- 6 weeks ago
see more Racing on :
https://rebrand.ly/SpeedWorld
https://rebrand.ly/SpeedWorld
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00so how wonderful is this after 29 races 10 race weekends it comes right down to
00:06the wire in the second position is Ivan Muller remember he is the current
00:10touring car champion and he really really wants to hang on to his title but
00:14a man who wants to take it off him is James Thompson James has already won a
00:18British touring car title a couple of years ago but he would really want it
00:21back somebody is going to win will it be James Thompson will it be Ivan Muller
00:27Oh find out after the break
00:35sponsored by Green Flag motoring assistance the breakdown specialists in the digital
00:46network economy where collaboration is easy where transactions are instant and
00:52secure where data is stored safely where business is done there is a company that
00:59delivers IT services backed by decades of network expertise BT discover more about
01:06her networked IT services BT more power to you
01:19is it just me or have stocks and shares become shocks and scares I know it's not
01:26everyone's idea of fun so let's see if there's a ride you're more comfortable
01:30with
01:30AXA investments whatever your investment needs AXA be life-confident
01:42the new Renault modus grow up what for
02:10do do do do do do do do do I'm a Londoner
02:17well I think London's great I feel it when I'm riding the Jubilee up to Wembley or down at
02:26the Tate
02:27every time he travels and far away I'm always near a call and giant
02:35so maybe it's because he's a Londoner that I've joined capital
02:41good journey how are the usual
02:43look my finger is magic
02:47Fisher price introduces power touch you touch it's easy
02:54learning system with over 60 activities from phonics to reading watch it go flying right into the air
03:01good the power touch learning system from Fisher price puts the magic of reading
03:09but grew and grew and grew right at their fingertips
03:15some children wet the bed it's not uncommon dry nights pajama pants are absorbent and help keep
03:26things dry and comfortable until they've grown out of it nighttime confidence care of dry nights
03:33take Thomas and his friends home from early learning center and get a free Thomas carry case worth 15 pounds when you spend 30 pounds or more on wooden Thomas rail and road vehicles
03:43if you buy a custom-made car you can get exactly what you want
03:50but it costs you more
03:53buy a personalised swimming pool and you'll get exactly what you want
03:58but it costs you more
04:00if you book the different parts of your tailor-made holiday at Expedia.co.uk
04:05you can get exactly what you want
04:07but it costs you less
04:09much less
04:11Expedia.co.uk
04:13create your perfect trip
04:15once upon a time the seven dwarves were down in the mines when suddenly there was a cave-in
04:24Snow White ran up to the entrance and yelled down to them
04:27is anyone there?
04:28in the distance a voice cried out
04:29Middlesbrough are good enough to win me away for help
04:31and Snow White said
04:33well at least Dopey's alive
04:34the joke's over
04:35now Middlesbrough's European fairy tale begins on ITV2
04:39Sponsored by Green Flag Motoring Assistants
04:43you come first every time
04:45Round 30 of the 2004 Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship
04:58takes place here at Donington
05:00it is the season finale
05:02it is the championship decider
05:04Ivan Muller versus James Thompson
05:06Ivan Muller starts on the front row of the grid
05:09and there he is
05:10the view on board
05:11as the Frenchman gets some heat into the tyres on this formation lap
05:15but James Thompson has the points advantage
05:18he's six points ahead going into this one
05:20as long as he sticks with Muller
05:22as long as he's just behind him
05:23then no matter about fastest laps
05:25no matter about Muller perhaps winning the race
05:27James Thompson will take his second title in three years
05:32it's all going to come down to the last 16 laps of the season
05:36after a hard-fought contest between two top drivers
05:40now the line-up sees Chilton and Muller on the front row of the grid
05:44the second row of the grid
05:45then we've got Dan Eves and Anthony Reid
05:48and Reid of course still looking to try and wrap up third place in the championship
05:52only two points separate him and Jason Plato
05:55and Plato's on the row immediately behind
05:57so it's going to be tight between them
