One-two for Vauxhall at Mondello
Sunday, 17 June 2001 20:37French driver Yvan Muller's British Touring Car Championship title charge gained momentum today when he recorded an excellent double victory at Mondello Park. The Frenchman took the sprint event over 15 laps and added the main race over 30 laps as well. A puncture to team-mate Jason Plato in race one meant that Muller opened up a 22-point lead in the series and also earned pole position for the main race, which included a mandatory pit-stop for the touring cars.
Muller got the jump on Plato at the green and it was the French driver who came in for the first pit-stop after ten laps. However Plato couldn't take advantage and by the time he had to pit Muller had eased his way back into the lead. James Thompson in another Astra actually inherited second after the pit-stops but was passed by Plato on lap 18 which gave the Vauxhall team a one-two. Muller with that double win has now a 27-point lead from Plato ahead of rounds 11 and 12 at Donington in a few weeks.
Meanwhile, James Kay also notched up a double, winning the production race in the Honda Accord. Victory in those two rounds means he has closed to within two points of Simon Harrison's Peugeot 306 at the top of the championship table.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
