graves and O'Neill again.
25:49On board with Roger Moen.
25:50Soper goes through.
25:52Okay.
25:53We've seen that first bit of contact.
25:55Bang!
25:56Well there you go.
25:57Look.
25:58Simon Graves' Honda.
25:59Roger Moen's Peugeot.
26:00And somewhere in between was Matt Jackson's Ford Focus.
26:03He was very lucky not to be tipped over actually there.
26:06On board with Harrison now.
26:08Now Harrison's been tagged.
26:10What is going on here?
26:12Well we saw Blair spinning all in the zone.
26:14Suddenly Harrison.
26:15Was that a spin in sympathy?
26:16I don't know what it was.
26:17He was absolutely hit amidships.
26:20I don't know what that was about.
26:22Late turn in.
26:23And I don't know if he's got running again.
26:25But the rest of the field has.
26:26We've got a restart now.
26:29And that Pozo there of Dan Eves caught napping a little bit.
26:32Big gap to him.
26:33Mullock.
26:34Plato.
26:35Bennett's picked up the spot again in front of James Thompson.
26:38Got it all to do.
26:39And that's the first job done.
26:40Then Dan Eves a fair way back.
26:44It was not an ideal restart.
26:46Now Muller coming under.
26:48Some monster attack from Jason Plato.
26:50Looks down the inside.
26:51Puffs the smoke all around.
26:52Everyone's right.
26:53No.
26:54He's lost it.
26:55Little bit of momentum is Muller.
26:56Plato's along side by side.
26:58This is the drag downhill towards Abbey again.
27:00Side by side.
27:01Plato on the outside.
27:02Muller moves him wide this time.
27:04Payback from Muller.
27:06He got pushed off on the first lap.
27:08The other way right now.
27:09But what good racing.
27:10Yeah.
27:11Scattered voxels all over the place.
27:12Very close.
27:13Bill Bennett thinks that looks pretty good fun.
27:15Just leans on Muller on the outside.
27:17Cuts across.
27:18As he picked up the position again.
27:19Plenty of contact.
27:20They're driving rough and tough these voxel boys.
27:22Lucky there are four at the start.
27:24Well the main thing is of course is the battle for the lead of the championship.
27:27Muller and Plato.
27:29And what's going on?
27:30Voxels taking voxels off.
27:32Left, right and centre.
27:33Well that was more contact.
27:34I think Plato and Thompson that time.
27:36And Jason Plato near as I can figure in a minute ago was near the front end of this.
27:39Now he's at the back.
27:40Now he's picked up a spot again.
27:42James Thompson has lost it.
27:43So Muller.
27:44Bennett is working his way back up into the field.
27:46He's in P2 and on a charge.
27:48Dan Eaves is in amongst this somewhere as well.
27:50Very closely in touch.
27:52Nice performance there from the Peugeot.
27:54Now this is the James Thompson view.
27:57We've got Bennett ahead of us.
27:59We're all left.
28:00There you go.
28:01Yeah Muller just squeezed Plato out onto the edge of the track and off the edge.
28:05Then defends by driving down the right hand side into Abbey.
28:08Now this is as busy as you like as well.
28:10There's Bennett just nuzzling up to Muller.
28:12Muller lose a little bit of momentum there.
28:15Remember Bennett of course no weight penalty on board.
28:1860 kilograms later than Muller and Plato.
28:20He should be able to pull away.
28:22Well, he's going to have another go at pulling away
28:24because that is Bennett ducking down the inside of Muller.
28:27Can't quite do it.
28:28Into Cobb's corner.
28:29The very fast right hander at the end of the straight.
28:31Ivan Muller has kept the momentum up.
28:34But Bennett is really much in touch.
28:36Then it's Plato.
28:37Then it's Thompson.
28:38And look at Dan Eaves in the Peugeot.
28:39He's having a stormer of a drive as well.
28:41Right, right in touch with his lead four Vauxhalls.
