- 5/4/2025
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00:00Music
00:12Our championship this weekend comes from a beautiful land famous for its racing.
00:17One horsepower racing, like here at the Curragh.
00:19But I tell you, just down the road from here, the horsepower's really breaking out in force.
00:54And so, at last, a dream realised, after years of trying, the BTCC has finally made it to the Emerald Isle, to this fabulous facility, Mondello Park.
01:04Beautiful track, great pits, all brand new, just a stone's throw down the road from Dublin on a big Saturday night, if that's their idea of fun.
01:11Very challenging circuit, as you can see, twisty, turny, technical circuit, and who better to go for a Sunday drive with than John Watson?
01:18So the guys are going to have to watch it here, coming down off the start line into turn one.
01:22My ploy would be, if you're not on the front row of the grid is to do what I'm going to do now.
01:28And that is, take the long way around, around the outside of the corner.
01:31When everybody's fighting for room in the inside, just go, bye!
01:35And then just keep your foot in it, and then you come into turn two, you've got the inside line.
01:40Those guys that took the proper line for turn one are going to be wasted as you run them out to the side of the track and take the position.
01:47But coming down in here, it's difficult to pass anybody, but you can, if you're cheeky, sneak up the inside.
01:54So you want to make sure you don't leave that opportunity open.
02:00Here's a place people will shoot down the inside.
02:02The natural line is here, but people scoot down the inside.
02:05So as you're coming in like this, you hear bang!
02:08Who was that? Was it Robert Collard or Tom Boardman?
02:11Hey, did you see who it was? I didn't.
02:13Come down, this is another interesting corner, one which I think you can see a little bit of gravel being brought onto the track.
02:21Remember, keep it in tight and just hug it the whole way on the exit.
02:25You don't have to run out to the outside.
02:29Stay as we are.
02:32You're going to stay on the right, cut back now, get the car in a dead straight line.
02:37Again, you see, another place where people can overtake.
02:40This is the natural racing line. In fact, that's the offer there.
02:43Now this is the corner. I was going to let it run out too wide.
02:45I can hold it in tighter here and hug that inside curb.
02:49And then accelerate better line this time.
02:53And again, back up into this little tight right, then left.
02:59Make sure we don't get too far over to the left. That's better.
03:04And then pick up the throttle again, accelerate out of the corner, and down into this, again, tight left-hand corner.
03:13It's a funny little circuit. It's got quite a nice little rhythm.
03:17Although it is a bit stop-go in some respects.
03:21But this corner, this is my favourite corner, you can really lunch into this one.
03:28And let the car drift right out to the edge of the track.
03:31Remember those grass verges are saturated, so you don't want to get a wheel on that,
03:34because that'll just drag you either off the track or it'll throw you into a spin.
03:39I must say I'm very impressed with what they've done at Mandela Park,
03:44and outside of our premier circuits in the United Kingdom, this is better than the rest.
03:49And I think I'm very pleased as a nourishment to be able to say that.
03:54You know, it's almost unique in the BTCC for the championship to come to a circuit
03:59that none of the drivers have ever raced on before.
04:01It's just like the first day at school.
04:04In fact, any driver who's even laid his eyes on this place is an instant expert,
04:08because everybody is trying to work out any subtle little nuance they can
04:12about this track as quickly as possible.
04:14Because in touring cars, learning is at a premium, because testing is so limited.
04:19The feeling for all of us was the first lap, like if we were new on motor racing.
04:24You find the difference between having learned the circuit and not,
04:27is you make more mistakes, because obviously you're braking points,
04:30you're trying to push them further all the time.
04:32So learning the circuit's not really a problem.
04:34Different drivers learn circuits in different ways,
04:37notwithstanding the fact that all of these boys are pros,
04:39so they pick up a track very quickly.
04:41But a popular method is what you might call landmarking,
04:44where different physical things around the track
04:46help a driver remember really quickly what's going on.
04:49Obvious ones are things like braking markers,
04:51letting you know 100 metres, 50 metres, and the driver will try lap after lap.
04:55How late can I brake? How late? 60? Oh, that's too late.
04:58I'll back it off again and learn it perfectly.
05:00But they'll also use other markers like signs, hoardings,
05:04getting into the corner down here, looking at the AA sign,
05:06and then the 50 metre mark, to work out where they turn in,
05:09what they apex on, even sometimes lining up the third tree on the left,
05:13just past the marshals post, say, on the exit,
05:15to work out exactly what the optimum line is.
05:18It's kind of like a dot-to-dot puzzle.
05:20It's very tight and twisty, but it's quite a long lap as well.
05:23I mean, one minute, 47, 48 seconds.
05:26You're working quite hard.
05:28We're struggling because there's a couple of corners out on the back section
05:31where you're coming into, one's a hairpin and one is a very fast corner,
05:34and they both look exactly the same as you come down into them.
05:37So a couple of times I was coming down into the hairpin
05:39thinking I was coming into a sort of 100-mile-an-hour corner.
05:42And you know the other key thing about arriving at a new circuit?
05:45It's what happens here when the driver gets into the pit lane,
05:48because setting up a car is absolutely key.
05:51These cars do not arrive at every single track the same way.
05:54They have to change the suspension, change the gearboxes,
05:56all sorts of things for every single track they go to.
05:59And, of course, the teams and the drivers don't have any data whatsoever on Mondello Park.
06:03So the guy that ends up driving the best car
06:05is going to be the guy that can best give his team feedback
06:08so they can set it up perfectly.
06:18No better place to test whether your setup is perfect than qualifying.
06:25Absolutely critical to get it right.
06:27Frustration for Steve Soper.
06:29But I tell you what, that man Muller has got it right on the nail.
06:33Did he sort that understeer out?
06:45A bit, yeah.
06:46But, you know, with this kind of car you have always understeer.
06:49The game is to try to have the minimum understeer you can find.
06:56So I found something, a good balance.
07:00I made an error this morning and then parked at the side of the track for an hour.
07:10And we couldn't really afford to lose an hour of dry practice or free practice.
07:15So I slightly think that we probably shot ourselves in the foot this morning.
07:20It was tight in production.
07:23Not decided to the closing seconds.
07:26We managed to pick that one out of the bag at the end of the session.
07:29And I'm a little bit rusty because I haven't been out much recently.
07:32So I really needed as much miles as I could.
07:35And the first couple of runs on the tyres, a few too many mistakes really.
07:39And I managed to tidy it up on the last run.
07:41So I just managed to get there in the nick of time.
07:43Great excitement at the first round.
07:48Coming here to Mondello Park.
07:50Sure is a beautiful place.
07:53But I tell you what, a couple of blokes at the sharp end of this championship won't be thinking about the scenery.
07:58James Thompson, 89 points.
08:01Jason Plato, 99 points.
08:04Ivan Müller, 108 points.
08:07Roger Moore, 64 points.
08:11James Kaye, 75 points.
08:13Simon Harrison, 93 points.
08:16After all the talk about the quickest way to learn your way around this circuit.
08:20At the end of the day, as I said, these guys are professionals and the cream always rises to the surface.
08:25No coincidence then that who do we find on the front row of the grid?
