Ash Sutton secured his fifth win of the 2017 BTCC season as he pipped Adrian Flux Subaru Racing team-mate Jason Plato in race two at Knockhill.

The race originally commenced in frenetic fashion as a multi-car accident saw no fewer than five cars fired out of the contest. With cars littered in the gravel and across the track the race was inevitably red flagged and a lengthy stoppage followed.

Plato eventually led away from the restarted race and the Subaru duo remained inseparable throughout. The slightly lighter machine of Sutton had the edge, however, and he would finally make a move stick on lap 11. Plato kept his young prodigy honest for the remainder of the duel, but Sutton held on to fire himself within two points of the championship summit.

Colin Turkington maintained his position at the top of the standings as he claimed his second podium of the day for Team BMW. Rob Collard finished fourth in the sister Bavarian machine, as he kept up his own championship challenge.

James Cole scored another high five finish, as he had done in the final contest at Snetterton last month and again in the earlier opener at Knockhill. Former UK Formula Ford champion Cole has been showing a real upturn in form in recent weeks, and the results are finally matching that promise.

Halfords Yuasa Racing's Gordon Shedden took a lonely sixth place as most of the action kicked off behind the Scotsman.

Young rookie Josh Price came home seventh after he had gone toe-to-toe with triple champion Matt Neal for a number of laps. The pair made unfortunate contact, however, which saw Neal's Honda spinning off into the gravel while Price continued unopposed. Post race, however Price's seventh spot was lost after his exclusion for failing to slow/overtaking under flag signals.

The final three drivers in the top ten were blanketed by little more than half a second as BTC Norlin's Dave Newsham edged out Tom Ingram's Toyota and Rory Butcher's Ford. There was further post-race joy for debutant Butcher when he was picked at random to start today's final race from pole position.

Ash Sutton said: "Jason (Plato) kept me honest to the very end. It was a great race though and I knew the ballast would bring it back to me later on and work in my favour. He just lost his straight-line speed compared to mine as the time went on. Jason and I get on well and we race hard but we race fairly – we know where we stand with each other. I was more pleased for him getting pole yesterday then I was for myself getting second and I need a wingman don’t I? I really extracted everything from the tyre midway through and pulling that little gap so when they went I had to play the clever game. The battle’s on for sure and it’ll definitely go right to the wire. I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing."

Jason Plato said: "I just got into a little zone in the middle of the race, landing off the kerb at the chicane I was getting some drift wide every lap and I couldn’t work it out. Then all of a sudden, it disappeared and then Ash (Sutton) started to get those issues. I know a bit of fluid went down so maybe it was that. It was a great result for the team. I’m just so happy to be competitive again. I’m pretty awful to be around when things aren’t going well – this is my life. It’s everything about my life and when there’s stuff you just can’t get a handle on, it’s frustrating. We’ve found the problem now and that was for all you people who said I was too old…"

Colin Turkington said: "It’s more good points. Any time you get a podium in a BTCC race, it’s a good result. It’s a little bit disappointing to trail these guys home again but we got everything we could out of the BMW there. If the two ahead weren’t in the race, I’d be telling my engineers it’s the best car I’ve ever driven – but obviously we’ve got more to find. I can only understand what’s going on with my car. We improved the chassis but we seemed to drop back from the leaders. It was still a really strong race for Team BMW."

2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Round 20 – Knockhill

1 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing 22 laps
2 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.238s
3 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +3.198s
4 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +5.063s
5 James COLE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +6.831s
6 Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +9.401s
7 Dave NEWSHAM (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +25.803s
8 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +25.954s
9 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +26.361s
10 Ant WHORTON-EALES (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +28.889s
11 Martin DEPPER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +30.959s
12 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +31.841s
13 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +36.074s
14 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +39.823s
15 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +44.426s
16 Mat JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +44.685s
17 Michael EPPS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +45.215s
18 Brett SMITH (GBR) Eurotech Racing +47.572
19 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +49.314s
20 Will BURNS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +51.406s
21 Stewart LINES (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +51.944s 
DNF Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +8 laps
DNF Aron TAYLOR-SMITH (IRL) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +13 laps
DNF Jack GOFF (GBR) Eurotech Racing +16 laps
DNF Jake HILL (GBR) TAG Racing +18 laps
DNF Adam MORGAN (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +18 laps
DNF Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +22 laps
DNF Rob AUSTIN (GBR) Handy Motorsport +22 laps
DNF Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +22 laps
DNF Josh COOK (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +22 laps
DNF Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +22 laps
EXCL Josh PRICE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing

Adrian Flux Subaru Racing's Jason Plato has won Round 19 of the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship after producing a flawless drive at Knockhill.

