Subaru and MG are the stars at the weekends British Touring Car Championships at the Croft circuit.

Turkington and Collard also win during Croft BTCC thriller

Ashley Sutton stormed to his breakthrough Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship victory in a thrilling finale at Croft, with Colin Turkington and Rob Collard also taking wins on an exciting race day in North Yorkshire. 

Sutton’s success means that the BTCC boasts ten different winners from the opening 15 races of the 2016 season.

Turkington led home team-mate Jason Plato in the opener to score the first ever one-two finish for Silverline Subaru BMR Racing. It was a podium of firsts as Sutton took his maiden rostrum for MG Racing RCIB Insurance.

Double champion Turkington was in command for the duration although he had to contend with the attentions of Plato, plus three safety car periods and an early attack from fellow front row starter Daniel Lloyd.

Lloyd’s Eurotech Racing Honda made a great getaway off the line, which left him on the outside of Turkington going into turn one. When the young rookie turned in, however, inevitable contact followed, firing the Civic Type R into the gravel and out of the race.

Turkington dealt with each of the safety car interruptions consummately, and although Plato kept him honest after getting his own stellar start, the Ulsterman held him at arm's length to take his second victory of the season.

Sutton produced a defensive driving master class as Jack Goff’s Team IHG Rewards Club BMW searched for a way past for the entire 18-lap battle. Goff looked to have secured the deal on a number of occasions but Sutton would not be denied his first BTCC podium.

Collard claimed victory in the second contest after Subaru’s Turkington and Plato dramatically clashed while battling for the lead.

The duel between Turkington and Plato provided the main storyline throughout the race, which initially seemed to favour the latter. Plato made another brilliant start and was able to sail around the outside of his team-mate into Clervaux.

Turkington hounded his Silverline Subaru BMR Racing stablemate during the early stages and regained the lead at Tower on lap four, but the battle was far from over. The pair then made contact going into the same corner at mid-distance, sending both cars sliding wide, as the West Surrey Racing duo of Goff and Collard looked on.

Goff hesitated slightly in the melee but Collard needed no second invitation as he blasted his Team JCT600 with GardX machine from fourth to first in the blink of an eye. As the Subarus straightened out it was Plato in second with Turkington now demoted to third.

The incident seemed to stunt the pace and progress of both Subarus, leaving the top four places unchanged until the finish, handing Collard a well deserved victory and a landmark 50th podium in his BTCC career. Plato and Turkington completed the rostrum positions, with Goff taking a hard earned fourth.

The first wet BTCC race since Brands Hatch in 2014 – 44 races ago – left teams scrambling for Dunlop Blu Response wet tyres prior to the start of the final encounter, although the likes of Gordon Shedden and Mat Jackson gambled unsuccessfully on slicks.

Pole-sitter Sam Tordoff held station from Tom Ingram and Goff in the early running, with Sutton trailing Turkington’s Subaru in fifth as the rain lashed down at the 2.1-mile circuit.

Despite an early safety car intervention, the action resumed in enthralling style as Turkington flung his car around the outside of Goff’s BMW at Tower, with Sutton’s MG following suit at the next turn.

Sutton clipped Turkington at the Hairpin on lap nine to move into third, with Collard also slipping by his former WSR team-mate.

MG’s Sutton was soon past Ingram on the approach to the Esses and he immediately set about hunting down race leader Tordoff. He was further aided by a late safety car period, which gave Sutton two laps to make a move on the Team JCT600 with GardX BMW, and that’s exactly what he did on the penultimate tour.

Clearly carrying much more speed and balance than the rear-wheel drive BMW in wet conditions, Sutton flew by Tordoff at Sunny and never looked back as he claimed a famous first win.

Tordoff had to make do with second, extending his championship lead in the process, while Ingram joined him on the podium.

Collard continued his scrap with Turkington until the finish, with the latter being further forced down the order after a final corner nudge from Josh Cook’s MG. That allowed Andrew Jordan’s Pirtek Racing Ford to nip opportunistically by, eventually leaving Turkington down in seventh.

Tordoff now leads team-mate Collard by 12 points in the Drivers’ standings, rounding off a celebratory weekend for Team JCT600 with GardX on the 70th anniversary of sponsor JCT600. Halfords Yuasa Racing’s Matt Neal is a further three points adrift while Jordan and Goff sit fourth and fifth respectively.

West Surrey Racing extended its advantage over Honda/Team Dynamics in the battle for Manufacturers'/Constructors' honours, with the Japanese marque enduring a difficult weekend at Croft.