08:29None other than Jason Plato and Ivan Müller.
08:32Both of them, as usual, at the sharp end of the field.
08:35But it's a little bit more difficult for the Vauxhalls this week.
08:37Because on top of the 60 kilo success ballast they each carry, Vauxhalls have to carry another 30 performance ballast.
08:4490 kilos, Derek Warwick, in your Vauxhalls.
08:46Mate, that's like hauling you around.
08:48Yeah, I know.
08:49Well, I mean, to be honest, it's a disadvantage.
08:50But it's a penalty that we've taken.
08:52We're not very happy about it.
08:53But we've shown them that we're still quick.
08:55And we're the front four cars.
08:57So, Vauxhall happy, we're happy.
08:59Okay, well, if you're happy, it's going to be really hard on the brakes though, isn't it?
09:02It's going to be hard on consumption, tyre wear, brakes.
09:05And around here we've already got a slight brake problem.
09:08So, the guys know they have to be easy on the brakes and try and get the car to the finish.
09:12Easy on the brakes, yeah, right.
09:14Good luck.
09:15Okay, well, there you go.
09:16Extra weight for these cars.
09:17That's going to make life difficult.
09:18As I said, they've all had a chance to learn their lines around here.
09:21Work out the quickest way around.
09:23But they haven't raced here yet.
09:24And just over the crest of this hill is a doozy of a hairpin.
09:27So, there you are.
09:29It is as close as that.
09:30And I'll tell you what, Thompson and Bennett on the second row are not far behind at all.
09:34Then Sopa Luby Eves.
09:36No Alfa Romeos this weekend.
09:37They haven't made it over to Ireland.
09:39That's a disappointment.
09:40Simon Graves.
09:41Great performance for him.
09:43Pole position in production.
09:45And he's pretty new to this championship this year at least.
09:50Row upon row of production car.
09:53Boardman and O'Neill.
09:55Roger Mowen at the back of the grid had to change his engine.
09:57So, no time from him.
09:59Ready for a start for the touring cars.
10:01Lights go to green and they're away cleanly.
10:03Muller on the left.
10:04Thompson on the right.
10:05Big light up of tyres there from James Thompson in the second row.
10:08Aji Baji between Muller and Plato.
10:11Muller on the left-hand side is through.
10:13Then it's Plato.
10:14Good move there by Phil Bennett.
10:15He's through.
10:16James Thompson follows him.
10:17Steve Sopa runs a little bit wide.
10:20Up through turn two.
10:22Just a look back into the Hewlett hairpin.
10:27Very physical there.
10:28Steve Sopa getting quite a bit of a nudge there from James Thompson.
10:31Yeah, he just leant on the right-hand door.
10:33Andor and Sopa find himself out in the dirty bit of the race track
10:36and, of course, lost position.
10:37Plenty of slipping and sliding.
10:39Entire smoke there as well from Ivan Muller,
10:41the race leader in this opening lap.
10:43On board with James Thompson.
10:44That's his teammate Phil Bennett.
10:46Very close indeed.
10:47Side by side.
10:49Straight over the crest of the hill now.
10:50Ready for the production boys and they are away 45 seconds after.
10:55The tour is...
10:59Very clean start there.
11:01On board.
11:03With Gareth Howell.
11:04His teammate.
11:05Bumping and boring.
11:06Jackson ahead of us.
11:07And Graves absolutely swapping paint.
11:09Giving each other a really hard time.
11:11Up through the hairpin.
11:12Down through turn two.
11:13Now down the back straight for the first time.
11:15Very tight hairpin coming up here.
11:16That was a very, very physical start.
11:18Graves hanging on, but he's run a little bit wide.
11:20That's great news for Jackson.
11:21Side by side.
11:22This is a tight corner.
11:23Graves loses position.
11:25It was always going to be tight with the reduction cars.
11:28But the Ford Focus has promised strong performances at Mandela Park.
11:31That's what we're seeing at the minute.
11:34Strong indeed, but Jackson is sideways.
11:36He's moved sideways.
11:37Graves alongside.
11:38Contact!
11:40Graves is off.
11:41Howell is still running.
11:42So is Jackson.
11:43This is the view from Simon Harrison's car.
11:45Both of those Ford Focus are still ahead.
11:47Harrison right behind.
11:48Now that's Kay moving up a position as well.
11:51James Kay picks up.
11:53Now here's another look.
11:54Yeah, you can see Jackson.
11:55He gets out of shape as he cuts across the track.
11:57Graves comes out all of his own.
11:59Then gets slapped in the side across the grass.
12:01And not what he wanted.
12:03Now this is on board with Dan Eves.
12:05Back with the touring cars now.
12:06Ahead of us is Phil Bennett.
12:08Looking back from Bennett's car.
12:09There he is, Eves.
12:10That's as close as you want.
12:13Side by side.
12:15Right-hander here.
12:16Very, very close indeed.
12:17Now back again to Eves.
12:20Eves close.
12:21Back and forth.
12:22It's like watching butterflies mating.
12:24Well, I'll tell you what.
12:25You can't get any closer than this.
12:27Mandela Park promos close racing.
12:29I've never seen touring cars like this.
12:31Very nice paint job on Phil Bennett's Vauxhall.
12:33A couple of little dents.
12:34Once again, weaving backwards and forwards
12:36as Dan Eves having a good race too.
12:38Bringing that Vauxhall under some real pressure
12:40trying to find a way past.
12:41Back now with the production men.
12:44Jackson in the yellow Ford Focus.
12:46Kevin Piper in the alpha sliding through.
12:48Is he? Yes.
12:49And Roger Moen in the Peugeot.
12:50The orange Peugeot.
12:51Makes it stick as well.
12:53Jackson was at the sharp end of this race a minute ago.
12:55It's not going his way.
12:56Rob Collard following.
12:58There's Jackson's teammate Howell up in front.
13:01Right behind him James Kaye.
13:02Then Gavin Piper.
13:03Then Roger Moen.
13:04Roger Moen.
13:05And there Jackson in P5.
13:06But Roger Moen's the man to watch.
13:07He had to start at the back of the grid because of an engine change.
13:10Well he's just had a bit of a nudge from somebody.
13:13Somebody doing a Braille pass.
13:14That is Jackson giving him a real nerfing.
13:16There mustn't be much straight on Jackson's car.
13:18Second piece of contact already.
13:20And we're off.
13:21It's Moen.
13:22He's Moen.
13:23All over the grass.
13:24Leaping all over the place.
13:25I think he's lost position.
13:26Fights back now.
13:27Holds it in tight.
13:28Can he?
13:29Can he?
13:30Yes.
13:31That's the racing exit line.
13:32So he's just fended off that attack.
13:34Back down the pit straight.
13:35Rough and tumble stuff.
13:36Well I tell you what.
13:37I've never seen these production cars so aggressive.
13:40Eruni on lap two.
13:41Everyone's going to be very tired.
13:43It's Howell, Kaye and Piper the top three.
13:46Muller is the leading touring car.
13:48Still chasing this bunch.
13:49Because he's got to unlap himself.
13:51Very agricultural stuff.
13:53Using all the kerbs and more.
13:54Moving down the back straight.