05:59Colin Turkington and Rob Collard are together on row number four of the grid
06:03and Turkington has been right on the pace all weekend long so far
06:07we can expect to see him move up
06:09he's not carrying much ballast now
06:10behind them it's James Kaye and Luke Hines in the third of the VX racing cars
06:16so those are the cars we're all going to be keeping a close eye on
06:19behind by the way Rob Huff is in 11th place on the grid
06:22now with a fully light car and with the suspension repaired
06:25he got a little knock early on in that second race
06:28and that meant the handling went awry
06:30and Rob struggled from that point to really score decent points
06:34tightening down the straps a little bit more
06:36the tension in those two Vauxhall Astra coupes is building
06:40the series decider coming up
06:42Ivan Muller there he is
06:44the reigning champion
06:46can he make it back-to-back titles
06:48it hasn't been done since the late 1980s
06:51Chris Hodgitz was the last to take back-to-back championships
06:55and now let's see whether Muller can take the victory here
07:01and what happens to James Thompson
07:03starting from the third row of the grid
07:06last few cars are into position now
07:08and we'll wait for the red lights to come on
07:12who's going to be fastest off the line
07:14front-wheel drive two-litre engines
07:17it's got to be a little bit of judgement and care
07:19not to get too much wheelspin
07:21Chilton in the black Honda
07:22Muller in the red and white Vauxhall Astra
07:24the red lights are on and away we go
07:27and it's a very even start from the front row
07:29it's Chilton looking Thompson down on the grass there again
07:32trying to nip through on the inside
07:34Tom Chilton makes a brilliant getaway from pole position
07:36the youngster showing no sign of nerves himself
07:39but Muller's trying to go round the outside
07:41Muller being brave as expected
07:43and has he taken the lead as they head down towards the Craners
07:46well they're side by side
07:47and Thompson I think up into fourth place
07:49yes Thompson's up into fourth
07:51Muller takes the lead
07:52Ivan Muller's where he needs to be
07:54now it's up to James Thompson
07:56oh and Dan Eves gets past Chilton
07:58slides down the inside
08:00tyres locked up and he's through
08:01and Thompson got a knock there
08:02Thompson got a little bit of a knock
08:04but he's up into third
08:05that was a great start from Tom Chilton
08:07but then it all went wrong
08:08Muller was aggressive down the Craner curves
08:10Thompson made a good start
08:12trying to get round Dan Eves
08:14but got pushed on the grass
08:15he's now fighting for his position
08:17Tom Chilton carrying maximum ballast
08:19in that Honda
08:20and now he's losing another place
08:21to Jason Plato
08:23and Tom knew it would be tough
08:25he got off the line brilliantly
08:26but now he's finding it hard work
08:28and he's got the MGs ganging up on him as well
08:30James Thompson has moved up into third place
08:33Ivan Muller's got the lead in this race
08:35and now it's all about the fight for second
08:37Eves defending on the middle of the track there
08:40right behind him is Plato
08:42Turkington behind and Thompson
08:44trying to come through
08:45and here comes James Thompson now
08:46he's got a great chance to take second
08:48he goes to the outside
08:49as they head down towards Great Gate Corner
08:51about 120 miles an hour
08:53onto the brakes
08:54into the right-hander
08:55but Jason Plato's got an inside line on him as well
08:57and Thompson's going to have to be careful
08:59he runs very wide on the exit
09:01well Jason did give him room
09:02there was an opportunity there for Jason to go out wide
09:05Thompson had no opportunity to get on the inside
09:07and look Plato has taken that third place
09:10interestingly the fastest lap so far is to our race leader
09:13no surprise there it's Ivan Muller
09:15fastest lap is worth a point
09:17that's crucial too
09:18we're back on board with James Thompson as Plato goes alongside Dan Eves
09:21Eves and the orange Honda
09:23trying to fend off the silver and yellow sayer
09:25but he hasn't done it
09:26although Plato's too late on the brakes as he still holds it great control
09:29yeah he just managed to come off the brakes there and let the car grip
09:32if he'd stayed on the brakes he'd run out wide
09:35that was great driving by Jason
09:37Muller is making the most of the clear track he's got
09:40will Thompson be able to get through?
09:41will Plato be able to catch him now in a lighter car?
