Rough tactics ruin Mondello for Pickford
A ferocious Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race day at Mondello Park left all three Toledo Cupras bruised and battered at the end of the weekend. Having shown great pace in the wet free practice and qualifying sessions on Saturday, James Pickford had high hopes of scoring well in both the Drivers' and Manufacturers' Championships in Ireland.
James was on top form and despite both running in the top three during the day his magnificent efforts reaped little rewards as he lost time after being forced onto the grass and into gravel traps. James was hit so hard soon after the start of the first race that his car spun across the grass and ended up back where he'd started - on the start / finish straight - which saw him drive around the opening corner for a second time!
From the back of the grid he finished 9th in race two to give him a front row start for race three.
James said: "I had an absolutely brilliant start in the final race and I was right up alongside Jason. Then he got a thump from behind off Tom Chilton which saw him sail passed his apex and as I was on the outside of him I had to go even further wide before I could turn in. We made our way down to the hairpin and Rob Collard just lunged at me up the inside. There was nothing I could do about it but I thought it was pretty dirty. A few laps later I got a run on Collard and held him so he was on the inside and I cut back in for the next right. I had my nose in but he just didn't give me any room and turned in as I was up the inside of him. That broke my front left steering rack - I was on full lock turning to the right but my car just went straight on He probably thought I turned into him but there was nothing I could do.I don't know what everyone was thinking because it was carnage out there. We had a really good car and really good pace this weekend but it's just not come good for us as even though we qualified strongly we've had three really tough races."
2005 BTCC points (after Round 18)
Drivers
1. Matt Neal….204pts
2. Yvan Muller….191pts
3. Dan Eaves….177pts
4. Jason Plato….135pts
5. Colin Turkington….128pts
6. Rob Collard….107pts
7. Tom Chilton….82pts
8. James Pickford….57pts
9. Luke Hines….48pts
10. Gavin Smith….43pts
11. James Kaye….28pts
Manufacturers
1. Vauxhall….501pts
2. SEAT….415pts
Teams
1. Team Halfords….366pts
2. VX Racing….317pts
3. SEAT Sport UK….205pts
4. WSR….107pts
5. Arena Motorsports….79pts
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