13:57Now back at the touring.
13:58End of things.
14:00Jason Bledo still in hot pursuit there.
14:02Of his teammate Ivan Muller.
14:04But Muller is really looking the class of the field.
14:06Muller's been looking the class really of the year.
14:08He's managed to somehow get a handle on Jason Bledo.
14:11And nothing he can do could get him closer to Muller.
14:13Well he's having a quieter time than Gareth Howell.
14:16Howell coming under some real pressure from James Kaye in the Honda.
14:19Very, very real pressure indeed.
14:22Howell's a busy boy in that yellow forward focus.
14:25James Kaye really straight lining those corners.
14:27Lines him up down the inside.
14:28That looked easy.
14:29Yeah, he did a good pass.
14:30That's down at MG corner.
14:32And he's taking their lead.
14:34Well, it doesn't look as though Howell wants to take it lying down.
14:37Tries to fight back.
14:38That's Paddock corner behind the pits.
14:41Coming up now to the Dunlop hairpin.
14:43Very tight one.
14:44This is the one that leads you down onto the pit straight.
14:46If Kaye can hold him off here, he should be okay.
14:49Difficult corner.
14:50The apex you can't see.
14:51Some people have tried the long way around the outside.
14:53It has worked.
14:54Not this time.
14:56So in the production ranks and out right at the moment.
14:59It's Kaye, then Howell, then Piper.
15:01Down into the HP hairpin.
15:06Very, very tight.
15:07Then a left-hander feeding onto the back of the circuit.
15:09Ivan Muller, meantime, the leading touring car.
15:11The flying Vauxhall.
15:12His teammate as ever, Jason Plato.
15:14Hot on his tail.
15:15And it looks as though he's caught up a bit.
15:17Well, Plato certainly is trying to get on terms with Muller.
15:20But I'm sure Muller has still got that little bit left in hand.
15:23And the pair of them, meantime, clearing off from the third place Vauxhall.
15:28Through that very tight hairpin again.
15:29Then onto the back end of the circuit.
15:31Parts of the circuit quite deceptive, aren't they?
15:33One of the right-handers looks like the hairpin,
15:35and the other one looks the same.
15:36But it's actually a lot faster.
15:38It is.
15:39But the thing, the circuit's got a really good flow.
15:40The drivers love it.
15:44Plato, big puff of smoke there as the car breaks off balance.
15:48That's the tight one I was talking about.
15:49There's a faster one yet to come.
15:51Ivan Muller coming up on one of the Ford Focuses.
15:53It's Mines.
15:54Muller runs around the outside of him.
15:57Didn't really hold him up.
15:58And I think that's probably worked quite well for Jason Plato.
16:00Well, certainly, Plato was looking for any advantage at all.
16:03But Muller got through and pretty much didn't lose any ground.
16:06He doesn't look very happy.
16:07That's Graves leaving his car.
16:09It was battered in early contact.
16:11Got it going again for a little while, but not long enough.
16:13Kay, our race leader, meantime.
16:15Saunted pass.
16:16Gavin Piper in second position.
16:18And then Howell in P3.
16:20That's a pretty handy lead in production.
16:22It is indeed.
16:23And consider that James Kay's carrying a 45-kilogram penalty.
16:26Simon Harrison's got even more of a 57.
16:31Ivan Muller now working his way up through the leading production cars.
16:33And in doing so, getting himself into an improved outright position on board with Howell now.
16:38With the Dunlop hairpin back onto the pit straight.
16:44Looks pretty busy in there.
16:46Horsepower difference you can see ahead.
16:48Muller on the right-hand side of his screen.
16:50Gavin Piper on the left.
16:51Now Muller moves up into second position outright by sliding past Piper.
16:55And of course he is the leading touring car van by miles.
17:00That's the gap you just saw James Kay come through in the Honda.
17:03And then that red and white Vauxhall.
17:05He's got to catch that Honda to take outright honours by the end of this race.
17:13Still pressing on very hard.
17:14Never buttons off, does he?
17:16No, he doesn't.
17:17And he's only got one car now to catch.
17:18And that's James Kay.
17:19Track's pretty clear.
17:20So there's the Honda.
17:22There's the Vauxhall.
17:23There's two laps to go.
17:24Should be easy.
17:26Stockton is all over the place at the minute.
17:28Won't turn into left Anderson.
17:30But there's a vague empty noise in the back.
17:33Something's broken.
17:34Either a strut or something's gone back.
17:37Cobbo is 5.6 seconds behind you.
17:42Now rubber and tires.
17:44Something's broken.
17:45Broken switch is gone.
17:50Problems for Jason Plato.
17:51Are you going to continue going around, yeah?
17:53Yeah, I'll continue going around.
17:54I mean, I can barely get around the corners.
17:55But...
17:56Well, there's the word.
17:57They're going to make him keep limping around, Wadi.
17:58But he thinks he's got a suspension problem.
17:59Yeah, it looks to me just like the tire's gone down.
18:00You can see rubber is shredded off.
18:01But it's okay in right-hand corners.
18:02It's the left-handers that are the big problems.
18:03Struggling to keep the car on track.
18:04Well, problems for Jason Plato.
18:05But not for Ivan Muller.
18:06There he is.
18:07Just getting past James Kaye into the outright lead.
18:08It's okay in right-hand corners.
18:09It's the left-handers that are the big problems.
18:11Struggling to keep the car on track.
18:14Well, problems for Jason Plato.
18:16But not for Ivan Muller.
18:17There he is.
18:18Just getting past James Kaye into the outright lead.
18:21What are we doing, Jason?
18:22We're getting points right down here.
18:23Even if we're last.
18:24We still get points.
18:25We need those points.
18:26We change the tire very slowly.
18:28Bring the car in.
18:30No, it's the...
18:31It's not the tire.
18:32It's the, um...
18:33Upright.
18:34Upright.
18:35Or...
18:36Um...
18:37Strut.
18:38Or...
18:39Drive jump.
18:40Or something like that.
18:41It's a puncture.
18:42We can see it's a puncture.
18:44Bring the car in slowly.
18:45It's a puncture.
18:48Jason not being entirely clear whether he has a puncture
18:50or a mechanical problem.
18:51But I think the problem's been caused by the coming...
18:54Oh, there's another one.
18:55I'll change both front tires.
18:56He's coming in any second.
18:58Phil Bennett.
19:01Did you copy?
19:02Yes, Phil.
19:03Come in.
19:04We'll change them.
19:05What is going on here?
19:06I think it's on the exit of Paddock Bend.
19:08There's a quite aggressive curb.
19:09And if you hit it hard with the right front,
19:11you could actually take the tire off the rim.
19:14Well, Bennett's had his fronts changed and is back out again.
19:17Plato now pulling into the pits.
19:25Not too much urgency to get the car jacked up.
19:28Plenty of urgency here, though, as Steve Soper threads his way through
19:31the leading production cars.
19:33And, of course, Soper is now in P3 in the Touring class,
19:37which is a great result for Persia so far, if he can hang it together.
19:40It is a very good recovery.
19:41Remember, Soper got tagged in Turn 1 on the first lap,
19:44fell to the tail of the field,
19:45but it's driven well to get back up to third place.