09:44well this is very tight indeed
09:46as Thompson has to try and find a way past Dan Eves
09:50Jason Plato now in second place
09:53and James Thompson knows he's got to go for it
09:55and he does go for it
09:56he slips down the inside into the chicane
09:58he moves back into third place now
10:00Dan Eves in fourth
10:01Chelten in fifth
10:02Colin Turkington in sixth
10:04and Rob Huff in seventh
10:05Anthony Reid running down in eighth place
10:08ahead of Luke Hines
10:09so Thompson now third
10:11but he's got to really get second to make sure of this championship
10:15he has
10:16he's turned his lights off there
10:17obviously saving just those few
10:19little amps and watts of electricity there
10:21trying to get everything he can out of his engine
10:23but I tell you he's going to have to go some
10:25because Plato is flying at the moment
10:27and Plato's got the fastest lap
10:29so he's taken that point away from Fuller
10:32yeah that's crucial
10:33somebody's off
10:34and it's Luke Hines who's off
10:35Luke Hines on the third of the VX racing entries
10:38well he's not a factor for the championship
10:40but he was looking for a decent top ten finish
10:42it all got a bit short and he's off as a result
10:45let's see if we can find out what happened
10:47Reid was behind him
10:48they were all going into the old hairpin
10:51it was defenced there by Luke Hines down the crane of curves
10:55gone to the inside
10:56and well here we are there side by side actually
10:59and Luke does his speed takes him out there
11:01he's on the brakes trying to stop the car
11:03Anthony's really got no choice because he's so close to him
11:06that contact was unable to really just erase the incident I think
11:09so Ivan Fuller leads by 1.6 seconds
11:12well it was 1.6
11:13I think it might be a little less than that
11:15as they come across the line this time
11:171.1
11:18Plato definitely closing up
11:20and it's Thompson now who has set the fastest lap
11:23that is crucial from his point of view
11:25because Thompson now claims that point
11:27Fuller is the race leader
11:29and will get one bonus point for having been a race leader
11:32anyone who crosses the line ahead
11:34oh Bedman in trouble this time
11:36that's Michael Bedman had a good fourth place earlier on
11:39that's at Redgate
11:40don't know what's happened there
11:41obviously an outbraking mover in the first corner
11:43oh there's another car off
11:45that's one of the GA cars
11:46that's Carl Breed
11:48sorry Gavin Piper
11:50yeah that was all looking very tricky indeed
11:53Michael Bedwood getting into the spinning
11:56it was just lucky that everyone else managed to virtually avoid him
12:02so the race continues
12:04and it's Ivan Muller
12:06still the man in control
12:07but
12:08Jason Plato
12:09the fastest
12:10one of the fastest men on circuit
12:11the safety car's out
12:12the safety car has been called for
12:15and there's no great surprise there
12:17and of course
12:18for Ivan Muller
12:19this is exactly not what he wanted
12:21it allows Jake Thompson
12:23to get that little bit closer
12:25and see
12:26top runner who
12:27concertina together
12:28they will have to back off as they come over the line
12:31they race from position to the line
12:33but once they get there
12:34they all have to back off
12:35slow down
12:36and take out their positions
12:38behind the safety car
12:39well a bit of a disaster there for Muller
12:42that was the last thing he wanted
12:43it made good a little bit of an escape
12:45and although I fancy Plato might have caught him later in the race
12:48I think it would have taken many laps
12:50now he's going to have to fend off Plato
12:52immediately after the restart
12:54which will be fairly soon
12:55and of course Thompson's been able to catch up as well
12:58yeah that's well that was all pretty exciting stuff
13:02and there's still a way to go
13:04we're going to take another look at the start here
13:07and just sort of see how it all went
13:08it was a very even start actually for all the front runners
13:10James Thompson was the one who ended up on the grass
13:13Thompson actually had the best start
13:15the front three all went off together
13:17Thompson had a great start
13:19but of course Danny's just eased him on the grass
13:21and he lost a bit of traction there
13:23and couldn't get through
13:24but he still did well after through that first corner
13:27there you can see four abreast at the top of the Craners
13:30Thompson's heart must have been in his mouth there
13:32but he gets through into a good fourth place
13:35yeah that was an impressive run from Thompson
13:37but Muller made a great start
13:39and then Danny's I mean that really was a good move
13:41to get past Tom Chilton late on the breaks
13:44I thought he might overrun the corner but he didn't
13:46well that was a move more more familiar with his teammate
13:49Matt Neill wasn't it a very aggressive meal
13:51and oh look at that great disappointment for Gavin Piper
13:54he's made a return to the series this weekend
13:57and I'm sure he wanted to impress some people
13:59but it hasn't worked but all they've succeeded doing there
14:03is dig that car into the ground
14:05yeah that's well bearing now so Gavin Piper really no chance at all
14:10we've got another chance to look at the start
14:12from onboard James Thompson's car
14:14so this could be an interesting angle on how it went
14:17because of course he did have to move over to the right quite severely
14:20he got a good getaway and therefore was trying to get past
14:24ended up on the grass as a result
14:26and then it was down in towards Redgate corner
14:29where everybody was jostling for position
14:31Dan Eves was just ahead Muller in the meantime
14:33was going around the outside of the first corner
14:35Thompson found himself a good little bit of clear space
14:38to have a run at Craners
14:39yeah although he just you could see there on the exit
14:41he had a little touch from somebody
14:43but he was able to get the power down early
14:46and get out before those that were running out wide
14:49now we see this great move by Dan Eves up the inside
14:52that was a brilliant moves and James takes the opportunity
14:55of Chilton being slowed up in the corner
14:57to run parallel with him all the way up under Starkies
15:00and have the inside line then into into Coppice
15:04yeah so you saw a little bit of a lock up
15:07and the marker posts going flying all sorts
15:10and very very tight was Dan Eves just to try and keep James Thompson behind him
15:15but that was the way that Thompson therefore had a fairly decent first lap
15:21he's getting more fraught after that
15:23let's go down to Vicky now who's with Mike Nicholson
15:26Mike dare I ask what is the mood in the camp right now?
