Team BMW’s Colin Turkington currently leads the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship standings as the series gets set for a trip to Oulton Park next weekend (29/30 June).

The picturesque Cheshire venue historically plays host to one of the biggest BTCC events of the season, as a huge fan base often descends on the north west circuit. 

Tom Chilton became the sixth different race winner of the 2019 campaign as Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher claimed race three at Croft, but it was the commanding form of the BMWs that set the scene. 

Ominously perhaps for the Bavarian manufacturer’s rivals… BMW also boasts a successful history at Oulton Park. 

Who will come out on top next weekend? Tickets to see the action are still available or you can watch every bit of drama unfold live on ITV4.

Perfect Ten?
Any of the top ten drivers in the standings – currently covered by just 50 points – may be regarded as a title contender, particularly when you consider more than 400 points remain available in this year’s championship. 

The three races scheduled at Oulton Park will bring about the midway stage of this year’s BTCC calendar, with reigning champion Colin Turkington currently setting the pace from BTC Racing’s Josh Cook and Adrian Flux Subaru Racing’s Ash Sutton.

The lead trio may be more concerned about Andrew Jordan looming large in their wing mirrors, however, as the BMW Pirtek Racing star has won five of the opening 12 races. The 30-year-old could be topping the overall standings if it wasn’t for a disastrous meeting at Donington Park. The 2013 champion has bounced back brilliantly since then by scoring a ‘double double’ at Thruxton and Croft.

“A second double of the year!” enthused Jordan after Croft. "It’s drawing us back into contention after Donington Park. We need to keep our expectations in check – there are a lot of quick guys out there – but we're on good form. I feel good in myself and with the car and the team.

“Now, we go to Oulton Park where I’m sure we’ll be competitive. The title fight really starts here.”

Halfords Yuasa Racing’s Matt Neal and Dan Cammish are firmly in the top ten scrap, as is the AmD-run Honda of Rory Butcher, although the Scotsman endured a challenging weekend at Croft earlier this month.

Chilton’s win in the North Yorkshire finale ignited his championship challenge, whilst Team Toyota GB with Ginsters’ Tom Ingram and Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing’s Jason Plato also made headlines in the final race. 

Ingram wowed the crowds with a dry Dunlop tyre gamble on a wet track, which ultimately failed to pay off. The Toyota driver set the fastest lap of the race on the final tour as the drying surface finally came his way, but it was too little, too late to make any significant inroads on the points paying positions.

Plato, however, returned to the BTCC podium for the first time since Croft in 2018, marking almost a year since his last rostrum. The Vauxhall Astra ace has been back at the sharp end this season and he’ll be looking to add to his extensive victory tally as the campaign progresses.

Home runners
Tarporley-based Tom Oliphant will be targeting a maiden BTCC win on home soil next weekend, and he’ll be doing so with one of the most successful teams around the 2.23-mile Oulton Park circuit – West Surrey Racing.

The Team BMW man scored a first podium at Donington Park earlier in the season and his pace has been edging towards his more experienced stablemates – Colin Turkington and Andrew Jordan.

Another local looking for success will be Lancastrian Adam Morgan, who has faced a difficult few weekends since an opening day podium at Brands Hatch.

Speedworks Motorsport are similarly based nearby, as is the Toyota factory in Deeside, so Tom Ingram can also expect to receive some solid support.

Timetable and Tickets
A spectacular line-up of support series will complement the BTCC action at Oulton Park, with a range of racing disciplines set to entertain the Cheshire crowds. The F4 British Championship resumes its tense title fight while the Renault UK Clio Cup and Porsche Carrera Cup GB series continue their 2019 campaigns. The ever-exciting Ginetta Junior Championship and Ginetta GT4 SuperCup also join the fray for the fifth meeting of the season. 

Tickets to Oulton Park can be purchased in advance until Thursday, 27 June, priced at just £28 for Sunday (BTCC Race Day) or £38 for the full weekend. Accompanied children aged 13 and under will be admitted free of charge, with tickets for 13-to-15-year-olds beginning at £17. Further details can be found here.

The fourth meeting of the 2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship gave Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher much cause for celebration. After a season-best qualifying result for Tom Chilton and Ollie Jackson, Chilton went on to claim his third podium of the year, second overall win and third independent win on the North Yorkshire circuit.

With numerous on-track incidents halting proceedings during qualifying, Chilton pushed his #3 Focus RS to the limit to secure a second-row start with P3 on his first flying lap in the dying minutes. Just a lap later, Ollie Jackson took the P8 spot.