The front four – all rear-wheel drive machines – made an even getaway off the line, meaning Plato led from team-mate Ash Sutton, and the two Team BMWs of Colin Turkington and Rob Collard.

The battle remained tense throughout the 24-lap race with the quartet barely separated by more than a second. The Subaru duo of Plato and Sutton even made a failed attempt to switch positions, in order to provide the latter with a potentially vital championship point for leading a lap, but when the chequered flag eventually fell it was the elder statesman taking a hugely deserved win.

James Cole made it three Levorgs in the top five as he got the better of an eye catching battle with the Speedworks Motorsport Toyota of Tom Ingram. The pair ran side-by-side across the line on lap nine, but Cole would have to wait until three tours later before completing the pass.

Rookie Senna Proctor drove brilliantly to claim seventh for Power Maxed Racing. The Vauxhall Astra man saw off reigning champion Gordon Shedden early on and then clinched his best ever result ahead of Adam Morgan's Ciceley Motorsport Mercedes.

Triple champion Matt Neal was next up in the order as he made steady progress through the field. His final pass was by Dave Newsham's BTC Norlin Chevrolet, after both had seen off Shedden's ballast-laden Honda Civic Type R.

The race was a high class contest throughout with only one minor incident blotting the copywork. Contact between Rob Austin and Brett Smith, following an off-track excursion from Rory Butcher's Ford, created a minor melee but all were able to recover and finish the encounter.

Jason Plato said: "We found something in qualifying yesterday which we thought about after scratching our heads and it looked like we had a bit of a differential issue. We had a complete change of that unit last night and the car’s a different machine now. We think we’ve found the gremlin. I should have the advantage in the second race as the soft tyre is better in a few key areas. It’s just a shame we couldn’t get that point for switching spots for Ash (Sutton), we tried!"

Ash Sutton said: "Jason (Plato) wanted the win and thoroughly deserved it but I needed the extra point – we swapped and it was a great little bit of teamwork, it was just a pity it didn’t quite work out. He’s had his difficulties with his car this year and my side of the garage has been fine, but it’s nice to come and get a one-two and to lock out the front row in qualifying too – great for Adrian Flux Subaru Racing, phenomenal really. The soft tyre was an advantage but the weight with the ballast does even it out a bit. It’ll be a level playing field again in race two when Jason has the softs and the added weight."

Colin Turkington said: "I was a bit quicker at the beginning of the race – the BMW switched on really fast. I got the fastest lap and there was a phase where I started to catch Ash (Sutton) but in the mid part of the race I was dropping a couple of tenths, even driving to the limit of my 1 Series. It was always the aim to come here and score points, and with the ballast coming out you’ve got to think we’ll have a good chance in race two. The two guys ahead will race, which is a good thing. Jason’s on the softs so he may tear into the distance but we’ll focus on ourselves. If we can hunt in packs (the Team BMWs), we should be looking good."

2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Round 19 – Knockhill

1 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing 24 laps
2 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.216s
3 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.902s
4 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +1.580s
5 James COLE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +11.188s
6 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +16.492s
7 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +21.946s
8 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +28.348s
9 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +29.167s
10 Dave NEWSHAM (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +29.991s
11 Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +33.318s
12 Josh COOK (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +33.606s
13 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +33.693s
14 Jack GOFF (GBR) Eurotech Racing +35.046s
15 Aron TAYLOR-SMITH (IRL) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +35.497s
16 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +35.963s
17 Ant WHORTON-EALES (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +37.352s
18 Josh PRICE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +41.054s
19 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +45.002s
20 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +45.206s
21 Jake HILL (GBR) TAG Racing +45.409s
22 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +46.865s
23 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) Handy Motorsport +48.125s
24 Michael EPPS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +49.114s
25 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +1.915s
26 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +51.138s
27 Martin DEPPER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +53.066s
28 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +56.011s
29 Will BURNS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +1 lap
30 Brett SMITH (GBR) Eurotech Racing +1 lap
DNF Mat JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +24 laps
DNF Stewart LINES (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +24 laps

Adrian Flux Subaru Racing’s Jason Plato topped a thrilling Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship qualifying session at Knockhill to claim a 50th career pole position in the UK’s premier motor sport series.

