Adam Morgan, Ashley Sutton and Chris Smiley shared the race winning spoils at Rockingham, whilst the battle for top spot in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship standings raged between Colin Turkington and Tom Ingram throughout the day.

Ciceley Motorsport with Mac Tools driver Morgan converted his first ever BTCC pole position into a commanding lights-to-flag victory in the opener, with Adrian Flux Subaru Racing star Sutton and Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher’s Tom Chilton completing the podium positions.

Whilst Morgan was taking his third win of the season in relative comfort there was seemingly no end of drama in the battle for the remaining podium places, which kicked off as soon as the lights went out.

A sluggish start from Halfords Yuasa Racing’s Dan Cammish from third on the grid almost saw Chilton’s Ford by on the run down to the hairpin for the first time, but as the former went in deep to defend he unfortunately tagged second placed Sam Tordoff and tipped him into a spin.

With the GardX-backed Ford now stranded in the middle of the track and facing the wrong way, a number of unsighted drivers were then caught up in the resulting melee.

Sutton produced the move of the race on lap 13 with a switchback manoeuvre on Chilton through the esses. From there, he scampered away with a second placed finish.

Chilton held on to third with Cammish and BTC Norlin Racing’s Chris Smiley crossing the line behind side-by-side – with Smiley securing fourth place by just 0.059s.

Reigning champion Sutton went one better in race two as he saw off the challenges from Morgan and the blisteringly quick Toyota Avensis of Ingram.

Pole-sitter Morgan lost the lead to Sutton off the line, and although the former kept the latter honest throughout he was never really close enough to make a concerted effort to get by.

Yet again, it was the fight for the final podium position that created the most excitement with Ingram incredibly grabbing the place late on after a storming drive from 27th on the grid.

He had already picked off rival-after-rival before he blasted by then championship leader Turkington to take fifth on lap 15. Both title protagonists then muscled their way past the impressive VW of Mike Bushell, so now it was Ingram and Turkington in fourth and fifth with just a couple of laps remaining.

Senna Proctor’s Power Maxed TAG Racing’s Vauxhall was hanging on to third but when he ran across the grass through Brook for the second time, Ingram spied his opportunity and nipped through to complete another wonderful comeback drive.

His championship advantage didn’t last long, however, as Team BMW’s Turkington scored his own podium in the final encounter to move back to the standings summit with a four-point advantage over Ingram.

Despite Turkington’s table topping success, the final race will be remembered for Smiley taking his first ever victory in the series in largely dominant fashion. Smiley also became the 12th different race winner of the 2018 season so far.

The other podium places eventually came down to the run to the finish line as Matt Simpson’s Honda lost second to Turkington through Brook. In a dash to the chequered flag it was Simpson who hung on to a podium by just 0.029s from Motorbase man Tordoff.

As well as Turkington heading the Drivers’ standings his Team BMW squad lead both the Manufacturers’ and Teams’ orders. Unsurprisingly, it is Speedworks Motorsport topping both Independents’ tables. Cammish leads the Jack Sears Trophy.

The action returns in two weeks’ time for Rounds 22, 23 and 24 of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Knockhill.

Adam Morgan said: “Winning's always an incredibly nice feeling. To bring it back on the top spot is fantastic and as always, a massive thanks to Ciceley Motorsport and Mac Tools. The main objective was to get off the line and into turn two in the lead. I was a little more cautious once I’d got there, on the brakes and with the kerbs when the rain started to fall. After that, though, I just tried not to look behind me and to get away. It was slippery four or five laps in and with Tom (Chilton) behind, I was careful. He gained but then it dried and with the temperature in the tyres we pulled the gap. I saw Ash (Sutton) coming but I was calm and relaxed. It’s a lot of weight off my shoulders winning from my first ever pole.”

Ash Sutton said: “It was like re-living Race 2 at Snetterton. We made the right call on tyres at the last minute. We’d gone on wets and we started on stone cold dries – everyone else had a couple of sighter laps to warm up. It’s very much like last year how things are playing out so far this season – better late than never! We’re getting there with the car in race trim and we’ve got something. The Adrian Flux Subaru Racing guys have done a great job. We were third after Race 2 at Snetterton but finished up seventh, it’s an indicator of how quick things can change so we’re not counting any chickens.”