28:43Dan's enjoying the same engine upgrades
28:45that teammate Steve Super had at Olsen Park.
28:48And he's deserving it.
28:50Down the hill once more.
28:51Bennett really wants that lead position back again.
28:54He's giving Ivan Muller tons to think about.
28:56And Muller is a man under pressure.
28:58Drives defensively.
28:59He's covering the inside line.
29:00Bennett's holding a little bit wide.
29:02Now tries to cut back.
29:03That's where a lap ago they were swapping panels.
29:06Not quite as close this time.
29:08Now Tommy Erdos is coming under some pressure as well
29:10from that pair of marauding MGs.
29:12Back up and over the crest of the hill.
29:14The sweeping right hander.
29:15Muller fighting them off.
29:16I think Tommy Erdos is really fighting Hughes off as well there.
29:19Any one of these Vauxhalls could swap position.
29:23There's Dan Eaves and the Peugeot.
29:24A slightly different line.
29:25Oh, there's some contact between the MGs.
29:27Don't take each other out.
29:28Boyce is trying to get there.
29:30Well, Anthony Reid certainly not happy.
29:32He's running behind his teammate.
29:33But Anthony, you know, you've been around a long time.
29:36Here we come.
29:37I'm into Priory corner.
29:38Reid puts his car inside.
29:39Well, he was far enough forward.
29:40You know, in these situations you've got to decide,
29:42am I going to shut the door and have damage
29:45or possibly a line-eye teammate through.
29:47I hope the boss of MGs isn't watching.
29:49There'll be some interoffice memos to be filled out at the end of this.
29:53Back at the front, it's Vauxhall, Vauxhall, Vauxhall, Vauxhall.
29:56Then Peugeot, then the Lexus.
29:58Then both the MGs still running.
29:59They've given up a little bit of ground to the two Alphas
30:02with their inter-team shenanigans.
30:06Now, pit stop.
30:07This is a pretty early pit,
30:09a pretty leisurely looking pit stop as well for Bennett.
30:11Yeah, really what was more leisurely was the way
30:13he actually came up to the blocks to stop.
30:15Of course, the speed limit in the pit lane
30:17makes the cars look very slow.
30:19Well, there's no urgency.
30:21The guys are looking around the front of the car,
30:22and now the bonnet's up.
30:24And something maybe with the engine.
30:26I can't really tell at this stage,
30:27but that looks like it's all over this afternoon for Phil Bennett.
30:31What a shame, because he was a race leader.
30:33As is Tom Boardman in that pink Persia.
30:35He's just romped away from the rest of his production field.
30:38And the battle is fast and furious there.
30:40James K, Gavin Piper, and then Simon Harrison.
30:43Back at the front, Muller, Plato, Thompson, and Erdos.
30:46With Phil Bennett out of the hunt.
30:48Real disappointment for Phil,
30:49but at least he's bagged one win on the day.
30:51And Muller's just getting a bit of a lid in there.
30:53Yeah, Muller just seems to have that little bit of extra speed momentum.
30:57Of course, it's so important to look after your tyres.
30:59We talked about that in the earlier part of the program.
31:02And if you look after your tyres early,
31:03they'll look after you later in the race.
31:08Gavin Piper down the inside.
31:10And some touch there.
31:11Quite a heavy hit, Gavin Piper and Harrison.
31:13And that's given Hal the run onto the straight.
31:15And he's picked up position.
31:16Well, Simon Harrison's going to be paranoid.
31:18He's been biffed on the left-hand side.
31:20Look at the damage just behind the door.
31:22And Piper gets up on the right-hand side.
31:24What's he done to these guys?
31:26He's got to have a straight panel left somewhere to hit someone with.
31:31James Thompson is still pretty much in touch there with Plato.
31:35Yeah, but that was a sign.
31:36Thompson was coming in.
31:37He didn't exit the corner right out of the limit.
31:39Oh, and he nearly runs off the pit lane as he comes in.
