Colin Turkington has scored Silverline Subaru BMR Racing’s first pole position in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship after the Ulsterman set a stunning pace at Oulton Park.

An exciting session at the 2.26-mile Cheshire track commenced with Turkington and team-mate Jason Plato initially holding a one-two for the Japanese marque.

The fightback came from a whole host of challengers, however, which saw Plato demoted down the order by the likes of Gordon Shedden's Honda and Ashley Sutton's MG.

Most of the field pitted shortly after the midway stage of the 30 minute session – as is relatively normal procedure in the BTCC – in preparation for a final flying run on fresh Dunlop rubber.

Sam Tordoff was up to second as the session neared its end in his Team JCT600 with GardX BMW, before rookie Daniel Lloyd amazingly pipped him in the Eurotech Honda.

Challengers came and went, and despite the incredibly close gaps throughout the top ten, nobody could dislodge double BTCC champion Turkington from top spot.

The result represents a huge upturn in fortunes for the manufacturer-backed Subaru squad – impressively bouncing back from a disappointing weekend at Thruxton last time out. Recurring fuel system issues – first experienced at Donington Park – forced the team to make the difficult decision to withdraw from action on safety grounds from last month’s meeting in Hampshire, but new components, engine modifications and a two-day test have seemingly had the desired effect on the all-new Levorg model here at Oulton Park.

Lloyd took a brilliant second in qualifying, just 0.019 seconds shy of pole-sitter Turkington, providing Eurotech Racing with its first front row spot since Thruxton in 2014. Tordoff took third ahead of the earlier pace-setting Toyota of Tom Ingram, while reigning champion Shedden had to settle for fifth - though just 0.001 seconds behind Ingram's Speedworks machine. The extraordinarily close session saw the top five separated by less than a tenth, with less than a second covering the top 22 cars.

Plato's Subaru had nipped back past Sutton's MG on the final run with the two coming home in sixth and seventh respectively, whilst the ballast-laden Honda Civic Type R of Matt Neal was a credible eighth. Aron Smith and Josh Cook rounded out the top ten.

A number of usual front-runners endured challenging sessions, including the two BMWs of Jack Goff and joint series leader Rob Collard that had to make do with 15th and 16th respectively. Motorbase Performance also had a tough time with Andrew Jordan taking 12th and Mat Jackson down in 25th.

Arguably the most surprising performance in qualifying came from WIX Racing's Adam Morgan, who ended up way down in 28th position. Morgan claimed a podium hat-rick at Thruxton last month – scoring more points than any other driver – but he'll be looking to forget a dismal day here, citing balance issues in his Mercedes A-Class.

Rounds 10, 11 and 12 of the 2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship are being screened live and exclusively on ITV4 from 11:15am tomorrow.

Colin Turkington:
“We had to work really hard for that! This is the jump we had hoped for. Admittedly, Oulton Park favours rear-wheel drive a little bit more, but even at Thruxton I could feel we had made a step forward with the chassis. We then had a productive test at Pembrey where we made further progress, and I’m delighted to have come here and secured Subaru’s first BTCC pole. I’m thrilled for all the BMR guys who have put in a tremendous amount of hard work.”

Daniel Lloyd:
“That was mega! I’m still getting used to these tyres and learning how to extract the most from them. My first two runs weren’t ideal, and then on my third run, I messed up the first turn and missed the apex completely. I was tempted to abandon the lap, but then from Cascades on, I nailed every single corner. It wasn’t a knife-edge lap by any means – it was all fairly neat and tidy and accurate. I’m a bit gutted about the mistake in the first corner because it almost certainly cost me pole, but to be on the front row only second time out with Eurotech Racing is unbelievable. I’m over the moon with that.”

Tom Ingram:
“I can’t deny I’m disappointed, because the car definitely had the pace for pole but we just didn’t link it all together. We had an issue with the brakes at the start of the session which the boys worked frantically to rectify, and then none of our laps fell into place, some of which was due to traffic and some me not getting it right. We knew it was going to be extremely close because it always is here. The speed was there and we should have done it, but hopefully we can turn it around tomorrow...”