Race one saw Chilton in a full-race length challenge from the BMW’s. Defending his podium position for the entire 18-lap challenge, the 34-year-old remained steadfast under unrelenting pressure to bring the Focus home in P3, claiming his 55th BTCC-career podium.

Jackson’s strong start to the weekend looked to continue into the first race, running as high as sixth in the opening laps. On lap five, however, Jackson ran wide through the complex and clipped the curb, resulting in damage to his front-left wing. A daring effort saw him hold on for another three laps as the bodywork rubbed on the tyre before it finally gave way as the field was running under the safety car, pitching him into the barriers and ending his race.

Chilton battled hard to stay in the points-scoring zone in race two as he came under increasing pressure from the lighter, charging pack. Dropping down the order in the opening laps, he eventually took the flag in ninth collecting another haul of points for the championship challenge.

Lining up at the back of the grid, Jackson made steady progress through the field. Seeking to make amends for his earlier error, the 35-year-old pushed forward an impressive eight grid spots on the narrow circuit and crossed the line in P20.

Starting from pole by virtue of the reversed-grid draw, Chilton piloted the #3 Focus to the overall and Independent race win and rarely looked challenged for the race lead.

Making a strong start off the line, Jackson had charged into the points by the end of the first tour. Scything his way to 11th by the mid-way point, he eventually claimed P11 as the flag dropped, securing his highest-placed finish of the season.

The weekend’s results have moved the Kent-based squad up to third in the Independent Teams standings, with Tom Chilton sitting third in the Indy Drivers’ points. Both driver and team also remain seventh in the overall standings ahead of the next meeting at Oulton Park in Cheshire on June 29/30. 

“It was a perfect weekend for me and the team," said Chilton. "We’ve managed not just a double podium, but we got the win as well. We took three top ten’s for my car, and Ollie nearly got a top ten which was great starting from 20th. I’m very happy for him,” remarked Chilton. “I’m really pleased with our qualifying results this weekend. I feel like we’ve finally found our ideal set-up for the wet and dry.

“We’re in it to win it. Everyone in the team is working hard to put all of our knowledge together and make this old girl go faster this year and we’ve done a great job. I’m really looking forward to going to Oulton Park next. I’ll be looking for more of the same.”

“Salvaged I think is the word I’d use to describe this weekend! Qualifying was a high-point. P8 is my best-ever BTCC result and I think we’ve cracked it with the car now,” said Jackson. “The changes that we’ve made paid off in qualifying, and to be fair it was looking good in race one until I made a mistake. That kind of spoilt the weekend really. Thankfully we made our way through the pack in race three and picked up some nice points for the championship.”

Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing headed to a newly resurfaced Croft Circuit for Rounds 10, 11, and 12 of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship and would end the weekend with a popular podium for tin top legend Jason Plato.

Sadly, qualifying brought nothing but frustration for both drivers, as every attempt at setting a time was thwarted by a red flag.

With a couple of major offs, a total of five red flags created a topsy-turvy grid. Plato managed to secure a compromised start from 10th spot, albeit less than 0.5 seconds off pole, whilst Collard was even more frustrated down in 16th.

As the cars made their way down into the tricky turn one, Plato managed to get past the hard tyre-shod Audi of Jake Hill into ninth, only to be demoted back to tenth by Josh Cook on the next lap. Hanging on to the lead pack, the #11 Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing Astra managed to re-take a sliding Cook on lap six and close up on Jackson ahead in eighth.

Further back, Collard was in the middle of a pack of cars jostling for position and dragging mud out onto the racing line. Unsighted, Collard had a moment before hitting wet mud on the exit of Sunny corner, losing the rear of the #9 Astra and hitting the bank hard. The badly damaged car could not be moved, necessitating a safety car on lap seven.

Ollie Jackson’s Ford Focus RS suffered a front-left puncture, moving Plato up to eighth before the restart, after which he immediately set about pressuring Ash Sutton for seventh, before falling into the clutches of Cook. He secured a hard earned eighth and good points come the chequered flag.

A quick turnaround by the hard-working PMR crew repaired extensive damage to the front, left side and rear of Collard's Astra ahead of race two. Fortunately, the weather had remained dry since Race 1, and although Rob was starting stone last in 30th place, there was less mud and debris for the Hampshire driver to avoid.

A hectic opening lap saw consolidate seventh, becoming part of the train of cars running line astern battling for second and third places. Plato was frustratingly unable to create subsequent overtaking opportunities, though proved a threat. In fact, the double champion pulled off a great move as he followed Sutton through by Tom Chilton's Motorbase Ford to set up an entertaining four-way battle all the way to the finish with Sutton, Cook and Tom Ingram.

