Jelley inherits race three win after Hill penalty

Team Parker Racing's Stephen Jelley took his first Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship victory in ten years after on-the-road winner Jake Hill received a post-race penalty.

TradePriceCars.com's Hill led away from pole position in the Oulton Park finale, but immediately had to deal with the attention from Halfords Yuasa Racing's Matt Neal.

The main talking point came on lap three when Neal had slid down the inside of Hill across the start/finish line and looked to have stolen the lead. As Neal's Honda Civic Type R tucked ahead of the Audi S3 into Old Hall, contact was made and the manufacturer Honda car was spun across the track. A gaggle of cars tried to find their way through a cloud of smoke and when the air finally cleared it was Hill leading from Rory Butcher and Stephen Jelley, as Neal tumbled down the order.

Butcher pushed hard, and latched his AmD-run Honda onto the back of Hill and there would be one final push for a change in order. Butcher overcooked things into Island Bend and his chance was over, all but confirming Hill's victory on-the-road.

Jelley held second from Team BMW's Tom Oliphant, who finally got the better of Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance's Sam Tordoff late on.

BMW Pirtek Racing's Andrew Jordan was ahead of the recovering Butcher, whilst BTC Racing's Josh Cook eventually claimed sixth. The Bath racer enjoyed a great race-long battle with Ash Sutton and Colin Turkington with the three title contenders keeping it clean until the finish.

The Mercedes duo of Aiden Moffat and Adam Morgan completed the top ten.

Celebrations for Hill were then cut short post-race after he was adjudged to have caused the incident involving Neal. Twenty seconds was subsequently added to the Kent driver's overall race time, which ensured Jelley would take his first win since a double victory at Rockingham in 2009.

"I just saw a load of smoke and thought 'where do I go?'. It worked out and then it was just head down," said Jelley. "Rory (Butcher) was quick and he just overcooked it into that hairpin. I was giving it everything I could to put Jake (Hill) – he drove a great race.
 
“Well done to everyone at Team Parker Racing. It’s been a long time coming; it’s taken two and a half years to get to this point and I’m sure we can do it on the road as well and get another one before the year is out. Thanks to all of our sponsors who have backed us – it is greatly appreciated."

2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Round 15 – Oulton Park

Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing 15 laps
2 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Team BMW +1.114s
Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +2.709s
4 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +2.994s
Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +4.510s
6 Josh COOK (GBR) BTC Racing +5.973s
Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +6.271s
8 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +6.416s
9 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +11.323s
10 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +12.719s
11 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +16.536s
12 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +16.770s
13 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +18.331s
14 Jake HILL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +19.049s
15 Carl BOARDLEY (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +22.258s
16 Daniel ROWBOTTOM (GBR) Cataclean Racing with Ciceley Motorsport +22.991s
17 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +23.643s
18 Mark BLUNDELL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +26.134s
19 Nicolas HAMILTON (GBR) ROKiT Racing with Motorbase +27.920s
20 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +28.393s
21 Sam OSBORNE (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +35.542s
22 Michael CREES (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +37.748s
23 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +37.854s
24 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +1 lap
25 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +2 laps
26 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Team Toyota GB with Ginsters +8 laps
27 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Racing +8 laps
28 Jason PLATO (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +13 laps

 

50 not out for Colin Turkington

Reigning champion Colin Turkington claimed his 50th career BTCC victory with another lights-to-flag triumph at Oulton Park.

The triple BTCC champion and current standings leader now adds a half century of wins to his ever growing list of accolades, as the Team BMW superstar commanded this latest contest with consummate ease.

BMWs stormed into a 1-2-4 off the line as Andrew Jordan relegated Dan Cammish's Honda down to third, whilst Tom Oliphant also hauled his fast-starting 3 Series into contention.

The drama commenced behind as Adrian Flux Subaru Racing's Sutton went off following slight contact with Rob Collard's Vauxhall on the opening lap, whilst a touch between Josh Cook's Honda and Jack Goff's VW eventually caused a high impact incident with Chris Smiley's BTC Racing Civic Type R.

Cook seemingly tapped Goff ahead of him under braking, which left the Team HARD car running out of control on the grass. Goff's CC then slid back across the track before careering into the unaware Smiley.

A lengthy safety car period followed, which had looked to scupper Matt Neal's surge through the order from the back of the grid. Undeterred by the delay, however, Neal would continue his charge in his Halfords Yuasa Racing car in the latter half of the race.