Gordon Shedden:
“I think the ballast affected the car a little bit everywhere around the lap; if you look at the cars in front of me on the grid, they either had no ballast on-board or are rear-wheel drive. We possibly didn’t hook it up quite perfectly, but I think we’re in a good place. It’s difficult to overtake round here, but that’s never been for a lack of trying in the past and it won’t be tomorrow either!”

2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Qualifying – Oulton Park:

1 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Silverline Subaru BMR Racing 1m26.264s (92.89mph)
2 Daniel LLOYD (GBR) Eurotech Racing +0.019s
3 Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Team JCT600 Racing with GardX +0.051s
4 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +0.078s
5 Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.079s
6 Jason PLATO (GBR) Silverline Subaru BMR Racing +0.102s
7 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +0.175s
8 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.226s
9 Aron SMITH (IRL) BKR +0.229s
10 Josh COOK (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +0.379s
11 Hunter ABBOTT (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +0.462s
12 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) Motorbase Performance +0.485s
13 Jeff SMITH (GBR) Eurotech Racing +0.487s
14 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +0.545s
15 Jack GOFF (GBR) Team IHG Rewards Club +0.575s
16 Robert COLLARD (GBR) Team JCT600 Racing with GardX +0.624s
17 Jake HILL (GBR) RCIB Insurance Racing +0.639s
18 James COLE (GBR) Silverline Subaru BMR Racing +0.690s
19 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) Handy Motorsport +0.712s
20 Martin DEPPER (GBR) Eurotech Racing +0.721s
21 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +0.875s
22 Michael EPPS (GBR) RCIB Insurance Racing +0.947s
23 Warren SCOTT (GBR) Silverline Subaru BMR Racing +1.025s
24 Daniel WELCH (GBR) Goodstone Racing +1.105s
25 Mat JACKSON (GBR) Motorbase Performance +1.115s
26 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmD Tuning.com+1.205s
27 Adam MORGAN (GBR) WIX Racing +1.390s
28 Kelvin FLETCHER (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +1.485s
29 Alex MARTIN (GBR) Dextra Racing +1.607s
30 Chris SMILEY (GBR) TLC/RCIB Insurance Racing +2.098s
31 Mark HOWARD (GBR) BKR +2.332s
32 Stewart LINES (GBR) Maximum Motorsport +2.876s

Tom Ingram and Speedworks Motorsport are fast becoming the one lap specialists of the 2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, as the young gun topped both free practice sessions at Oulton Park.

As per his performance earlier this morning, Ingram waited until the closing minutes to produce a qualifying simulation run. Positions changed almost by the second late on and it was Ingram's Toyota that eventually led the way.

"We're where we want to be," says Ingram. "There's a long way to go though. It's very competitive so we'll just have to see what we can do for qualifying."

Halfords Yuasa Racing's Gordon Shedden was the first driver to dip into the 1:25s lap times, before he was nudged down to P2 by Ingram by just 0.065s. The gaps among the top six were similarly close with Shedden edging out Aron Smith's VW by 0.090s, whilst Josh Cook and Jack Goff ensured that five different marques were represented in the front five order. BMW were the only manufacturer to have two cars inside the top six as Sam Tordoff followed his West Surrey Racing team-mate Goff.

Silverline Subaru BMR Racing enjoyed an encouraging session as Jason Plato and Colin Turkington finished seventh and eighth respectively. A series of car upgrades and an important pre-event test suggests the manufacturer-backed team is looking competitive this weekend.

Rookie Ash Sutton was ninth for MG while Handy Motorsport's Rob Austin made a welcome return to the top ten. All 32 cars clocked timed laps although problems for Dan Welch and James Cole slightly curtailed their running.

Qualifying for Round 10 of the 2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship takes place at 15:20 and will be streamed live and exclusively via www.itv.com/btcc. Please make sure you're following the BTCC's official social media feeds for up to the minute news and information.