19:49There's the man at work.
19:57Luckily, smooth gear changes bang down through that box.
19:59I tell you, his arm was going like a fiddler's elbow.
20:01Very, very busy circuit, though.
20:05Yes, it is.
20:06But it's a good circuit, good rhythm.
20:08Talking about good rhythm.
20:09Ivan Muller makes it look so easy, just striding out in front.
20:14No pressure now, of course.
20:17Gavin Piper, meantime.
20:18He's a busy boy.
20:20Busy boy, he's off.
20:21I don't know what he's doing.
20:22I mean, Jason Plato, who's just come back on circuit,
20:26maybe distracted Piper.
20:27But, I mean, Piper, second in class,
20:29no need to do something so fundamental.
20:31That's a real on-force error from a very talented young guy.
20:35Oh, Gavin Piper taking a line not where the circuit designer intended.
20:40Just driving off all on his own.
20:41Here's another guy driving all on his own,
20:43but he's actually on the circuit where you ought to be.
20:45Ivan Muller just stroking the car home,
20:48preparing to take this win.
20:51James Kaye, just a glance from him,
20:53leading the production class.
20:55James Thompson in second position in the touring class.
20:59There's Muller, makes it look so easy.
21:04Only a couple of corners to go.
21:06He can really, really take it easy.
21:08Yes, and you can see how Muller's being economical.
21:10He's not using the racetrack to its maximum.
21:12He's not aggressive with the curbs.
21:14And, of course, again, look.
21:16The other corner doesn't touch the curb in the entry or the exit,
21:19and he never had a puncture.
21:21Last corner for Ivan Muller.
21:24He's onto the pitch straight.
21:26OK, Ivan, the chickens.
21:27Flag that. Well done, mate. Well done.
21:30Well done, guys. Good job.
21:33Another day at work.
21:34And a very easy-looking win for Ivan Muller.
21:37James Kaye.
21:39Nice position for him.
21:41Easy win for him in production.
21:42Maybe not as easy as Muller, but it went very well for him.
21:45James Thompson, second in the touring class.
21:47That's Jason Pater just limping home.
21:49Great result for Steve Soper in the Peugeot P3, a podium position.
21:55And there's the proof.
21:56Fourth outright and third in the touring class.
21:59James Kaye, second outright.
22:01And, of course, in doing so, wins the production class,
22:04with Howell and Moen in second and third in that class respectively.
22:10Yeah, well, it was a hard race, especially on the break again.
22:15I didn't thought that would be a problem, but the weather is a bit warm,
22:20and we fight a bit with Jason, so I had to push a lot in the break.
22:24We'll be done for the long future race.
22:27It was a fantastic race to start with.
22:29Lots of to-in-and-frowing, and then we just got a break,
22:31and the car was brilliant.
22:32Absolutely fantastic.
22:33I wanted how we do here.
22:34I mean, they're obviously carrying a lot of weight,
22:36and that's gone against them.
22:38Wave to your fans!
22:41Those guys are thrilled you're up here.
22:43So, certainly tire-wise, I thought it was going to be an interesting race,
22:47so it would be nice to think we could improve it in the second race now.
22:51A typical sound in the production pit garages.
23:02And whose fault was it?
23:03We got a brilliant start.
23:05We got in the lead on the exit of the first corner,
23:07and then Simon Graves decided he was going to drive into the side of me.
23:10I think if we have a look at the back of my car,
23:12I think the nudge was from Matt.
23:14The following corner after that, he got very, very sideways and wide.
23:17I went down the inside, followed by, I think Simon was behind me,
23:21and he just hit me quite hard in the rear and spun me off.
23:26Simon was coming through, we made contact on the front wheel,
23:28and fortunately it's bent all the front steering geometry out of line,
23:31and so we're about two seconds off the pace.
23:34Well, that's clear then.
23:35But you know, racing drivers are much nicer blokes
23:38when they're just having a casual chat.
23:40My victim this week is Kurt Luby.
23:43He has raced against Rubens Barrichello, Johnny Herbert, Etten Senna,
23:47and indeed David Coulthard has never, ever beaten him.
23:51Kurt, you began karting at 12.
23:54Why karting and not football?
23:56It was a thing to do at the time.
23:59I had a brief spell of racing bikes when I was young,
24:01nine, ten years old, and kept falling off.
24:04So I thought four wheels was a better bet.
24:06You're known as quite an emotional, passionate driver.
24:09Would you say that's hampered your career in any way?
24:12No, I wouldn't change the way I am.
24:14If I had it over again, I would do it bigger and better.
24:17I wouldn't do it any different, you know.
24:19Some people can sit very cool, very calm.
24:22I get a bit wound up.
24:24That's just the way I am, you know.
24:26But I'd like to think I can control it very well.
24:28We've all got to be aggressive.
24:30It's the man that can control his aggression.
24:32And when you're younger, it's difficult.
24:34But as you get older, it's a lot easier.
24:36Your contemporaries, David Coulthard, Johnny Herbert,
24:38have obviously gone on into Formula One.
24:40Do you regret not joining them?
24:42No, no, not at all.
24:43No.
24:44And I wish them well.
24:46Listen, I'd love to be there.
24:47But you have to ask the question,
24:48could I have caught with the pressure?
24:49You talked about emotion earlier.
24:51Could I have kept my mouth shut
24:54when they stole that engine on the grid at Monaco?
24:56I don't think so.
24:58David did a good job.
25:00We all knew it was at fault.
25:02And that's the hard part of Formula One, not the racing.
25:04The driving's easy.
25:05When they close that door or you put your helmet on, it's easy.
25:08All your problems have gone.
25:09It's just you, the track, the car.
25:11When you get out of the car, it's the pressure.
25:13The newspapers, the tabloids.
25:15It must be a nightmare.
25:17Now, let's talk shoes.
25:19What's going on with the footwear?
25:21There's nothing technical, no superstitions.
25:24When Momo supplied our race gear this year,
25:26I thought it would be a chase to have a pair of red boots
25:28and a pair of black boots.
25:29And when they came, I opened the two boxes
25:31and I thought, wouldn't it be a good idea
25:33to wear a red boot and a black boot?
25:35Which I did.
25:36It's caused more controversy than our race car.
25:38And isn't it simple?
25:39It was dead simple.
25:40I just looked at it.
25:41My daughters thought I was potty.
25:42Kurt, thank you.
25:43You're welcome.
25:44You've got to hand it to old Ivan Muller.
25:48He's been wowing us ever since the end of this championship years ago,
25:51throwing those Audis around.
25:53Nothing much has changed.
25:54Here he is, pole position yet again.
25:56He's had one pole today.
25:57And, of course, as we know, he's won the first race.
25:59Jason Plato, right alongside him, as he always is,
26:03only a tenth behind.
26:04James Thompson here just moving into position.
26:07His teammate, Phil Bennett, very good qualifier from Bennett,
26:10actually a little bit faster than James,
26:12but only three tenths covering them.
26:14Now, they're noisy, these Peugeots.
26:16As we were warned a little bit earlier by Derek Warwick, the team manager,
26:19these boxels are going to have to be very careful about brake wear particularly
26:23because they're fat old things.
