BTCC Round 1 - Brands Hatch Indy Circuit 2017

So the BTCC Season is finally underway at the Indy Circuit at Brands Hatch. The next time we are here will be for the final round and if the end is as good as the start we are in for a cracking year.

Qualifying was hit by rain and in the topsy turvey world that such conditions produce we saw the Eurotech of Jeff Smith takes his first ever touring car pole infront of Tom Ingram in the evergreen Toyota. The Hondas of Shedden and Neal made up the 2nd row with the first of the BMW's driven by Turkington in 5th and Morgan's Mercedes in 6th.The BMR Subaru's, despite all the pre-season hype, could not manage better than 18th in the hands of Plato with Sutton 4 places further back after a rather fraught qualifying for the BMR newcomer.

Race day dawned bright and sunny with blue skies and a very warm track.

Race one saw a safety car as Matt Neal in the Honda and Colin Turkington in the BMW came together at the start leaving both cars out of the race and needing some work by the teams for race 2.
Tingram had quickly got past Smith at the start to gain a lead he was never to lose despite some pressure from Shedden in the Honda. Smith slowly fell down the order gaining a few dents as he did so.
Behind there were moments aplenty with most cars bearing scars of their encounters but that is really a product of the Indy Circuit which always produces close racing.

Race 2 saw yet another start line incident as Plato in the Subaru was turned into the pit wall which he impacted heavily leaving him needing attention and his car recovering. The race was red flagged and once the debris was removed the race restarted over a shorter distance.
Ingram initially led but the winners ballast showed and Shedden was able to get past him and into a lead he wouldnt lose.Ingram initially held 2nd but an on form Rob Collard in the BMW finally got past Ingram to make it onto the podium for BMW.

Race 3 had the Vauxhall of Tom Chilton on pole, it would have been Josh Cook in the Ford but Rob Austin was disqualified from race 2 which shuffled the positions meaning Cook was now in second.

The start saw the BMW of Jordan rocket away from 3rd place to lead into Paddock Hill, again he was not to lose this lead giving the Pirtek liveried car its maiden victory. Behind him Chilton's Vauxhall held second with the Ford of Cook being pushed down the order.
Turkington made good progress from his 10th place start to be behind the Vauxhall by mid distance. He made the pass on Chilton and set about trying to catch Jordan which he almost did but Jordan held on to give BMW its first double on the podium this year. Chilton gave returnee manufacturer its first podium with a fine 3rd place.

On now to Donnington, cant wait.