2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Free Practice 2 – Oulton Park:

1 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport 1m25.858s
2 Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.065s
3 Aron SMITH (IRL) BKR +0.155s
4 Josh COOK (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +0.232s
5 Jack GOFF (GBR) Team IHG Rewards Club +0.283s
6 Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Team JCT600 Racing with GardX +0.383s
7 Jason PLATO (GBR) Silverline Subaru BMR Racing +0.627s
8 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Silverline Subaru BMR Racing +0.662s
9 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +0.666s
10 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) Handy Motorsport +0.672s
11 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.681s
12 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) Motorbase Performance +0.801s
13 Jake HILL (GBR) RCIB Insurance Racing +0.935s
14 Hunter ABBOTT (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +0.971s
15 Robert COLLARD (GBR) Team JCT600 Racing with GardX +0.993s
16 Daniel LLOYD (GBR) Eurotech Racing +0.997s
17 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +1.062s
18 Martin DEPPER (GBR) Eurotech Racing +1.307s
19 Michael EPPS (GBR) RCIB Insurance Racing +1.354s
20 Mat JACKSON (GBR) Motorbase Performance +1.425s
21 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmD Tuning.com+1.475s
22 Warren SCOTT (GBR) Silverline Subaru BMR Racing +1.645s
23 Adam MORGAN (GBR) WIX Racing +1.667s
24 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +1.716s
25 Jeff SMITH (GBR) Eurotech Racing +1.855s
26 Chris SMILEY (GBR) TLC/RCIB Insurance Racing +2.015s
27 Alex MARTIN (GBR) Dextra Racing +2.086s
28 Kelvin FLETCHER (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +2.190s
29 Daniel WELCH (GBR) Goodstone Racing +2.303s
30 James COLE (GBR) Silverline Subaru BMR Racing +2.385s
31 Stewart LINES (GBR) Maximum Motorsport +2.969s
32 Mark HOWARD (GBR) BKR +3.102s

Tom Ingram left it late to show his hand in the opening Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship free practice session at Oulton Park, but the Speedworks driver eventually hit the top with an impressive run.

Ingram has taken two pole positions from the opening three events of the 2016 season so far and he shows little sign of letting up in Cheshire. It's also the local circuit for his Speedworks squad, as the Toyota Avensis continues to prove its qualities at circuits with varying characteristics.

The tight and twisty nature of the Oulton Park layout intially saw three drivers from three different teams vying for pace-setting bragging rights.

Aron Smith's BKR VW was the first to fire into the 1:26s lap times and he was soon joined by Andrew Jordan's Ford and latterly by Gordon Shedden's Honda. In fact, the Halfords Yuasa Racing duo of Shedden and Matt Neal took more than half the session before completing a timed lap, but the Scotsman's immediate rise up the timesheets showed that the Civic Type R is again set to challenge.

When the chequered flag eventually fell it was Ingram ahead of Smith, Shedden and Jordan, whilst Jack Goff's BMW and Hunter Abbott's Chevrolet made it six different marques in the top six order. Abbott produced an extremely good lap to take sixth, as did young rookie Dan Lloyd who slotted into seventh for Eurotech Racing.

Sam Tordoff, Josh Cook and Colin Turkington completed the top ten, with the latter being the best performing Silverline Subaru Team BMR car.

The manufacturer-backed Subaru squad is returning to action this weekend, after being forced to miss race day at Thruxton last time out due to recurring fuel system issues. New components and engine modifications have since been tested during an intensive two day run at the Pembrey circuit in Wales, however, and the team is back with all four of its cars at Oulton Park.

Free practice two takes place at 12:45 before qualifying commences at 15:20, which will also be streamed live and exclusively via www.itv.com/btcc.

2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Free Practice 1 – Oulton Park:

1 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport 1m26.049s
2 Aron SMITH (IRL) BKR +0.245s
3 Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.398s
4 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) Motorbase Performance +0.443s
5 Jack GOFF (GBR) Team IHG Rewards Club +0.658s
6 Hunter ABBOTT (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +0.700s
7 Daniel LLOYD (GBR) Eurotech Racing +0.794s
8 Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Team JCT600 Racing with GardX +0.891s
9 Josh COOK (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +0.912s
10 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Silverline Subaru BMR Racing +0.973s
11 Jake HILL (GBR) RCIB Insurance Racing +0.981s
12 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +1.020s
13 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +1.045s
14 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +1.061s
15 Mat JACKSON (GBR) Motorbase Performance +1.124s
16 Warren SCOTT (GBR) Silverline Subaru BMR Racing +1.165s
17 Adam MORGAN (GBR) WIX Racing +1.203s
18 Robert COLLARD (GBR) Team JCT600 Racing with GardX +1.229s
19 Martin DEPPER (GBR) Eurotech Racing +1.267s
20 Michael EPPS (GBR) RCIB Insurance Racing +1.315s
21 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) Handy Motorsport +1.358s
22 Jeff SMITH (GBR) Eurotech Racing +1.434s
23 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +1.458s
24 Jason PLATO (GBR) Silverline Subaru BMR Racing +1.654s
25 James COLE (GBR) Silverline Subaru BMR Racing +1.678s
26 Kelvin FLETCHER (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +1.685s
27 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmD Tuning.com+2.008s
28 Alex MARTIN (GBR) Dextra Racing +2.024s
29 Chris SMILEY (GBR) TLC/RCIB Insurance Racing +2.613s
30 Daniel WELCH (GBR) Goodstone Racing +2.675s
31 Stewart LINES (GBR) Maximum Motorsport +3.069s
32 Mark HOWARD (GBR) BKR +3.897s