Chris Smiley said: “You’ve no idea what I’ve been through to get that win – I’ve been through hell and back. I can’t thank Bert Taylor, Stephen Symington and Richard Irwin enough for everything they’ve done for me. They’ve put me here and had faith in me and that win is for them. This is the first time I’ve ever topped a practice, qualifying or a race and I can’t believe it. I’m so grateful to the team, all the guys and girls working so hard and to my sponsors. It could get a little bit fun later on!”

Colin Turkington said: “That was excellent. I decided I’d go for it and try and get on the front foot and be aggressive but it was ultimately a race of patience for me. We had the speed in the car and it was about picking the right moment. It was good to get a points swing back in Team BMW’s direction and it’s always nice to bring one of these yellow Dunlop winners caps home for the kids! It’s points in the bag and I’d always rather that, even with the added pressure of leading the championship into a race weekend. We always enjoy Scotland whatever the result. A massive thanks must go to Team BMW – they grafted so hard all weekend.”

Tom Ingram said: “There’s a lesson in this: don’t let yourself get beaten up, don’t let your head go down and look at the positives in any situation. For all the negatives you get, every so often you get a real positive and you can have some fun coming through from the back like that. I got to 12th pretty early on and my engineer said ‘you’ve got the rest of the race to do the rest of it’. For the second weekend running, we’ve had to do the same thing but credit to the lads. We were up against it after Race 1 and we only just got the car back out ahead of Race 2. Thanks to everyone at home for the messages of encouragement again. It really helps.”

2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Round 19 – Rockingham

1 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport 18 laps
2 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +3.017s
3 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +7.031s
4 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +7.293s
5 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +7.352s
6 Mike BUSHELL (GBR) Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing +8.830s
7 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +9.459s
8 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +11.934s
9 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +13.547s
10 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +14.306s

2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Round 20 – Rockingham

1 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing 19 laps
2 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +4.426s
3 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +5.315s
4 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed TAG Racing +7.327s
5 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +8.170s
6 Mike BUSHELL (GBR) Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing +12.469s
7 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +12.579s
8 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +12.722s
9 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +15.417s
10 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +16.541s

2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Round 21 – Rockingham

1 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing 16 laps
2 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +3.563s
3 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +5.156s
4 Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Team GardX Racing with Motorbase +5.187s
5 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +5.305s
6 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +9.781s
7 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) Team HARD with Trade Price Cars +12.970s
8 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +17.083s
9 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmD with Cobra Exhausts +17.811s
10 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +18.060s

Penalties

General

Adrian Flux Subaru Racing has had 10 points deducted from its Manufacturers' and Teams' Championship scores having changed an engine above the number permitted

Team Parker Racing has had 10 points deducted from its Teams' Championship score having changed an engine above the number permitted

Dan Cammish was fined the sum of £1,500 following comment that fell foul of regulations made in a television interview

Race 1 

Ricky Collard was officially reprimanded and had his licence endorsed with two penalty points for overtaking under yellow flag conditions

Rob Austin received a verbal warning for an incident involving Ollie Jackson. This does not count as a strike

James Cole was officially reprimanded and had his licence endorsed with two penalty points for an incident involving Tom Oliphant

Dan Cammish was officially reprimanded and had his licence endorsed with two penalty points for an incident involving Sam Tordoff

Race 2

Ollie Jackson was officially reprimanded and had his licence endorsed with two penalty points for an incident involving Bobby Thompson

Chris Smiley was penalised with the addition of 0.8 seconds to his race time for an incident involving Mike Bushell. This does not count as a strike

BTC Norlin Racing's Chris Smiley has won his first ever Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race after a dramatic final contest at Rockingham – the Northern Irishman becomes the 12th different race winner of the season so far.

Proceedings got off to a rather bizarre start when debutant Ricky Collard's BMW 125i M Sport broke down on the green flag and a series of race delays commenced whilst his stricken Team BMW machine was retrieved by the recovery team.