From the back, Collard had a superb opening lap in the rebuilt Vauxhall, jumping eight spots in just over two miles before consolidating his position whilst monitoring high engine temperatures for a few laps.

By lap 10, the multiple BTCC race winner was among the fastest cars on the track and having got past both Dan Rowbottom and Ollie Jackson to move into 19th, where he would finish.

Plato made a great start in race three, vitally out-dragging the slick shod Toyota of Ingram, and fighting off the fast-starting BMW of Andrew Jordan –challenging for second as they headed into the unknown of a first flying lap in the wet.

With the slick shod cars sinking like a stone, Collard battled to stay on the track, falling to 28th. It was to be a long race of survival laced with more frustration.

On his wets, Plato was getting even faster. Not content with being consistently the fastest car on wets, he hunted the win – constantly nibbling away at the Honda of Cook with increasing urgency as he could see Chilton edging away. Around the twists of Croft, with a dry line now appearing, final efforts were fruitless, as a frustrated Plato bemoaned his fate over the radio, albeit delighting the hard working PMR crew with a well-earned podium.

Jason Plato, Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra #11 said: “I’ve always felt really connected with this car in the wet, as we showed at Brands during Qualifying and this afternoon. I had the fastest wet lap, which was only pipped on the last lap as the track really started to dry up. The weekend over all was good; we’ve just quietly gone about our business and just chipped away at it. I’m going home happy.”

Tom Ingram rolled the dice in a bid for glory in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Croft last weekend (15/16 June), and whilst his bold tyre gamble narrowly failed to pay off, the Team Toyota GB with Ginsters star insists he would ‘do the same again’. 

On a freshly-resurfaced track, Ingram worked methodically through his pre-planned programme during free practice in North Yorkshire, but a disjointed qualifying session – punctuated by a succession of red flag stoppages for incidents and rain showers – restricted him to a frustrated and unrepresentative 15th on the grid amongst the 30 high-calibre contenders in the UK’s premier motor racing series.

That left the Bucks-born ace with a mountain to climb on race day, and he began the first of the three ITV4 live-televised contests with 24kg of success ballast on-board and on the less favourable hard-compound tyres, making his task doubly difficult. Undeterred, an assertive start saw him gain four positions to 11th behind the wheel of the #80 Toyota Corolla.

The best-placed driver on the hard tyres, the result confirmed Ingram as the only competitor to have finished inside the points in each of the opening ten races of the campaign – testament to his commendable consistency in what is widely regarded as the world’s most fiercely-disputed tin-top series.

Now free of ballast and back on the regular tyres, the reigning two-time BTCC Independents’ Champion pulled off a flurry of gritty overtakes to advance to seventh in race two, earning him third on the partially-reversed grid for the day’s finale. With his closest rival on the standard rubber all the way down in 14th, the stars were aligning – at least, until a heavy shower soaked the circuit and left teams in a quandary.

With the track drying out, Ingram took a gamble and bolted on slicks – the only driver inside the top 15 to do so – knowing that the initial laps would be all about establishing the grip level, tiptoeing around and remaining patient while waiting for the conditions to come to him. They eventually did, but too late, and it was only in the closing stages that he was able to begin scything back through the field from 23rd, eventually taking the chequered flag 16th, just 1.7 seconds shy of the points-paying positions.

Posting the race’s fastest lap on the final tour, all the 25-year-old could realistically do was prove his pace and prowess, and that he did with aplomb, circulating at times almost five seconds quicker than any of the other slick-shod drivers and thrilling fans along the way by repeatedly rescuing lurid sideways slides.

“Sometimes you have to take a chance, and I’ve received so many messages since the weekend from people saying they were impressed we had the guts to follow our instincts when nearly everybody else was playing safe,” said Ingram.

“I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of driving on slicks on a damp track, but we just couldn’t generate temperature in the tyres quickly enough and I had some proper big ‘moments’. Ultimately, we lost too much ground early on and by the time it turned our way, the damage was done – but it was a lot of fun.

“Since we’re not right up there in the title battle at the moment, we can take a few more risks and go properly doorhandle-to-doorhandle without fearing the consequences if it goes wrong – and that’s a nice position to be in. My move on Josh Cook (in race 2) was really enjoyable – just hanging on for dear life through the Jim Clark Esses at more than 130mph. That was mega!