Unsurprisingly Team JCT600 with GardX leads the Teams’ order, whilst Jordan and Motorbase Performance top the respective Independents’ tables.

Sutton’s sensational day saw him take a hat-trick of Jack Sears Trophy wins, further cementing his overall control of that category.

A number of drivers also reached significant milestones at Croft today with a quartet of competitors having now clocked up 950 BTCC between them - Collard (400 races), Shedden (300), Rob Austin (150) and Goff (100).

Colin Turkington said: "It was great to come away with another pole position, podium and win and a good haul of points – if you’d offered me that before the start of the weekend, I would have been happy with it. We’re moving the Subaru Levorg package forward and definitely looking strong now. We knew this place would suit us better than some other circuits, but you can never be over-confident and I certainly didn’t expect to have such a big margin in qualifying. Our pace was good throughout the weekend, and we were able to capitalise on that – it really highlights all the hard work that everybody in the team has put in, and it’s very rewarding to see smiles back on faces. We’ve proved we can race up at the sharp end now."

Rob Collard said: "To bounce back the way we have here after Oulton Park – where we had cracking pace but came away with very little to show for it – is a massive result for the whole team. Qualifying at Croft dealt us another blow, but we fought like a lion in all three races and our reward is to be up to second in the championship, having halved the points gap to Sam [Tordoff] going into the summer break. To be first and second in the Drivers’ table now – on the weekend when I made my 400^th BTCC start and JCT600 celebrated its 70^th anniversary – is fantastic."

Ashley Sutton said: "What a weekend! I love Croft – it’s a fantastic track – and I’ve achieved good results here in other championships. We knew it was never going to be our best circuit of the season as a front-wheel drive car, so to score my first BTCC podium was already a great achievement but to then go and win my first race topped it all off. I knew the MG6 would be strong in the wet and I love conditions like that so I was doing a bit of a rain dance in the garage and when it came, I thought ‘game on’. We definitely showed what we are capable of, and even without the final safety car period, I was confident of catching [Sam] Tordoff – it just made the job a little bit easier. The car was on rails in that race – absolutely mega!"

Sam Tordoff said: "All things considered, it’s been a tough weekend. To qualify fifth on maximum ballast was a good start, but then it all went wrong in race one with the engine problem. I really thought it was going to go bang, so to get to the end and score some points was a real relief. The boys pulled off a complete engine change before race two which was the key to our weekend because it allowed us to finish eighth in race two, earning us the reverse grid pole for race three. Massive credit to the team for that turnaround. It was pretty frustrating to lose the lead so close to the end, but I knew Ash [Sutton] was driving quite aggressively and not holding anything back and had nothing to lose whereas I had everything to lose."

Jason Plato said: "It’s been a really successful weekend for Silverline Subaru BMR Racing. We made further progress with the car, and to come away with podiums in races one and two was great. Race three was my first in rear-wheel drive in the wet, and it took me a few laps to find my feet and understand the grip levels before I properly got into the groove, but it was a useful experience and now I know what to expect next time. We take some great data away from Croft and know what areas we still need to work on – we’re homing in."

2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Round 13

1 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Silverline Subaru BMR Racing 29m56.374s

2 Jason PLATO (GBR) Silverline Subaru BMR Racing +1.353s

3 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +2.305s

4 Jack GOFF (GBR) Team IHG Rewards Club +2.689s

5 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) Motorbase Performance +6.429s

6 Jake HILL (GBR) RCIB Insurance Racing +7.136s

7 Robert COLLARD (GBR) Team JCT600 Racing with GardX +7.306s

8 Mat JACKSON (GBR) Motorbase Performance +8.025s

9 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +8.279s

10 Aron SMITH (IRL) BKR +9.191s

2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Round 14



1 Robert COLLARD (GBR) Team JCT600 Racing with GardX 23m59.017s


2 Jason PLATO (GBR) Silverline Subaru BMR Racing +2.341s


3 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Silverline Subaru BMR Racing +5.152s


4 Jack GOFF (GBR) Team IHG Rewards Club +7.038s


5 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +12.363s


6 Mat JACKSON (GBR) Motorbase Performance +15.335s


7 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +15.815s


8 Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Team JCT600 Racing with GardX +16.062s


9 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) Motorbase Performance +17.782s


10 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +18.117s

2016

Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Round 15



1 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance 32m50.206s


2 Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Team JCT600 Racing with GardX +1.337s


3 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +2.284s


4 Robert COLLARD (GBR) Team JCT600 Racing with GardX +2.860s


5 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) Motorbase Performance +3.759s