Another safety car interrupted proceedings after Sam Osborne's MG went heavily into the barrier at Old Hall, but the lead positions stayed the same until the finish as Turkington led home Jordan, Cammish and Oliphant.

Sam Tordoff was fifth and the top independent driver for Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance, whilst Team Parker Racing's Stephen Jelley produced a hugely impressive drive to take sixth. The BMW 1 Series driver made a number of stellar moves during the race, including a classic pass by double champion Jason Plato.

Rory Butcher's Honda and Tom Ingram's Toyota were seventh and eighth respectively, whilst Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing's Plato and BTC Racing's Josh Cook completed the top ten order.

Notable results outside of the top ten included Jake Hill's 12th for tradepricecars.com, which also gave the Kent driver pole position for the reversed race three grid after his ball was picked out at random by MSV Chief Executive Jonathan Palmer.

Cataclean Racing with Ciceley Motorsport's Daniel Rowbottom took 15th and with his first ever BTCC championship point.

Colin Turkington said: "I didn't realise this was where the stats were. For me that was a special win given how I felt with the car. I was completely in the zone. Every lap was as good as I could make it. It's very rare that you finish a race and feel like that. There's very few that you feel like you're in a different place. I'm the frontman but the BMW and WSR guys are the ones doing all the work, it's for them. There's only a few occasions you drive the car throughout the season and it's perfect and you get that connection. We're just approaching half-way so it's still early days. Andy (Jordan) has had a great start to the season and it's great we've got three quick BMWs. The competition within pushes me on."
 
Andrew Jordan said: "I hate finishing second! Colin (Turkington) is just driving so well this weekend. I love having one of the best drivers in the business to go up against. I love the challenge and he's got a couple of tenths on me here for sure. The front and rear axle are just fighting each other a little, unlike at Croft. We're playing catch-up a little on this side of the garage but it’s a great position for the team to be in and I’m so pleased for everyone at WSR and BMW."
 
Dan Cammish said: "Having been behind the BMW and in its wake I know where it is now. Fair play to the team for building such a fantastic car. We're winning the 'H' race, the best of the Hondas. The safety car did bring them back and I gave Andrew (Jordan) hassle but I couldn't get any further. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with this car and the driver – we’re maximising it, but they’re just on a different planet at the moment and I daren’t think about the number of races they’ve now won."
 

2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Round 14 – Oulton Park

1 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW 18 laps
2 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +1.229s
3 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +1.859s
4 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Team BMW +2.460s
Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +3.662s
Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +3.802s
Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +5.785s
8 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Team Toyota GB with Ginsters +6.306s
9 Jason PLATO (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +6.756s
10 Josh COOK (GBR) BTC Racing +7.627s
11 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +7.780s
12 Jake HILL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +8.046s
13 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +9.487s
14 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +9.724s
15 Daniel ROWBOTTOM (GBR) Cataclean Racing with Ciceley Motorsport +9.953s
16 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +10.190s
17 Carl BOARDLEY (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +11.032s
18 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +11.177s
19 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +12.337s
20 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +13.083s
21 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +14.092s
22 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +14.748s
23 Mark BLUNDELL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +17.216s
24 Michael CREES (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +17.908s
25 Nicolas HAMILTON (GBR) ROKiT Racing with Motorbase +40.385s
26 Rob SMITH (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +1 lap
27 Sam OSBORNE (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +7 laps
28 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +12 laps
29 Jack GOFF (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport NO TIME
30 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Racing NO TIME

Colin Turkington converts pole into victory at Oulton Park

Team BMW's Colin Turkington ran relatively untroubled during Round 13 of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship to covert pole position into his third victory of the season.

Dan Cammish kept the reigning champion honest throughout, but the Halfords Yuasa Racing man had to settle for second at the finish, as Turkington extended his advantage at the top of the standings.

"We got a great launch and that's something I've been working on," said Turkington. "After that, it was such a tough race and hard work with the weight. The car's always on the move and you're trying to pre-empt that. It was flat out the whole way and I couldn't hold anything back.

"Dan (Cammish) was quicker than me down at the hairpin but I could gap him at the chicanes. When you get a car to the front of the pack, you've a better chance of keeping it there. I knew I couldn't afford to look after the tyres. The most difficult bit of the race was going to be the start and I had to push from the off. All credit to BMW, the 3 Series strikes again and it's just such a wonderful car to drive."

