BTCC 2001: Rounds 3 & 4 – Thruxton

Welcome to Thruxton, the fastest circuit in Great Britain, where Round 3 of the BTCC sprint race unfolded under clear blue skies in front of a massive crowd.

Round 3: Sprint Race

Following on from Round 1 and 2 at Brands Hatch, this round featured a combined race format that brought together both Touring and Production classes on the same track. The Touring Cars set off first for a 16-lap sprint, followed 12 seconds later by the Production Cars in a 15-lap contest, the idea being that both classes would be close towards the final lap of the race.

In qualifying, Jason Plato secured pole position for the Touring class with championship rival James Thompson right behind him. Yvan Muller, starting from a strong third position, was poised to make an early impact.

Meanwhile, in the Production class, Simon Harrison and Roger Moen in the Peugeot 306s lined up in the top two spots, while James Kaye in the Honda Accord also looked ready to challenge for a move after his win at Brands Hatch.

As the red lights went out, the action exploded. Plato, starting on the left, got a bit of wheelspin off the line, and Muller charged through the centre, tapping Plato as he went through into first. Thompson stayed right behind the leaders.

Meanwhile in the Production class, James Kaye attempted an audacious move up the inside of Roger Moen into the chicane, only to clip him and send his car airborne over Moen’s bonnet. The resulting spin dropped Kaye back in the orderl; a costly mistake.

The early laps were a blur of wheel-to-wheel racing and tactical maneuvers. Muller had taken an early lead but Plato wasn’t willing to relinquish. He executed a brilliant switchback move down the inside, reclaiming the top spot.

The trio – Plato, Thompson, and Muller – engaged in a relentless battle throughout the following laps of Thruxton’s high-speed layout.

The Production class, while embroiled in its own chaos, saw Simon Harrison emerge as a strong leader, with Roger Moen and newcomer Paul O’Neill battling fiercely behind him.

Mechanical issues also began to affect the field; one of the Alfa 147s, driven by Ferrier, emitted a billowing smokescreen as engine trouble reared its head just as it did for the Alfa team at Brands Hatch.

Thruxton’s notorious Church Corner, the fastest part of the circuit, proved to be a decisive point in the race. At this section, even a small miscalculation could prove costly. Mat Jackson in the Ford Focus lost control and slid onto the grass, momentarily resembling a rally car before rejoining the action.

Tyre troubles also played their part in the unfolding drama, particularly with the Peugeot 406s. Steve Soper was forced into the pits thanks to his front left blowing, and teammate Eaves also had to make a pit stop after suffering the same fate.

The duel at the front intensified as the race progressed. Muller was constantly trying to scythe his way past Plato. Plato repeatedly countered, at one point even gesturing defiantly at Muller as he struggled to stay ahead.

Thompson maintained relentless pressure on them both throughout, capitalising on every minor opening to keep himself in close pursuit of the leaders.

With every maneuver now carrying decisive weight, Plato managed to hold on to his slim advantage despite the challenge posed by Muller and Thompson.

When the checkered flag finally appeared, Plato had secured the victory in the Touring class, with Muller finishing a close second and Thompson coming in third. Meanwhile, in the Production class, Simon Harrison led his Peugeot to a class win.