Rain began to fall slightly harder shortly before the race eventually got underway and pole-sitter Tom Chilton was the first to be caught out by the conditions at the first hairpin. Chilton's Ford Focus RS slid wide, as did a series of others, and it was absolutely frenetic action as everyone fought for position.

When the positions were eventually settled it was Smiley leading from Matt Simpson's identical Honda Civic Type R with a gaggle of cars headed by Colin Turkington in behind.

Another accident down the order and another safety car period followed, but it was soon the AmD MG of Rory Butcher making ground. He'd already attacked for the lead before being shuffled back by Simpson and Turkington, but the Scotsman fought back by the latter to move into the podium paying positions.

A setback struck Butcher on lap ten, however, when he too was caught out by the tricky conditions and ran his MG6 wide through the hairpin – losing three places in the process.

The podium eventually came down to the final run to the finish line as Simpson lost second to Turkington through Brook and then got caught by Motorbase man Sam Tordoff, as well as Tom Ingram's Speedwork's Toyota. In a dash to the chequered flag it was Simpson who got the nod by just 0.029s.

"I was hanging on towards the end and I snagged the front axle when Colin (Turkington) was getting stronger with the rear-wheel drive," said Simpson. "After the win at Oulton Park, after all the well dones from everyone and fellow drivers, Colin sent me a message in the week and that meant the most. I look up to him. He’s a true gentleman."

Butcher recovered to finish sixth, ahead of the brilliant Bobby Thompson in seventh. The VW driver produced an eye catching performance and made outstanding moves by Adam Morgan's Mercedes and Ollie Jackson's Audi to claim his best result.

Halfords Yuasa Racing's Dan Cammish completed the top ten on what was largely a difficult day for the multiple champion Honda squad.

Post-race attention, however, quickly turned to Northern Irishman Smiley who has impressively taken his first win in dominant fashion.

Ash Sutton won the second BTCC encounter at Rockingham while Tom Ingram returned to the standings summit with yet another sensational comeback drive.

Pole-sitter Adam Morgan lost the lead to Sutton off the line but he was able to defend second from Chris Smiley's BTC Norlin Racing Honda and Mike Bushell's Team-HARD run VW.

Morgan kept Sutton honest throughout but was never really close enough to make a concerted effort to get by, with both drivers seemingly content with the top two positions.

Yet again it was the final podium position that created the most excitement with Ingram incredibly grabbing the place late on after a storming drive from 27th on the grid.

He had already picked off rival-after-rival before he blasted by then championship leader Colin Turkington to take fifth on lap 15. Both of those then muscled their way past the impressive Bushell, so it was Ingram and Turkington in fourth and fifth with just a couple of laps remaining.

Senna Proctor's Power Maxed TAG Racing's Vauxhall was hanging on to third but when he ran across the grass through Brook for the second time, Ingram spied his opportunity and nipped through.

Smiley took sixth ahead of Bushell, whilst Rory Butcher (AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing), Matt Simpson (Simpson Racing) and Tom Chilton (Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher) again claimed top ten positions. Chilton was further rewarded with a reverse grid pole for today's final race due to get underway at 1645.

When the dust settled on yet another breathless contest it is Speedworks Motorsport's Ingram leading the standings by three points from Team BMW's Turkington, whilst reigning champion Sutton sits closely behind in third.

Adam Morgan completed a commanding lights-to-flag victory with a faultless display in the opening Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race at Rockingham.

Whilst Morgan was taking his third win of the season in relative comfort there was seemingly no end of drama in the battle for the remaining podium places, which kicked off as soon as the lights went out.

A sluggish start from Halfords Yuasa Racing's Dan Cammish from third on the grid nearly let Tom Chilton's Ford by on the run down to the hairpin for the first time, but as the former went in deep in order to defend he unfortunately tagged second placed Sam Tordoff and tipped him into a spin.

With the the GardX-backed Ford now stranded in the middle of the track and facing the wrong way, a number of unsighted drivers were then caught up in the resulting melee.

Both BTC Norlin Hondas were impacted in some way, as was Sam Smelt's Audi, Andrew Jordan's BMW and Matt Neal's Honda. Whilst the majority of those affected were able to continue a safety car was called in order to clean up the debris.