Cammish came under huge pressure from the fast starting BMW of Andrew Jordan off the line and the pair touched through Old Hall for the first time, but the manufacturer Honda man held on to take his best result so far in 2019.

"What more can I do?" commented Cammish. "Great job by Colin (Turkington). He just has a gear I can't go to. I respond when he ups it but I can't up it enough. We got into a bit of a stalemate out there but I was giving it absolutely everything. We had a bit more but not quite enough to get on top of this BMW 3 Series.

"It was always going to be tough even if I got to Colin, and it wouldn't have been easy to overtake someone of his experience around here. I’m hopefully showing a little more of what I’m about now in the BTCC."

Jordan was a comfortable third from Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance's Rory Butcher, who had got the better of team-mate Sam Tordoff. Yorkshireman Tordoff was the big loser of the front runners as he slipped from second to fifth early on, with Butcher's move around the outside through Island Bend forcing him further down the order.

Tordoff's fortunes were better than Matt Neal's, however, as the Halfords Yuasa Racing car crashed out on lap six. The Honda Civic Type R went straight on at Lodge Corner after seemingly shedding one of its wheels, leaving the triple BTCC champion helpless as his car speared into the barrier at high speed.

Tom Oliphant maintained sixth but it was the trio of Tom Ingram, Ash Sutton and Jason Plato that provided most of the entertainment following the restart.

Ingram's Team Toyota GB with Ginsters car had slight contact with Plato's Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing's Vauxhall into Hislops, which then left Sutton's Subaru heading straight on across the grass. The drama wasn't over for Sutton after heavier contact with Adam Morgan's Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport Mercedes forced the latter into retirement. 

When the dust eventually settled and the chequered flag fell after 18 laps it was Ingram, Sutton and Plato in seventh, eighth and ninth respectively.

Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher's Ollie Jackson rounded out the top ten after a series of eye catching moves including passes by Stephen Jelley's BMW and Jake Hill's Audi.

Rounds 14 and 15 of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will take place later today with all of the action being broadcast LIVE on ITV4.

2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Round 13 – Oulton Park

1 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW 18 laps
2 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.021s
3 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +2.731s
Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +7.222s
Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +7.613s
6 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Team BMW +8.109s
7 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Team Toyota GB with Ginsters +8.957s
Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +9.612s
9 Jason PLATO (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +10.654s
10 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +12.293s
11 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +12.783s
12 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +13.862s
13 Jake HILL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +15.696s
14 Jack GOFF (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +16.147s
15 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +16.390s
16 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Racing +17.173s
17 Josh COOK (GBR) BTC Racing +18.631s
18 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +19.607s
19 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +20.358s
20 Carl BOARDLEY (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +21.070s
21 Daniel ROWBOTTOM (GBR) Cataclean Racing with Ciceley Motorsport +21.655s
22 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +22.031s
23 Nicolas HAMILTON (GBR) ROKiT Racing with Motorbase +22.912s
24 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +23.172s
25 Rob SMITH (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +25.053s
26 Sam OSBORNE (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +32.739s
27 Michael CREES (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +34.816s
28 Mark BLUNDELL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +5 laps
29 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +6 laps
30 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +14 laps

Turkington takes pole position at Oulton Park

Reigning champion Colin Turkington has claimed a 19th career pole position in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship after setting an impressive pace at a hot and humid Oulton Park earlier today.

The Team BMW star set a 1m25.825s lap time early on in the 30-minute session and it would be enough to take his ballast-laden 3 Series to top spot. The man himself labelled his effort a 'one-lap wonder' after admitting to grabbing slight tow from stablemate Andrew Jordan around the 2.23-mile circuit, but it was still a hugely impressive performance from the current standings leader.

Sam Tordoff was among a number of drivers to try and beat Turkington's benchmark, but the Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance man eventually fell short by just 0.089s after his first effort had been slightly compromised by traffic.

Halfords Yuasa Racing's Dan Cammish looked set to challenge too as he set the fastest overall first sector time in the closing stages, but his lap-time gradually ebbed away and the manufacturer driver had to settle for third at the finish. The Honda Civic Type R racer showed good form throughout Saturday, suggesting the Yorkshireman could be a serious contender tomorrow.

Andrew Jordan – the ultimate form man after his recent 'double double' at Thruxton and Croft – claimed fourth in the BMW Pirtek Racing 3 Series, ahead of Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance's Rory Butcher and Halfords Yuasa Racing's Matt Neal.

