8.5.2002
Astra Coupé drivers in 3-way tie for championship

At Rounds 5 and 6 at the Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship 2002 in Thruxton, England on May 6, 2002, all three Astra Coupe drivers tied for championship and lead the standings with a clear lead over the nearest rival.

Rounds 5 and 6 of the Green Flag British Touring Car Championship came to a thrilling climax on Monday's U.K. holiday resulting in a three-way tie for the championship between Vauxhall Motorsport's Yvan Muller and James Thompson and EggSport Astra Coupé driver, Matt Neal. All three drivers currently lead the standings with 59 points – a clear 24 points ahead of their nearest rival.

The Vauxhall drivers certainly shared the spoils between them though. Round 5 was won by Thompson with Neal a close second after previous race leader, Muller, retired due to damage sustained in a racing incident with his teammate. The Frenchman kept his cool though and exacted revenge in the 30-lap Feature race (Round 6) winning ahead of Thompson and Neal.

"We are so close," commented Muller. "It's good to have an honest fight within the team."

The result produced Vauxhall Motorsport's second 1-2 of the season. And as they head to Rounds 7&8 at Silverstone in four week's time, Vauxhall still tops the Manufacturers' championship with 171 points to MG's 80 and Vauxhall Motorsport heads EggSport in the Teams' championship by a clear 14 points.

Race reports
It was all happening though in the 15-lap Sprint race as the two Vauxhall Motorsport Astra Coupés put on a thrilling display of door-to-door action and heart stopping overtaking maneuvers. Unfortunately for Muller, who had started from pole, it was to end in a non-finish after contact with his teammate, Thompson, resulted in a broken trackrod.

Thompson though was thrilled with his win, temporarily promoting the Yorkshireman from third to second in the Championship standings. Egg Sport's Matt Neal meanwhile, triumphed in his monumental battle with MG driver, Anthony Reid to go on to finish second, handing Neal a temporary championship lead of just one point.

"That was a right good old tussle! That's about as close as it gets in racing," said Thompson. "We were having a good, clean scrap at pretty high speeds, and it's a real shame he had to retire."

After the disappointment of the Sprint race however, the 30-lap Feature race proved to be Muller's saving grace and after starting from pole, he never really looked threatened despite Thompson's Astra Coupé hounding him all the way.

Matt Neal continued his charge for championship points battling not only with Reid but also coming under pressure from Priaulx and Harvey. It was to prove a crucial result with the Astra Coupé 1-2-3 resulting in a three-way tie for the championship. The weekend's results have also substantially buoyed up Thompson's hopes for the season; "It's been a cracking weekend – a win and a second. I feel like I'm back on track. "