“Realistically, we knew it was going to be very tough to beat the rear wheel-drive cars in a straight fight at Croft, so our strategy was for race three to be our big opportunity, with the majority of the field on the harder tyres. That plan was working to perfection, and then obviously it rained – but whilst our gamble didn’t pay off on this occasion, I would do exactly the same again...”

Thousands of fans flocked to Croft Circuit for a full-throttle weekend of motorsport action as the famous Yorkshire venue hosted Rounds 10, 11 and 12 of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

BMW Pirtek Racing star Andrew Jordan continued his excellent run of form with a second consecutive double win, bagging victories in the first two races of the day despite changeable conditions at the popular North East track.

Reigning champion Colin Turkington also enjoyed a profitable weekend, entertaining the enthusiastic crowd with three strong points finishes that push the West Surrey Racing star clear at the top of the Drivers’ standings.

A full programme of support series provided plenty of thrills and spills for the committed fans who braved the fickle summer weather, although the bumper attendance was rewarded with glorious sunshine as Tom Chilton took victory for Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher in the third race of the day.

The banking was packed from Sunday morning while spectators made the most of the extensive range of stalls and vendors in the trade village ahead of the opening BTCC race.

Jordan led from the off, having started on pole following a disjointed qualifying session on Saturday that saw five red flags, and withstood pressure from Chris Smiley and Chilton to secure his fourth victory of the season.

The 30-year-old then doubled his tally for the day in race two, streaking clear at the front while BMW team-mate Turkington jumped Chilton off the line and fought his way past Smiley to notch a brilliant second place.

Local lad Dan Cammish pulled off a number of impressive moves to come through from sixth on the grid and complete the rostrum while Smiley found himself tumbling down the order before an ambitious move from Ash Sutton on the final lap left his BTC Racing Honda Civic in the barriers at Complex.

BARC Chief Executive Ben Taylor pulled Chilton’s name out of the hat in the reverse grid draw and the 34-year-old took full advantage, keeping his Ford Focus in front from lights to flag despite running wet tyres on a drying track.

Josh Cook took second for BTC Racing in an enthralling affair while Jason Plato finished a hugely popular third for Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing, the latter scoring a first rostrum since the Croft race weekend in 2018.

Meanwhile, Bradford-born Sam Tordoff fought back from 23rd in race one to record consecutive points finishes for Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance and fellow Yorkshireman Senna Proctor banked a trio of top 15 results.

Elsewhere, Scorton-based Max Coates enjoyed an excellent weekend with pole position and victories in both Renault Clio Cup races, much to the delight of the home crowd.

A new track surface at Croft saw times tumble throughout the weekend as new lap records were set across several series, wowing the crowd with unprecedented speeds around the 2.13-mile circuit.

The calendar for the 2020 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship was also proudly announced from Croft live on ITV4 during yesterday's proceedings. The new look schedule sees the North Yorkshire venue selected for a new summer date next year, with the BTCC race weekend taking place on 15/16 August.

Away from the racing, fans and drivers came together for a charity track walk raising money in aid of Kwik Fit and the BTCC’s dedicated charity for 2019, Children with Cancer, and Croft Circuit’s chosen cause, the Alzheimer’s Society.

The track walk was among a series of fund-raising efforts taking place at Croft this week, with an auction of VIP experiences and BTCC merchandise helping generate a fantastic total.

Next up for the home of motorsport in the North East is the Croft Retro and Classic Weekend on August 3/4, with a jaw-dropping display of iconic vehicles and a variety of nostalgic events set to take centre stage.

The annual visit of the Historic Sports Car Club will form part of one of the standout events on the Croft calendar and is sure to provide fun for all the family, so don’t miss out!

Tracey Morley, Croft Circuit Manager: “It has been brilliant to see such a large crowd join us for a fantastic weekend of racing. Croft Circuit is always delighted to host the UK’s premier motor racing championship, and welcome them to the home of motorsport in Yorkshire.

“Fans of the BTCC and the TOCA package are always a dedicated, passionate bunch and come in numbers. I would like to pass on my personal thanks for everybody’s patience given the earlier traffic delays, and we look forward to welcoming them again next season.

“Meanwhile, preparations are already underway for our Croft Retro and Classic Weekend, which is always one of the highlights of the year and offers something for people of every generation. We hope to see some of you there in August.”

Andrew Jordan was in commanding form at Croft today (16 June) as the BMW Pirtek Racing man claimed his fourth and fifth Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship victories of the season.
 
Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher’s Tom Chilton triumphed in the final race with a faultless performance in his Ford Focus.
 