26:25They're carrying some extra weight,
26:27and that's going to make life very difficult in this feature race
26:29because it's longer.
26:31There are pit stops,
26:32but even so they're going to have to be very careful
26:34and watch tyre wear as well.
26:35A couple of them clubbing curbs,
26:37got blowouts in race one,
26:38something to watch for,
26:39something else to watch for.
26:40We are waiting actually for Simon Graves to turn up here on the grid
26:43because he was a real sensation in the production ranks snatching a pole.
26:47If he turns up here,
26:48that will be excellent for Simon Graves and his team
26:50because he didn't really capitalise on that piece in race one.
26:53We're going to get out of the way now
26:54as Kurt Luby just tails through to take his position on the grid.
26:58Remember, this one is a rolling start.
27:02And that's going to be more than a little bit challenging coming up into that hairpin.
27:07Yes, not only is it a rolling start,
27:09but it's a rolling start for the entire field,
27:11unlike the sprint race,
27:13which started with a 45 second delay.
27:15This is going to be a lot more difficult,
27:17and the midfield and the back of the field will have to watch out.
27:20Very good qualifier for that Graves as well in the production ranks,
27:23sticking it right up there on pole position.
27:25Well, he's been very strong in production car racing
27:27and really no big surprise, just not a name we're familiar with.
27:31Well, very, very good performance by him
27:35considering that he has not done the entire championship.
27:38As we watch Ivan Muller and Jason Plato,
27:41and then Thompson and his teammate
27:43filter out the hairpin for the last time.
27:45Muller is the pole man.
27:46He sets the pace,
27:47waiting for a green light.
27:49Now, and they're away.
27:51Everyone away cleanly because it's a rolling start.
27:53Both the works Peugeot start to the left.
27:55Simon Harrison in the red.
27:57Production Peugeot way over up the pit lane.
28:00In through the hairpin for the first time.
28:02That's the view from Thompson's car.
28:04That's Bennett ahead of us.
28:05There's Muller and Plato.
28:06Plato has a bit of a rub there.
28:08More than a bit of a rub with Phil Bennett.
28:10Now we're on board with Thompson.
28:11This is a wing mirror cam.
28:13Not close.
28:14I wouldn't want to watch his parking.
28:16Thompson banging wing mirrors on the side of Plato's car.
28:20Side by side they go.
28:21There's not room for the pair of them,
28:22and he gets a little bit of a rub down by Jason Plato
28:25who takes the racing line.
28:26That's cost James Thompson time.
28:28Thompson's fallen back.
28:31Now there's Kurt Luby on board with Bennett.
28:33And he hits him, pushes him wide.
28:34Luby's off.
28:35Bennett's around.
28:36Well, no one's hit anything,
28:37but that was very costly for Kurt Luby.
28:41Now here's another look.
28:42Luby drives down the inside of Bennett.
28:45Bennett gets sideways, but he does the right thing.
28:47He just floors the throttle.
28:49There you see the front wheel spinning.
28:50Luby's off to the right,
28:51and Bennett really just lost.
28:53But meanwhile, a second.
28:54There's the rear view camera.
28:55Gets completely sideways.
28:57You're driving a front wheel drive car.
28:58Now that happened.
28:59Floor the throttle.
29:00Yeah, but he absolutely clubs the side of Bennett's car.
29:03Hits him not once, but twice.
29:05Bennett's been shuffled back.
29:07Look at the front of the...
29:08That looks like McDonagh in the 80s, doesn't it?
29:10Kurt Luby just limping back to the pits.
29:14He's still running back at the front.
29:17That's caused a little bit of a gap,
29:18and as you can see,
29:19Phil Bennett in the box,
29:20all now down between the two Peugeots
29:23of Dan Eves and Steve Soper.
29:26That's the gap we're talking about.
29:28That sort of configuration in midfield has that effect.
29:31Meantime, in the leading production ranks,
29:33it's still Graves out the front.
29:37Kurt Luby's car looks like one of that.
29:39It looks more like a Teletubby, I think.
29:41And there's probably going to be a lot more damage
29:43than we can see on screen right now.
29:45Here's the battle for the lead in the production class.
29:47On board with Jackson.
29:48We're chasing Graves in the Honda.
29:49Going down the pit straight.
29:51Ahead of us you can see the tail end touring cars.
29:54Muller, Plato, Thompson and Eves.
29:55We can see that.
29:56Graves having to defend.
29:58Jackson looking for a way around.
30:00Gavin Piper on the outside as well,
30:01seeing if he can join in on this.
30:03Then Simon Harrison in the orange Peugeot.
30:06Down onto the back part of the circuit.
30:08Graves under pressure.
30:09Jackson right with him.
30:10Piper not far behind either.
30:14Jason Plato coming under.
30:15A little bit of pressure as well there from James Thompson.
30:18Ivan Muller meantime in the first of those red and white voxels.
30:21Coming under no pressure whatsoever.
30:22And he's doing what he did in the first race.
30:24Just drive away from the opposition.
30:26And Jason Plato's got his rear view mirror filled with James Thompson's car.
30:30Well, Kurt Libby meantime has had his appendage removed.
30:33It all got a bit tighter.
30:35It looked like Jason had got a bit of a problem.
30:36Held everybody up.
30:37Which obviously bunched everyone up.
30:39There's a very tight left hand at the back.
30:41James had up the inside of Bennett.
30:43I followed him through.
30:44Bennett turned in and we touched.
30:46And I think it brought the front track rod.
30:48I think he means it's Phil Bennett's fault.
30:50Well, I mean motor racing and drivers.
30:52They're never two of the same stories.
30:53One will say one.
30:54One will say the other.
30:55The camera never lies.
30:57The camera never lies here either.
30:59Because you can see the gap from Ivan Muller back to these two.
31:02Jason Plato in second place.
31:03We're looking back at his old sparring partner, James Thompson.
31:07And they are having a great old ding dong.
31:10Just remember what happened in race one.
31:11Those curbs.
31:12You've got to use them, but not abuse them.
31:15I don't think he can hear you, Waddy.
31:17And that's the very corner of the exit of Paddock.
31:20Okay, this is the Dunlop hairpin.
31:22James Thompson looks down the inside.
31:24Jason Plato says, not on your life.
31:25Sunshine slams the door shut.
31:27That has cost James Thompson a little bit of time
31:29as they get on the gas down the pit straight again.
31:32But in the early laps of the feature race,
31:33Thompson appears to have more speed than Plato.
31:36But getting past here will be difficult.
31:39It's going to be quite difficult as well for Phil Bennett, I think,
31:41to get his way past this Peugeot.
31:43Right in front of him, Dan Eves.
31:46Running a pretty good defensive line there.
31:48Bennett lost out.
31:50Now, Gavin Piper, meantime, lost out in race one,
31:52chucking his car off the track unprovoked.
31:54But he's really looking to make up spaces now.
31:56Jackson is challenging for the lead in production.
31:58He's got past Graves.
31:59They've touched and he's off.
32:01That squares everything for race one.
32:03Let's look again to see.
32:04Jackson on the left.
32:05Graves on the right.
32:06Jackson starts to come across a little bit.
