BTCC: Aiello keeps BTCC title bid on track
13 September 1999
David Leslie’s pole position was of little consequence at the start of the Sprint race. The Scot, by his own admission, became over-excited and allowed the engine revs to climb. As the wheels of his Nissan Primera spun round, Leslie watched on helplessly as his team mate and championship rival Laurent Aiello sped past to lead into the first corner.Honda’s James Thompson also took advantage of Leslie’s sluggish get-away, the Yorkshireman passing the Nissan round the outside into Old Hall corner. Rickard Rydell had similar thoughts, but Leslie held onto the position, leaving the Volvo driver to hold off the challenge of Renault’s Jason Plato.
Alain Menu, starting from the back of the grid, had very little to lose and tried an innovative manoeuvre as the cars streamed down to Cascades for the first time. Unfortunately for the Swiss star, he succeeded only in parking his Mondeo on the bank, bringing out the Safety Car for one lap while the debris was cleared.
As the racing resumed, David Leslie set about making amends for his poor start. Knowing that he could not afford to let Aiello escape, Leslie hounded Thompson mercilessly, until on lap nine he pulled alongside down the main straight. The two dodged and diced side-by-side for much of the lap, but Leslie finally claimed the place. In the excitement, Plato had spied an opportunity to take second place, but his attempt to move ahead led to a spot of grass-cutting, forcing him into the pits and retirement. The incident led to the eventual exclusion of Thompson, promoting Rydell to a podium finish.
Once Leslie had overhauled Thompson, he might have been expected to reel in the leader. However, the top three produced remarkably similar lap times for the remainder of the race and the Nissan driver was unable to shake off the attentions of the Honda Accord. Consequently, Aiello completed the tenth victory of his first BTCC campaign to maintain a healthy advantage over his team mate.
Aiello: "I really concentrated on the start as I knew it was the only way to get past David with no risk. After that it was pretty easy for me, but two laps from the end I started to get some vibrations from the car. I do not know what it was, but I hope to find out the problem before the next race."
Leslie: "I got too excited, had too many revs and too much wheel-spin. I worked hard to get back past James, but he didn’t make it easy for me as you would expect. I was doing the same kind of times as Laurent, but couldn’t make an impression on his lead."
Thompson: "I am determined to hang on to third place in the championship. I feel that we have been hard done by in this race. I have been taken off numerous times during the season and I don’t think I deserved to be excluded."
Neal: "I got up the inside of Anthony Reid at the hairpin on the first lap. I thought we’d struggle, but we settled down into a good race pace. The team told me to stay out of trouble."
FEATURE RACE - Round 24
David Leslie was determined to make amends for his poor start in the first race, but the start of the Feature race produced a carbon copy when the green lights came on. Aiello surged past, as did Thompson, leaving Leslie again to withstand the pressure of the chasing pack. Thompson continued his charge through Old Hall bend to take the lead from Aiello and the Accord driver began to pull out an advantage.
Aiello contented himself with the knowledge that team mate David Leslie was in his rear view mirror and therefore not in a position to narrow the points difference in the championship. The Frenchman maintained a steady race pace, allowing Thompson a free reign out in front.
As the pit stop window opened, the teams’ tactics came into play. Aiello tried to steal a march on the others by stopping early. With new rubber, the Primera pilot was able to make up half a second a lap, but it was not enough to prevent Thompson rejoining at half distance with his advantage still in-tact. Leslie meanwhile was frantically trying to make up for his mistake and stayed out long enough to claim a point for leading the race, before pitting to change his left side tyres.
Alas for the Scot, his strategy cost him time on the track and he returned to the circuit comfortably behind Aiello and in the clutches of Rydell. Volvo’s out-going champion could sense an eighth podium finish of his reigning season and as Leslie’s brakes began to fade, the Swede drew nearer. With every point likely to be crucial in the final reckoning, Leslie defended his corner, but the Volvo had too much in reserve and Rydell moved ahead on the penultimate lap.