The ultra competitive BTCC field faced mixed conditions throughout the day in North Yorkshire as Dunlop’s Sport Maxx dry and BluResponse wet tyres played their part during an exciting afternoon of action. 
 
Jordan converted pole position into a comfortable lights-to-flag win with an assured drive in the opener.
 
The 30-year-old dealt with race-long attention from Chris Smiley’s BTC Racing Honda Civic Type R, as well as a lengthy safety car period, to continue his race winning form from Thruxton last time out.
 
The fight for the final place on the podium also remained unchanged but it wasn’t without incident. Chilton did brilliantly to hold on to third from the fast-starting BMWs of Colin Turkington and Tom Oliphant, and he ended the race as he started it… with both Bavarian machines on his bumper.
 
Race two was a similar story for Jordan as he dominated the contest from start to finish. 
 
The BMW star made a good getaway from pole position and pulled a comfortable gap from the chasing pack, as a gaggle of cars lined up behind Smiley’s Honda in second place.
 
Reigning champion Turkington eventually made it by Smiley and reeled in Jordan’s sister 3 Series in the closing stages, but it wasn’t enough to prevent his stablemate from yet another standout success.
 
Halfords Yuasa Racing’s Dan Cammish claimed the final spot on the rostrum as he, and team-mate Matt Neal, relegated Smiley further down the order.
 
Unfortunately, worse was to come for the ballast-laden Honda of Smiley as he tried to defend from Ash Sutton’s Subaru Levorg on the final lap. The pair had already touched at the Complex on the penultimate tour and it happened again on the run to the same corner, this time leaving Smiley’s battleship grey machine tipping into the barrier just two corners from the end of the race.
 
Adrian Flux Subaru Racing’s Sutton took fifth from a lively Jason Plato in the Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall, as the BTCC’s most successful driver showed his return to the podium was getting ever closer.
 
Chilton edged out Josh Cook in the final encounter whilst third for Plato saw him take to the rostrum for the first time since Croft last year.
 
Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher's Chilton – starting from pole position in damp conditions – had to defend for almost the entire race from BTC Racing’s Cook and Plato, but the multiple race winner did so in style to take an important win that ignites his championship challenge.
 
A fourth, second and sixth places for Turkington sent him into the outright lead of the Drivers’ standings, as the reigning champion holds an 11 point advantage over Cook, with Sutton a further two points in arrears.
 
BMW now tops the Manufacturers’ order although Halfords Yuasa Racing heads the Teams’ table.
 
Cook and his BTC Racing squad are at the summit of both Independents’ standings, whilst Rory Butcher maintains top spot in the Jack Sears Trophy.
 
Rounds 13, 14 and 15 of the 2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will take place at Oulton Park in two weeks’ time.
 
Andrew Jordan said: “A second double of the year… West Surrey Racing and BMW; they're the boys and girls. I couldn’t have asked for more today. It was pretty much perfect. I was overwhelmed after winning race two with full ballast, because to get two double-wins in successive events is something that almost never happens in the BTCC and it shows what an amazing job the team have done with the BMW. It’s drawing us back into contention after Donington Park. We need to keep our expectations in check – there are a lot of quick guys out there. We're on good form. I feel good in myself and with the car and the team. The title fight really starts here.”
 
Tom Chilton said: “I said to my dad I’d try and get him a podium for Father’s Day and he said that wouldn’t be good enough, he wanted a win! It was a perfect weekend for me and the team. We’ve managed not just a double podium, but we got the win as well. We’re in it to win it. Everyone in the team is working hard to put all of our knowledge together and make this old girl go faster this year and we’ve done a great job. I’m really looking forward to going to Oulton Park next. I’ll be looking for more of the same.”
 
Colin Turkington said: “Once again Croft proves to be a great track for BMW, and now for the new 3 Series. It’s been a great weekend for me. I came here sharing the lead of the points and I leave in front on my own, which is exactly where we all want to be. Second, fourth and sixth represent big points and was as much as I could hope for. It’s fantastic to drive a car that feels so good. Next we go to Oulton Park, where we’ve had some great results in the past, and even though I’ll have maximum success ballast, the aim will be to continue scoring big points.”

