BTCC: Tarquini Dominates qualifying at Donnington
30 July 2000
Italian Gabriele Tarquini will start from pole position for both tomorrow's rounds 17 and 18 of the Auto Trader British Touring Car Championship at Donington Park, Derbys. The 1994 BTCC champion was unbeatable in his Honda Accord in qualifying today dominating both sessions. Ford's Anthony Reid will start both races from second place in his Mondeo while new Michelin Cup for Independents champion Matt Neal recorded his best qualifying performances of the year, bagging a brace of thirds. Tarquini said: "I'm the happiest Italian at Donington. I'm in the best position for both races! The Accord worked very well today and I like this circuit. I just hope to do as well tomorrow." Neal said: "I'm over the moon. To get third place once is good but to do it twice is fantastic. Roll on tomorrow." Honda Accord driver James Kaye was also celebrating after claiming the top qualifying position in Class B for both races. TOP TEN QUALIFYING TIMES, ROUND 17 1 Gabriele Tarquini (Ita) Redstone Team Honda Honda Accord 1m38.061s 2 Anthony Reid (GB) Ford Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Zetec 1m38.387s 3 Matt Neal (GB)* Team Dynamics Nissan Primera GT 1m39.273s 4 James Thompson (GB) Redstone Team Honda Honda Accord 1m39.733s 5 Tom Kristensen (Den) Redstone Team Honda Honda Accord 1m40.338s 6 Alain Menu (Swi) Ford Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Zetec 1m41.125s 7 Yvan Muller (FRA) Vauxhall Motorsport Vauxhall Vectra 1m41.754s 8 Jason Plato (GB) Vauxhall Motorsport Vauxhall Vectra 1m42.805s 9 Vincent Radermecker (BEL) Vauxhall Motorsport Vauxhall Vectra 1m43.919s 10 David Leslie (GB)* PRO Motorsport Nissan Primera GT 1m48.495s TOP TEN QUALIFYING TIMES, ROUND 18 1 Gabriele Tarquini (Ita) Redstone Team Honda Honda Accord 1m36.276s 2 Anthony Reid (GB) Ford Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Zetec 1m36.308s 3 Matt Neal (GB)* Team Dynamics Nissan Primera GT 1m36.395s 4 Rickard Rydell (Swe) Ford Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Zetec 1m36.492s 5 James Thompson (GB) Redstone Team Honda Honda Accord 1m36.596s 6 Tom Kristensen (Den) Redstone Team Honda Honda Accord 1m36.744s 7 Alain Menu (Swi) Ford Team Mondeo Ford Mondeo Zetec 1m36.978s 8 Jason Plato (GB) Vauxhall Motorsport Vauxhall Vectra 1m37.206s 9 Yvan Muller (FRA) Vauxhall Motorsport Vauxhall Vectra 1m37.379s 10 Vincent Radermecker (BEL) Vauxhall Motorsport Vauxhall Vectra 1m37.584s *= Michelin Cup for Independents