BTCC: Knockhill

[Hazard]

Qualifying results

1	Anthony	Reid	     MG	        54.676
2	Tom	Chilton	     Honda	54.712
3	Colin	Turkington   MG	        54.732
4	James	Thompson     Vauxhall	54.766
5	Robert	Huff	     SEAT	54.812
6	Dan	Eaves	     Honda	54.933
7	Matt	Neal	     Honda	55.025
8	Luke	Hines	     Vauxhall	55.067
9	Yvan	Muller	     Vauxhall	55.071
10	Jason	Plato	     SEAT	55.185
11	Robert	Collard	     Vauxhall	55.231
12	Carl	Breeze	     Alfa Romeo	55.379
13	Shaun	Watson-Smith Proton	55.463
14	James	Kaye	     Honda	56.087
15	Farique	Hairuman     Proton	56.332
16	John	George	     Peugeot	56.797
17	Jason	Hughes	     MG	        56.867
18	Richard	Marsh	     Honda	58.011

[speedy king]

I'm liking those results! Muller far down VXr's far down, especailly Muller perhaps they have had their day and it really now is MG's which they had been promising for 3 years!

[Hazard]

I wouldn't say the Vauxhall's are completely off the pace...Thompson's pretty quick still.

Reid still fast...the MG still the car to beat at the moment, I'll be pretty upset if I have to endure another Seat tactical weekend - that see's them score more than MG again in races two & three due to the better placement.

[touringcarnut]

Maybe Muller is doing a JP and sand bagging for the 2nd and 3rd races. Great to see reid on pole! I knew he'd do it!

[Matt_S]

Don't just go off the times. Thompson had engine trouble in the session and as he was pulling off the track, Matt Neal hit the fluid the Astra had dropped and went straight into the back of him.

The Vauxhall is a real mess and its a possibility that it may not be fixed in time for the races tomorrow.

[R59]

If they keep sandbagging, then maybe they should double the amount of points available for the top 6 places in race 1, so those who play sandbagging lose out to those who go for it and suffer the lower grid position in race 2.

The upside-down grid idea is good, but just needs some fine tuning.
And playing with weights to close up the field some more.

Rob.

[speedy king]

Originally posted by Matt_S
Don't just go off the times. Thompson had engine trouble in the session and as he was pulling off the track, Matt Neal hit the fluid the Astra had dropped and went straight into the back of him.

The Vauxhall is a real mess and its a possibility that it may not be fixed in time for the races tomorrow.

Any photos? So did Matt run in to the back of Thommo when he went in to the pit lane or something. Whats the damage to the Honda?

[Matt_S]

They were part way round the lap - Neal couldn't do anything about it from what I know. The Honda certainly doesn't seem to have the damage of the Astra.

[speedy king]

Noticed the session was red flagged towards the end. Guess thats why?

[touringcarnut]

The grid will be very depleted for tomorrow if Thommo or Matt don't get out on track either. Blow to the championship, especially as there's some live coverage on ITV tomorrow. Just need the WSR boys to do their stuff!

[Hazard]

Given the championship situation, if the #2 Astra is a wreck...aren't they more likely to give Hines car to Thompson? (Or is that against the rules somehow?)

In regards to fixing the upside down grid problem - the solution is simple: reverse race three not race two.

Gow probably won't do that though, cos it's better TV to have the slower cars at the front for two races than one.

[Hazard]

Muller's comments about qualifying 9th:

If you are asking me if I was sandbagging, then that’s not true – my name is Muller, not Plato!

Oh, such chivalrous rivalry

[Matt_S]

Don't think they can swap cars. Thompson says they need a spare but aren't allowed one. The Honda isn't as badly damaged as the Astra and should be fixed.

It was the reason the red flags came out.

[touringlegend]

The Honda should be OK. It certainly looked it, I don't know how it did though!

Here is a picture (courtesy Triple Eight) that shows the damage. There's probably a good 2 feet at least, off that. Not sure if it damaged the alignment of the wheels, back left was seized when they put it on the tow truck.

[Hazard]

Wow, the Vauxhall Smart car!

[McKay]

Thats No Astra, Thats a Corsa

[touringcarnut]

Ouch! It reminds me of Aaron Slight's Barwell Astra back in 2002 at Donington. Only this damage looks far worse. It'll be a real shame if he doesn't make the grid, Muller will walk the championship if Thommo doesn't score in all 3 rounds.

[speedy king]

Thats worse than Slights was!

[speedy king]

All we can hope for is troubles for Muller. He took Radermeckers car in 2000 at Snetterton for race 2 after he crashed in race one didn't he!?!

Thommo was VERY lucky the fuel tank didn't ignite! Seen it before at Brands Hatch in Clios

[Hazard]

When Thompson says they need spares...he is right, a cut-and-shut on any other Astra lying around pretty much

If Thompson's car does turn up in the race tomorrow...I wouldn't be surprised if one half of somebody else's Astra is reported missing the next day...(GA & TechSpeed didn't happen to bring their Astra's along at all did they?)

[touringlegend]

Hmm I did see some suspicious characters around an Astra Coupe in the car park..

[Hazard]

A couple of other shots from the Toca site

(Another thought....it is the drivers championship afterall...not the teams...maybe AutoDelta can fly over his Alfa...if they're putting on private jets to weddings, no expense spared)

[Hazard]

Might happen

[Kicking-back]

Well done Reidy!

[Hazard]

Appears Thompson car has been repaired overnight, and will be taking part in race one.

Well done VX Racing!