‘Shut up and drive!’ seemed an appropriate anthem for the green flag lap of the opening round of the 2008 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch this morning. Starting from pole position, BMW Dealer Team UK driver Mat Jackson was hoping to start the season as he ended the last one – with victory.

As the lights went out to mark the start of what is sure to be a thrilling championship, Jackson held onto the lead through Paddock Hill Bend for the first time. Meanwhile, Fabrizio Giovanardi, starting from second on the grid, struggled to find grip in his VX Racing Vectra and was passed on the run into the first corner by Colin Turkington in his Team RAC BMW and SEAT’s Jason Plato. Giovanardi quickly found his rhythm though, and edged out Plato at the Druids hairpin to reclaim third position.

There was a spin on the opening lap for Erkut Kizilirmak. The Turkish driver lost control of his Astra Sport Hatch at the bottom of Graham Hill Bend. The same spot was the location of a spin for Colin Turkington on the following lap, and indeed for a second time just a few laps later.

Turkington explained, “When I changed down from fourth to third coming down the hill, it just locked the rear axle. It’s the first time we’ve run the five-speed gearbox, but we didn’t have any problems yesterday, so we’re not really sure what happened at the moment.”

Turkington’s spin handed second back to Giovanardi, and the Vauxhall driver quickly set his sights on Mat Jackson at the front. With one BMW in the lead of the race, another that had made a strong start was the Motorbase Performance car of Steven Kane. The series newcomer was enjoying a fierce battle with double BTCC champion Matt Neal during the opening laps, claiming eighth position when he passed the Vectra at the exit from Druids on lap seven.

A couple of laps later saw rain descend on Brands Hatch. With all the cars running on slick rubber, it threatened to play havoc with the second half of the race. One thing that is certain is that the slippery conditions played into the hands of the masterful Fabrizio Giovanardi. As the track became more slippery, so Giovanardi closed on race leader Jackson. The Italian bided his time behind the BMW 320si, but eventually Jackson ran wide at Clearways and the reigning champion did not need to be asked twice. Through into the lead, Giovanardi looked comfortable as he cruised to the chequered flag.

“That was a hard race”, said Giovanardi. “I had a bad start but I managed to pass Jason immediately. I couldn’t catch Mat in the dry, but the rain changed things a bit. He was very, very fast, but he made just a couple of small mistakes and I was able to get past.”

Jackson said: “It’s a good result for everyone in the team. It’s always nice to win, but we’ve got a championship to chase and it’s about getting some solid results.”

With Giovanardi winning from Jackson, the final spot on the podium went to Jason Plato, just ahead of SEAT Sport UK teammate Darren Turner. There was slight contact between the two Leons as Turner closed on the back of Plato in the closing stages, but the Spanish marque’s bosses would have been relieved as both managed to stay on the track.

Matt Neal was fifth for Vauxhall, ahead of former teammate Gordon Shedden in the first of the Team Halfords Honda Civics. Neal had been tracking Tom Chilton in the other Team Halfords car, but Chilton lost four places when he ran wide at Clearways with just a couple of laps remaining.

Tom Onslow-Cole ensured it was a good start to the season for Vauxhall by finishing seventh, ahead of the pacey Steven Kane in eighth. Chilton and Adam Jones rounded out the top ten. Matt Allison found himself just outside the top ten in the first of the Robertshaw Racing Chevrolet Lacettis. Rob Collard was 12th, with Mike Jordan 13th, Stephen Jelley 14th and Andrew Jordan in 15th.