James Thompson had by now disappeared into the distance, leading the content Aiello by more than ten seconds. Thompson’s determination to atone for the disappointment of his earlier exclusion from the Sprint race was obvious. The Honda star put in lap after lap of impressively quick times, claiming the lap record in the process, before taking the chequered flag for his fourth win of the campaign.
Thompson: "This doesn’t make up for the first race exclusion, but I took my vengeance out on the tarmac. The car was fantastic, as it has been all year and it’s a great result for Honda."
Aiello: "I am almost home, but almost is not enough. I know that I have to go to Silverstone and score some points, but the pressure is definitely on David more than me. I have no need to take any risks."
Rydell: "The car was very consistent throughout the race, unlike the first event. It felt like a different car this afternoon after just a few tweaks."
Neal: "I didn’t think I could make two bad starts in one race but I did today! I lit the wheels up on the grid and then I stalled it during the pit stop!"
AUTO TRADER BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
Oulton Park Island Circuit / 12 September 1999
Round 23 / 18 laps / 42.48miles
1.. Laurent Aiello FRA Nissan Primera 26min 11.859sec 97.97mph
2.. David Leslie GB Nissan Primera +1.505s
James Thompson GB Honda Accord +1.884s ^NB
3.. Rickard Rydell SWE Volvo S40 +11.387s
4.. Vincent Radermecker BEL Volvo S40 +11.681s
5.. Peter Kox HOL Honda Accord +11.937s
6.. Matt Neal* GB Nissan Primera +12.613s
7.. J-C Boullion FRA Renault Laguna +13.182s
8.. John Cleland GB Vauxhall Vectra +16.031s
9.. Yvan Muller FRA Vauxhall Vectra +20.124s
10.. Will Hoy* GB Renault Laguna +29.182s
Michelin Cup for Independents winner: Matt Neal (GB) – Nissan Primera
Fastest lap: David Leslie Nissan Primera 1:24.319sec, 100.85mph
^ NB James Thompson excluded for accident involving Jason Plato.
Round 24 / 34 laps / 80.24 miles
1.. James Thompson GB Honda Accord 48min 23.219sec 99.58mph
2.. Laurent Aiello FRA Nissan Primera +12.382s
3.. Rickard Rydell SWE Volvo S40 +19.145s
4.. David Leslie GB Nissan Primera +20.434s
5.. Yvan Muller FRA Vauxhall Vectra +23.394s
6.. Jason Plato GB Renault Laguna +26.144s
7.. J-C Boullion FRA Renault Laguna +31.608s
8.. Anthony Reid GB Ford Mondeo +46.855s
9.. Alain Menu SWI Ford Mondeo +48.023
10.. Matt Neal* GB Nissan Primera +48.755s
Michelin Cup for Independents winner: Matt Neal (GB) – Nissan Primera
Fastest lap: James Thompson GB Honda Accord 1:23.984s, 101.25mph
Provisional Championship positions (after 24 of 26 rounds)
Drivers
1 Laurent Aiello (Fra) 241
2 David Leslie (GB) 215
3 Rickard Rydell (Swe) 161
4 James Thompson (GB) 160
5 Jason Plato (GB) 122
6 Peter Kox (Hol) 109
7 Vincent Radermecker (B) 105
8 Matt Neal* (GB) 104
9 Yvan Muller (Fra) 103
10 J-C Boullion (Fra) 94
Michelin Cup for Independents
1.. Matt Neal (GB/Nissan) 341
2.. Mark Blair (GB/Vauxhall) 168
3.. Will Hoy (GB/Renault) 105
Manufacturers
1.. Nissan 460
2.. Honda 284
3.. Volvo 259
Teams
1.. Vodafone Nissan Racing 198
2.. Team Honda Sport 130
3.. Williams 108
Michelin Racer of the Year
1.. Mark Blair 71
2.. Will Hoy 29
3.. Lee Brookes 24