There was no let off after the restart as Jason Plato was next to be spun around as his Subaru Levorg dropped to the back of the order after contact. His reigning champion team-mate Ash Sutton was busy making progress as he slipped by Cammish into third, but even better was to come for the #1 Adrian Flux Subaru Racing star.

Sutton produced the move of the race on lap 13 with a switchback manoeuvre on Tom Chilton through the esses and he would then scamper away with a second placed finish. Chilton couldn't shake off Cammish and Chris Smiley's BTC Honda as those two swapped places in the closing stages.

Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher's Chilton held on to third but it was Cammish and Smiley crossing the line side-by-side – with Smiley getting the nod for fourth place by just 0.059s.

Mike Bushell enjoyed a stellar performance in his Team HARD-run VW, keeping away from trouble to take sixth ahead of now championship leader Colin Turkington. Team BMW's Turkington had enjoyed a race long battle with title rival Tom Ingram, but the Speedworks Motorsport man was cruelly denied a finish with a throttle problem on the final lap.

Aiden Moffat (Laser Tools Racing), Rory Butcher (AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing) and Matt Simpson (Simpson Racing) completed the top ten positions.

Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport's Adam Morgan has scored a maiden pole position after setting the qualifying pace for Round 19 of the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Rockingham.

"It has been a long time coming but we got there in the end!" beamed Morgan.

Incredibly, the top 28 cars were covered by less than a second whilst a number of championship challengers even failed to trouble the top ten, as the depth of talent in the BTCC again came to the fore.

Team GardX Racing with Motorbase driver Sam Tordoff had led the way for much of the running, as this year's best qualifier so far showed his class in the striking pink Ford Focus RS, although the Yorkshireman eventually had to settle for second after Morgan's late flyer.

Dan Cammish followed closely behind Tordoff as he continues his rich vein of qualifying form in Britain's premier motorsport series. The Halfords Yuasa Racing rookie has not yet turned his undoubted pace into a race win but he'll stand another good chance of notching a first success from third on the grid tomorrow.

Mike Bushell starred throughout the day at Rockingham and the Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing driver backed-up his practice pace with a career-best fourth place in qualifying, ahead of the BTC Norlin Racing duo of Daniel Lloyd and Chris Smiley.

Tom Chilton's championship hopes are still alive – albeit from eighth in the current standings – and the Motorbase man will start tomorrow's opener from seventh of the grid, lining-up alongside the WIX Racing with Eurotech Honda of Brett Smith.

The Adrian Flux Subaru Racing duo of Jason Plato and Ash Sutton completed the top ten positions with the elder statesman getting the better of his reigning champion team-mate.

Notable absentees from the leading order included the championship top two 0f Colin Turkington and Tom Ingram, who could only manage 12th and 13th in their ballast-laden BMW and Toyota machines respectively.

Worse luck fell on the shoulders of title contender and recent 'Diamond Double' winner Matt Neal whose Honda Civic Type R had an engine change immediately prior to qualifying. Whilst the multiple-champion Team Dynamics squad were able to get the BTCC's most experienced racer out on track, he could only set a time good enough for 29th on the grid.

Rounds 19, 20 and 21 of the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship take place at  Rockingham circuit in Northamptonshire tomorrow (12 August). A big crowd is expected at the venue although many more will watch the action live and exclusively on ITV4 from 1030.

Halfords Yuasa Racing's Dan Cammish set the pace in the final BTCC practice session at Rockingham, pipping the impressive VW of Mike Bushell by 0.019s.

Honda rookie Cammish has shown flashes of blistering pace in his maiden tin-top campaign but the Yorkshireman is still searching for his first win in the UK's premier motorsport series. The 27-year-old has the second highest qualifying average of any driver in the championship, and he'll be looking to perform again during this afternoon's session.

Kent-based Bushell – driving the Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing VW – is another racer to have shown good speed on a Saturday during the 2018 BTCC season. Despite some good practice performances, however, he has yet to convert that into solid points paying positions come Sunday afternoon. 