31:42That left-right kink then down onto the speed limit.
31:46So let's see what Vauxhall can do for James Thompson.
31:49There you see.
31:51Well, it's difficult to judge the speed because they're coming towards you,
31:53but this is for real.
31:55So the Vauxhall guys go to work.
31:59That was eight seconds exactly.
32:01Not particularly brilliant.
32:03Again, a lot of wheel spin, of course,
32:04trying to get tyre temperature very quickly into those front tyres.
32:09The two men at the front that have not pitted.
32:11The two men that are fighting for the Championship.
32:13Plato behind Muller.
32:16Although he's ahead of him in points in the Championship,
32:18now Muller's in.
32:19So Ivan Muller come in neat and tidy.
32:22I watch these two in practice.
32:23Plato is the quicker of the two in this part of the track.
32:26So Muller must maximise, he must get in, clean stop,
32:30get back out onto track.
32:33And hope and pray that Plato hasn't put a blinder in
32:36and given himself that advantage.
32:386.8 seconds, a little bit better than it was for Thompson.
32:46Muller must rush to the speed limit
32:49and then wait until he gets onto the track.
32:51And Anthony Reid comes in.
32:53First pit stop for MD.
32:55Well, Surrey, of course, have run teams in the past,
32:57very experienced.
32:58Well, there's a problem in the left front.
33:00It looks like there's a problem between that alloy of the wheel
33:03and the material.
33:04The hub has just gotten very hot.
33:06The wheel's jammed, it's not coming off.
33:08The clock's ticking away.
33:10Reid must be furious.
33:12And new car blues.
33:1420 seconds of slow stop, but he's off.
33:18Now, Ivan Muller has pivoted.
33:22Steve Soper right behind him has not.
33:24Got the stripe above his name to tell us.
33:26Now, here's a story in itself.
33:27Tom Boardman leading this race for production
33:30and he's just galloped off into the lead.
33:32And Anthony Reid's back into the pit lane.
33:34Now, hold onto your seats and believe this,
33:36Anthony Reid's got a drive-through penalty
33:38because that sticky left front tire and wheel,
33:41but he didn't change it.
33:42Therefore, he got a drive-through penalty.
33:45That's our second Ford Focus retirement.
33:47Obviously a mechanical problem and bad luck.
33:50Now, here's another MG story.
33:52Hughes, he hasn't had a pit stop yet,
33:54but he is leading the race.
33:55And MG is leading a race at the British Touring Car Championship
33:58for the first time.
33:59And it's also, I think, the first time
34:01that Warren Hughes has also led,
34:03for which he will get a valuable single point.
34:06Now, here's where the real race is right now,
34:08between the three Vauxhalls,
34:10who have all fitted.
34:11And it's Muller, Plato and Thompson in that order.
34:14Into the pits comes Steve Soper for his stop.
34:17Persia has the car up on the jacks.
34:20We've seen average stops at Vauxhall.
34:22That's not bad for Persia.
34:236.3, Steve will be fairly happy
34:25as he makes his way back on.
34:26But there's a Lexus again just ahead of him.
34:29There's Mr. Hughes.
34:31Yet to stop, still leading, sweeping down through bridge.
34:35He's at the first part of the complex.
34:38He's to be handling happily.
34:40Well, I think for a new car in his debut race,
34:43they're doing a pretty good job.
34:44And if I was Vauxhall or a Peugeot,
34:46Alfa Romeo or a Lexus,
34:48I'd be worried about the progress this team will make
34:50in the remainder of the season.
34:54And into the pits he comes.
34:56So I wonder if Warren Hughes have the same problem
34:59teammate Anthony Reid had.
35:00Watch that sticky left front wheel.
35:03It may have been a one-off for Anthony Reid.
35:06But of course, when you go racing, it's for real.
35:09When you do your testing, you never quite load the car up
35:12or put it under pressure as you do in a race.
35:18Car's up. There's that left front.
