BTCC reaches climax

Touring car drivers Fabrizio Giovanardi and Jason Plato go into Sunday’s race at Brands Hatch for a championship-deciding showdown. Both drivers are still in contention at the final race meeting of the season. Vauxhall driver Giovanardi is hotly-tipped to defend the title he currently holds as he holds a big points advantage over Plato.

SEAT’s Plato is 44 points adrift of his rival with a maximum of 52 points available in the three races at Brands Hatch. Giovanardi needs just nine points to wrap up the title and even he is on the verge of admitting it is a case of when rather than if he wins a second successive BTCC.

“Brands Hatch looks like an easy circuit to drive, but it isn’t,” he said. “It will be so important to watch the points’ standings. I’m hoping for a podium finish in the first race so that we can secure the championship titles early on.