Chilton Wins Final Race Of 2011 Campaign
Tom Chilton took the final race win of the year as the 2011 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship comes to a close at Silverstone.
The Team Aon driver took his second race win of the season after starting from second on the grid behind Alex MacDowall but made light work of getting past the youngster and did so at the first corner. Chilton had to hold onto the lead from the battling two-time champion, Jason Plato, who was on the back of the Ford Focus bumper for much of the 22 lap race.
“Obviously I’m delighted to win the last race of the season. I think it shows how much progress we’ve made this year and I’d like to say thanks to the team for continuing to work so hard on a new car,” said Chilton following the race. “To achieve five podiums and two race wins in its first season shows the real potential of the new Focus.”
“Jason [Plato] was pretty close at points but I just concentrated on driving my own race and not making any mistakes. Its hugely rewarding to lead the last race of the season from the first corner to the chequered flag and I think it shows us what is possible for the future.”
Tom Boardman drove a brilliant race to go from 4th on the grid to finish third and take a podium place in a difficult season ahead of Alex MacDowall and Andrew Jordan.
Rob Austin had a late charge and came from outside the top ten to finish 6th and in the process pass the battling team-mates of Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden to take his first points of the weekend ahead of Tom Onslow-Cole who finished all three races in the points.
Matt Neal finished the race where he started, in 8th, in a race which had a clear game plan of ‘finish the race’ which he duly completed and with it took the 2011 British Touring Car Championship title for the third time of his career.
Frank Wrathall passed Gordon Shedden on the final corner of the final lap which put an end to the Scot’s title challenge.
For full race classification, click here.
Photo Credit: Jon Hobley
James Mappin