35:20Let's have a look and see.
35:22Oh, that's not exactly easy.
35:23It's hanging on the hub.
35:25It's a little bit of work and attention
35:27before they go to Donington Park.
35:33Well, same left front wheel.
35:34Same problem.
35:35Obviously, some sort of a hub machining problem,
35:37but they should get it sorted, as you say, in time.
35:39Now, talk about getting things sorted.
35:41This is the battle for second place.
35:43And that is O'Neill locking him up.
35:45James Kaye taking advantage
35:48and Simon Harrison, who forced O'Neill into the first place,
35:51slipping through.
35:52So Harrison is now in P2.
35:54Kaye is in P3.
35:55O'Neill's behind us.
35:56And somewhere off in the distance
35:58is Boardman in the pink Peugeot.
36:01Well, I think a couple of old hands suckered
36:03Paul O'Neill into making that fundamental error.
36:05He just braked too late and overshot the corner.
36:07That Peugeot looks like a real handful, doesn't it?
36:10What?
36:11Well, if you want to go quick in a touring car
36:12that's front wheel drive,
36:13you've got to have it as an oversteering car.
36:15Here's a bloke who likes oversteering cars.
36:17Yvonne Muller, always famous for his front wheel drive
36:20oversteering flamboyance.
36:22And his style's paying off for him
36:24because he's our race leader.
36:25There's the man in P2, Jason Plato.
36:29Here's the battle between Erdos and Harvey.
36:31This has been going for half the race long.
36:32Now, Erdos is down the inside.
36:35Harvey cuts back.
36:36This is classic touring car south side by side down the hill.
36:39And that's the way you do it.
36:41When you get past it in the inside into Beckett's,
36:43you don't shut the door and take the car out.
36:45You make the cut back.
36:46And Tim Harvey did a great job.
36:47But look, horsepower of that Lexus
36:49drops the Alfa for dead.
36:53Covers the line into Abbey.
36:55Runs a bit wider.
36:56Nice line from Tim Harvey.
36:58Erdos puts the hammer down.
37:01Look at the mumbo up over the hill.
37:04And that is serious power.
37:06Lexus certainly have got a lot of it.
37:09Okay.
37:10Now, here are four men.
37:11All of them battling for the championship.
37:12A puff of smoke from Muller.
37:13He's in P2 in the touring car class.
37:15Then there's Harrison and Kay who are in a ding-dong battle.
37:19Race long and championship long for the lead of production.
37:21And then behind them, Jason Plato,
37:23who's getting held up a little bit here,
37:25who is the touring car championship leader.
37:27So, his problems are over now because he's through.
37:30But James Kay's problems are still very much alive
37:33because Harrison is pushing hard.
37:42Really in tight, nuzzling in.
37:45What we're seeing here is the difference between the Honda and the Peugeot.
37:48Honda generally considered to be the better handling car of the two.
37:51But the Peugeot has got a lot more horsepower.
37:54And that's where it pays off.
37:55You've got Streets and Silverstone.
37:57Well, you can see why that Honda handles so well.
37:59He's got that outrigger on the left-hand side.
38:01Just holding the car up on the quick stuff.
38:03Now, here's Tom Boardman leading in production.
38:05Now, this is a really big fight for P2 in production.
38:08It's Harrison down the inside.
38:09Kay on the outside.
38:10Harrison in the orange Peugeot.
38:12Just can't find room.
38:14Kay holds him off.
38:16And again, good racing between these two experienced drivers.
38:19They could have been in contact, but they are kept apart.
38:21Now, how are they going to keep it?
38:22But he is side by side.
38:24Harrison back through again.
38:25Cracking stuff.
38:26Got to hold it in tight.
38:27Kay does the switch back.
38:28Late turn in.
38:29Oh, contact.
38:31Dam and blast, says Simon Harrison.
38:34Push wide.
38:35Kay through.
38:36How do you call it?