Plato – already the most successful driver in the history of the BTCC in terms of race wins – has been experiencing a challenging season so far, but recent signs have suggested that the tin top legend is back on track.

A damp yet drying surface produced a tricky 30-minutes of running for 32 of the country’s best racing drivers, which would ultimately lead to a last lap shootout as track conditions rapidly improved.

The field switched from Dunlop BluResponse wet tyres to the SportMaxx slicks in the final ten minutes, and lap times would tumble right up until the chequered flag fell.

It was Plato who timed his run to perfection as he blasted across the line to steal top spot from Subaru team-mate Ash Sutton in the final seconds.

The one-two qualifying result for Japanese marque Subaru was followed by a three-four finish for Team BMW, as Rob Collard got the better of double BTCC champion Colin Turkington.

Toyota title challenger Tom Ingram is looking to reignite his championship charge after a recent run of difficult results, and the Speedworks Motorsport driver will start tomorrow’s opening contest from fifth on the grid. Ingram will start alongside the third Subaru of James Cole, who himself is enjoying a clear upturn in form and fortunes.

Jack Sears Trophy leader Senna Proctor enjoyed the best qualifying performance of his short BTCC career so far by claiming seventh in the Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra, ahead of an equally impressive performance from BTC Norlin’s Dave Newsham. The striking grey Chevrolets had been running extremely well throughout the day and Newsham even held provisional pole at one point, before eventually having to settle for a credible eighth.

Reigning champion and current standings leader Gordon Shedden took ninth in his Halfords Yuasa Racing Honda, whilst Adam Morgan bounced back from a lacklustre start to the session to claim tenth in the Ciceley Motorsport Mercedes.

Three BTCC races will take place at the Fife circuit tomorrow with all the action being screened live on ITV4 from 11:00.

Jason Plato said: “That was alright wasn’t it? Do you know what, we’ve had a pretty torturous year and it’s nice to have some tricky conditions where you just have to pull it out of the bag. I love those kind of conditions where you’re feeling your way around. Timing is always important in sessions like that and that comes with a bit of experience – putting the slicks on early so we could get them up to temperature. I was the last person to cross the line too which helps.

“We got a one-two which is important for the team and I’m in a really good position to help out Ash [Sutton]. If there’s a win to be had though, I will be driving accordingly. I will have Ash, the team and the championship in mind and I’ll be looking to help where I can.

“I’ve had a right good kicking this year, and it’s just nice to take another step forward towards being competitive again. It’s not just the winning it’s about being competitive and it’s nice to be there.”

Double BTCC champion Colin Turkington left it late to claim the quickest time of the day so far, as the Team BMW star set the pace in Free Practice Two at Knockhill.

Adrian Flux Subaru Racing driver Ash Sutton had been on top for the majority of the session, but the young championship challenger eventually had to settle for second place. James Cole confirmed Subaru's pace by claiming third, as the former Formula Ford UK champion continues his recent upturn in form. 

Honda machinery filled the next two positions in the shape of Matt Neal's Halfords Yuasa Racing car and the independently run Eurotech Civic Type R of Jack Goff. Both drivers have performed well in qualifying this term with Neal having taken two pole positions and Goff claiming his own maiden pole at Snetterton last time out.

Andrew Jordan, Jason Plato and Rob Collard further highlighted the advantages seemingly enjoyed by rear-wheel drive cars around the tight and undulating 1.3-mile circuit as the experienced trio took sixth, seventh and ninth places respectively.

Two young drivers filled the other top ten positions with Laser Tools Racing's Aiden Moffat in eighth and AmDTuning.com's Ant Whorton-Eales in tenth.

