It seems like Matt Neal is romping to a second successive title, and although there is still a long way to go this season, there does not seem to be another driver capable of sustaining a challenge, or putting together a succession of good results.

Jason Plato has the car, but there's always something going wrong, whether that is him being hit into or him hitting into someone else :)

Colin Turkington is second, but that is through consistency rather than race wins, with only one this season.

Even so, the last round at Thruxton was quite enjoyable.

What are your views on the title race?

For me the story of the season has been how bad the vauxhalls have been

they are off the pace and dont seem to be able to properly compete for the title

how the mighty have fallen

Giovanardi has been a big disappointment. The car has been suprisingly poor but he has failed to get the measure of his teammates. With his record he should be doing a lot better. I would have thought a multiple European Touring Car Champion would have been able to point them in the right direction, obviously not.

thats whats surprised me

I thought he would take a bit of time to adjust but I really thought he would be on the pace a bit more

shame really because I was hoping he would give the championship a boost

The championship is missing Yvan Muller. It's just not the same without his and Jason Plato's rivalry.

Giovanardi for me has been a huge disappointment. He's had 12 races now, surely that is long enough.

Giovanardi has been well below you'd expect from him. Matt does seem to have it in the bag. Plato as has been said. Hasn't managed to make the most of the Seat.

Well, after the Croft rounds, it still looks like it is Matt Neal's title to lose. The MGs do not have the pace to win, and Jason Plato does not have the consistency.

Yup. Can't see him losing unless he throws it away somehow

The last Croft race though I think was quite significant because Fabrizio Giovanardi finally produced the kind of performance that is expected of him. Moving from 20th to 5th in the race was very impressive, it will be interesting to see if he can continue that sort of performance into the next race weekend.

if it does, he could become a factor messingthings up for Matt and Plato

I certainly hope that is the case. He's a good driver so really it would be best to see him fighting at the front, rather than against the lesser private drivers.

i suppose he could use the excuse that he doesnt know any of the circuits

was always going to take a whilke for him to settle, but its not like Vaxaull have given him a decent car though is it....

If he has won multiple touring car championships in the past, he must have had to learn some new circuits over that time. So I don't buy that excuse. I'm not sure if he will stick around for longer than this season in any case...but perhaps he is enjoying the challenge.

i think he might leave

that blonde lady that runs the Alfa Romero WTCC team might give him the call and i'm sure he would go back

I really miss the Thommo and Muller battles...

I think the championship is seriously missing Yvan Muller. I enjoyed his and Plato's battles as well.

same here

remember when Matt Neal pushed Antony Reid at silvestone


that was funny

Giovannardi is a multiple champion, but most of those were won on the Italian tracks, where he was brought up

which is what I said before pretty much

Sorry, only half read all of the posts

I remember Peter Windsor said on ITV's F1 site that the drivers should be able to learn a new track in 6 laps.

Shouldn't that apply to any track? Surely if you are a multiple champion you should be capable of adapting to a new car and track...

maybe

They *are* professionals, after all...

Adapting to a new car could take longer

He has had 15 races plus testing so far. That should be enough!

True

maybe he could do a switch with thompson and then there would be a bit more competition in the series!

Is he not sitting on the wrong side of the car?

he might well be

perhaps he is trying to change gear in the door

That might slow him down a bit <yes>

when I first moved to Germany I got sick of hitting my left hand on the door when trying to change gear

<blink>

roflmao

Then give him a Porsche 917 or 956.... lol