6 Josh COOK (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +4.324s


7 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Silverline Subaru BMR Racing +4.683s


8 Aron SMITH (IRL) BKR +4.947s


9 Jack GOFF (GBR) Team IHG Rewards Club +5.942s


10 Jason PLATO (GBR) Silverline Subaru BMR Racing +6.290s

Penalties

Qualifying:

Matt Neal was officially reprimanded and received two penalty points for an incident involving Rob Collard

Race one: 

Gordon Shedden was officially reprimanded and received two penalty points for an incident involving Aiden Moffat

Kelvin Fletcher was officially reprimanded and received two penalty points for an incident involving James Cole

Race two: 

Kelvin Fletcher received a verbal warning for an incident involving Dan Welch

Rob Austin was officially reprimanded and received two penalty points for overtaking under yellow flag conditions

Race three: 

Chris Smiley was officially reprimanded for gaining an unfair advantage during an incident involving Jeff Smith

Three winners, three different teams and three different cars, thats the first three rounds of the BTCC

Tom Ingram, Gordon Shedden and Adam Morgan share the spoils at Brands Hatch

The 2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship commenced in fine style at Brands Hatch with a trio of different drivers celebrating victory from the three fast and furious races.

Tom Ingram, Gordon Shedden and Adam Morgan all tasted champagne on the top step of the podium, but it was Matt Neal who left the Kent circuit with the championship lead.

Ingram set a scorching lap record during qualifying on Saturday, taking a maiden pole position in the process, and the 22-year-old duly backed up his pace with an impressive lights-to-flag victory in the season opener.

Reigning champion Shedden inherited the lead and ultimately the win in the second contest, after contact between Ingram and West Surrey Racing’s Rob Collard sent them both spiralling out of contention.

Race three produced another lead change when pole-sitter Sam Tordoff had to give up top spot to the hard charging Morgan. Tordoff and WSR team-mate Jack Goff kept Morgan’s Mercedes honest throughout, but the WIX Racing star held on for his third career victory.

The day kicked off under glorious spring sunshine as tens of thousands of fans flocked to the world famous motor sport venue. The spectators were immediately entertained as Ingram and Speedworks Motorsport’s first ever BTCC victory received rapturous applause from the huge crowd.

While the race was frenetic further down the order, the top three contenders in Ingram, Honda’s Shedden and his team-mate Neal remained steady throughout. A slowing backmarker and a mid-race safety car spell proved to be the only issues for Ingram, but the young charger dealt with both interruptions with consummate ease.

MG’s young duo continued to belie their relative inexperience by finishing fourth and fifth, with debutant Ashley Sutton getting the better of Josh Cook.

The Halfords Yuasa Racing boys improved further in the second bout by scoring Honda’s first one-two of the season, as Shedden headed Neal.

Ingram’s Toyota had maintained the lead off the line while Collard’s BMW blitzed from sixth on the grid into second before the 32 cars reached Paddock Hill Bend for the first time.

Collard immediately set about attacking Ingram and the duo touched at Paddock on the second tour before more forceful contact at Druids sent the BMW into a spin. Ingram continued for half a lap but then slowed with damage, which was caused as a result of the earlier incident.

Honda inherited the top two positions and never looked back while Aron Smith completed the podium order in his VW – the first rostrum for new squad BKR.

Morgan celebrated victory in race three around the 1.2-mile Indy circuit after holding off a near race-long threat from the WSR duo of Tordoff and Goff.

WIX Racing’s Morgan slotted in behind pole-sitter Tordoff and the soft Dunlop SportMaxx tyre-shod Mercedes crawled all over the back of the BMW on the opening lap. Morgan eyed his opportunity on lap two and darted past Tordoff on the run down to Paddock Hill Bend.

The closing stages were tense as Tordoff and Goff hauled their BMWs back towards Morgan's Mercedes. The Lancashireman kept his powder dry, however, and saw off several attacks to take the win.

Three-time champion Neal may not have won any of the three opening rounds but used all his experience and guile to bag more points than his rivals with strong second, third and fifth-place finishes.

He currently leads the standings from stablemate Shedden, while race three winner Morgan lies third, just six points off the championship summit. Aron Smith and Andrew Jordan enjoyed solid outings and line up in joint fourth.

Honda leads the Manufacturers/Constructors’ table from WSR and MG respectively, whilst debutants Subaru are fourth. The Japanese marque produced a hugely impressive effort just to ready its four Levorgs in time for the meeting, and the Team BMR-run squad was rewarded as Jason Plato and Colin Turkington scored points in races two and three respectively.