The fast and frenetic session saw all 32 drivers recording representative lap times with the top 26 being blanketed by an incredible 0.896s. MG Racing RCIB Insurance's Josh Cook brought up the rear of the field although his MG6 did suffer with a suspected oil leak.

Qualifying for Round 19 of the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship takes places at 16:10 later today with the action being streamed live and exclusively at www.itv.com/btcc.

2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Free Practice 2 – Knockhill

1 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW 52.336s (87.15mph)
2 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.046s
3 James COLE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.139s
4 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.143s
5 Jack GOFF (GBR) Eurotech Racing +0.176s
6 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +0.227s
7 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.238s
8 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +0.277s
9 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +0.327s
10 Ant WHORTON-EALES (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +0.335s
11 Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.349s
12 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +0.411s
13 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +0.422s
14 Josh PRICE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.426s
15 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.449s
16 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +0.461s
17 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +0.487s
18 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +0.489s
19 Aron TAYLOR-SMITH (IRL) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +0.533s
20 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +0.536s
21 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) Handy Motorsport +0.543s
22 Mat JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +0.564s
23 Dave NEWSHAM (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.645s
24 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +0.776s
25 Jake HILL (GBR) TAG Racing +0.874s
26 Will BURNS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +0.896s
27 Michael EPPS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +1.019s
28 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +1.032s
29 Martin DEPPER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +1.125s
30 Brett SMITH (GBR) Eurotech Racing +1.354s
31 Stewart LINES (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +1.547s
32 Josh COOK (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +2.042s

Speedworks Motorsport's Tom Ingram topped the times in the opening Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship Free Practice session at Knockhill.

On a damp yet drying circuit it was clear that lap times would tumble in the closing moments, and it was former championship leader Ingram that timed his flyer to perfection. With conditions improving all the time the Toyota Avensis circled the 1.3-mile track in 53.425s – albeit nearly two seconds off the qualifying lap record.

Such was the rate of improvement late on that one-time pace-setter Jason Plato eventually finished down in 18th as he was relegated down the order in the final minutes.

Eurotech's Jack Goff slipped into second at the finish, as he looks to back-up his pole position at Snetterton last time out, whilst Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo's Mat Jackson was third.

Rob Collard provided some respite for BMW as the title contender claimed fourth, although his stablemates Colin Turkington and Andrew Jordan were left languishing down the order.

BTC Norlin driver Dave Newsham delivered for the rookie squad by taking fifth overall, after briefly sitting atop of the order, whilst his team-mate Chris Smiley confirmed the pace of the Chevrolet by rising to eighth. In between the two grey BTC Norlin cars was Ciceley Motorsport's Adam Morgan and home hero Gordon Shedden.

Tom Chilton and James Cole rounded out the top ten in what was a relatively trouble free session. All 32 cars completed laps around the Scottish circuit and they will be back to do it all again at 12:50 for Free Practice Two.

Ingram said: "We called it earlier to switch to slicks just because we wanted to generate as much tyre temperature as possible. When you're on a circuit that's gone from wet to dry it's just about temperature really – whoever can generate the most will be quickest. I'm pleased we were quickest but it's not going indicative of true pace, just with how the session was and the track conditions were."

2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Free Practice 1 – Knockhill

1 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport 53.425s (85.37mph)
2 Jack GOFF (GBR) Eurotech Racing +0.642s
3 Mat JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +0.681s
4 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +0.898s
5 Dave NEWSHAM (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +1.051s
6 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +1.112s
7 Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +1.143s
8 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +1.149s
9 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +1.167s
10 James COLE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +1.301s
11 Jake HILL (GBR) TAG Racing +1.427s
12 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +1.570s
13 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +1.594s
14 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) Handy Motorsport +1.772s
15 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +2.000s
16 Michael EPPS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +3.301s
17 Aron TAYLOR-SMITH (IRL) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +3.321s
18 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +3.346s
19 Josh COOK (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +3.611s
20 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +3.685s
21 Will BURNS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +3.734s
22 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +4.107s
23 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +4.231s
24 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +4.480s
25 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +4.451s
26 Stewart LINES (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +4.565s
27 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +4.631s
28 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +4.649s
29 Brett SMITH (GBR) Eurotech Racing +4.732s
30 Martin DEPPER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +4.923s
31 Ant WHORTON-EALES (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +4.986s
32 Josh PRICE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +5.121s

Podium Predictor powered by IHG® Rewards Club returns this weekend ahead of Rounds 19, 20 and 21 at the home of Scottish motorsport Knockhill Circuit – be sure to get your entries in over at podiumpredictor.com now!

