Like Saturday’s qualifying session, race day was cloudy. Happily, the rain held off and both races were run in dry conditions, with the sun appearing in time for Race 2.

Race 1

Starting from 6th place, Rickard Rydell was stuck on the outside of the circuit going into the first corner and was passed by both Dirk Müller and Antonio Garcia. Although Rickard was soon able to overtake the two BMWs again, an electrical fault caused the car’s engine to cut out on the last lap and so the Swede was forced to retire from 6th place. Jordi Gené fared much better – despite a small problem with the rear brakes, the Spaniard finished 7th and so would start Race 2 from second on the grid.

Frank Diefenbacher’s frustrating weekend continued. Power steering problems in qualifying meant the young German driver started from 18th place and so faced an uphill battle to get into the points-scoring positions. Contact with one of the privately-run BMWs on lap 4 dropped Frank to 20th place and then another coming-together on lap 8 meant the SEAT Sport Toledo Cupra would finish in 21st position.

Jordi Gené: "The start felt good, although I got blocked when someone ahead of me seemed to miss a gear. I was certainly on the same pace as Rickard and I was able to pass Garcia’s BMW quite easily, but halfway through the race I had a problem with the rear axle which meant the rear brakes were locking up. As a result, Andy Priaux caught and passed me, but I’m happy enough with seventh place and a front row start in Race 2.”

Frank Diefenbacher: "After the problems in qualifying yesterday, I knew I couldn’t do a great deal from 18th place, so I decided to just stay out of trouble and see what would happen. Unfortunately, the drivers around me didn’t have the same idea and someone first hit me and then he took me off. What can I say? For sure, there’s now nothing I can do in the second race and so I’m very disappointed.”

Rickard Rydell: "The start was a little frustrating, because I was on the outside of Dirk Müller and so he was able to get past me. Antonio Garcia then passed me in the first corner, but once I had a clear line I passed both of them to re-take sixth place. If you look at the times, I was on the same kind of pace as the guys who finished second to fifth, and I’d have been more than happy with sixth and a good start position in Race 2. Unfortunately, the problem on the last lap meant I couldn’t finish and I just hope the guys can find and fix the problem.”

Race 2

Jordi Gené’s race only lasted a matter of seconds. An excellent start saw the Toledo head into the first corner side by side with Jorg Muller’s BMW and the Alfa Romeo of Fabrizio Giovanardi, but the outside line clearly wasn’t the place to be and Jordi found himself forced into the gravel trap, while both the other drivers also retired after the incident. Frank Diefenbacher’s race lasted a little longer, but despite climbing from 20th to 14th place on lap 1, Frank was forced onto the grass on the downhill section of the circuit on the following lap and his throttle jammed soon afterwards, ending his challenge.

Rickard Rydell’s mechanics had cured his Race 1 electrical fault and the former British Touring Car Champion used his knowledge of the Donington Park circuit to full advantage, carving his way through the field with each lap. Starting from the back of the grid, by lap 10 Rickard had recovered to 8th place and was in the points, but a combination of fading brakes and a strong challenge by Holland’s Tom Coronel meant Rydell would have to settle for 9th place after what had been a thrilling race.

Rickard Rydell: "The car felt good and we were once again on the pace, but it wasn’t my weekend – Sweden lost in the football last night and I lost twice today! It’s not good for the points, but at least all the overtaking was fun! I was up to eighth and in the points, but the brakes were gone; I had to pump the pedal to the floor and so Coronel got past me fairly easily. Without the problem, I might have passed one or two more – who knows? The worst thing for me was that Holland beat Sweden for the second time in 24 hours!”

Jordi Gené: "It’s clear from the television coverage that I was in the right. I left enough room for the other two but I was forced off the track and my race was over. It’s a real shame, since that could have been a lot of points for us and I’m naturally very disappointed that my weekend ended like that.”

Frank Diefenbacher: "I went off on a downhill left-hand bend when Stefano D’Aste closed the door on me. I was on the grass, the car went up in the air and when it came back down the steering was damaged. Two corners later, the throttle broke and that was that. It clearly wasn’t my weekend, but there’s plenty to be positive about; the car felt really good in Race 2 and I made up six places on the first lap.”

Jaime Puig, SEAT Sport Motorsport & Technical Director: “We always suspected that Donington Park wasn’t going to be our strongest track, but we never thought we’d be so unlucky! But we have to be positive; Jordi and Rickard’s performances in Race 1 and Rickard’s terrific recovery in Race 2 once again showed that we have the pace, but we had a lot of problems which were nothing to do with us. Of course it’s disappointing, but we have to look forward to the next two races at Spa now.”

Results

Race 1
1.J.Thompson (Alfa Romeo) 21.45.645
2.J.Müller (BMW) + 3.848
3.G.Tarquini (Alfa Romeo) + 4.428
7.J.Gené (SEAT Toledo Cupra) + 14.559
21.F.Diefenbacher (SEAT Toledo Cupra) + 43.125
22.R.Rydell (SEAT Toledo Cupra) + 46.083

Race 2
1.A.Priaulx (BMW) 21.46.941
2.G.Tarquini (Alfa Romeo) + 1.153
3.J.Thompson (Alfa Romeo) + 2.991
9.R.Rydell (SEAT Toledo Cupra) + 13.040

Driver´s championship standings
1.A.Priaulx, 72 points
2.D.Müller, 68
3.J.Müller, 65
8.J.Gené, 17
9.F.Diefenbacher, 17
12.R.Rydell, 13

*Fourtitude