Round 3 Results

Position	Class	Driver	Team	Car	Laps	Time	Best
1		Jason PLATO	Vauxhall Motorsport	Vauxhall Astra Coupé	15	20:53.441	1:18.268
2		Yvan MULLER	Vauxhall Motorsport	Vauxhall Astra Coupé	15	2.305	1:18.044
3		James THOMPSON	Egg Sport	Vauxhall Astra Coupé	15	2.742	1:18.306
4		Phil BENNETT	Egg Sport	Vauxhall Astra Coupé	15	7.957	1:18.480
5	P	Simon HARRISON	HTML	Peugeot 306 GTi	15	19.871	1:22.883
6	P	Nick BEAUMONT	Team B&Q/Talksport Radio	Honda Integra Type-R	15	25.828	1:23.142
7	P	James KAYE	Team Kaliber Sport with Barwell	Honda Accord	15	26.068	1:22.510
8	P	Dave ALLAN	Synchro Motorsport	Honda Accord	15	41.916	1:24.841
9	P	Jim EDWARDS Jnr	TCR/Interactive Network Solutions	Honda Accord	15	45.834	1:24.712
10	P	Mat JACKSON	GR Motorsport	Ford Focus	15	54.75	1:24.303
11	P	Richard MEINS	GR Motorsport	Ford Focus	15	56.93	1:25.447
12		David PINKNEY	JS Motorsport	Alfa Romeo 147	15	1:16.770	1:21.970
13	P	Annie TEMPLETON	Tech-Speed Motorsport	Peugeot 306 GTi	15	1:16.996	1:27.109
14	P	John B-AND-Q	Team B&Q/Talksport Radio	Honda Integra Type-R	14	+ 1 LAP	1:28.301
15	P	Peter CATE	Team Kaliber Sport with Barwell	Honda Accord	14	+ 1 LAP	1:23.661
16		Dan EAVES	Peugeot Sport UK	Peugeot 406 Coupé	14	+ 1 LAP	1:20.302
R	P	Paul O’NEILL	Tech-Speed Motorsport	Peugeot 306 GTi	14	DNF	1:23.169
R	P	Gavin PYPER	GA-Janspeed Racing	Alfa Romeo 156	11	DNF	1:23.169
R	P	Toni RUOKONEN	Cranfield Automotive Management	Mitsubishi Carisma	11	DNF	1:25.156
R	P	Rob COLLARD	Collard Racing	Renault Clio	10	DNF	1:23.353
R	P	Gareth HOWELL	GR Motorsport	Ford Focus	10	DNF	1:23.582
R	P	Tom BOARDMAN	Tom Boardman Racing	Peugeot 306 GTi	9	DNF	1:23.316
R		Kurt LUBY	ABG Motorsport	Lexus IS200	5	DNF	1:22.060
R	P	Roger MOEN	HTML	Peugeot 306 GTi	4	DNF	1:34.015
R	P	Colin BLAIR	GA-Janspeed Racing	Alfa Romeo 156	1	DNF	1:41.950
R		Tom FERRIER	JS Motorsport	Alfa Romeo 147	0	DNF	N/A

Round 4: Feature Race

At Thruxton, the feature race also took on a new format that tested both strategy and endurance. The race was shortened to 30 laps, but the real twist was for the Touring Cars – they were required to make not one, but two pit stops.

With Thruxton being a notorious tyre-muncher, the double-stop rule was introduced to keep the competition as tight as possible, and the race as safe as possible. This also gave the Production Cars, spared from the extra stop, an opportunity to challenge for the outright win.

On the grid, the front row featured championship contenders James Thompson and Yvan Muller, while Jason Plato and Phil Bennett lined up in the second row.

The third row was occupied by Steve Soper and Dan Eaves, followed by a pair of Alfa 147s driven by Ferrier and David Pinkney. Kurt Luby in the new Lexus IS200 and Simon Harrison, the leading production driver, completed the top of the grid, with Roger Moen and James Kaye following.

As the safety car lights went off and the field began to roll forward, Thompson immediately showcased his composure while Muller stayed close at his side. Thompson and Muller charged down the track side by side, but before long, Plato made an incredible move on the inside.

Plato leapt past them both and into the lead, leaving both Muller and Thompson chasing in his wake. It was a surprising reversal, and a ballsy move in the first lap of the race.

Plato maintained a gap that Muller couldn’t quite close throughout the early stages of the race. In the Production class, Simon Harrison’s Peugeot 306 looked to be suffering a mechanical issue.

Harrison pulled off the track to the right, sending a plume of smoke across the grass. It was bad luck for him, coming off the back of a sprint race win in the Production class only to be eliminated on his very first lap in the feature.