Team BMW's Tom Oliphant ensured that all three WSR cars are inside the top seven on the grid for tomorrow's opener as he pipped Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing's Jason Plato.

Team Toyota GB with Ginsters Tom Ingram and TradePriceCars.com's Jake Hill completed the top ten positions.

Ingram was one of several drivers to experience minor excursions across the grass whilst pushing at a maximum, as did the likes of Tordoff and Chris Smiley in the BTC Racing Honda.

Smiley's team-mate Josh Cook was a surprise omission from the top ten, as was Adrian Flux Subaru Racing's Ash Sutton. Cook and Sutton currently sit second and third in the overall standings but will start tomorrow's opening race from 22nd and 13th respectively – the latter gaining a net position due to a five-place grid penalty for Smiley, earned back at Croft.

Rounds 13, 14 and 15 of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will take place at Oulton Park tomorrow, bringing the curtain down on the first half of the 2019 season. A massive crowd is predicted to descend on the picturesque Cheshire track with many more watching the action LIVE on ITV4 from 11:15am.

Colin Turkington said: "That was a special lap, I've been working on it all day. We've been slowly making the car better. It's tough when you start with a heavy car as you've got to adjust your expectations. We got a bit of a tow off Andy (Jordan) and I couldn't get close again. It was a bit of a one-lap wonder! Dick (Bennetts) fancied top six and I'd have been happy with top ten. We've not been at the sharp end all morning but the new tyres make all the difference and the 3 Series felt great. Fifteen or 16 laps with the hunting pack behind me it's going to be tough – a big feed of spinach coming tonight! I'll just try to enjoy this moment. Poles don't come along too often. I'm pleased for Team BMW, it's been a big effort."

Sam Tordoff said: "I think the heat played its part. The track was definitely fastest at the beginning and I was compromised at the start. We're only talking hundredths of a second. The boys can be happy with that. I think we've got a good chance. Oulton Park is a tough circuit and it's one you've really got to qualify well at. I should be alright to tuck in behind Colin (Turkington) and get my head down. I like this track, it's one of my favourites – just not so pleasant on a day like today! I'll go and have a cold bath and cool down."

Dan Cammish said: “To be honest, I think P3 was all we had today – neither myself nor the car had the time in us to get onto the front row. There was probably another tenth there to be found, but no more. Still, we’re up at the sharp end of the grid, so hopefully we can do something from there. I fully expect Colin (Turkington) to run and hide in the race, with the rest of us fighting over second. I’ve been clawing points back in the championship ever since Thruxton and that’s what we need to keep doing, so if I can climb onto the podium at the end of the race, I will consider that a job well done.”

2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Qualifying – Oulton Park

1 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW 1m25.825s (93.37 mph)
Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +0.027s
3 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.239s
4 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +0.286s
Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +0.390s
6 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.417s
7 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Team BMW +0.493s
8 Jason PLATO (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +0.566s
9 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Team Toyota GB with Ginsters +0.624s
10 Jake HILL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +0.659s
11 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Racing +0.695s
12 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +0.717s
13 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +0.733s
14 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.756s
15 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +0.787s
16 Jack GOFF (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +0.903s
17 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +0.928s
18 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +1.042s
19 Carl BOARDLEY (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +1.056s
20 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +1.057s
21 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +1.174s
22 Josh COOK (GBR) BTC Racing +1.232s
23 Daniel ROWBOTTOM (GBR) Cataclean Racing with Ciceley Motorsport +1.376s
24 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +1.383s
25 Nicolas HAMILTON (GBR) ROKiT Racing with Motorbase +1.451s
26 Mark BLUNDELL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +1.674s
27 Michael CREES (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +1.932s
28 Rob SMITH (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +1.955s
29 Sam OSBORNE (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +2.972s
30 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing NO TIME

Cammish heads Honda one-two

Halfords Yuasa Racing's Dan Cammish headed a Honda one-two in Free Practice 2 of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Oulton Park as the Yorkshireman edged out team-mate Matt Neal.

Honda machinery has shown well throughout practice at the picturesque Cheshire circuit as the manufacturer-backed squad now targets its first win of the season. The Japanese marque has won races through both the BTC and AmD squads in 2019 but it could be the turn of Cammish or Neal to triumph this weekend.