15:29well full of anticipation really I mean you know it can go either way still
15:35at the moment James is in the championship winning position
15:37I think he's got fastest lap so far
15:40and Ivan is leading he can do no more
15:43if James stays in third place he's the champion
15:45so it's down to them
15:47we're a bit like football managers
15:48the whistle's blown
15:49we can only stand on the touch line and advise you know
15:52but it's down to them
15:53they're grown up boys
15:54and they'll sort it out between themselves
15:56were there any tactics beforehand though?
15:58not as far as we're concerned no
15:59there may be as far as they're concerned
16:00but no
16:01as far as we're concerned
16:02they're free to race for the championship
16:03lovely
16:04thanks very much back to Benetton
16:05so back to racing action once more
16:09and as the green flag flies
16:11it's Ivan Muller from Jason Plato
16:13Plato in second place
16:15James Thompson in third
16:16and then Dan Eves in fourth position
16:18with Tom Chilton chasing after him
16:20look at Rob Collard coming through
16:22he's running in ninth place
16:23but it's all about the championship battle
16:24and Jason Plato now with the safety car
16:26having closed him up
16:27has a great chance to attack the Frenchman
16:29these two have their own history
16:31three years ago they were fighting for the title
16:33and it got a bit nasty at times
16:35and it was Plato who ended up with the championship in 2001
16:39Muller wants to hold on for the lead here
16:41but Seat would love another victory to add to their tally
16:44and Plato will always go for it
16:46he's definitely gonna not hold back here
16:49if Plato's got a sniff of his eighth win of the year
16:52he's gonna take it
16:53and he won't be too kind to Muller
16:55Muller's
16:56look he's already on the inside
16:57there could be contact
16:58oh that was close
16:59but Plato is not gonna be too kind with Muller
17:01and Thompson is just gonna sit there
17:03and let this play out
17:04yeah Thompson will be fairly comfortable
17:06with where he is at the moment
17:07because he's got the bonus point
17:09for the fastest lap already
17:11if he finishes where he is
17:13he would be on 273 points
17:16plus one at 274 as they kick up the dust
17:19and Muller would be on 272
17:22so it would be enough
17:23because he's taken fast his lap already
17:25for him to stay in third place
17:27and to win the championship
17:29so he's just gonna sit there
17:30and watch at the moment I think
17:32trying to work it all out in his head
17:33talking to his engineers
17:34getting the maths sorted
17:36and here comes Plato
17:37on the attack once more
17:38down towards Grainer Curves
17:40Muller keeping an eye on the mirrors
17:42trying to defend
17:43from the former champion
17:45and it's tight indeed
17:46as they head down the hill
17:47far section of the track
17:49Muller just locking up slightly
17:50but nothing serious
17:51and Thompson keeping a close eye
17:53and watch Muller
17:54keeping it under control
17:55quick glance in the mirror
17:56there's nothing much else
17:58he does look icy cool
17:59in the car doesn't he
18:00he just drives
18:01oh look look look
18:02Plato was just having a little look there
18:04but this is situation good
18:06for James Thompson definitely
18:08man on the move further back
18:10as we expected
18:11Matt Neil up from the back of the grid
18:12to seventh already
18:14helped of course by that safety car
18:15concertina ring up the field
18:17but he's had a great run through
18:19yeah that's good effort from Matt Neil
18:21there you are looking at Matt Neil
18:22from the back of Rob Huff's car
18:24Rob Huff who had a bit of a tough time
18:27in the second race
18:28but he's now running in sixth place
18:30and Matt Neil moving his way up
18:33from the very back of the grid
18:34with a fully light car
18:35taking advantage of the lack of ballast
18:38on board to Nick through
18:39and they're all crossing the line together
18:41a big gaggle of cars behind
18:43as Plato goes on the attack again
18:45Muller has to keep it very very very tight
18:48and Plato's still trying to squeeze through
