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BTCC: Race Report from Snetterton

18 July 1999

 
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER FOR LESLIE & KOX


Rounds 15 & 16: Snetterton, 17 July 1999


The first ever night meeting of the Auto Trader British Touring Car Championship 
delivered some blistering after-dark action to keep a record crowd entertained 
right through till midnight at Snetterton this evening. Under the glare of the 
lights and after some of the very best BTCC racing seen at the high-speed 
Norfolk circuit, Nissan’s David Leslie recorded a second victory of the 
season, to move within 12 points of team mate Laurent Aiello at the top of the 
drivers’ championship. The day’s historic proceedings were rounded 
off by a maiden BTCC success for Honda’s Peter Kox in a thrilling Feature 
race.


SPRINT RACE - Round 15

The bright sunshine of the afternoon had started to turn to dusk as the green 
lights came on for the start of the Sprint, but the action began even before 
the race was underway. James Thompson, holding fourth on the grid, did not 
make it out of the pitlane in time, a driveshaft problem causing him to start 
from the back of the field. 


The all-Nissan front row made a clean get away, Aiello leading Leslie into 
turn one, boosted by the knowledge that his closest rival, Thompson, was in 
trouble at the back. Behind them Rickard Rydell was third ahead of his 
quick-starting Volvo team mate Vincent Radermecker who had taken advantage of 
the clear track caused by Thompson’s problems to move up to fourth from 
sixth. Jason Plato also got a flyer to get in front of his Renault cohort 
Jean-Christophe Boullion.


Those who thought that the scene was set for a dominant Nissan display were 
soon proved wrong, as Aiello suffered a rare clutch failure. The Frenchman 
pitted, allowing a grateful Leslie to inherit a lead he never looked like 
relinquishing. The Scot disappeared into the sunset, pulling out nearly a 
second a lap over the now second-placed Rydell, who was constantly under 
pressure from Radermecker. The Belgian, unable to challenge his team leader, 
concerned himself with fending off the advances of Plato’s Laguna.


Having started from the pitlane, James Thompson cut his way through the field 
and by lap 14 was up to seventh, past Neal and closing on Yvan Muller’s 
Vauxhall, completing a five car train fighting for third place. Racing down 
the Revett Straight for the 15th time, they lined up three abreast. Muller 
went for Boullion, Thompson saw a chance, and took them both, before lining up 
Plato. But Muller lost control of his Vectra approaching the Esses, side-swiped 
the Honda, ending his race and dropping Thompson back to ninth.


Leslie’s dreams of a serene cruise to the flag were abruptly ended two 
laps from the scheduled end of the race. Debris from Muller’s Vectra 
brought out the Safety Car allowing Rydell to close back up to the Nissan. 
As racing resumed, however, the power of the Primera took Leslie clear once 
more and the Scot took the chequered flag one and a half seconds ahead of the 
champion for his second victory of the year.


Leslie: I made a great start and settled in behind Laurent for what I thought 
would be another Nissan 1-2, but unfortunately he fell away. It was all going 
really calmly until the Safety Car came out. I knew any mistake would let 
Rickard past, but I kept my head together for the win.

Rydell: I was never going to catch David without the Safety Car, but then when 
I had my chance, the Nissan was too strong and he pulled away again. But 
I’m very happy with second.

Radermecker: It was very difficult to follow Rickard. If I’d made a 
mistake and out-braked myself I could have taken us both off.

Neal: I thought I made a good start, but Alain and Jason both came past me. My 
car was stronger than the Renaults but I couldn’t find a way past him 
cleanly. 


FEATURE RACE - Round 16

The night had truly set in by the time fireworks heralded the start of the 
Feature race just after 11pm. Nissan again held the front row, but this time 
it was Leslie’s turn to lead into the first corner. Rydell was sluggish 
from third, allowing Thompson and Honda team mate Peter Kox to get past. 
Thompson soon got in amongst the Nissans, passing Aiello on lap two, after 
which the Nissan/Honda formation pulled out an advantage over the field. As 
the pit stop window opened, the leaders were nose-to-tail. 


The whole complexion of the race (and possibly the championship) then changed 
during the compulsory pit stops. Aiello made an early stop on lap ten, followed 
by Thompson, but the Honda driver had to return to the pits next time around 
with a damaged left rear wheel, dropping him a lap down and ending any chance 
of a points-scoring finish. Leslie stopped for new tyres on lap 12, rejoining 
behind his team mate, but as Aiello’s bonnet worked loose, Leslie spied 
his chance and went by, leaving Aiello to pit again and rejoin 15th. Kox, 
meanwhile, led for two laps before himself pitting on lap 14.