32:08Graves keeps his line.
32:10Contact left front guard, right rear guard.
32:12Jackson goes off right.
32:14The track goes left.
32:15I guess that's a one-all draw.
32:17Meantime, back in the touring car ranks.
32:19Phil Bennett still working away with Dan Eves.
32:23Steve Soper bringing up the rear there,
32:25trying to stay in touch with these two.
32:26They should slow each other down enough for Soper to close up.
32:29Really costing him some time, though, Phil Bennett.
32:39Looks as though he could go more quickly if he could just get past,
32:42but Eves running well.
32:43Eves doing a good job,
32:44but the voxels are about a second and a half quicker.
32:46Ryan Mandela.
32:48Well, Jason Plato's is about the same speed as James Thompson's
32:53because he cannot shake him.
32:55There's Eves.
32:56There's Bennett.
32:57Steve Soper all bunching up.
33:02It's like Rallycross, isn't it?
33:04No one's using the tarmac at all.
33:05Jason Plato there had four wheels off the racetrack,
33:08and two of them almost hitting that advertising hoarding.
33:12James Thompson, relentless.
33:17In through Paddock, behind the pits, using all those curbs again.
33:21Yes, that curb is so violent.
33:23You get it wrong, you'll have a problem with your tire.
33:25Well, I guess these guys are banking on the fact they do have to make a pit stop.
33:28Remember the touring cars, not the production cars, which Simon Harrison is driving.
33:32Have to do that.
33:33Now, look ahead of us.
33:34Shenanigans are plenty.
33:35That's Graves and Gavin Piper.
33:37Gavin Piper got a bit of a tank slipper.
33:39Whoa!
33:40What was that all about?
33:41Straight into the side of him.
33:43I think it's a lack of peripheral vision.
33:45Graves coming up on the left-hand side.
33:46Piper shimmying around in the track.
33:49Then Piper comes across to the left, as if Graves isn't there.
33:52Slams into the right-hand side of the Honda,
33:54spins himself around, and does a lot of damage to the Honda.
33:58The insurance claim will be an interesting read.
34:02James Kaye in the thick of things as well with Simon Harrison.
34:05They've had some great sport this year.
34:07Simon Harrison in the orange Peugeot.
34:08Great James Kaye right behind him in the silver Honda.
34:11Moves down the inside.
34:13Makes that look pretty easy.
34:14Harrison runs a little bit wide, and Kaye takes him down the pit straight.
34:17How follows, and Roger Moen now side-by-side with Harrison.
34:20Well, Harrison just left the door open to James Kaye,
34:23and, of course, Adelaide and Highwall to get through,
34:25and now Roger Moen, teammate to Harrison.
34:28Poor old Simon Harrison will be losing count.
34:31As they all slip past him,
34:33he's carrying some pretty heavy success ballast this weekend,
34:35which won't be helping.
34:36And these cars, that level of ballast, 57 kilograms,
34:39is a big, big load.
34:42Well, this bloke's got a lot of success ballast as well,
34:44but he's also got a lot of air behind him.
34:46That's Ivan Muller.
34:47There's Jason Plato,
34:48and behind him with a little bit of breathing space now
34:50was James Thompson on board with Foyle Bennett.
34:52Well, that's one way to get past.
34:54Excuse me.
34:56And Dan Eaves is off.
34:58And a big off.
34:59That was a heavy, heavy hit on the left rear of the Peugeot,
35:01and suddenly Dan Eaves is going to go into the pit.
35:04Well, I think he missed the pit lane entrance this time,
35:06but look at the damage.
35:07The rear of that car, exhaust pipe hanging up,
35:09bodywork, fiberglass.
35:11It's ready for the wreckage yard.
35:12And there's the front of Phil Bennett's car.
35:15Well, I suppose he got past.
35:17Well, all I can say is,
35:18Derek Warwick would have sport-built very strong cars.
35:20Watch it again.
35:21This is panic-bent.
35:22Bennett just decides,
35:23I'm going to either hit him or get past him.
35:26He did both, in fact.
35:27Two wood right up the backside,
35:29driven straight down the fairway was old Dan Eaves.
35:32There's his teammate, Steve Soper,
35:34moving right up behind Phil Bennett.
35:36Now, look at Graves' car.
35:38That Honda would be looking for a grave to bury it in.
35:40What a mess.
35:41Well, certainly a big hit that Piper put in Graves,
35:44but it's only when you see the car you realise just how violent it was.
35:48Well, it might be down, but it's not out.
35:50It's still leading the race.
35:51Amazingly hanging together.
35:52Second place is Kaye.
35:53Then third place, Roger Moen.
35:55And fourth place, Gareth Howell in the yellow Ford Focus.
36:01Jumping the curbs.
36:02That's Harrison in fifth position right behind them.
36:04That's Moen.
36:05That's Howell.
36:06Harrison right behind them.
36:07Lost a few places.
36:09That's still very much in touch.
36:11The Ford Focus is going very well here.
36:12Yeah, I think the engine characteristic's got a lot of torque.
36:15It seems to sit in a lot of these loose pit corners
36:17where you rely on the torque to pull the car out of the corner.
36:20Top end power, not so critical here.
36:22Well, here's one of the torquey bits.
36:26A very tight hairpin.
36:27We're ready for you, Steve.
36:28Pit lane speed limiter.
36:30Very animated call there from the pits.
36:32Please get in in a hurry.
36:33An electric call for Steve Soper.
36:35Well, this is an early stop for the Peugeot.
36:38Steve Soper first of the touring cars to come in for his mandatory pit stop.
36:43It's been a difficult weekend once again for Peugeot.
36:45But let's see if they can do somewhat better in the pit lane.
36:48Five, six.
36:50Well, the clock stops at 6.3 seconds.
36:52Steve maybe just too much real spin on the exit.
36:55Jimmy, pit now.
36:56We're going to try and jump Plato.
36:57Well, passing him would do.
36:59That's Jason Plato.
37:00There is James Thompson.
37:01Going to try a bit of a shifty in the pits.
37:04He's about a second behind Plato as he came into the pit lane.
37:07Now the speed limit starts there.
37:09So down to 40 kph.
37:11It seems interminable.
37:12Team waiting for him to pull in.
37:14And he stays on the tarmac as long as possible.
37:17The concrete, of course, is new.
37:18It's very dusty.
37:19Although he's putting on new front tires,
37:21he doesn't want those rear tires to get clogged with cement dust.
37:24Certainly as little as possible.
37:26Pulls back into the tarmac.
37:27Good stop.
37:287.8 seconds.
37:29But it's going to be enough to put him back ahead of Jason Plato.
37:34Dan Eve's still circulating.
37:35He'll be very lucky if he isn't black flagged and told to come in and remove all of that debris hanging from the back of his car.
37:41Well, he certainly doesn't want to stay on the track.
37:43A lot of it is carbon fiber or certainly fiberglass.
37:46Look, you see, he runs wide.
37:47He's lost all control.
37:48Now he's got to come in.
37:50He goes past once again.
37:52Well, making hard work of it.
37:53Not his fault, though.
37:54On board now with Ivan Muller.
37:56Now race leader into the pits.
