Youngster Andrew Jordan has won the second of three Dunlop British Touring Car Championship races at Donington Park but there was disaster for Jason Plato as he rolled his car in a violent crash.
On his local track Lichfield's Jordan, aged just 21, led fellow Vauxhall Vectra driver James Nash all the way in a race punctuated by safety car periods. Third, having lost his pole position advantage at the start, was race one winner Matt Neal in his Honda Civic.
As a result, Neal continues to lead the championship standings but by the decreased margin of just two points from rising star Nash.
But the race's big talking point was Plato's roll on the first lap, caused by contact at an estimated 120mph from Airwaves' Liam Griffin who had been sent into a spin after a brush with Neal's team-mate Gordon Shedden.
Instead of turning left down the Craner Curves, Plato's Chevrolet Cruze veered right over the infield and into a bank before rolling over three times. The reigning champion was luckily unharmed.
Even the reigning champion himself described the remains of his car as "£250,000 worth of scrap metal".
But miraculously within two hours the RML crew that prepares the car had stripped and rebuilt it - enabling him to compete in race three. From a lowly starting position, he came through to cross the line in a highly emotional sixth and score five points that could be crucial come season's end.
On his local track Lichfield's Jordan, aged just 21, led fellow Vauxhall Vectra driver James Nash all the way in a race punctuated by safety car periods. Third, having lost his pole position advantage at the start, was race one winner Matt Neal in his Honda Civic.
As a result, Neal continues to lead the championship standings but by the decreased margin of just two points from rising star Nash.
But the race's big talking point was Plato's roll on the first lap, caused by contact at an estimated 120mph from Airwaves' Liam Griffin who had been sent into a spin after a brush with Neal's team-mate Gordon Shedden.
Instead of turning left down the Craner Curves, Plato's Chevrolet Cruze veered right over the infield and into a bank before rolling over three times. The reigning champion was luckily unharmed.
Even the reigning champion himself described the remains of his car as "£250,000 worth of scrap metal".
But miraculously within two hours the RML crew that prepares the car had stripped and rebuilt it - enabling him to compete in race three. From a lowly starting position, he came through to cross the line in a highly emotional sixth and score five points that could be crucial come season's end.
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| Photo: BTCC |