18:50and Thompson must be loving this
18:52from his vantage point
18:53yeah Muller's really under pressure here
18:54he's got to try and keep Plato behind
18:56but the problem is that he knows that Thompson
18:59won't have to try and attack him
19:01so it's not really helping by backing Plato into Thompson
19:04Thompson can just sit there
19:05but it's certainly a difficult situation for Muller
19:09he's got to try and get the fastest lap as well
19:11to try and get that extra point back
19:14but and he was able to do that on the penultimate lap
19:16in this last race
19:17so he could have the pace
19:19he could have
19:20but there's some way to go
19:21he needs a 1 minute 13.7
19:23and that was a blistering lap from Thompson
19:25because I think it was a 1.13.9
19:27that Ivan Muller managed earlier on today
19:30when he broke the lap record
19:31but Thompson's lap is very very fast
19:33it's going to be tough to beat that
19:35and for the moment Thompson is exactly where he needs to be
19:38sitting pretty in 3rd place
19:41looking to wrap up the title
19:42Plato's still having another look
19:44they're getting past
19:45but it doesn't quite happen there for him
19:47looking further down the order
19:48Matt Neil in 8th place
19:50just behind Tom Chilton
19:52Dan Eves is still running in 4th place
19:54with Colin Turkington behind him
19:56and with Anthony Reid dropping down the order
19:58Reid has dropped down to 11th
20:00I don't think his points gap will be overcome
20:04but he's still going to be a little concerned about it
20:06just take a little look back here
20:07what happened to Stefan Hodgetts
20:09briefly
20:10he was nicely with Anthony Reid
20:12but once more with Ivan Muller
20:14looking as though that car sliding more now
20:16through the cranes
20:17it is the only chance for Muller really
20:19is to try and slow the pace up
20:21and let Eves and Turkington
20:24who aren't that far behind
20:25catch up and mess up
20:27let's take another look at that incident
20:29we were talking about
20:30this was Reid behind Hodgetts
20:32just managed to slip through on the inside there
20:34at Coppies corner
20:35and that was fairly straight forward for him
20:39that was into 10th position
20:41top 3 still very very close
20:43but I gather there's a problem for Tom Chilton
20:46Chilton's off
20:47and he's in the gravel there
20:49yeah
20:50and he's trying to get going
20:51he might well be able to get back on circuit
20:54but that means he's dropped out of 7th position
20:56and the winner of race 2 is not going to have much fun
20:59and this is what happened
21:00when Reid hit Hodgetts a little while ago
21:02oh dear
21:04that's Hodgetts losing out
21:06as a result of that
21:07he really hasn't had much luck here this weekend
21:09no he hasn't
21:10but look at the front group is definitely closing up
21:13this is what Thompson doesn't want
21:15Thompson doesn't want any pressure from behind
21:17because he knows that Yves and Turkington are going to go for it
21:20yeah
21:21Plato though
21:22still on the attack there
21:24we've just seen McNeil come into the pit lane
21:26so he's out of it again
21:28another disappointing race for McNeil
21:30usually goes well here at Donington
21:32but it hasn't worked out for him this time
21:34James Kaye now trying to get past Anthony Reid
21:36he's in the silver and red car
21:38heading down behind them is Jason Hughes
21:41again a little lock up at Sean Watson Smith ahead
21:44in the Proton
21:45he's in the points this time
21:47he's had scored points quite regularly this season
21:49at most of the meetings
21:50disappointed not to have ended up with a podium finish anywhere
21:54it's still looking good for Thompson
21:56even though Muller is leading this race
21:58Muller is soaking up the pressure
22:00ten and a half laps completed
22:02out of the 16
22:03and so far so good it is for James Thompson
22:06and these are the top three in the championship as well
22:09Plato's holding on to a very tight third place
22:12only a couple of points in Thunderbird
22:14but this obviously would be enough to secure him that third place
22:18and would Seat be delighted with that?
