Fabrizio Giovanardi did the bare minimum to reclaim the British Touring Car Championship title at Brands Hatch on Sunday.

Vauxhall driver Giovanardi finished outside the points in race one after damaging his car, missed race two because of engine problems and gained just a point in the final race after setting the fastest lap.

“I’ve never had such a bad day on the track but still came out feeling so delighted,” said the Italian.

Taking the on-track glory during the weekend was British racer Mat Jackson, who claimed wins in the opening two races.

He eventually finished second in the championship ahead of Jason Plato, who before the weekend had an outside chance of catching Giovanardi.

It was a bad weekend for Plato, however, with his best finish coming in race one with a fifth for the SEAT Sport team.

Jackson won race one ahead of Steve Kane who was driving for Wrotham-based Motorbase Performance.

His team-mate Rob Collard took the final podium position with a third-place finish.

Jackson led the field home in race two, with Matt Neal in second and Colin Turkington in third. The Motorbase drivers meanwhile finished fourth (Collard) and fifth (Kane).

Team RAC’s Turkington finished in fifth position during the final race which was enough for the Ulsterman to secure the independent drivers’ trophy.

Tom Chilton won race three, just a second ahead of Kane, while VX Racing’s Tom Onslow-Cole took third.

With three podium finishes it was Motorbase Performance’s best weekend of the season.

Team Principal David Bartrum said: “I’m absolutely ecstatic. I really am so proud of what we have achieved and through the whole season.

“We started the year with a new car and new drivers and we have managed to improve steadily over the year to the point where we are now in contention for a podium in most races.

“I have to thank my whole team, they have done an unbelievable job. Hopefully we will now be able to attract the finances to come back again next season and set our sights on a title from the start.”