As the field settled down again, Leslie enjoyed a healthy over Kox, with Muller 
having risen to third from ninth on the grid with an inspired drive in the 
spare car. Aiello was charging through the field, finally catching a train of 
four cars involved in a fierce battle for fourth place. Jason Plato, protected 
by Renault colleague J-C Boullion, held the position but was under siege from 
the Volvo duo of Rydell and Radermecker. Places were swapped and bodywork 
exchanged under the cover of darkness, but Aiello managed to pick a line 
through the debris to find himself fifth behind Rydell. It was to last only 
moments, however, as both were repassed by the Renaults through the Esses and 
as Radermecker followed the Lagunas, he was able to capitalise on a mistake by 
Plato and claim another position.


Back up front, Leslie now looked invincible with a comfortable 10 second lead, 
but just four laps from home, smoke began to appear from the Nissan, the result 
of a damaged front suspension. Although Leslie was able to continue, Kox quickly 
hauled him in and after biding his time for a lap, the Dutchman made his move 
at Corum to claim his maiden BTCC win and the first ever victory by a Dutch 
driver. Leslie limped home second to complete an excellent haul of points for 
the weekend, Muller filling the final podium position. With Boullion fourth 
and Radermecker fifth, the top five positions were held by five different 
manufacturers.


Kox: I’m really happy. It’s taken too long for this first win, but 
now I hope it is the first of many. I didn’t know where the smoke was 
coming from but I was pleased when I saw it was from David!

Leslie: We had a ten second lead with a few laps to go when something broke. 
We’re not sure what broke yet, but I could barely brake and steer and 
couldn’t hold Peter off for five laps. 

Muller: The atmosphere has been superb tonight. There is something magic about 
night racing and it has been a terrific spectacle. I was in John Cleland’s 
car, so maybe I’ll keep it from now on.

Neal: They said Alan Gow was mad to arrange this night racing, but tonight has 
been fantastic.


AUTO TRADER BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP 


Snetterton Circuit / 17 July 1999

Round 15 / 19 laps / 37.088 miles / 59.67 km

    1.. David Leslie GB Nissan Primera 23m 44.201s 93.74mph
    2.. Rickard Rydell SWE Volvo S40 +1.584s
    3.. Vincent Radermecker BEL Volvo S40 +1.968s
    4.. Jason Plato GB Renault Laguna +2.229s
    5.. J-C Boullion FRA Renault Laguna +2.749s
    6.. Peter Kox HOL Honda Accord +3.461s
    7.. Matt Neal* GB Nissan Primera +5.082s
    8.. Alain Menu SWI Ford Mondeo +5.471s
    9.. James Thompson GB Honda Accord +5.656s
    10.. Will Hoy* GB Renault Laguna +8.224s
Michelin Cup for Independents winner: Matt Neal (GB) – Nissan Primera

Fastest lap: David Leslie GB Nissan Primera 1:09.011s, 101.83mph




Round 16 / 34 laps / 66.37 miles / 106.79 km

    1.. Peter Kox HOL Honda Accord 40m 45.358s 97.70mph
    2.. David Leslie GB Nissan Primera +3.829s
    3.. Yvan Muller FRA Vauxhall Vectra +7.146s
    4.. J-C Boullion FRA Renault Laguna +21.179s
    5.. Vincent Radermecker BEL Volvo S40 +21.557s
    6.. Jason Plato GB Renault Laguna +23.202s
    7.. Laurent Aiello FRA Nissan Primera +23.370s
    8.. Rickard Rydell SWE Volvo S40 +26.481s
    9.. Alain Menu SWI Ford Mondeo +28.330s
    10.. Matt Neal* GB Nissan Primera +30.034s
Michelin Cup for Independents winner: Matt Neal (GB) - Nissan Primera

Fastest lap: Laurent Aiello FRA Nissan Primera 1:09.560s, 101.02mph

Championship positions (provisional after 16 of 26 rounds)

