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BTCC RACE REPORT - ROUNDS 9 & 10, MONDELLO
Kiwi Aaron Slight showed the aggression and finesse that he displayed on two wheels to record a resounding win from the back of the field and he is now leading the Indy championship.
Aaron won his 3rd BTCC Independants Cup race for 2002 and notched up another top 10 overall finish last weekend at Mondello Park, Ireland. A track unfamiliar to Aaron until Thursdays open day.
Qualifying on Saturday Aaron soon got to grips with the circuit but it ended in disaster as electrical problems at the TOCA scrutineering bay meant Aaron could not restart the Vauxhall Astra which lead to his times being disallowed.
"The characteristics of this circuit is so different, it has highlighted a problem we have never had before. This is why the car didn't start."
Race day Sunday was even more dramatic. With half an hour to go, it was discovered that Aaron and his team mate's car had developed a computer related electrical problem. After much effort from the team, it was unable to get Aaron's car fixed to make the race start.
All efforts were made by the team to ensure that Aaron had a perfect car for the feature race. Starting from the back of the grid Aaron drove focused and fast setting a blistering pace through the field up to 3rd place overall before the mandatory pit stop. During the pit stop with a dry line appearing, Aaron changed to slicks and drove faultlessly to notch up his 3rd Independants Cup victory and regain joint leadership in the points table with ex BTCC Champion Tim Harvey.
NEXT BTCC RACE: Croft, Yorkshire July 13/14
BTC TOURING INDEPENDENTS CUP DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP
(after 10 of 20 races)
1. Aaron Slight Barwell Vauxhall Astra 87 2. Tim Harvey VLR Peugeot 406 87 3. Dan Eaves VLR Peugeot 406 77 4. Gareth Howell Atomic Kitten MG ZS 67 5. Tom Chilton Barwell Vauxhall Astra 60 6. Colin Turkington Atomic Kitten MG ZS 16