"We were looking like we’d be there or thereabouts at Snetterton but things just went a little bit awry." said Bushell. "I’ve worked all week with my guys to try and improve things further and it’s looking promising. I’ve had plenty of poles and race wins here at Rockingham in the Renault UK Clio Cup – it’s a place I enjoy going to but I’m not going to get ahead of myself.

"I’d said before the weekend that we’re looking at a top ten and I thought that was realistic but judging by our pace so far, we could be on for better still!"

Power Maxed TAG Racing's Senna Proctor and Simpson Racing's Matt Simpson completed a rather surprising looking top four in the final session, whilst Tom Ingram was again the highest of the main championship protagonists in fifth. Speedworks Motorsport star Ingram was quickest during the morning running and then backed that up with another decent showing in FP2 in his ballast-laden Toyota Avensis.

Sam Tordoff's Ford Focus and Adam Morgan's Mercedes were others who went well in both sessions, whilst title challenger Jack Goff clocked the eighth fastest time.

Bobby Thompson – fresh from a top ten finish and his best ever weekend at Snetterton last time out – further showed the speed on the Team HARD VWs with ninth, whilst Ollie Jackson's rounded out the top ten in the AmD Audi.

A number of the main title contenders failed to trouble the top ten including the trio of Colin Turkington (BMW), Matt Neal (Honda) and Ash Sutton (Subaru), who could only manage 14th, 15th and 16th respectively.

Qualifying will take place at 14:50 later this afternoon, with Rounds 19, 20 and 21 of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship taking place at Rockingham tomorrow afternoon. Qualifying can be streamed live via www.itv.com/btcc with the entire race day being screened live on ITV4 from 1030.

2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Free Practice 2 – Rockingham

1 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing 1m22.817s
2 Mike BUSHELL (GBR) Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing +0.019s
3 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed TAG Racing +0.511s
4 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +0.524s
5 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +0.603s
6 Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Team GardX Racing with Motorbase +0.624s
7 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +0.629s
8 Jack GOFF (GBR) WIX Racing with Eurotech +0.648s
9 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) Team HARD with Trade Price Cars +0.649s
10 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmD with Cobra Exhausts +0.687s
11 Dan LLOYD (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.695s
12 Brett SMITH (GBR) WIX Racing with Eurotech +0.757s
13 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing +0.863s
14 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.887s
15 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.931s
16 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.954s
17 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +0.971s
18 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +1.052s
19 Michael CAINE (GBR) Team HARD with Trade Price Cars +1.055s
20 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +1.079s
21 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +1.081s
22 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +1.114s
23 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +1.125s
24 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +1.201s
25 Josh COOK (GBR) Power Maxed TAG Racing +1.287s
26 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +1.329s
27 Ricky COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +1.468s
28 James COLE (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +1.576s
29 Sam SMELT (GBR) AmD with Cobra Exhausts +1.790s
30 Glynn GEDDIE (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +2.070s
31 Ollie PIDGLEY (GBR) Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing +2.456s

Ricky Collard makes his Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship debut at Rockingham this weekend as a substitute for his father Rob at Team BMW.

The 22-year-old from Eversley, Hampshire, joins Colin Turkington at the WSR-run team at Rockingham and the following round at Knockhill while Rob recovers from a concussion sustained as a result of two high-speed incidents at Snetterton in July.

Ricky – a BMW Motorsport Junior driver, who has this year competed primarily in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup – tested the BMW 125i M Sport BTCC car at Silverstone late last year and has also participated in several pre-event shakedown sessions. A BRDC Rising Star, Ricky was the runner-up in the BTCC-supporting F4 British Championship in 2015 and in BRDC F3 the following season.

A class-winner at the 2017 Nurburgring 24 Hours and a race winner in Germany’s ultra-competitive ADAC GT Masters series, Ricky this year claimed a British GT4 podium at Oulton Park following a late call-up and saw his car run second at the recent Spa 24 Hours before an issue forced its retirement.

We caught up with Ricky at Rockingham:

DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing arrived at Rockingham with fan-favourite driver Rob Austin setting his sights high and casting a glance towards the top step of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship podium. The Alfa man has already kicked off his weekend in impressive fashion with the second fastest time in FP1. 