22:20yeah that would make quite a difference to them
22:23the Vauxhall guys are obviously watching this closely
22:26they've wrapped up the Manufacturers Championship
22:28they would love to beat Seat though in the final race of the season
22:32you know it's been an awfully long time since
22:34Ivan Muller has won a round of the British Touring Car Championship
22:38all four of his victories this year
22:40were set earlier on
22:41and it's Mondello
22:43way back in June that we last saw a win from Ivan
22:46as James K bounces
22:48and comes back onto the circuit once again
22:51so Muller will do his utmost
22:53he wants to win this race
22:54no matter what happens in the championship
22:56then he'll have done his job
22:57then he'll feel well
22:58I did everything I could have done
23:00and beyond that
23:02I just have to wait and see what happens to Thompson
23:04Thompson though in third
23:06and that's sufficient
23:07behind them you can see Dan Eves
23:09still running in fourth
23:11and behind him is Colin Turkington in fifth
23:13Rob Huff in sixth
23:14Collard now in seventh
23:15ahead of Watson Smith
23:16Reid
23:17James K
23:18although I think James may have lost a little bit more ground
23:20as a result of that last one
23:21and there
23:23Ivan Muller
23:24just again defends the position
23:26in towards Higuain
23:27he'll be coming over the line to complete
23:29twelve laps this time
23:31four laps to go
23:33and looking at Ivan
23:35while he's cool
23:36he's composed
23:38and a quick
23:39quick check in the mirror again
23:41and into Red Kane corner
23:42and look at Thompson
23:43and close once more behind Plato
23:45there's really nothing Ivan can do is there
23:48that they've got this pace sorted out
23:51Plato I think is possibly leaving it
23:53until the last couple of laps
23:55or even the last lap
23:56to have a go
23:57and there we have Kay
23:58just going up the inside of Watson Smith
24:00that's for ninth place
24:02so Kay back into the top ten
24:04yeah James despite that little off earlier on
24:06Stefan Hodgetts not far behind
24:08he's in eleventh place
24:09let's just take a look back at another overtaking
24:12here as they came down
24:15let's just see what happened
24:16this was Hodgetts I think going past Hughes
24:18yeah
24:19made that look fairly simple
24:21they've all cut the kerb a little bit
24:23but everybody's doing that
24:24and it's Ivan Muller
24:26on his thirteenth lap out of sixteen
24:28he's doing everything he can do
24:30but his lap times are not fast enough
24:32to take fastest lap
24:33and that's what he needs to do
24:35he needs to set the fastest lap in this race
24:37Plato as close as he's been
24:38Muller defending mightily on the inside
24:41Plato forced to go round the outside
24:43there's not much chance of that at that corner
24:45well the lap times are now nearly a second off
24:48the fastest lap by James Thompson
24:50so there's no chance of getting that
24:52however good Muller's pace is looking
24:54still seems relaxed in the car
24:56but the only chance in the say
24:58is him to really really play the political game
25:00and just slow everybody up massively
25:02and hope that James gets overtaken from behind
25:04but I don't think that's Muller's style
25:06well there's a lot going on behind having said that
25:08they're on the grass themselves
25:10yeah Dan Eves there under pressure from Turkington
25:12and Hodginson squeezing down the middle of Sean Watson Smith
25:15and Jason Hughes no change in position
25:18but there you can see that Dan Eves has got
25:21Colin Turkington and Rob Hough breathing down his neck
25:24so there's nothing to choose between these three
25:26all fighting for fourth place
25:28up the hill they go
25:30so Muller, Plato, Thompson then the gap
25:33to Dan Eves, Colin Turkington and Rob Hough
25:36and Plato just trying to find that way past
25:39Ivan Muller, can he take a second win here at Donnington today
25:43won the opening race by a mile
25:46by huge margin in touring car terms
25:48as Ivan once more goes to the inside
25:51and now Plato has another little look down the inside
25:56but it's still not the space that he needs
25:59and Muller controls it across the line this time
26:02completing 14 laps, two more laps to go
26:05well they've dug a huge hole haven't they in that chicane
26:10on the entry and the exit
26:12they've dug so much dirt out there
26:14I think you could probably bury the protons in that hole
26:17but they won't be with us next year
26:19Farrakhan Harriman not even starting this race
26:21he's scored no points at all this year
26:23Sean Watson Smith fighting hard as he's done all year
26:26but back in 12th place in an uncompetitive car
26:30Ran Muller again sliding a little bit through Crainers
26:33but again just keeping it fingertip control
26:36easing it up the hill through Schwan's curve
26:38is Plato on my inside?
26:40he has a quick check but he's not
26:41and now he's back up the hill in towards the right hand
26:44McLean's were on board Thompson
26:46the locked break is from Jason Plato
26:49and all three of them driving so well
26:51you know the three last champions here Tim
26:54of the last three years
26:56separated by the proverbial cigarette paper
26:59and it's been clean it's been hard racing throughout
27:01it has but we've got a few more laps to go
27:04and I fancy Jason's got a little bit of something left up his sleeve
27:07but these three have been the class in the field
27:10it's been great to have Jason Plato back in the championship
27:13and Seat of course they've brought real pizzazz
27:16to the championship this year
27:17Jason may have played some tactical games to win races
27:20but that was what he was always intending to do
27:22and he's still finished up at the moment in third place in the championship
27:26so you can't knock his strategy at all
27:28that's right he's well ahead of Anthony Reid in this race
27:30there were just two points between them coming into it
27:32but Jason Plato will confirm himself as third place in the championship