37:587.8 seconds.
38:00For James Thompson again.
38:01Muller stays out until the last possible moment.
38:04Comes into the pit lane.
38:06Looks so easy this weekend for Muller.
38:08He's done everything perfectly.
38:10Seem to do a good job.
38:117.2 seconds.
38:12And that'll keep him in the lead.
38:18Here's Jason Plato.
38:19Meantime, he hasn't stopped.
38:21The equation we all have to keep our eyes on as we watch him really, really pushing hard.
38:26He's got to get a tight lap in.
38:27Got to make up some time.
38:28And he'll know that he's under pressure from James Thompson.
38:31Yes, he certainly will.
38:32But, of course, Peter, without the pressure from behind.
38:34Thompson went into the pits.
38:36And now he's just got to focus on what is ahead of him.
38:38That's where he'll make up his time.
38:41Well, Graves has lost position now.
38:43That's a change.
38:44James Kane now leads the production ranks.
38:46And the remains of Graves' car limping around very strongly still in second position.
38:51Well, these two Hondas have never looked stronger than they have here at Mandela Park.
38:55And certainly strong for the way they leap across the kerbs.
38:57Well, I reckon Graves' car looks stronger at the start of the day before all the door was falling off it.
39:01But on board now with Jason Plato.
39:04Now we're coming up into Paddock Corner.
39:08Pit lane entrance is next.
39:10Must be now.
39:11Well, he's tried very hard to make up as much time on the lap without the pressure of Thompson behind.
39:17Remember, Jason, 40 k's.
39:18You can see his eyes looking down.
39:20Checking the speed all the time.
39:21Staying out in the pit lane on the tarmac.
39:24Now onto the concrete.
39:25And this is going to be the battle for position.
39:28He's got to get out ahead of James Thompson, because if he doesn't, he'll never get past Thompson on the track.
39:33Identical time, 7.1 seconds.
39:35Great job by the Vauxhall team.
39:37OK, now where's Thompson?
39:38What could he do on that lap?
39:39Here comes Thompson.
39:40There it goes.
39:41Plato on board with Thompson.
39:42There's Plato.
39:43We're going to pass him for sure.
39:44Yes!
39:45Down into the hairpin.
39:46Thompson slides past.
39:48Jason Plato really pushed on his in lap.
39:50But James Thompson must have been even harder on his out lap.
39:53And Plato will be bitterly disappointed to have last placed because of the pit stops.
39:57He thought he'd done enough, but obviously not.
39:59Thanks for that, guys.
40:01Great stuff.
40:02Well, Thompson well aware of how important his pit crew was.
40:05Just acknowledging that.
40:06Thanks very much.
40:07Meantime, leading the production ranks, Kaye and Graves, 1 and 2.
40:10Kaye starting to open up a bit of a gap.
40:12No wonder, I guess, given the state of Graves' car.
40:15But it's still limping on.
40:16Ah!
40:17Soper in the pits.
40:18And that's not a scheduled stop on it up.
40:20No, it's been another disappointment for Peugeot.
40:22When is this team going to get it right?
40:23It'll happen one day.
40:24And we're all waiting for that day to come.
40:26Very disappointing for Steve Soper.
40:28Remember his first podium, P3 in the touring ranks in the sprint race earlier today.
40:33Unfortunately, we've had a pinion go in the rack, so obviously a lot of play in the steering makes the car undrivable.
40:43So another unfortunate second race.
40:46Well, Vic, I think that's the understatement of the year when a pinion goes in the steering.
40:50You ain't got any steering.
40:52But no damage.
40:53Yep.
40:54Minor problem, but a major one all in the same time.
40:57Very bad luck for those guys.
40:58James Thompson, meantime, and Jason Plato.
41:00The battle is on.
41:02Remember, Thompson got out ahead after the pit stops.
41:05That's Plato.
41:06And he looks very, very hungry.
41:08Lunging.
41:09Very attacking looking pose on the front of that Vauxhall.
41:11Looking back from James Thompson's car.
41:13This is a race.
41:14The fight is on.
41:15Two men, same cars.
41:16Well, they're like a pair of ferrets.
41:18I mean, a squabble in a sack.
41:20Looking down the inside, seeing if he can get past there.
41:22Thompson just moves in and closes it.
41:24This is real pressure.
41:26Now, James has got to keep cool.
41:29Try to keep it on the black stuff.
41:31And Jason Plato, in a funny sort of way, will be enjoying this.
41:36Well, this is real motor racing.
41:37Believe me, you don't get motor racing much better than that.
41:40These two guys, 100% committed, fighting for position.
41:43Well, this is the real fight.
41:44They've both come out of the hairpin together down the pit straight.
41:47They're side by side now.
41:48It looked as though Plato got out of there pretty well.
41:50Thompson got the lead on him, but Plato's got the line.
41:53There's a very tight hairpin here, and he's through, is he?
41:56Thompson doesn't give up.
41:57Hangs on.
41:58But no.
41:59Gets pushed wide.
42:00Great stuff.
42:01The vehicle cars.
42:02It's just down to the individual driver's choice of setup.
42:04Of course, also, look at the difference in lines as they came through turn two.
42:08Very aggressive stuff from Plato.
42:10Very smart.
42:11Set the turn up earlier.
42:12Now, James Thompson trying to return the complement.
42:15Lining him up on turn three.
42:17Holding in tight.
42:18Just couldn't quite do it.
42:20On board now with Paul O'Neill.
42:22Now, there's Hal the hell ahead of us.
42:24Problems as well there for Simon Harrison.
42:26He's all over the place.
42:27I think we might be through past Hal.
42:30And really lining up Simon Harrison.
42:32Yes, we are.
42:33We've picked up a position now.
42:34We're up into P3.
42:35On board with Paul O'Neill.
42:36This is great stuff from the newcomer.
42:40Coming up to the hairpin to go the pit straight.
42:43Puffers smoke.
42:44Harrison locks him up.
42:45Are we through?
42:46Yes, indeed.
42:47Fabulous stuff.
42:48Paul O'Neill rises up through the ranks into second place.
42:50There's Hal.
42:51Now, can he make it stick?
42:52He's had the real pressure.
42:53But good stuff.
42:54Well, that's the best race I've seen on O'Neill drive all year.
42:56And boy, has he improved.
42:58Harrison suffering from a car that appears to have an erratic grip at the back.
43:02That's a one minute.
43:03The next minute it ain't there.
43:05Well, you better hang on, Paul.
43:06It ain't over yet, Sunshine.
43:07Two of these boys climbing all over you.
43:10Hal just has to move a little bit wide there to make space for Harrison.
43:15Coming down into turn three.
43:17This thing tightens up, doesn't it?
43:19Yeah, I think we should have all the rounds of the Touring Car Championship here at Mondello Park.
43:22We have some outstanding racing.
43:24Look, Harrison again, very, very wide.
43:26Much more soon than he should be at that part of track.
43:28Yeah, and that's absolutely plated to Paul O'Neill's hands.
43:31O'Neill is away.
43:32Harrison, meantime, is holding up, Hal.
43:34As he should, he's fighting for position, defending his line.
43:37But that's great news for that green Peugeot up ahead.
