Biela extends championship lead

Touring cars

On the confines of this Scottish circuit, Rickard Rydell did his best to deny Audi's Frank Biela victory in the latest rounds of the British Touring Car Championship but the Volvo driver won only one of the day's two races.

He led round 17 of the series from pole position, briefly holding the four-wheel drive cars of Biela and John Bintcliffe at bay until slipping back to fourth at the end as Biela won. Rydell made sure not to make the same mistake in round 18 and won ahead of Biela. Second, however, was enough for Biela to extend his championship lead to 58 points, despite his post-qualifying fears that Rydell's pace was too great.

In contrast championship chaser Alain Menu had a miserable weekend in his Renault. He was ninth in round 17 but started from the back of the grid for the next race after engine failure in qualifying. He then climbed as high as 12th before suffering his team's 40th power failure of the season.

Results, Digest, page 23