27:36as third place finisher but we're on to the last lap now
27:3915 laps have been completed
27:41they're on their 16th and final lap
27:44and oh down the hill there Colin Turkington trying to squeeze through
27:47can he hold on to it oh he's gone wide and back through
27:50has gone down Eves with Rob Huff also going through
27:53so Colin Turkington big attempt there but it's lost out
27:56yeah he got sideways we saw it earlier didn't we
27:59and once you get the cut oh we took him sideways
28:02there was a bit of a slide from Muller getting wide on the corner
28:05but there was no chance for Paul Colin Turkington
28:08to really stop that car and not lose a place
28:11he did well just to keep it out of the gravel
28:13but it's coming down to the last corner of the last race
28:16of the British Touring Car Championship
28:18and Ivan Muller has done everything he could have tried
28:22we've got oh we've got a yeah sorry another lap or so to go
28:24because of the safety car so we've got a bit more time to play with
28:28that's good news from Jason Plato's point of view
28:31but not such good news from Ivan Muller as he'd love to just be able to cross the line now
28:36and as there's the characteristic just roll up of the sleeve there
28:39and down in towards Redgate
28:41Plato still has another lap and a bit to go to try and nip through and take the lead of this race
28:47two more laps now I think Jason is going to really put the pressure on
28:51he's going to start to really hassle the back end of that box all of Muller
28:55but Muller is dry he's so good through these fast corners
28:59he carries so much speed car just teetering on the edge balancing
29:03you know if ever you can get a front wheel drive car to get close to a four wheel drift
29:07that's your man to do it
29:09yeah it's great stuff he's been a star to watch over the last few years
29:12the reigning champion but he's not going to do enough here I don't think
29:16because Thompson is just playing that patient game in third
29:19doing everything he needs to that fastest lap is in his pocket
29:22113.706 that's what he needed just to make sure that Ivan Muller didn't get it
29:28now as long as he sits there in third he will take the title
29:31but what about Jason Plato is he going to go for something special
29:35on the last lap coming a little getting tight between them as they come through
29:40the chicane this time and Muller still just managing to hold him off
29:45is he just a little bit oh it's tight there as they come across the line
29:48and Thompson's got a chance to join in as well as they head down towards
29:52red gate corner and now surely Muller's getting a little more anxious
29:56as he tries to defend this position
29:58well James Thompson staying right out of it isn't he
30:01I'm sure he backed off the throttle there but he just let these two
30:04get on with it last lap then and Ivan Muller just has to hold off for one more lap
30:09less than a lap to take his fifth win of the season but it's not going to be
30:13enough to take the championship Jason Plato will try everything to knit through
30:17and take another victory himself James Thompson still playing the waiting game
30:22still patient behind them it's Dan Eaves and Rob Huff Huff in fifth place
30:27but he's almost pushing Muller along now and Muller having to hold the card
30:31trying not to let it get too sideways it's tough tough fight this one so physical
30:37and Muller just has to get through the final
30:40Muller was waving his fist and look at the opposite lock he's got on there
30:43Muller was waving his fist coming up there towards McLean's between McLean's and Coppice he was waving his fist now the last chance for Plato
30:51so Plato is going to be forced to go to the outside
30:54Muller will defend and the champions of 2003 2001 side by side it looks like Muller's got it
31:00Muller just in front enough he's going to take the final win of 2004 but second place goes to
31:07Plato third to James Thompson it makes James Thompson the 2004 British touring car champion
31:15well what a race to finish things off both of them drove superbly but it's Thompson that has taken the title for the second time in three years
31:25he's won the decider if you like Vauxhall manufacturers champions
31:30Ivan Muller did everything he could he won the race but at the end of the day James Thompson did just enough to win the championship
31:38brilliant driving from the two top members of this championship and we'll hear from both of them after the break
31:45Sponsored by green flag moving assistance with you all the way
32:00Before you buy car insurance from just anyone just keep asking yourself one question
32:07could I get a better deal with the AA because last year the AA could have saved you up to £199 on your car insurance
32:18why not see what you could save before you buy car insurance from just anyone just ask
32:25call 0800-294-7777 or buy online
32:31oh god
32:33what's that?
32:35wow
32:37wait a minute
32:39wait a minute
32:54wait a minute
32:55go
32:56no
32:57go
32:59wait
33:01wait
33:03wait
33:05wait
33:06wait
33:08I'm going to tell you something.
33:37If somebody messes with me, I'm going to mess with him.
33:43What's your mind? Can't you talk with a gun in your mouth?
33:47Never stop fighting until the fight is done.
33:50The Untouchables, Monday at 9, ITV2.
33:56Sponsored by Green Flag Motoring Assistance.
33:59Getting you back on track.
34:07Welcome back.
34:14And what a remarkable event it's been here at Donington.
34:20We've seen a fantastic performance from James Thompson to do just enough to win the title.
34:27And James is suitably delighted with that.
34:31Ivan Muller could not have done more than he did.
34:33But at the end of the day, James Thompson controlled it.
34:36And there, nice to see the former champions getting together.
34:40And Alan Gow, the boss of Touring Cars, congratulating James after a phenomenal achievement.
34:45Two titles in three years.
34:49And, well, there is a very special trophy awaiting James.
