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BTCC Race Three

The line-up for our final BTCC race of the day is variation on the reverse grid theme. The pole-sitter is drawn at random from between the 5th and 10th place finishers in Race Two. We then reverse to the Race Two winner and add in the rest as per their finishing positions. Colin drawing the number 5 gave Dean pole and landed Alex and Andy in the B Final - a best-case scenario as they'd also be carrying the top two 'success ballast' power reductions.

Option tyres were on the cars of Dean, Jeremy, Mike, Kev, Alex, Terry, Ash, Isaac, Ollie and Oliver - two thirds of the grid.

   

Simon found himself down in the D Final, but was soon leading the race ahead of Terry. The other four - Stephen, Daniel, Isaac and Kev were battling for third and a step-up to more championship points. At halfway, Stephen was ahead of Isaac. By the end, Stephen had comfortably escaped the D Final for the first time today - even overtaking Terry to grab runner-up spot. Daniel was a lap back, with Kev beating Isaac for his best finish.

The C Final was an incredibly close race. Jeremy got in front and drove smoothly to stay there, but any slip up could drop him out of contention. At half way, everyone was on the lead lap - Jeremy chased by Simon, Terry, Rob, Ollie and Stephen. Errors crept in as the pressure mounted - Simon slipped to fourth, giving the step-ups to Jeremy, Rob and Terry.

   

The B Final saw Alex line-up against Andy at the front. Along with those two, Ash was aiming for a third successive appearance in the top final - Jeremy, Rob and Terry were hoping to spoil the party. Despite their power penalties, Alex and Andy got away from the chasing pack at the start. Ash didn't have the race he was looking for, but the others kept the pressure on the frontrunners - any slip-up might be very costly. At halfway, Rob led the chasing pack - and he was still there at the end for an excellent result and a crack at the A Final.

   

With track position and more power, Dean and Mike got away at the start of the A Final - Alex getting round Andy and Oliver to sit comfortably in third. Andy's Civic suffered its first offs of the day, dropping him half a lap back at half distance. Alex had closed up on the leaders, but Dean looked very good in the lead and only needed a clean run to the line to taste victory. However, disaster struck in the final three laps. Rob had an off in just the wrong place (the esses) at just the wrong time (as the leaders approached). Dean and Alex got caught up in the incident, Mike got through unscathed. Then there were more errors trying to recover - Mike was home and dry, with Andy sneaking through into second. Alex grabbed third, with Dean ruing his luck back in fourth - although he did grab his second fastest lap of the day and another bonus point...

   

Here are the results from Race Three...

   

And the WHO BTCC table after three rounds gone...

   

The conclusion of the championship will be at the December Tin Top Saturday.

However, there's still the Muscle Car Mondiale race to go this time...