If race one didn’t quite deliver the blood and thunder action that everyone was expecting around Knockhill, race two delivered it in swathes. Even from the very outset you could see this one was about to get a bit feisty as the safety had to be deployed on the opening lap following an off by Martin Depper at Scotsman.
As the race settled back into a rhythm following the safety car it was a four-car tussle at the head of the field between Plato, Goff, Turkington and Tordoff. On lap 10, Turkington made another crisp move at Scotsman corner judging his overtake on Goff to perfection to put him in direct competition with his teammate Jason Plato. Goff then let Tordoff through up the main straight – repaying the favour from the opening encounter when Tordoff let Goff through to challenge for the win – because presumably Goff was going quicker and was carrying less weight. The same however, can’t be said of the two BMR drivers as Turkington time-and-time again was used as a shield for Plato against the onslaught from behind – a point Turkington was at pains to blemish over during a post race interview – but a facet of the BMR team which is clearly beginning to irk the former BTCC Champion; feeling the race win was there for Subaru if Plato had conceded ground for the benefit of the entire team.
“The car felt racy from the start, got through Goff and that’s where it stopped. There is only so much risk you can take with your teammate – but I was clearly faster and surely the aim is to get a Silverline Subaru cross the line ahead of all the other teams. But that’s clearly not what is happening at the moment, he (Plato) wants to win and so do I,” commented Turkington.
Aside from that, the action back on track was startling, time after time Tordoff would blast up alongside and even past Turkington up the Knockhill straight, only for the Subaru man to cleverly pick his way back past the WSR BMW. That gave Plato enough breathing space at the front to remain in the lead, despite some handling issues on his Silverline Subaru. Tordoff, however, eventually disposed of Turkington before having a couple of nibbles at Plato at the Hairpin and up the main straight. Plato however, was defending well and Tordoff was rapidly running out of ideas.
Then on lap 23, Matt Neal joined the fray from his 8th place grid slot. He quickly set about both Plato and Tordoff before taking the lead at the Hairpin; this was Tordoff’s opportunity and he quickly zoned into the back of Neal’s car as the pair drew past Plato like a freight train. From that point the race was won for Neal as he streaked away to take the win by 1.249secs ahead of Tordoff, with Plato back in 3rd.
“I don’t know what to say to that other than the soft tyre is the choice this weekend at Knockhill. When Sam cleared Jason too I thought I’d need to keep my eye on him, but the Type R was monstrous to the end,” said a buoyant Neal.
2nd placed finisher Sam Tordoff was happy with another strong points haul and had this to say to the ITV cameras.
“I was struggling to get past Jason, then I saw Matt coming and knew he wouldn’t be shy about sticking his nose in where it hurts; he made his move and I was able to follow him through. I’m happy with P2 and some more strong points; as that is what we need at this stage of the season.”
Winner of race one and scoring his second podium of the day Jason Plato commented:
“I had to think about that there, especially with all the fight coming from behind; but I really enjoyed it. The aim before the race was a podium, so I am delighted with that especially with 75 kilos on board.”
The final encounter of the weekend, set to go at 17.12pm this evening looks set to be another thrilling encounter. Matt Jackson starts from pole, with Rob Collard joining him on the front row following a sterling run from P17 to P5 in race two. Turkington will start alongside his teammate Jason Plato on row two, and don’t expect any quarter to be asked or given between these two. Matt Neal’s reward for winning race two is a berth alongside Sam Tordoff on row three, with his Halfords Yuasa Racing teammate Gordon Shedden starting back on row five (P9) – however Shedden has the soft tyre on for race three, as does Rob Collard – so expect these pair to be there or thereabouts come the end of the day.
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