Through a season where great potential with the glorious Alfa Romeo Giulietta has been tempered by some misfortune, Evesham driver Austin has maintained his focus and his desire to return to the BTCC podium as soon as possible is unquestionably undimmed. 

If anything, the former Rockingham race winner is even more determined than ever to fight for silverware and with a strong affinity to the Corby track – he has won there twice previously in the UK’s premier motor racing championship – Austin is relishing his first races there in the Alfa Romeo.

The corresponding BTCC weekend last year, of course, was where the Swindon team confirmed it would be bringing the legendary Italian marque back to the category for the current season, so consistently strong results in rounds 19, 20 and 21 would be widely celebrated. 

"Rockingham has been kind to me over the years," said Austin, "Having won there twice previously I am determined to get another win on, what could potentially be, the last time the BTCC ever visits the venue. The potential is absolutely in the car, team and myself to do it and this painful run of bad fortune that has been devastating our race weekends of late is long overdue a change. 

"I will be doing everything in my power to end this bad run and start rewarding our incredible sponsors, fans and team with silverware. I think the DUO Motorsport with HMS Alfa Romeo Giulietta will suit the Rockingham circuit and after feeling slightly lost with the setup early in the season, we are now on the right track and the car is better and faster every time I get in it now."

He added: "My confidence in the engineering abilities and preparation standards of the team has never been higher so I know I’m going to be given a fantastic car on the day. I’ll have to put the ill fortune we have faced over the last few rounds behind me, get on with the job and convert it in to some silverware."

As mentioned, Austin – who is backed by a key portfolio of sponsors headed by DUO, Northgate and Close Brothers – has enjoyed significant success at Rockingham in the past. Taking his maiden BTCC win there in 2013 at the wheel of his now-legendary ‘Sherman’ Audi A4, the Worcestershire racer added another victory at the 1.94-mile track the following season. 

This year, Austin and DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing arrives at the Northamptonshire venue with one podium, from the opening weekend of the season at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit, and a pair of top six finishes as the standout results. Another podium is long overdue... 

Team principal Simon Belcher said: “We are focused on getting the Alfa back on the podium, we must seize every opportunity between now and the end of the season. Anything less than podiums and it will be a disappointment for us as we know it is in Rob and the car.

“Some drivers are now starting to look at the championship but we are concentrating on realising our true performance, no matter what. Nothing would be better than to find our form at Rockingham where, last year, we announced we would be bringing the Alfa Romeo brand back to the BTCC.”

Speedworks Motorsport's Tom Ingram has topped the opening Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship free practice session at Rockingham, hauling his ballast-laden Toyota ahead of Rob Austin and Sam Tordoff.

Ingram moved to the standings summit after a storming recovery at Snetterton last time out, which included an outstanding drive from 27th to second in the second race. He followed that up with another podium in the 'Diamond Double' and his Independent champion squad is seemingly in fine fettle again this weekend.

"The car felt really good and we’ve been working hard on it since Croft to get it back to where we are now and where we’ve wanted it to be," said Ingram. "We’ve been working on it from Round 1 and we’re now in a place where things feel really good. It’s hard on tyres here and the weather looks like it may play a part in the mix tomorrow, so we’ve got to make the most of today.

"I’m more than happy in the wet, though. I know we’ve got a good car. It’s really slippy here in the wet but it might do us a bit of a favour with the 75 kilograms of success ballast on board. It might be a bit of an equaliser and lead to a better result."

Austin left it late to clock his best time in FP1 but the ever-improving DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing Alfa Romeo was good enough to claim second place. Sam Tordoff meanwhile – still sporting his bright pink livery on the Motorbase-run Ford Focus – is looking to continue his run as the highest placed average qualifier this season, and his early pace suggests he should be a contender later this afternoon.

Andrew Jordan was fourth fastest in the BMW Pirtek Racing car, whilst Ciceley Motorsport's Adam Morgan will be looking to bounce back to form after a tricky last few events at Croft and Snetterton. Mercedes man Morgan led the championship going into his home event at Oulton Park back in June, but his fortunes have taken a turn for the worst ever since – fifth place here in the opening practice session will at least be a boost for his confidence.