The BTCC Podium Predictor is new for 2017 and gives fans the chance to score bragging rights and a bundle of top-drawer prizes courtesy of longstanding championship partners IHG® Rewards Club.

If you beat the pundit you’ll be in line for a massive 50,000 IHG® Rewards Club points to spend as you wish plus signed motor sport artwork from Graham and Leigh and more special gifts. Of course, you’ll get tickets to a race weekend of your choosing, too.

In order to qualify for the ultimate prize as Ultimate Predictor – with 1,000,000 IHG® Rewards Club points up for grabs, you’ll need to predict every podium finish and all race and class fastest laps correctly, scoring the maximum 120 points.

BTCC champion Tim Harvey is the man in the Pundit's hot-seat this weekend and is thus the man to beat!

Entries are open until 2359 on Saturday evening – so you get the chance to analyse Free Practice and Qualifying before you make your predictions. Head to podiumpredictor.com to enter!

Scotsman Rory Butcher will make his Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship debut on home soil at Knockhill this coming weekend, with the 30-year-old confirmed as part of the Team Shredded Wheat Racing with DUO line-up for the remainder of the Motorbase-run squad’s 2017 campaign.

Butcher re-joins the Motorbase fold having previously raced as part of David Bartrum’s British GT and Blancpain Endurance Cup crew in 2014 and 2015. Although new to touring cars, the Fife-based driver has extensive international sports-car experience with numerous wins and podiums to his name; and also has first-hand knowledge of the TOCA package from his time competing in the Porsche Carrera Cup where he secured 5 race wins and 19 podiums on his way to claiming 3^rd in the Championship in 2013.

“As soon as we knew that we had to get the third car back out for Knockhill onwards, Rory became our natural choice for the seat;” said Team Principal David Bartrum. “Rory is a Motorbase driver through and through; he’s done a lot with us in GT racing, we know him very well and he knows Knockhill very well which was a huge plus as it’s the first test for the new car.

Following Luke Davenport’s catastrophic crash at Croft at the end of June, Motorbase were forced to complete the build of a replacement car in time for this weekend’s upcoming meeting at Knockhill in order to keep hold of all its TBLs (touring car licence). Incredibly, the sixth Ford Focus ST chassis has been completed from start to finish in just over 4 weeks and Butcher is expected to make the shakedown at Ford’s test track in Dunton, Essex on Wednesday (August 9) where the #6 machine will turn a wheel for the first time before the team makes its way North.

“Considering the size of the accident at Croft, we were hoping that TOCA would be a bit more respectful of Luke’s condition regarding the third car whilst he was still recovering in hospital and also of our position with the timescales involved;” Bartrum explained. “However, it was made very clear that there was no leeway at all in regards to losing our third licence so we had no choice. Ideally, we would have liked to have been given until Rockingham to ready the car, but luckily - thanks in no small part to Alex at DUO - we’ve managed to hit the deadline set by Alan Gow.”

“The boys in the workshop have done a monumental job to get the new car built and ready in time for this weekend. I owe a big thank you to Richard Townsend and Willie Poole for their efforts on this because without them pulling out all of the stops to get the metalwork ready for us we wouldn’t have had a chance of making Scotland.

“Antony, Jason, Tim and Tom and a friend of mine Mark Lawrenson have turned that car around in an unbelievable amount of time;” remarked Bartrum. “They got the car off the truck at 8am on Wednesday morning as bare metalwork and it was fully painted and prepped by the following evening, they then took on the build of the car and at 9am on Monday morning she was running.”

“It is an amazing achievement when you see the amount of work that goes into the build of a completely new car from scratch.”

Butcher’s debut is expected to attract a good deal of local support for the Kirkcaldy driver. As well as racing in front of his home crowd on the notoriously tricky Knockhill circuit, the weekend will also be a family affair for the Scotsman lining up on the grid against his brother-in-law and reigning BTCC Champion, Gordon Shedden.