2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Round 10 – Croft Circuit

1 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing 18 laps
2 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Racing +1.835s
3 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +2.685s
4 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +3.259s
5 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Team BMW +3.472s
6 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +4.405s
7 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +4.736s
8 Jason PLATO (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +6.150s
9 Josh COOK (GBR) BTC Racing +10.751s
10 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +12.561s

2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Round 11 – Croft Circuit

1 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing 15 laps
2 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +1.100s
3 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +11.543s
4 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +12.731s
5 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +20.209s
6 Jason PLATO (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +20.753s
7 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Team Toyota GB with Ginsters +21.723s
8 Josh COOK (GBR) BTC Racing +22.119s
9 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +22.401s
10 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +25.643s

2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Round 12 – Croft Circuit

1 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher 17 laps
2 Josh COOK (GBR) BTC Racing +0.764s
3 Jason PLATO (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +1.117s
4 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +5.337s
5 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +7.012s
6 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +9.615s
7 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +10.541s
8 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +11.168s
9 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +12.475s
10 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +12.856s

Penalties:

Race 1:

Stephen Jelley was penalised by the addition of 0.6 seconds to his overall race time for an incident involving Aiden Moffat.

Race 2: 

Ash Sutton was penalised by means of a five-place grid penalty for Round 12 following an incident involving Chris Smiley. His licence was also endorsed by the addition of three penalty points

Race 3:

Chris Smiley has been penalised by means of a five-place grid penalty for Round 13 following an incident involving Jack Goff. His licence was also endorsed by the addition of three penalty points

Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher's Tom Chilton claimed the final Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship race at Croft with a faultless performance in his Ford Focus.

Chilton – starting from pole position in damp conditions – had to defend for almost the entire race from Josh Cook and Jason Plato, but the multiple race winner did so in style to take an important win that ignites his championship challenge.

One potential podium chaser paid the price of a pre-race gamble as Tom Ingram opted for the Dunlop Sport Maxx dry tyre despite heavy rainfall around 30 minutes before the race. It was an exciting watch of cat-and-mouse as Ingram's Toyota Corolla eventually had the speed to outpace the leaders, but it all came too late in proceedings for last year's runner-up to make any significant inroads.

Adrian Flux Subaru Racing's Ash Sutton made a late eye-catching pass by Matt Neal's Honda at the final hairpin to snatch fourth, with the latter having to settle for fifth at the finish.

Sixth looked to be going the way of today's double race winner Andrew Jordan, but BMW stablemate Colin Turkington had other ideas. A race long battle, which also included the AmD-run Honda of Rory Butcher, built to an exciting climax in the closing stages. Turkington eyed his opportunity on the way out of Tower Bend and secured the move through the Jim Clark Esses, also bringing Butcher past Jordan in the process.

Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport's Adam Morgan and Halfords Yuasa Racing's Dan Cammish completed the top ten order.

2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Round 12 – Croft Circuit

1 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher 17 laps
2 Josh COOK (GBR) BTC Racing +0.764s
3 Jason PLATO (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +1.117s
4 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +5.337s
5 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +7.012s
6 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +9.615s
7 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +10.541s
8 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +11.168s
9 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +12.475s
10 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +12.856s
11 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +13.209s
12 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +14.840s
13 Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +15.354s
14 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +15.889s
15 Carl BOARDLEY (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +20.657s
16 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Team Toyota GB with Ginsters +22.420s
17 Daniel ROWBOTTOM (GBR) Cataclean Racing with Ciceley Motorsport +24.492s
18 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +32.648s
19 Mark BLUNDELL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +32.804s
20 Nicolas HAMILTON (GBR) ROKiT Racing with Motorbase +39.108
21 Sam OSBORNE (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +39.963s
22 Rob SMITH (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +40.576s
23 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Team BMW +50.830s
24 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Racing +54.238s
25 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +1m12.192s
26 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +1m13.562s
27 Michael CREES (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +1m17.189s
28 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +1 lap
29 Jack GOFF (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +34.475s
DNS Jake HILL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com

Andrew Jordan dominated Round 11 of the 2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Croft to claim a hugely impressive fifth win of the season.

The BMW Pirtek Racing man made a good getaway from pole position and pulled a comfortable gap from the chasing pack, as a gaggle of cars lined up behind BTC Racing's Chris Smiley in second place.

Reigning champion Turkington eventually made it by Smiley's Honda and reeled in Jordan's sister 3 Series in the closing stages, but it wasn't enough to prevent his stablemate from taking yet another victory.

"A second double of the year!" enthused Jordan. "West Surrey Racing and BMW; they're the boys and girls. I knew it'd be hard and Colin (Turkington) would be strong and I went for it at the start. At the pace I was going, I knew he wouldn't catch me. It's easy to make mistakes and be greedy.

"My brother-in-law was here when I won my first race and he's just won Le Mans as a race engineer, we've come a long way! When I said it after race one, I really believed the win-double was there and we’ve managed it."