Jack Hill impressed for TradePriceCars.com with third, ahead of the Vauxhall of Jason Plato and BMW of Tom Oliphant.

BMW Pirtek Racing's Andrew Jordan endured his first sticky moment in several weeks as the 3 Series driver ran wide through Old Hall. The 'double double' race winner from Thruxton and Croft then made contact with the unfortunate Honda of Matt Simpson, bringing about a premature end to both of their respective sessions.

FP1 pace-setter backed-up his early potential with a top six in the second segment of practice, whilst Laser Tools Racing's Aiden Moffat will be pleased with the pace shown in his Mercedes A-Class. The Scotsman made a promising start to the season at Brands Hatch but has since had to work extremely hard for further top ten finishes.

Reigning champion and current standings leader, Colin Turkington, has quietly gone about his business in the maximum-ballast shod Team BMW car. The Northern Irishman was eighth in final practice and it remains to be seen what he can produce in qualifying later this afternoon.

Ciceley man Adam Morgan and Toyota star Tom Ingram completed the top ten classification.

Qualifying for Round 13 of the 2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will take place at 15:10 with the action being streamed live and exclusively via www.itv.com/btcc.

2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Free Practice 2 – Oulton Park

1 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing 1m26.505s
2 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.044s
Jake HILL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +0.169s
4 Jason PLATO (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +0.299s
5 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Team BMW +0.368s
Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +0.395s
7 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +0.412s
8 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.456s
9 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +0.462s
10 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Team Toyota GB with Ginsters +0.544s
11 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +0.655s
12 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +0.690s
13 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Racing +0.763s
14 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +0.765s
15 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.814s
16 Josh COOK (GBR) BTC Racing +0.879s
17 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +0.950s
18 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +0.994s
19 Mark BLUNDELL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +0.999s
20 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +1.069s
21 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +1.184s
22 Daniel ROWBOTTOM (GBR) Cataclean Racing with Ciceley Motorsport +1.240s
23 Jack GOFF (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +1.278s
24 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +1.381s
25 Carl BOARDLEY (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +1.423s
26 Nicolas HAMILTON (GBR) ROKiT Racing with Motorbase +1.539s
27 Rob SMITH (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +1.722s
28 Sam OSBORNE (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +1.732s
29 Michael CREES (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +1.834s
30 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing NO TIME

Tordoff tops the early times at Oulton Park

Sam Tordoff has set the early pace at Oulton Park in his AmD-run Honda Civic Type R as the Yorkshireman headed Free Practice 1.

Honda machinery showed well with Chris Smiley, Dan Cammish and Tordoff all topping sector times at one point during the opening 40-minute session.

Tordoff ran solidly throughout but left it until his final tour to set a 1:26.073s benchmark, although this lap time is still more than half a second slower than Jason Plato's 2015 Qualifying lap record.

Halfords Yuasa Racing's Cammish was second, just 0.089s off the summit, whilst in-form BMW man Andrew Jordan was third.

Vauxhall, Toyota and Honda completed the top six positions with Plato, Tom Ingram and Matt Neal all showing decent early pace around the 2.23-mile circuit.

BTC Racing's Chris Smiley had to settle for seventh at the finish, although some of the Northern Irishman's sector times showed he could contend further up the order.

Adrian Flux Subaru Racing's Ash Sutton was eighth ahead of Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance's Rory Butcher and Team Parker Racing's Stephen Jelley.

Warm temperatures continue to sweep across the beautiful Cheshire circuit with all 30 cars taking to the track this morning.

Britain's best will be back on track at 12:10 for the final practice session before Qualifying for Round 13 of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship commences at 15:10, which will be streamed live and exclusively via www.itv.com/btcc.

2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Free Practice 1 – Oulton Park

Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance 1m26.073s
2 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.089s
3 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +0.267s
4 Jason PLATO (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +0.288s
5 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Team Toyota GB with Ginsters +0.375s
6 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.463s
Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Racing +0.467s
Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.575s
Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +0.590s
10 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +0.595s
11 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.679s
12 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +0.702s
13 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +0.784s
14 Josh COOK (GBR) BTC Racing +0.797s
15 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +0.808s
16 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +0.854s
17 Jake HILL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +0.941s
18 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Team BMW +0.955s
19 Jack GOFF (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +0.968s
20 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +1.034s
21 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +1.113s
22 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +1.126s
23 Daniel ROWBOTTOM (GBR) Cataclean Racing with Ciceley Motorsport +1.145s
24 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +1.250s
25 Rob SMITH (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +1.721s
26 Michael CREES (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +1.880s
27 Mark BLUNDELL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +1.904s
28 Nicolas HAMILTON (GBR) ROKiT Racing with Motorbase +2.050s
29 Sam OSBORNE (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +2.145s
30 Carl BOARDLEY (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport NO TIME

BTCC on ITV: Oulton Park

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 this weekend.