Mike Bushell was sixth in the Team HARD-run VW, with Sam Smelt's Audi and Josh Cook's Vauxhall next on the timesheets. Such is the competitiveness in the BTCC field that eight different marques were represented in the top eight lap times.

Tom Oliphant (Ciceley Motorsport) and Daniel Lloyd (BTC Norlin Racing) rounded out the top ten.

2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Free Practice 1 – Rockingham

1 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport 1m23.284s
2 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing +0.048s
3 Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Team GardX Racing with Motorbase +0.059s
4 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +0.131s
5 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +0.170s
6 Mike BUSHELL (GBR) Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing +0.194s
7 Sam SMELT (GBR) AmD with Cobra Exhausts +0.216s
8 Josh COOK (GBR) Power Maxed TAG Racing +0.221s
9 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +0.236s
10 Dan LLOYD (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.304s
11 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +0.364s
12 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.503s
13 Jack GOFF (GBR) WIX Racing with Eurotech +0.516s
14 Brett SMITH (GBR) WIX Racing with Eurotech +0.612s
15 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +0.612s
16 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.669s
17 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +0.740s
18 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmD with Cobra Exhausts +0.771s
19 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.801s
20 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +0.802s
21 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.832s
22 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.835s
23 James COLE (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +0.851s
24 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) Team HARD with Trade Price Cars +0.875s
25 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed TAG Racing +0.910s
26 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.975s
27 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +1.011s
28 Michael CAINE (GBR) Team HARD with Trade Price Cars +1.204s
29 Ricky COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +1.561s
30 Glynn GEDDIE (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +2.000s
31 Ollie PIDGLEY (GBR) Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing +2.017s

There was something fitting about the Diamond Double winner. Matt Neal has been a mainstay of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship for… well, forever really and in this age of the young guns taking over, Matt proved that he hasn’t lost it.

From the Ford Fiesta XR2 Challenge to Group N and a successful stint with BMW M3s and then the mighty Nissan Skyline, Matt’s credentials arriving in the BTCC were good. There was the rather under-cooked Mazda Xedos 6 admittedly, but largely he has been in competitive cars. Take out stints for Triple Eight and its Vauxhall Vectra, and he's largely been in the family team, which has had greater significance of late as Matt isn’t just a driver but the owner, a player/manager if you like.

So that means find the backing, funding the team, paying the wages – oh, and then add the pressure of winning races. Each season, people ask me whether this will be Matt’s last and it is the same answer: “Why would he stop when he is still winning?”

This season has been a fascinating one to watch Team Dynamics. Gone is Gordon Shedden and in has come Dan Cammish but it is Matt who has done the winning. It is interesting to see how Matt has risen to the occasion to put himself back as team top dog given it had been Shedden taking titles in recent seasons. In fact, given the way a BTCC season shakes out, could this be a fourth title season? He is third heading to Rockingham only 16 points away from the lead. Sixteen. That is hardly anything with four events still to run.

In Matt’s armoury is his experience. All of those years in the BTCC can be added to events like the Nurburgring 24 Hours. He’s done a spell in the European Touring Car Championship and raced in V8 Supercars and even in the Australian MINI Challenge. He knows how to win races and titles.

So can he take the title? Yes. Absolutely he can. Impressively, at 51 years of age, his competitive spirit is undimmed. Yes, he has had bad weekends and the odd run-in but Matt has been a great ambassador for the BTCC over umpteen seasons and maybe in this 60^thanniversary season, one of the championship’s longest-serving front-runners would be an apt champion.

But then you could argue that in an anniversary season it would be fitting to have a first-time champion like Tom Ingram or Jack Goff to herald in the next chapter of the championship’s history. Either way, we are in for a fascinating end to the season…

But then you could argue that in an anniversary season it would be fitting to have a first-time champion like Tom Ingram or jack Goff to herald in the next chapter of the championship’s history. Either way, we are in for a fascinating end to the season….