Muller closes on Plato's BTCC lead.

Yvan Muller took his tenth win of the 2001 BTCC in Donington Park's Feature Race, the Frenchman closing to just six points behind team-mate Jason Plato - who finished third. Late in the race it looked as if there could be a shock Alfa Romeo victory - Tom Ferrier leading after an early pit-stop when the Safety Car came out again for an incident that took time to clear up, the Alfa 147 leading the pack as speculation mounted that the race may have been stopped early.

The result - after Plato won the earlier Sprint Race - leaves the pair closely matched in the championship battle with the final two rounds at Brands Hatch to come.

"For sure the rain and the Safety Car helped me," said Muller. "Brands Hatch is two weeks away. I do not want to think about that today!"

Jason Plato leapt into an early lead, Muller close behind and having a long look inside his team-mate at Fogarty's on the first lap. Five laps later it was Muller under pressure, Phil Bennett going past, only to be spun round by his fellow Vauxhall driver at Goddards after three laps in second place.

Light rain was beginning to fall, and a rash of cars went off at McLeans, Simon Graves' heavy impact in his Barwell Honda bringing out the Safety Car. With teams uncertain as to which tyres to use, most delayed their change to assess conditions. When the Safety Car period was over, it was Tom Ferrier, who had brought his JSM Alfa Romeo 147 in for an early pit stop, who had a handy lead.

Ferrier was being reeled in by Muller - Plato having had a relatively slow stop - as the front runners elected to stay on slicks, when the Safety Car was out again after Matt Jackson and John B&Q clashed in their Production Class cars at the Old Hairpin.

For five laps behind the Safety Car Ferrier led the field round, but when they were released, Muller was past before the first corner - Ferrier immediately pulling off at the Craner Curves. James Thompson had worked his way up to second, and looked to go past Muller on a couple of occasions, while behind, Plato was third - but under pressure from Anthony Reid's MG.

Reid went inside the Astra at the Melbourne Hairpin to take third, only for Plato to take the slot straight back at the next corner. Before Reid could challenge again he was hit by Phil Bennett, who had changed to wets and back again, exiting the Old Hairpin - the impact putting out both cars there-and-then.

BTCC Round 24, Feature Race, Donington Park, 32 laps:
1. Yvan Muller Vauxhall Astra 1h07mins33.634secs
2. James Thompson Vauxhall Astra -0.646secs
3. Jason Plato Vauxhall Astra -6.418secs
4. Thomas Erdos Lexus IS200 -10.335secs
5. Dan Eaves Peugoet 406 -16.055
6. Roger Moen (P) Peugeot 306 -34.081secs
7. Simon Harrison Peugeot 306 -35.928secs
8. Warren Hughes MG ZS EX259 -36.674secs
9. Mat Jackson (P) Ford Focus -38.657secs
10. Colin Blair (P) Alfa Romeo 156 46.629secs
11. Nick Beaumont (P) Honda Integra -54.655secs
12. Tom Boardman (P) Peugeot 306 -1min54.424secs
13. Nick James (P) Honda Integra -1 lap
14. James Kaye (P)Honda Accord -1 lap
15. Rick Kraemer (P) Ford Focus -2 laps

(P) - Production Class