Turkington extended his advantage at the top of the standings with second place, also grabbing an extra point for setting the fastest lap of the race.

"Once again Croft proves to be a great track for BMW, and now for the new 3 Series," said Turkington. "We knew we'd have to do some learning but all three cars have been really fast. It's about scoring points as championship leader. You've got to keep your car towards the front end of the grid and that's what we've done.

"I knew when I passed Smiley I wanted to be fair and I just waited on a slight mistake. By that stage Andy (Jordan) was well up the road. There's only so much you want to risk in that situation."

BMW's chances of a podium clean sweep were dashed in the first big incident of the race as Tom Oliphant spun out of contention on the opening lap after running side-by-side with Dan Cammish's Honda through the Chicane.

Halfords Yuasa Racing's Cammish would eventually claim the final spot on the rostrum as he – and team-mate Matt Neal – made their way past Smiley's ballast-laden Honda Civic Type R.

"Scoring a podium at my home race is fantastic," beamed Cammish. "Given where I was 12 months ago, I wouldn't have dreamed of that. We've worked our way forward and I'm really happy for that. I'm not sure I've got an answer for the BMWs. I asked for their times over the radio and it wasn't good news."

Unfortunately worse was to come for the fading Smiley on the final lap as he tried to defend from Ash Sutton's Subaru Levorg. The pair had already touched at the Complex on the penultimate tour and it happened again on the run to the same corner, this time leaving Smiley's stealth grey machine tipping into the barrier just two corners from the end of the race.

Adrian Flux Subaru Racing's Sutton held fifth from a very lively Jason Plato, as the BTCC's most successful driver proves his return to the podium isn't far away.

Tom Ingram jumped two places in the closing stages as he passed BTC Racing's Josh Cook and the stricken car of Smiley to take seventh. 

Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher's Tom Chilton was muscled down the order and eventually finished ninth, but the Ford will start the final race in pole position, whilst Laser Tools Racing's Aiden Moffat rounded out the top ten.

2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Round 11 – Croft Circuit

1 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing 15 laps
2 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +1.100s
3 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +11.543s
4 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +12.731s
5 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +20.209s
6 Jason PLATO (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +20.753s
7 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Team Toyota GB with Ginsters +21.723s
8 Josh COOK (GBR) BTC Racing +22.119s
9 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +22.401s
10 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +25.643s
11 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +26.297s
12 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +26.506s
13 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +26.965s
14 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +27.307s
15 Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +31.083s
16 Jack GOFF (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +34.475s
17 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +35.987s
18 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Team BMW +36.292s
19 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +36.473s
20 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +37.505s
21 Daniel ROWBOTTOM (GBR) Cataclean Racing with Ciceley Motorsport +38.335s
22 Carl BOARDLEY (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +38.876s
23 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +40.586s
24 Rob SMITH (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +44.381s
25 Michael CREES (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +53.676s
26 Mark BLUNDELL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +1m15.815s
27 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Racing +1m19.807s
28 Nicolas HAMILTON (GBR) ROKiT Racing with Motorbase +1 lap
29 Jake HILL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +13 laps
30 Sam OSBORNE (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +15 laps

BMW Pirtek Racing's Andrew Jordan converted pole position into his fourth Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship victory of the season with an assured drive in the opener at Croft.

The 30-year-old dealt with race-long attention from Chris Smiley's BTC Racing Honda, as well as a lengthy safety car period, to continue his race winning form from Thruxton last time out.

"Four wins already this year!" he said. "I was pretty nervous before today to be honest, certainly when it started to rain. I was just making sure I was careful when it was damp and after the safety car it was flat out. My thoughts as I went to the grid were 'this is slippy!'. Sectors two and three were okay and I was properly on it through there, where Chris (Smiley) was strong in sector one.

"If we can do the double again it'd be fantastic. It's drawing us back into contention after Donington Park. We need to keep our expectations in check – there are a lot of quick guys out there. We're on good form. I feel good in myself and with the car and the team."

Smiley held on to second in the early stages, despite coming under attack from Colin Turkington's BMW and Tom Chilton's Ford on the run down to turn one for the first time. The BTC Racing man was soon in his stride in the new Honda Civic Type R and would hold the position relatively comfortably for the duration to score his first podium of the season.

"After the season we've had so far, we've showed flashes of pace but not had the chance to follow it through," said Smiley. "The car was on rails there. To come here and be as close as we were to BMW was great. I'm really happy for the team and for the points. I can't thank these guys enough for all they do for me.