43:40He's pulled up into the distance.
43:42Agricultural, hopping the curb.
43:43Yeah, he got the back of the car well and truly on the grass on the exit of the corner.
43:47And Harrison too.
43:48Again, Harrison's car is so erratic.
43:50I don't know what's wrong with it, but certainly there is a big problem.
43:53Well, it's got another big problem.
43:54It's got a Ford Focus in front of it as well now.
43:56Back up in the Touring ranks, and there's James Thompson.
43:59Look at the gap that Jason Plato has opened up.
44:01Well, Plato clearly has got the legs of his rival.
44:04They are teammates, but Thompson aren't able to keep in contact with Jason Plato.
44:09Now, there's Paul O'Neill in second position.
44:11He'll be beside himself.
44:13Very attitudinal driving there.
44:15Hopping and sliding all over the place, and picking up a healthy gap now.
44:19And he's got a very quick car, but I suspect Paul doesn't really know
44:22what understeer and oversteer is of this partner's career.
44:25He's just driving the car.
44:26As long as he can see enough track through the windscreen, that'll do him.
44:29Side window, he knows it's bad.
44:31And Gareth, what on earth is going on?
44:33Wakey, wakey sunshine.
44:35Well, that's into turn three.
44:36Let's watch again and see what happens.
44:42Well, I've got his hand missed the gear lever.
44:44He just can't, he doesn't know how to change gear.
44:46But all of a sudden, on the dirty stuff,
44:48then into the gravel, into the barrier.
44:50But you know, a lot of these kids, they've come out of karting
44:52where they don't have gears.
44:54But certainly Gareth should learn how to change gear.
44:56That was pretty poor.
44:57Takes these boys a good swift double shuffle.
45:00Well, third place to nothing for Hal.
45:02Jason Plato, meantime, in P2 in the touring car ranks.
45:05You can't see anything in front of him, but way up in the distance
45:08is Ivan Muller in the lead.
45:10It's a very comfortable drive now for Jason.
45:12But he'll be disappointed, I guess, by the gap between himself and Ivan.
45:16And that's becoming a bit of a feature.
45:18We saw it at Silverstone two weeks ago.
45:20The same thing from Muller, just dominating.
45:23James Kaye dominating as well in the production ranks.
45:26He won the first race this afternoon.
45:28And it's light years now between him and Paul O'Neill in the Peugeot.
45:33He's worked his way up into P2.
45:41Phil Bennett still circulating around.
45:43Damage on his car.
45:44Very strong stuff from Kaye though.
45:46Well, in fact, you look at the speed in the street in the Honda production car
45:49and the Vauxhall at Turo.
45:51There's not a great deal of difference in top speed.
45:53It's really in brakes.
45:54In fact, joined by brakes.
45:56Dan Eves and his rather broken Peugeot is into the garage.
45:59And that's the end of the day for Dan.
46:01Hard luck.
46:02Peugeot was looking good in race one.
46:04Disappointing race two for them.
46:05Simon Harrison's hop, skipping and jumping under pressure.
46:08And that's Jackson muscling his way past.
46:11Absolutely just squeezing his Ford Focus down the inside.
46:14Excuse me.
46:15I'm through.
46:16Very strong stuff.
46:17Very strong stuff for Jackson.
46:18But I must say a terribly disappointing weekend for Simon Harrison.
46:21That weight penalty seems to have hurt him probably more than any car on the field.
46:26The reverse applies for this man.
46:28Ivan Muller.
46:29He's got the heaviest Vauxhall known to man.
46:31He's carrying around 90 kilos of lead.
46:34Excess ballast one way or another.
46:36And it doesn't seem to matter.
46:38Well, that's like having Derek Warwick sitting alongside you for the entire race.
46:41And believe me, that does affect the handling of a car.
46:44Yeah, but at least the lead's not nattering away to you.
46:46Telling you how to do it better.
46:47Ivan Muller now coming up on the back of Blair in the Alfa.
46:51Getting ready for the chequered flag.
46:53Ah, good day at the office.
46:55Headlights ablaze as well for Jason Plato.
46:57Just coming down to take the chequered flag as well.
47:00Nice drive, P2.
47:02And James Thompson.
47:03Good scrap.
47:04Highly entertaining.
47:05Thanks for that, mate.
47:06Nice dice between you and Jason Plato.
47:09And a podium P3 for James.
47:11And the very enthusiastic marshals enjoying the first trip from the touring cars to Mandela Park.
47:15And this man, James Kaye, who has raced here before, one of the few, takes his win in the production class.
47:21Made it look easy.
47:23You have to remember Graves as well, although his car didn't stand the distance with all the collisions it had.
47:29Very strong showing from him as well.
47:31Now, second position for this man.
47:34You'd have to say.
47:35Well done, son.
47:36Absolutely great drive from Paul O'Neill.
47:38He's shown form, shown speed, but not consistency.
47:41Today, he put all those elements together.
47:43There's your confirmation.
47:44Muller, Plato, Thompson and Bennett.
47:47Four voxels in the top four.
47:49Then Kaye, fifth out right, and of course winning the production, and Jackson in there in third position.
47:55You seem to be toying with the times there at the end. Were you playing with Jason a bit?
48:01Yeah, I was, I had, I don't know, a nine second lead, something like that.
48:05So I slowed down, I slowed down, and I feel he keep going to push, to push, because maybe, probably, he thought I had a problem.
48:11So just for one lap, I push out to tell him, okay, there's no way.
48:15It's better to save the car, the engine, because we'll be the same engine for the next race.
48:19And then he stopped to push, so.
48:22Mood subdued in Planet Plato.
48:24Ah, just, you know, we're just not, the balls just aren't quite rolling for us at the minute, and everything's going the van's way.
48:31And, you know, I'm not happy about that. I want it to change.
48:34Yeah, you can see why too, because Muller is just starting to pull ahead now in the points table.
48:38But don't expect Jason to go away and sulk, he'll go away, think about it, and come back even harder.
48:43James Thompson won't chuck in the towel either, because he's very much in touch in third.
48:49You got the double?
48:50Yes, we got the double. Fantastic.
48:52But just what we need is to put us back in the hunt for the championship, so I'm very, very excited.
48:56Stay out there and use your tyres well, that's what I got told, and I messed about for a bit, and then I thought, why isn't Harrison going away?
49:06I thought it was a problem, and Jackson, I seen Jackson closing, so I waved him through so he could, like, use him as the hair light.
49:12And then, all of a sudden, I was on them, and I passed them both, I couldn't believe it.
49:16My mouth said, keep your head down, and I was like...
49:18And then I just, they went, and I pee too hard.
49:22This is a joke.
49:23Lovely joke. Great to see someone really enjoying their motor racing, reminding us it's all supposed to be fun, as well as professional business.
49:31James Kay moves up into the lead now, in the production ranks, after his two wins.
49:45So, as we all pack up and head for home, we can reflect on a brilliant weekend for Ivan Muller, and for James Kay in production.
49:51And a brilliant weekend for Ireland as well, with Mondello Park's first 3TCC pair of rounds.
49:57Next time out, much more familiar turf, Donington in the Midlands.
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