Drivers

1 Laurent Aiello (Fra) 147

2 David Leslie (GB) 135

3 James Thompson (GB) 120

4 Jason Plato (GB) 95

5 Rickard Rydell (Swe) 92

6 Matt Neal* (GB) 82

= Yvan Muller (Fra) 82

8 Peter Kox (Hol) 76

9 Vincent Radermecker (Bel) 67

10 J-C Boullion (Fra) 63

Michelin Cup for Independents

    1.. Matt Neal (GB/Nissan) 234
    2.. Mark Blair (GB/Vauxhall) 110
    3.. Lee Brookes (GB/Honda) 72
Manufacturers

    1.. Nissan 312
    2.. Honda 198
    3.. Renault 162
Teams

    1.. Vodafone Nissan Racing 130
    2.. Team Honda Sport 95
    3.. Williams 83
Michelin Racer of the Year

    1.. Mark Blair 45
    2.. Lee Brookes 23
    3.. Russell Spence 22


- 4 -


Auto Trader British Touring Car Championship


Snetterton Circuit – 17 July 1999


RACE RESUMES


Round 15 - SPRINT RACE

GRID Aiello – Leslie – Rydell – Thompson* – Boullion – Radermecker – Neal – Plato – Muller – Hoy – Cleland – Cook – Brookes – Menu – Blair – Reid – Kox. *Thompson started from back.

Lap 1 Aiello leads from Leslie, Rydell, Radermecker, Plato, Boullion, Muller, Neal, etc. Cleland passes Hoy. Cook retires (gearbox).

Lap 2 Kox passes Hoy. Aiello retires from lead (clutch). Leslie leads. Thompson passes Hoy.

Lap 5 Kox and Thompson pass Cleland. Muller passes Boullion.

Lap 12 Reid pits and retires (engine).

Lap 13 Thompson passes Kox.

Lap 14 Thompson passes Neal. Muller passes Plato. Plato repasses Muller. Boullion passes Muller.

Lap 15 Thompson, Muller, Plato and Boullion fight for fourth. Thompson and Muller clash. Muller spins, pits and retires (accident). Thompson drops to ninth.

Lap 16 Safety Car.

Lap 18 Green flag.

Lap 19 Chequered flag.

Round 16 - FEATURE RACE

GRID Aiello – Leslie – Rydell – Thompson – Kox – Menu – Radermecker – Plato – Muller – Neal – Boullion – Reid – Hoy – Cleland – Brookes – Cook – ^Blair. ^Blair DNS (engine)

Lap 1 Leslie leads from Aiello, Thompson, Kox, Rydell, Menu, Muller, Plato, etc. 

Lap 2 Thompson passes Aiello. Muller passes Menu and Rydell.

Lap 3 Cleland drops to last.

Lap 5 Plato takes Menu and Muller.

Lap 8 Rydell pits. Cleland passes Cook.

Lap 9 Plato and Muller clash. Muller passes Plato who drops to ninth. Radermecker pits.

Lap 10 Aiello pits from third, rejoins ninth. Plato pits. Neal has slow pit stop.

Lap 11 Thompson pits from second, rejoins ahead of Aiello.

Lap 12 Thompson loses left rear wheel and pits again, rejoining one lap down. Leslie pits from lead, rejoins behind Aiello. Kox leads.

Lap 13 Reid pits.

Lap 14 Leslie passes Aiello. Kox pits from lead. Menu leads. Boullion pits. Aiello pits again to close bonnet, rejoining 15th.

Lap 15 Brookes pits. Cook pits.

Lap 17 Brookes goes straight on at Esses. Menu pits from lead, Leslie leads. Boullion pits.

Lap 18 Menu spins and rejoins. Hoy takes drive through penalty. Leslie leads from Kox, Muller, Rydell, Radermecker, Plato, Boullion, Reid, Neal, Aiello.

Lap 20 Aiello passes Neal for ninth.

Lap 23 Aiello passes Reid for eighth.

Lap 27 Plato, Boullion and Aiello pass Radermecker.

Lap 29 Menu passes Neal for tenth. Leslie leads by 9 seconds.

Lap 30 Smoke from the back of Leslie’s car.

Lap 31 Aiello passes Plato and Boullion for fifth. Aiello and Rydell slow at Esses. Plato, Boullion and Radermecker go through. Plato runs wide at Bomb Hole, Radermecker goes through for fifth.

Lap 33 Kox takes Leslie for the lead.

Lap 34 Chequered flag.

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Next Meeting

Rounds 17 & 18 - Thruxton, Hampshire – July 31 / August 1 1999