"The rear tyres take a bit of time to get going with us being front-wheel drive. Tom (Chilton) was keeping me honest. I was judging the gap. I wasn't going to catch Andy (Jordan) and just wanted to keep second."

The fight for the final place on the podium also went without change for the full 18 laps but it wasn't without incident. Chilton did brilliantly to hold on to third from the fast-starting BMWs of Turkington and Tom Oliphant behind him and he ended the race as he started it, with both Bavarian machines on his bumper.

"It was tough out there, particularly with the rear-wheel drive cars up my bumper," confirmed Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher's Chilton. "I had to drive a very defensive line into the hairpin. It's not the fastest way to drive but it kept them behind. Jordan was gone and we couldn't keep up. We couldn't reel him in."

Oliphant and team-mate Turkington actually made contact midway through the contest as the former tried to make a gutsy move past the reigning champion. Turkington just about fended off Oliphant's advances and went on to take fourth, and with it the outright standings lead. 

Halfords Yuasa Racing's Dan Cammish and Adrian Flux Subaru Racing's Ash Sutton battled throughout, including light contact at one point, to claim sixth and seventh respectively, whilst Jason Plato settled for eighth in his Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall. 

Ollie Jackson was part of that tussle in the lower end of the top ten but his challenge ended after making contact with a safety barrier. His Ford Focus continued initially but with bodywork rubbing on his front left tyre he eventually spun out.

The Hondas of Josh Cook and Matt Neal completed the top ten positions.

The safety car period followed a race-ending off for Rob Collard, whilst Nic Hamilton also slid off in a separate incident.

2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Round 10 – Croft Circuit

1 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing 18 laps
2 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Racing +1.835s
3 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +2.685s
4 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +3.259s
5 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Team BMW +3.472s
6 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +4.405s
7 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +4.736s
8 Jason PLATO (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +6.150s
9 Josh COOK (GBR) BTC Racing +10.751s
10 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +12.561s
11 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Team Toyota GB with Ginsters +15.460s
12 Jake HILL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +16.361s
13 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +17.004s
14 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +17.593s
15 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +18.161s
16 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +18.814s
17 Jack GOFF (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +19.449s
18 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +19.841s
19 Carl BOARDLEY (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +20.581s
20 Daniel ROWBOTTOM (GBR) Cataclean Racing with Ciceley Motorsport +22.955s
21 Mark BLUNDELL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +29.810s
22 Rob SMITH (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +31.263s
23 Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +1m27.812ss
24 Nicolas HAMILTON (GBR) ROKiT Racing with Motorbase +2 laps
25 Michael CREES (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +2 laps
26 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +3 laps
27 Sam OSBORNE (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +8 laps
28 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +10 laps
29 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +11 laps
30 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +12 laps

The 2020 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship calendar was announced live on ITV4 earlier this morning (16 June), as BTCC Chief Executive Alan Gow confirmed a shake-up ahead of next season.

Donington Park will host the opening event of the series for the first time in 15 years, whilst Brands Hatch is next on the calendar as well as maintaining its traditional finals slot on the legendary Grand Prix circuit.

In keeping with last year’s decision to give some venues the chance to hold a second event in the same season, it has been agreed that Silverstone will host two BTCC events in 2020.

The National Circuit will be utilised for the now earlier Silverstone date in April, whilst the penultimate event of the season will be held on the International layout – the first time that the BTCC will have raced on the configuration since the development of ‘The Silverstone Wing’.

Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire – where today’s announcement was made – will move to a summer date in mid-August on next year’s schedule, whilst Oulton Park, Snetterton and Knockhill maintain their places on the calendar for Britain’s premier motorsport series.

“I’m pleased to confirm our calendar for the 2020 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, which has a bit of a different feel to it for next season,” said BTCC Chief Executive, Alan Gow. “As always, we take pride in confirming our schedule this early to allow the rest of British motorsport to plan theirs accordingly.”

2020 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship Calendar

Rounds                  Date                                 Venue/Circuit
1,2,3                       28/29 March                  Donington Park (National) 
4,5,6                       11/12 April                      Brands Hatch (Indy)         
7,8,9                       25/26 April                      Silverstone (National)       
10,11,12               16/17 May                       Thruxton
13,14,15               13/14 June                       Oulton Park (Island)      
16,17,18                25/26 July                        Snetterton (300)               
19,20,21                15/16 August                  Croft
22,23,24                 29/30 August                 Knockhill
25,26,27                 26/27 September          Silverstone (International)
28,29,30                 10/11 October               Brands Hatch (Grand Prix)