34:55Vicky is there with him.
35:00And we're about to hear from the man who's wrapped up the 2004 championship.
35:07James, absolutely fantastic.
35:14Can I, oh, he's just having a quick hug with a very emotional wife.
35:19Wonderful.
35:21And a more somber handshake with Ivan Muller.
35:24Emotional.
35:24Now then, oh, James, may I give you this trophy?
35:27Your name was last on it in 2002.
35:29Which is sweeter, now or then?
35:32To be honest with you, it has to say now, I mean, winning it the first time was, you know, unbelievable.
35:39But, you know, the fight that we've had all year, you know, and take it down to the last, last race of the year.
35:45And, you know, to do it on the fastest lap, you know, I knew.
35:48And at one point, isn't it?
35:50Well, that's why I worked so hard in the early part of the race.
35:52And then, to be honest with you, I just let him get on with it.
35:55You know, I just sat there.
35:56The car was fantastic.
35:57But I was getting all a bit emotional, so I thought I'd better just see where I am.
36:02Were there any thoughts for Ivan at all?
36:06I mean, you know, it's hard to point into words, you know, how gutted you must feel.
36:09I know I'd be absolutely devastated, but, you know, what can I say?
36:15You know, he'd done fantastic well.
36:17He'd be gutted.
36:18But, you know, me and him have been so evenly matched.
36:22And I think it's fitting that it's only one point.
36:25Absolutely.
36:26Ivan, I'll just bring you in here.
36:28Ivan, some thoughts for James, maybe?
36:31Yeah, well done.
36:32He deserved.
36:35It was a great collaboration between us during three years.
36:40I think we were part of the level of this team.
36:47No, he won.
36:48One point.
36:49I think we were very close together until the end.
36:54That's life.
36:54The thing is, we push each other, you know, every step of the way.
36:57And, no, it's been fantastic.
36:59I've had a thoroughly great, you know, great three years.
37:02And so you can never take it for granted.
37:05But a couple of beers tonight, I feel.
37:07I think so.
37:08Now you're moving on, aren't you, to another championship.
37:09So how sweet is this for you to take this title away with you?
37:13Oh, fantastic.
37:14You know, I never wanted to finish the season being number two.
37:16You know, I wanted to win it.
37:17And at the end of the day, you know, I'm absolutely elated.
37:21You know, to walk away from Vauxhall being a number two
37:25is not the way to go.
37:27So absolutely fantastic.
37:28I'm made up.
37:30Oh, I'm so pleased for you, James.
37:31Well done.
37:32And just a few final words with Ivan, if I may.
37:36Thoughts then on the season?
37:38Are you disappointed?
37:40Yeah, of course.
37:42It's normal to be disappointed.
37:44I was leader of the championship during the 27th race.
37:47It was 30 races.
37:49I finished one point behind.
37:51The last two, three races, I lost important points.
37:57That's racing, you know.
37:59You need a first, you need a second one.
38:01OK, today I am second.
38:03Maybe tomorrow I will be first.
38:04I think you pretty much did all that you could do today.
38:07Yeah, you know, everything was not in my hand.
38:10I had to be in front of him all the time.
38:13OK, we had a contact on the first race.
38:15It cost me some points.
38:17Good second race, good third race.
38:20But, yeah, it's not enough.
38:22I still try on the end to do the lap or curl,
38:24but it was impossible.
38:26And what are your thoughts on James?
38:27Because obviously you have no ability to make next year.
38:29Yeah, we'll be not in this team, you know.
38:33Like I said before, our collaboration helped the team to go up.
38:38One was pushing the other one.
38:40So I don't know who will be my team next year.
38:42And I hope we will have the same atmosphere and the same collaboration that I had with Jimmy.
38:51Lovely. Well, thank you very much indeed, Ivan.
38:54And now back to Ben.
38:55Thank you very much, Vicky.
38:57Well, what a season it has been.
38:59And we have a worthy champion at the end of it.
39:01And whichever of those had won the title would be a worthy champion.
39:05No doubts about it.
39:06But Thompson in the end, the top man by just two points.
39:10Jason Plato managed to take third place.
39:12And Anthony Reid won the Harrier's Euros Independent Trophy.
39:17Make sure that you keep an eye out for all the great motorsport coming up on ITV over the next couple of weekends.
39:24And look out for the BTC season review in a few weeks' time.
39:28But from all of us here at Donington Park and the British Touring Cars, goodbye for now.
39:33And you'll be back with us next year.
40:03We'll be back with us next year.
Recommended
42:45
|
Up next
27:52
1:49:43
30:26
33:46
43:59
31:28
1:12:10
34:09
37:20
38:33
1:30:27
Be the first to comment