Back at the front, the racing became even more chaotic as Muller tried to regain ground. He lunged down the inside of Plato, and with James Thompson coming around the outside into the chicane it meant it was three abreast. Not a wise idea there.

Paul O’Neill in his Production Peugeot was forced into the pits with a mechanical fault, ending his race early despite running well. Meanwhile, Roger Moen was relentless, climbing all over the back of the Touring class Alfa 147 as he pushed for every advantage, with James Kaye close behind in the Honda, determined to keep his hopes alive.

The pressure was mounting as Dan Eaves’ perspective from Church Corner revealed further drama. His Touring Peugeot was engaged in a battle with his teammate when, just as in the sprint race, Soper went off the track once again due to a blown front left tyre.

It was a sight that repeated itself too often on this circuit, and Soper’s frustration was palpable. His off-track excursion prompted his team to call for an immediate pit stop, and soon Dan Eaves was forced to retire from the race along with Soper.

The Touring Peugeots were clearly struggling to cope with the rapid tyre wear that Thruxton inflicted.

With the chaos ahead of them, the teams began their first round of pit stops. Kurt Luby in the Lexus took his time, easing into his stop in what was the team’s first feature race.

Onboard footage from James Kaye showed Roger Moen leading the Production group, only for Moen’s engine to blow – a setback that not only saw another Peugeot exit the race but also dramatically altered the production class order.

Back in the Touring battle, Muller was still desperate to overtake Plato, repeatedly trying to find an opening. His skill was on full display, but Plato’s defenses held firm.

Then, in a pivotal moment of the race, Plato dived into the pits for his first stop, clocking in a solid 7.5-second stop. But Thompson followed suit and blocked Plato’s pit exit as he dived into his pit box, costing Plato some time.

Plato pitting meant Muller had a lap of clear air to try and change things. He put the hammer down, and then pitted. His pit box entrance was a little chaotic – he outbraked himself and nearly collided with the pit crew.

However, his hot lap and quick 7.5-second stop proved to be effective. Muller found himself ahead of Plato, though the battle was far from over. Muller now had to build up tyre temperature, with Plato behind charging him down.

In the Production class, James Kaye was leading in the Honda Accord thanks to Peugeot problems.

Pinkney limped into the pits with a mechanical problem in the Alfa 147, ending his race. More mechanical trouble for the Touring Alfa Romeo team.

Plato made his second pit stop a little earlier than expected due to tyre wear – this time with a commendable 7.8-second stop – which was crucial given that he had been held up by Thompson the last time around.

Thompson also came in for his second pit stop, which unfortunately turned out to be disastrous. His team struggled to remove a wheel, resulting in a massive 14.4-second stop – a delay that cost him dearly.

Muller then took his second stop, making a single tyre change in just 6.9 seconds. This smart stop allowed him to build a significant gap over Plato. Meanwhile, Bennett managed his second stop in 6.5 seconds, meaning he could leapfrog Thompson and stay in touch with the leaders.

As the final laps unfolded, it was clear Plato was having to nurse his car home, again thanks to tyre wear. Muller emerged as the winner, having used his efficient pit strategy and solid defensive driving to secure a decisive lead over Plato.

Phil Bennett had a strong race and claimed third place, while Thompson’s earlier pit stop fiasco relegated him to fourth. Kurt Luby in the Lexus was happy to finish his debut race.

In the Production class, James Kaye capitalised on the misfortunes of others to take the win, with Cate and Jackson completing the podium.

The race had become a testament to the challenges of Thruxton – a circuit that punishes tyre wear and rewards strategy. The drivers battled through technical issues, aggressive overtakes, and pit-stop drama, creating a feature race filled with high-speed action and dramatic twists.

Next up: round 5 and 6 at Oulton Park.

