BTCC outsider Tony Gilham snatched glory when he was promoted to 3rd place, after a chequered flag finish of 4th, in Sunday`s BTCC race at Donington Park.
Unlucky leading man Mat Jackson was disqualified from victory 1st place, which led to Tony Gilham’s last minute promotion.
His car was found to have broken the series’ technical rules – exceeding the permitted turbo boost limits during the final event, and disqualified him from the results.
Gilham had earlier said in his ITV4 Interview Sunday straight after the race, that he hoped one day to get “a podium”. But little did he then know that just an hour later –after his ITV INTERVIEW - his dream would come true!
The announcement was made an hour after the final race had finished, at 7pm Sunday evening – after the podium ceremony had taken place with Mat Jackson on the top step.
Gilham had taken the chequered flag in 4th place. He also got a double whammy getting the 1st Independent trophy.
The revised race results saw Gorden Shedden inherit the win and Jason Plato second. Plato had already received a time penalty for barging past Sheddon on the final lap. Jackson took the flag, Plato second and Sheddon 3rd with Gilham 4th. Plato was given a 2 second time penalty which meant that Sheddon inherited second and Plato took third. Then Jackson was disqualified, promoting everyone up one place. Confused?
Sadly Gilham never got to stand on the winners podium, but celebrated the news with his team and a firm handshake with RCIB’s Mike Joseph who is the main sponsor. Mike says ” Tony is a great driver and thouroughly deserves his success.”
Gilham’s Honda Civic will be closely watched in the next Thruxton race Round 7, in a couole of weeks time, as Gilham is standing 10th position overall.
Story: Rachel Evans.
