Gordon Shedden and Colin Turkington shared the victories in Sunday's three Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship rounds at the Donington Park circuit in Leicestershire. But it is Matt Neal, despite an off-form day on one of his favourite circuits, who continues to lead the BTCC, albeit by a reduced advantage over Turkington as the championship now heads to the Snetterton circuit in Norfolk on 13 August.
Team Halfords Honda driver Shedden impressively achieved back-to-back victories in races one and two before Turkington, in his Team RAC MG, pounced later in the day to slash the gap to Neal from 37 points prior to Donington down to just 22. Turkington's victory came after a re-start, following a multiple pile-up on the grid, two safety car periods and a rain shower, all of which will have provided exciting viewing for those watching live national television coverage of the BTCC on the ITV1 channel.
Reigning champion Neal, who took fourth, fifth and seventh positions in his Team Halfords Honda, said: "That's one of the more bizarre days in my touring car career - we've been quick every time out and the podium was within reach several times, but it just didn't happen for us today. I was lucky to get away with a few bumps and I've been off the track, but somehow survived.
"I'm also fortunate that Colin didn't have a great middle race because he'd have been a lot closer to me. Snetterton should be good for us, but the way he's going in that MG we have to seriously watch out for him. But as I've said before, I'd rather have a lead than be playing catch-up."
Turkington, who at 24 could this year become the BTCC's youngest ever champion, said: "Race three is the hardest race I've ever done - all sorts was happening around me so to come through it and win was a very exciting moment. It's definitely game on in the title race. I think we've got Team Halfords a bit rattled at the moment - they've seen just how competitive the MG is today and I think we'll be just as competitive at every circuit from now on."
Shedden, meanwhile, has jumped from fifth to third in the standings thanks to also adding a third in race three to his two victories. He is now a point ahead of fourth-placed Jason Plato who suffered a bad day, failing to score in races two and three after separate crashes in his SEAT Leon.
And SEAT has seen its lead in the Manufacturers' standings eroded by Vauxhall - its three Astra Sport Hatches all displaying strong form at Donington - from 77 points to 56. Team Halfords has dramatically turned a two-point deficit into a 42-point lead over SEAT Sport UK in the Teams' championship. Neal and Team Halfords also continue to lead both the Independents Trophy's Drivers' and Teams' tables.
Round 16, 16 laps (31.317 miles)Weather/Track: Cloudy & Warm/Dry
Shedden fights back for victoryShedden took a clear victory, but only after getting the measure of Turkington who led the early stages. Having set his second pole position of 2006, Shedden stayed ahead for the first half of the opening lap until Turkington moved ahead.
Vauxhall's Fabrizio Giovanardi also got past Shedden, but the Scot fought back and by mid-distance had overtaken both drivers to regain the lead. Shedden, setting the race's fastest lap for a bonus point, then drew away for his third win of the season.
Turkington held off Giovanardi for second while right behind them was Neal. Vauxhall team-mates Tom Chilton, who had run fourth during the opening stages, and Gavin Smith completed the top six.
Result:
1. Gordon Shedden (GBR), Team Halfords/Honda Integra, 19m48.048s2. Colin Turkington (GBR), Team RAC/MG ZS, +1.490s3. Fabrizio Giovanardi (ITA), VX Racing/Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch, +3.994sFastest Lap: Shedden, 1m12.970s
Round 17, 19 laps (37.188 miles)Weather/Track: Cloudy & Warm/Dry
Shedden doubles up in style Shedden again won by coming from behind, impressively this time in a car fully laden with maximum success ballast following his race one victory. Once more, the Scot used his pole position advantage to lead the first half round the opening lap when he was overtaken by Giovanardi.
But after a safety car period, Shedden was quick to move back past Giovanardi and from there was never headed. Second and third by the race's end, having also passed Giovanardi, were his team-mate Smith - equalling his best ever BTCC result - and Mike Jordan, in Team Eurotech Racing with John Guest's Honda.
In a race of attrition, a second safety car period would later be required when Plato crashed out in a collision with Neal who at the time was recovering from a brush with Robert Collard's Team RAC MG. After a pit stop to check over his car, Collard went on to set the race's fastest lap. Neal survived to take fifth and extend his series lead to 35 points over Turkington who, having started from second, crossed the line a disappointed eighth following two off-track moments with other drivers.
Of note, Eoin Murray's Quest Racing Alfa finished a fine sixth to add to the point he scored on his debut at Croft two weeks ago. And there was a first-ever point for Adam Jones, tenth in the Xero Competition team's Lexus.
Result:1. Gordon Shedden (GBR), Team Halfords/Honda Integra, 27m19.499s2. Gavin Smith (IRL), VX Racing/Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch, +1.128s3. Mike Jordan (GBR), Team Eurotech Racing with John Guest/Honda Integra, +5.232s
Fastest lap: Robert Collard (GBR), Team RAC/MG ZS, 1m13.523s
Round 18, 14 laps (33.274 miles)Weather/Track: Overcast/Dry-damp
Turkington wins to close on NealIn a bizarre race, Turkington took victory with an audacious overtaking manoeuvre at the final bend past Giovanardi. Turkington, who started from second on the grid, had lost his race-long lead to Giovanardi on the final lap but, under braking for the chicane, determinedly pushed his way back through to re-take first position just yards before the line.
Turkington's win, plus the race's fastest lap, meant he slashed the points gap to series leader Neal to 22 points. Neal finished the race in seventh after sliding off the track which had become treacherous during a sudden rain shower.
Giovanardi, denied the chance to give Vauxhall its 100th BTCC race win, finished second, while in third, despite serving a pit lane drive-through penalty, was Shedden. Shedden had been able to get back on terms with the field thanks not only to the shower that caused confusion among the drivers but two safety car periods which were required after several accidents.
Adding to the drama, the race had also required a second start after a multiple pile-up involving Plato, Collard, Jason Hughes' Kartworld MG and Mark Smith's InFront Alfa, blocked the pits straight.
Result:1. Colin Turkington (GBR), Team RAC/MG ZS, 24m44.034s2. Fabrizio Giovanardi (ITA), VX Racing/Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch, +0.383s3. Gordon Shedden (GBR), Team Halfords/Honda Integra, +4.868sFastest lap: Turkington, 1m13.351s
Leading BTCC points after Donington Park (provisional):
Drivers:
1. Matt NEAL 183pts2. Colin TURKINGTON 161pts3. Gordon SHEDDEN 130pts4. Jason PLATO 129pts 5. James THOMPSON 114pts6. Tom CHILTON 86pts 7. Fabrizio GIOVANARDI 83pts8. Gavin SMITH 82pts9. Mike JORDAN 62pts10. Robert Collard 61pts
Manufacturers:1. SEAT 357pts 2. Vauxhall 321pts
Teams: 1. Team Halfords 296pts2. SEAT Sport UK 254pts 3. Team RAC 216pts4. VX Racing 214pts
Note to sportsdesks: hi-res, copyright free images of the BTCC are available from the championship's official website http://www.btcc.net/
Colin Turkington holds onto a sideways moment en route to his race three win that has helped him slash the gap to points leader Matt Neal
Gordon Shedden twice sprayed the victory champagne and has now moved up to third in the championship
Fabrizio Giovanardi was in stunning form for Vauxhall at Donington, twice finishing on the podium and very enarly securing the manufacturer its 100th BTCC race win
SEAT's Jason Plato was one of four drivers to crash out in a multiple pile-up at the start of race three