Round 4 Results

Position	Class	Driver	Team	Car	Laps	Time	Best
1		Yvan MULLER	Vauxhall Motorsport	Vauxhall Astra Coupé	30	40:19.308	1:17.758
2		Jason PLATO	Vauxhall Motorsport	Vauxhall Astra Coupé	30	2	1:17.825
3		Phil BENNETT	Egg Sport	Vauxhall Astra Coupé	30	2.889	1:18.325
4		James THOMPSON	Egg Sport	Vauxhall Astra Coupé	30	4.915	1:17.603
5	P	James KAYE	Team Kaliber Sport with Barwell	Honda Accord	29	+ 1 LAP	1:22.868
6		Kurt LUBY	ABG Motorsport	Lexus IS200	29	+ 1 LAP	1:20.262
7	P	Peter CATE	Team Kaliber Sport with Barwell	Honda Accord	29	+ 1 LAP	1:23.127
8	P	Mat JACKSON	GR Motorsport	Ford Focus	29	+ 1 LAP	1:23.852
9	P	Jim EDWARDS Jnr	TCR/Interactive Network Solutions	Honda Accord	29	+ 1 LAP	1:24.635
10	P	Tom BOARDMAN	Tom Boardman Racing	Peugeot 306 GTi	28	+ 2 LAPS	1:24.668
11	P	Richard MEINS	GR Motorsport	Ford Focus	28	+ 2 LAPS	1:25.895
12	P	Nick BEAUMONT	Team B&Q/Talksport Radio	Honda Integra Type-R	28	+ 2 LAPS	1:23.453
13	P	Annie TEMPLETON	Tech-Speed Motorsport	Peugeot 306 GTi	28	+ 2 LAPS	1:27.633
14	P	John B-AND-Q	Team B&Q/Talksport Radio	Honda Integra Type-R	27	+ 3 LAPS	1:26.894
15	P	Dave ALLAN	Synchro Motorsport	Honda Accord	27	+ 3 LAPS	1:24.204
NC	P	Rob COLLARD	Collard Racing	Renault Clio	24	NCF	1:23.490
R	P	Gareth HOWELL	GR Motorsport	Ford Focus	21	DNF	1:24.809
R		David PINKNEY	JS Motorsport	Alfa Romeo 147	15	DNF	1:23.064
R	P	Roger MOEN	HTML	Peugeot 306 GTi	12	DNF	1:23.224
R	P	Toni RUOKONEN	Cranfield Automotive Management	Mitsubishi Carisma	9	DNF	1:25.056
R		Dan EAVES	Peugeot Sport UK	Peugeot 406 Coupé	8	DNF	1:19.724
R		Steve SOPER	Peugeot Sport UK	Peugeot 406 Coupé	7	DNF	1:19.340
R	P	Paul O’NEILL	Tech-Speed Motorsport	Peugeot 306 GTi	6	DNF	1:23.552
R	P	Simon HARRISON	HTML	Peugeot 306 GTi	3	DNF	1:23.652
R	P	Colin BLAIR	GA-Janspeed Racing	Alfa Romeo 156	1	DNF	1:38.245
NS	P	Gavin PYPER	GA-Janspeed Racing	Alfa Romeo 156	–	DNS	N/A
NS		Tom FERRIER	JS Motorsport	Alfa Romeo 147	–	DNS	N/A

Touring Car Driver’s Championship Standings After Round 3 & 4 – Leaders

Driver	Points
Plato	55
Muller	49
Thompson	46
Bennett	38

Touring Car Team Championship Standings After Round 3 & 4 – Leaders

Team	Points
Team Egg Sport	43
Vauxhall Motorsport	39
Peugeot Sport UK	14
ABG Motorsport	6
JSM	0

Production Car Driver’s Championship Standings After Round 3 & 4 – Leaders

Driver	Points
Kaye	44
Harrison	37
Jackson	33
Moen	26

Production Car Team Championship Standings After Round 3 & 4 – Leaders

Team	Points
Barwell Motorsport	46
GR Motorsport	31
HTML	12
Total Control Racing Ltd	10
Tech-Speed Motorsport	8