38:37Well, all I can say is me and my big mouth are saying what a great job these two drivers
38:40are doing.
38:41Staying clean.
38:42No contact there.
38:43Up and Beckett.
38:44The inevitable happens.
38:45Better have another look.
38:46Well, Kay comes up the inside.
38:47Harrison on the outside.
38:49Harrison makes a late cut for the second part of Beckett.
38:51Kay's there.
38:52He's not going to disappear.
38:53Now, we saw Harvey and Erdos do it perfectly.
38:55That should be an example to these two.
38:58There's Harrison through.
38:59This is the Kay's eye view.
39:00The Harrison goes out to the left.
39:01Kay decides, I'm going to put my car on the inside.
39:03Harrison cuts across.
39:04The contact occurs.
39:05Now, you know, both drivers are at fault.
39:06Both drivers could have avoided that contact.
39:07Well, that's fixed it, thinks Kay.
39:08Boof!
39:09Out of the way.
39:10Down the hill.
39:11Muller, meantime, has got a bit of a handy lead over this bloke now.
39:12Jason Plato in second place.
39:13You just saw Boardman in the background with a several-second lead in the production battle.
39:16Jason Plato is really pushing out, as you can see, but he's got his work really cut out.
39:18He needs to go.
39:19He needs to go.
39:20He needs to go.
39:21He needs to go.
39:22He needs to go.
39:23He needs to go.
39:24He needs to go.
39:25He needs to go.
39:26He needs to go.
39:27He needs to go.
39:28And the second lead in the production battle.
39:29Jason Plato is really pushing out, as you can see, but he's got his work really cut out.
39:34He needs to get his head down because Plato, well, he's got about a two-second advantage and of course,
39:40he's got an advantage of winning two points over Plato from the sprint race, but of course, catching him is one thing.
39:45Passing at this point in the race.
39:47Well, Jason, you're going to have to work some magic, my son.
39:49I think my steering has dropped.
39:53with what is it um a funny angle or can you control the car at all i can't i can't hear it
40:05problems there for mark blair can't steer and that sounds like instant retirement in the pits
40:11but a good show from blair in spite of those contacts a few blokes today could have used
40:15that excuse really being quite a boisterous afternoon oh no tom boardman this isn't time
40:21to check the oil tom bonnet coming up i don't know what that's about and smoke as well i don't know
40:27if that's engine engine smoke or uh body damage but it looks like smoke from the tar touching the
40:32bodywork but there's no damage on the car so one can only assume that's an engine problem great
40:37drive from boardman but what disappointment for the young man and his family-run team now i reckon
40:43jason plato is starting to make a little bit of an inroad into a van muller as we see james kay
40:49just coming past the uh the staggering tom boardman that will hurt a lot james has picked up the lead
40:58boardman's still running but whether or not he can finish and he's lost that monster lead
41:04and the place now as i was saying i reckon muller is starting to be reeled in a little bit here by
41:10jason plato we were talking about this between the races whether or not he saved a bit in those tires
41:15and now he's got you know enough laps in there for one last push plato certainly cut the lead down you
41:20can see it's halved in the space a few laps and plato now putting muller under real pressure
41:27yeah a bit of a wobble there for muller after bridge left-hander this is his opportunity contact
41:32though plato's through contact with muller and plato
41:36last lap muller's wounded as he stopped
41:41still running jason plato is very much still running
41:45heavy damage on that right front the bumper and the front guard look there you can see
41:50those are the marks of muller's car well jason plato is rounding and taking the checkered flag
41:55right right controversial win james thompson there and the second voxel he's come through
42:01into p2 now what can muller do well muller is still running flying on a wing and a prayer
42:08and tom boardman uh terrible terrible stuff has not made it but covered himself in glory on the day
42:17muller has limped across the line and got out of the car
42:20well you see i'm walking away but the left front suspension heavily damaged
42:24in fact no steering control whatsoever
42:27just give him a couple of minutes guys oh really i reckon it'll take more than a couple