Halfords Yuasa Racing top the Teams’ standings, while Aron Smith and BKR lead both Independents’ tables. Impressive debutant Ashley Sutton heads the Jack Sears Trophy.

Rounds 4, 5 and 6 of the 2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship will take place at Donington Park on 16/17 April.

Tom Ingram said: "This is what all the hard work over the winter was for. With the way we finished last season, we knew we had a good package underneath us, and Speedworks Motorsport are such a fantastic bunch of guys – this result is for all of them. When I saw the team celebrating as I climbed out of the car afterwards, it brought a tear to my eye, and the emotion just goes to show how much this first victory means to us. It’s unbelievable."

Gordon Shedden said: "It’s been a good weekend, with a couple of podiums for me including a win, a big points haul and Matt and myself sitting first and second in the Drivers’ classification. The Honda Civic Type R is clearly very fast, and there’s still more to come from it as we are learning all the time. We didn’t take any risks in race one and perhaps went a little bit too soft on the set-up. I think my car was actually slightly better with the ballast on-board in race two, which wasn’t at all what we had expected, and I got bullied a little bit in the early part of race three and then picked up the puncture. Still, no complaints – it’s been a very strong weekend for us."

Adam Morgan said: "It’s been an unbelievable finish to the weekend. Our pace was reasonable in races one and two, and then obviously the reverse grid played out in our favour. I was certain I was going to be down in third by the first corner with two BMWs around me, but I got probably the best start of my life and managed to hold off Jack [Goff]. I knew I needed to get past Sam [Tordoff] as soon as possible because the rear-wheel drive cars take a bit longer to warm up their tyres, and after that it was a case of managing the gap. The whole team has done a superb job – the new engineers and all the mechanics have been brilliant. To leave Brands Hatch third in the points is a great way to start the season."

Matt Neal said: "It’s been a fantastic weekend and a cracking day today for the team. What a way to welcome Halfords back to the grid and to repay Yuasa’s loyal support. I’m over-the-moon – dead chuffed. We probably went a bit too safe with the car due to the conditions in race one, and race two got a bit sketchy at times; ‘Flash’ and I were settled in third and fourth when it all kicked off ahead of us between the two leaders, and then there was oil down on the track at Graham Hill Bend later on. We scored more solid points in race three, and to come away from Brands leading the championship is just the perfect start."

Aron Smith said: "I’m over the moon with the way this weekend has gone. Three weeks ago, these cars were sat in a shed not going racing. The work that both BKR and Team BMR have put in to get us to this point has just been phenomenal, and I really can’t thank everyone enough – particularly Warren Scott. It’s no exaggeration to say that without him, we would not be here. He’s done an amazing job. Everybody at BKR is so enthusiastic, and that excitement is infectious."

2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Brands Hatch Indy

Race 1

1. Tom INGRAM (Speedworks Motorsport): 27 Laps
2. Gordon SHEDDEN (Halfords Yuasa Racing): +2.284s
3. Matt NEAL (Halfords Yuasa Racing): +3.925s
4. Ashley SUTTON (MG Racing RCIB Insurance): +6.070s
5. Josh COOK (MG Racing RCIB Insurance): +6.423s
6. Robert COLLARD (Team JCT600 with GardX): +7.908s

Race 2

1. Gordon SHEDDEN (Halfords Yuasa Racing): 26 Laps
2. Matt NEAL (Halfords Yuasa Racing): +0.848s
3. Aron SMITH (BKR): +3.132s
4. Andrew JORDAN (Motorbase Performance): +4.165s
5. Mat JACKSON (Motorbase Performance): +7.176s
6. Ashley SUTTON (MG Racing RCIB Insurance): +8.647s

Race 3

1. Adam MORGAN (WIX Racing): 27 Laps
2. Sam TORDOFF (Team JCT600 with GardX): +0.136s
3. Jack GOFF (Team IHG Rewards Club): +0.449s
4. Andrew JORDAN (Motorbase Performance): +3.832s
5. Matt NEAL (Halfords Yuasa Racing): +3.869s
6. Robert COLLARD (Team JCT600 with GardX): +4.192s

Click here for the final classification from the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship races at Brands Hatch.

Penalties

Race one:

Ollie Jackson received an official reprimand and two penalty points on his licence for an incident involving Hunter Abbott

Race two:

Alex Martin received a £500 fine and three penalty points on his licence for an incident involving Mark Howard

Race three: 

Tom Ingram received a £500 fine and three penalty points on his licence for an incident involving Jake Hill

Ashely Sutton received an official reprimand and two penalty points on his licence for an incident involving Rob Austin