Catch up with Jeff Smith, Gordon Shedden and Jake Hill following four weeks away from the circuit as they prepare themselves ahead of Saturday at Oulton Park, and qualifying. There's also a chat with Team IHG Rewards Club's Jack Goff as he introduces the superb Team IHG® Rewards Club BMW BTCC Virtual Reality Race Experience.

Team IHG Rewards Club and BMW have launched a groundbreaking project that puts fans in the hot seat and as close to the experience of racing on the limit in a Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship round as you can get without being one of the drivers, and fans are invited to try it out this weekend at Oulton Park.

Fans will be able to ride shotgun in the Team IHG® Rewards Club BMW BTCC Virtual Reality Race Experience alongside Jack Goff in his BMW 125i M Sport as he fires off the line to attack the first lap from this year's season-opening race at Brands Hatch Indy.

The simulator is the ultimate way to take a lap. Its Oculus Rift headset gives a full 360 degree view from the passenger seat where you can see Jack at work as he weaves his way around a frenetic first lap at the famous Kent circuit. The bucket seat itself adds an extra dimension, pushing and pulling to mimic the G-forces as the car speeds through Paddock Hill Bend as well as the bumps and rumbles as Goff fends off overtaking manoeuvres and rides the curbs.

Team IHG® Rewards Club BMW BTCC driver, Jack Goff, explains more...

"Like all projects of this nature, there’s always a lot more that goes on behind-the- scenes than you’d expect.

The manufacturer-backed Subaru squad will return to BTCC action at Oulton Park this weekend (4/5 June) looking to bounce back from a difficult weekend at Thruxton last time out.

Recurring fuel system issues – first experienced at Donington Park – forced Silverline Subaru BMR Racing to make the difficult decision to withdraw from action at last month’s meeting in Hampshire.

New components and engine modifications have since been tested during an intensive two day run at the Pembrey circuit in Wales, however, which has left the team’s star drivers in confident mood.

“We had a really productive two days in Wales,” said double BTCC champion Colin Turkington. “It was the first opportunity we’ve had to put in some proper test miles and I'm pleased that we made some good gains with the chassis and engine. The issues we had at Thruxton all appear to be sorted and the team has left no stone unturned to ensure that we take a good step forward.

“I can’t wait to get back in the car now and see where we fall into the pack. I've been working as hard as I can in my own preparation and have managed to get some extra racing miles in various other cars just to make sure I’m as sharp as possible.

“Throughout this development period the spirit of the team has been unwavering, and they deserve a top result. I hope I can be the one to do that for them.

“I've also been blown away by the support of fans and I want to thank them for the loyalty and passion they have shown.”

Jason Plato is also buoyed by recent developments and believes the four Subaru Levorgs will suit the 2.26-mile Oulton Park Island Circuit this weekend.

“All of our cars have engine upgrades for this weekend that will give us a bit more performance, and I think our chassis will go very well round there,” he said.

“It’s an amazing circuit, a beautiful fast, flowing track with funny cambers – a real drivers track, my kind of circuit, and if we manage to get the car working well we can do great things.

“We know on the dyno (rolling testing track), but on track we don’t yet know. But I’m hopeful of a podium for sure.”

To find out if Silverline Subaru Team BMR can clinch its first podium then make sure you attend the Cheshire track this weekend, or catch the action live and exclusively on ITV4 from 11:15am on Sunday.