42:34of minutes it's taking longer than that for the smoke to clear from his car
42:37there are the results plato thompson muller in third then eaves in fourth
42:41hughes will be pleased with that in fifth position tommy erdos top six for him
42:45then reed and steve sopa production boys james k
42:48deep wins for production then harrison and o'neil
42:51the last few laps he was really under pressure and struggling on the brakes
42:54and then he just made a mistake at bridge and that was my chance
42:57some people were saying very very controversial move from your point of view
43:01well they're free to say that i was in car
43:04you know we're racing here
43:06it's very tight you see an opportunity
43:09Havana was doing 40 mile an hour less than me
43:11and uh weaving all over the road i saw the inside line i went i was actually up on the grass
43:15on the inside and uh... you know he didn't give me enough room mid-corner exit
43:19one of those things
43:24i think i lost too many rides this year for for stupid thing
43:36um i was uh very happy with the car all the race
43:39i was looking after my tire the three last lap and unfortunately i had a small uh engine cut uh
43:46uh in bridge and when the engine came back
43:49phew
43:50a big shunt
43:52so that's it uh anyone can uh can watch tv and judge himself
43:57exactly what we ought to do
43:58well here we come into prairie corner
44:00muller is wide
44:01gives peter the opportunity to drive up the inside
44:03and then drive his car
44:05directly into the left front of muller's car
44:07here's the view from peter's car now
44:09here muller's got the lead comfortably
44:11then all of a sudden peter decides i'm going to take that lead
44:14in this instance jason what you did was wrong
44:21what do you mean the other one is about
44:24unbelievable
44:26morning
44:28i just had a bit of a moan about some driving tactics but i think it's six to one and a half and us and the other
44:31you know we've both got a championship to win
44:33you know it's hard work out there
44:35yeah i just uh feel that at the moment the driving standards are beginning to get a little bit out of hand
44:39you know the cars come back every race all smashed up you know it makes great telly
44:43but uh it's very frustrating when you're in the business of trying to win a championship
44:46and be consistent
44:48lots of friction in the pit lane
44:50but there's a happy chubby
44:52getting a trophy from sis
44:54paul o'neil and his very famous sister mel c
44:57well he might be arguing in the pit lane
45:00but simon harrison's had a pretty good weekend
45:02increasing his lead to 17 from 8
45:04over his arch rival james kaye
45:06roger moan
45:07in third place
45:08right behind
45:09gr motorsport
45:10romping away
45:11in the production team's championship
45:16and as a beautiful day turned into evening
45:18the stewards met for hours to consider that plato muller incident
45:22i didn't make any protest
45:29the clerk of the course they asked me to come in the bus early on
45:35and to give my point of view of the accident
45:41i give them the point of view
45:43but anyway i think they didn't need it to have my point of view because the video is quite clear
45:49right what they said is they feel
45:54albeit i don't agree
45:56they feel an unfair advantage was gained
45:58even though a van had a misfire
46:01and an engine problem when he slowed dramatically at bridge corner
46:04even though i was down the inside
46:06and even though he could have given me a bit of room
46:08they still feel an unfair advantage was gained
46:10and they've issued a 30 second penalty
46:13as a professional driver i have to take everything into account
46:16and as much as i want to appeal i don't think i'm going to gain anything by it
46:21so i'll take it on the chin
46:22so james thompson wins
46:23plato is relegated to third
46:25and evan muller closes the points gap to only five
46:28in a weekend eventful for the touring car men and the production drivers alike
46:32well it's a cruel old business motor racing
46:35your heart really does go out to tom boardman
46:37so close to his first win
46:39spare a thought as well for evan muller
46:41forgetting the rights and wrongs of it
46:42he must have thought he had that one in the bag
46:45right to the end
46:46either way the championship is still wide open
46:48you cannot afford to miss the next two rounds
46:51two weeks from now in donington
46:53you