Glasgow-based Clyde Valley Racing notched its first-ever podium finishes in the British Touring Car Championship when Adam Jones powered his Cartridge World Seat Leon to second and third at Thruxton.
The performance of the Englishman, who also finished sixth in the day’s second race in his bio-ethanol-fuelled car, delighted his team boss Colin Neill.
“This is only the second meeting of this year’s championship and to finish on the podium twice, at what is accepted as one of the fastest circuits on the calendar, is fantastic,” Neill said today.
“The team is really coming together strongly and these results have certainly given everyone a major boost. Hopefully now we can continue this level of competitiveness and intensity right through the season.”
But while there was success for Jones, there was nothing but disappointment for team-mate Dan Eaves who was forced to retire from all three races.
Eaves, who has won six BTCC races in his career, failed to take the start for the first race due to a broken steering rack sustained when he spun and hit a barrier on his out-lap. Then he was the innocent party in collisions in the following two races.
There was also disappointment for Kirkcaldy’s Jonathan Adam. The 24-year-old, who finished second last time out at Brands Hatch, struggled in his BMW to finish a lowly 11th in the opening two races, and 12th.
Vauxhall’s defending double champ Fabrizio Giovanardi won the opening race, while former Knockhill race instructor Colin Turkington won the day’s second race in his RAC BMW,passing the Italian on the final lap.
And though Mat Jackson won the final race for Chevrolet, Vauxhall’s Matt Neal heads to the next round at Donington in three weeks leading the championship.
The Vauxhall driver, who finished second, third and seventh at Thruxton, leads Turkington by just six points with Giovanardi third, a further 11 points adrift. Today’s double-podium finish elevated Jones to sixth in the championship.
JM