VX Racing’s Fabrizio Giovanardi registered another landmark in his Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship career today at Thruxton, where he scored his first-ever BTCC pole position.

Currently second in the Drivers Championship after two race wins at Rockingham, Giovanardi was carrying 36kg of “success” ballast but despite that only needed two flying laps to post the fastest time of the day.

The Italian was out of his Vauxhall Vectra with time to spare at the end of the 30-minute session, but would not celebrate until the last car had crossed the line, fearing a repeat of Rockingham two weeks ago, when SEAT’s Darren Turner snatched pole in the dying seconds.

VX Racing team-mate, Tom Chilton, will start tomorrow’s first of three races three places behind Giovanardi, but says the second row will be enough to mount a strong fight.

The first BTCC race will start at 10.55am tomorrow morning.

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Fabrizio Giovanardi:

"It's great, I'm starting to feel at home now; not because it looks like Italy with the lovely weather we’re having today but because I'm in England and I enjoy this championship now. I love the team and this is a great pole position which we all worked for.

"In the first qualifying lap I found a car in front of me. I had one more lap so I had to concentrate. When they said I was in first position, it was unbelievable. For tomorrow I am really comfortable."

Tom Chilton:

“I’m annoyed! I ran the car with too much over-steer. Up until Church corner I was really quick but the set-up didn’t work round the second half of the circuit. My car went too sideways, because I ran something on the edge.

“I think I’ve got a very good race car and from the second row I am sure I can get a good result tomorrow.”

Mike Nicholson, VX Racing’s Operations Manager:

“That was brilliant! We always thought the car would be quick around here, but you can never be sure. We are carrying a lot of ballast and to be P1 with that is pretty brilliant. It was a great job!

“Fabrizio sat on his jacks for most of qualifying, so we have plenty of tyres for tomorrow’s race. It’s looking very positive; long may it continue.”

BTCC Provisional Qualifying Results:

1. Fabrizio Giovanardi (Vauxhall Vectra),1:17.476
2. Darren Turner (SEAT Leon), 1:17.503
3. Mike Jordan (Honda Integra), 1:17.708
4. Tom Chilton (Vauxhall Vectra); 1:17.800
5. Colin Turkington (BMW 320si); 1:17.906
6. Gordon Shedden (Honda Civic); 1:18.023