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? Tickets to see the action are still available or you can watch every bit of drama unfold live on ITV4.

The BTCC enjoys exclusive television bragging rights in 2019, as the only major motorsport series to be broadcast on a leading UK free-to-air television network. All ten race weekends are screened live on ITV4, the ITV Hub and streamed via itv.com/BTCC with six hours of programming at every race-day this season.

Oulton Park: 29-30 JUNE

Qualifying LIVE: Saturday 29 June
ITV.com/BTCC 
from 1500

Raceday LIVE: Sunday 30 June
ITV4 & ITV4 HD 1115-1800
ITV4+1 1215-1900
ITV Hub 1115–1800
ITV.com/BTCC 1215-1900

Highlights: Saturday 6 July
ITV4 & ITV4 HD
 0755-0825
ITV4 +1 0855-0925
ITV Hub Available anytime for the next 30 days

Highlights: Sunday 7 July
ITV4 & ITV4 HD 0650-0805
ITV4 +1 0750-0905

Highlights: Wednesday 10 July
ITV & ITV HD 
2340-0110

Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher returns to happy hunting ground in winning form

Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher heads north once again this coming weekend as the 2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship reaches its mid-season point at the picturesque Oulton Park circuit.

The Motorbase-run outfit arrives in Cheshire fresh with success after claiming victory in the final race at Croft just two weeks ago. Tom Chilton led the charge in Yorkshire taking an overall race win, Independent win and third-placed podium for the Kent-based squad and is keen to carry his winning form into the fifth meeting of the year.

Currently occupying seventh place in the BTCC standings, Reigate-based Chilton is looking for a repeat or better of last season’s results on the undulating circuit where he celebrated a double podium in the Ford Focus RS.

After a strong showing last time out where he secured his personal best qualifying result and narrowly missed out on a top ten finish,  Team-mate Ollie Jackson is also hoping to carry momentum into the weekend and add some more points to the board for his 2019 campaign.

Sitting just one rostrum visit away from a landmark 90th BTCC podium and two victories off claiming an impressive 30 race wins, the Motorbase Performance crew are optimistic of even more success at their happy hunting ground.

“We need to keep the momentum going off the back of our win last time out,” commented Team Manager Oly Collins.  “The car is showing strong pace at this part of the season. We're light going into the weekend with Tom carrying just 18kg, and we want more silverware.

"The RS is strong at Oulton Park. We know that from last year’s pace. It was one of our best circuits in 2018, but we've all moved on since then. It would be nice to hit the magic 90 podiums and 30 wins this weekend, but our focus is on the championship title and closing the gap to the leaders.”

“Oulton Park was our most successful race meeting with a double podium last year," added Chilton. "I’m really excited about heading back to one of my favourite race tracks of the year. It’s very technical and full of undulations which make it exciting and challenging to drive on the limit.

“After our win and double podium last time out at Croft I can’t wait to race this weekend again.”

“We have a lot of positives to take from Croft. I think we’re arriving at Oulton Park in a good place," said Jackson. "The car is strong, it went well there last year and it’s one of my stronger circuits as well. I’m aiming to build on the pace we showed last time out, and get some good results in the bag this weekend.” 

Ashley Sutton ‘focused on keeping points tally ticking over’

Having enjoyed a consistent showing in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Croft Circuit, Adrian Flux Subaru Racing’s Ashley Sutton hopes to continue adding to his points tally in rounds 13, 14 & 15 at Oulton Park.

As we approach the Cheshire circuit, Sutton currently sits comfortably in third in the Drivers’ Championship, just two points behind BTC Racing’s Josh Cook; similarly, Subaru hold third in the Manufacturers’ Championship.

With Croft’s mix of flowing and tight corners being traditionally well-suited to rear-wheel-drive machinery in the past, the 2017 Champion’s 100th race in BTCC was the start to a successful day.

Race two saw another top ten finish before Sutton finished the day crossing the line in fourth place, no mean feat considering his five-place grid penalty due to an incident in race two.

Sutton will be going to Oulton Park on good form, with his start to the 2019 season seeing him on the podium four times so far, and will definitely be looking to continue his run of consistency. His steady points scoring also sees him in a better position than at this stage last year, which could result in an interesting trip to the Cheshire track, where he previously achieved two podiums in 2017.

“We came [to croft] with high hopes but I don’t think the resurfacing suited our car,” said Sutton. “It’s been another weekend where we have maximised everything - we couldn’t have done any more.

“Everyone at Adrian Flux Subaru Racing has been fantastic and they’ve worked tirelessly to ensure we are still in the mix.

“We go to Oulton Park with no real expectations but focused on keeping the points tally ticking over so we will see how we get on."

BMW trio chasing more silverware at Oulton Park

Following a successful outing at Croft earlier this month, BMW’s Colin Turkington, Tom Oliphant and Andrew Jordan are Cheshire-bound this weekend (29/30 June) for the next rounds of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Oulton Park.
 
Courtesy of a hat-trick of top six finishes, Turkington sped clear at the summit of the standings in North Yorkshire, opening up an 11-point advantage as he bids not only to defend his crown but also to become the second driver to win four titles in the UK’s premier motorsport series.
 
Oulton Park has played host to numerous triumphant races for the Northern Irishman, too, with eight race wins to his credit around the challenging and picturesque circuit. Indeed, the last time he competed there in a BMW 3 Series – back in 2009 – he took a double victory.
 
Team BMW stablemate Tom Oliphant has had an up and down start to the season, but Oulton Park is home turf for the 28-year-old from nearby Tarporley, and he has achieved multiple podiums there in BTCC support series in seasons past.
 
BMW Pirtek Racing’s Andrew Jordan, meanwhile, vaulted from ninth up to fourth in the title table with a second consecutive double top last time out, as he continues to bounce back from a pointless Donington Park weekend in April.
 
The 2013 champion has won half the races he has started this year, and he travels to Oulton Park with happy memories. He reached the BTCC rostrum there for the first time in 2008 and has been one of the highest scorers in each of the past two seasons, tallying four podium finishes in BMW machinery and taking the chequered flag no lower than fifth.
 
Turkington, Oliphant and Jordan’s combined results have put BMW at the top of the Manufacturers’ classification heading to Oulton Park, with Team BMW a close second in the Teams’ rankings.

All of the race day action will be broadcast live and in high-definition on ITV4 on Sunday, 30 June, beginning at 11:00am.

"I feel happy with where we are with the 3 Series and the development so far, so the plan is to really attack the weekend from the outset and go into the summer break with the momentum on our side,” said Turkington. “Oulton Park incorporates some of the most demanding corners in British motorsport such as Cascades and Druids, which require a lot of commitment, and it’s narrower than most tracks, which enhances the sense of speed. You really need to be on-point if you want to be on the pace. Going there as championship leader obviously presents its own challenges. Qualifying won’t be easy on maximum ballast but I’m confident we’ll still be able to race well and score some good points – and the aim is to get onto the podium at some stage."

“Oulton Park is very much home turf for me, and I always enjoy going there,” said Oliphant. “It’s one of my favourite tracks on the calendar – it presents a unique challenge as a driver, and qualifying is a lot of fun as you push yourself and the car absolutely to the limit. Grid position is particularly important there, because the narrow track makes it difficult to overtake and you really need to get your elbows out to go forwards but I’ll arrive with no weight in the car, which will definitely be an advantage so I’m focused on starting right at the front.

“I’ve had some terrible luck recently, so what we need above all else is a clean weekend and three consistent finishes. I can’t help but think my fortunes have to change soon – and where better than Oulton this weekend...?”

“Oulton Park has been one of my strongest circuits in recent seasons, and I love going there,” Jordan said. “It’s just old-school, with all the undulations, a bit of camber and a lot of character. I keep saying we need to hold our expectations in-check and I certainly don’t want us to get ahead of ourselves, but I do go to Oulton expecting to challenge for pole position and race wins  – and if we can’t win, then we need to keep bagging the points.

“We’ve really found the sweet spot with the 3 Series, and the confidence level is sky-high for both myself and all the guys on my side of the garage so I see no reason why we shouldn’t be as quick as we were at Croft. We’re in a really good place so we need to use that positive momentum to keep moving forwards.”