“The car has only just been built and it’s my first time in touring cars so it’s a kind of shakedown for the car and me;” said Butcher. “I’m absolutely buzzing though! When I first started racing, I looked up to the touring cars and it was my ambition to reach the BTCC grid. Although my racing career has ended up going across to sports car racing and the GT world, switching over to the BTCC is a dream come-true. Obviously it’s got close relations to the family with Gordon [Shedden] being my brother-in-law and it’s exciting to have the chance to join him on the grid for the rest of this season.”

Team Boss David Bartrum added; “Rory will be under the spotlight at Knockhill as a local lad, coupled with the fact that we’ve got a car that will race in anger for the first time on Scottish soil. He’s had very limited testing so I hope people give him some space and don’t put him under too much pressure. Knockhill will be a glorified test for Rory and the new car and I’d like us to get a weekend under our belt and then go well from Rockingham onwards.”

Scotland's epic Knockhill Circuit the setting for Rounds 19, 20 and 21

The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship heads north of the border for its annual pilgrimage to Scotland and Fife's Knockhill Circuit next weekend (12-13 August), with reigning champion Gordon Shedden set to be backed by a passionate home support.

A tumultuous return to action for Halfords Yuasa Racing's triple champion last time out at Snetterton forced the Scot into a three-round recovery drive, which was duly topped off with a victory in the finale in Norfolk, and with it the Championship lead.

He may have retained his position at the top of the Drivers' standings, but the margin has been squeezed with Adrian Flux Subaru Racing star Ash Sutton piling on the pressure with a win double last weekend to bring himself right into the fold, while Team BMW duo Colin Turkington and Rob Collard continued their points push to draw within two and four points respectively of Shedden at the head of the pack.

These drivers are merely the first clutch vying for the crown, and with the BTCC's notorious unpredictability and fierce levels of competition, a host more are waiting in the wings for their chance to close in on top spot and the whole picture can change in just a single race.

"That race three victory just seemed so unlikely after the way the weekend started for us," said Shedden, on his Snetterton performance. "We'd had our dramas and we were just trying to plug away on Sunday – to get the result was really unexpected. It sets us up nicely and we're off up to God's country in a week's time and my back-yard in Knockhill.

"The circuit's a blast. You really have to hang on there and it's a bit of a rollercoaster ride. It's a proper touring car track and it always throws up some real, feisty racing."

Aiden Moffat also counts the seventh weekend on the calendar as his home event. The proud young Scotsman sealed the maiden victory of his BTCC career back at Donington Park and will be looking to return to the fore at the sight of his first podium in the series next weekend.

BTC Norlin Racing's Dave Newsham is another who will receive strong support, having been based in Inverness for a number of years, and the Chevrolet driver has lots to cheer about as he currently tops Dunlop's #ForeverForward standings – awarded to the driver with the most overtakes during the season.

Knockhill 2016: Vintage BTCC
Last year, Knockhill produced three classics and three prime examples of the ingredients that combine to make the BTCC such a special championship.

Plato delivered peak performance on the weekend of his 500th BTCC race as he sealed a commanding victory in the opener last year. The Subaru man built an ominous gap over the first half of the race, before Jack Goff, then of BMW began reeling him in.

Plato’s advantage was then completely eradicated by a safety car period and the outlook of the race turned on its head. However, unfazed, he managed the remaining racing laps with consummate ease – in typically-Plato style – to claim a staggering 95th career victory – the wily racer knew exactly where best to place his Levorg GT in a fine display of defensive driving.

Race two was a barnstorming affair – touring cars at its finest. Triple champion Matt Neal in the Honda Civic Type R clinched a classic, storming through from eighth on the grid to take the chequered flag first. Neal bided his time early on, craftily picking off one victim after another while Plato fought for supremacy with the BMW of Sam Tordoff out front.

The lead Subaru began to fade, bunching the chasing pack behind, and no matter how hard Tordoff or Colin Turkington, then driving the sister Levorg, tried, they could not find a way beyond the defending Plato.

All the while, Neal gained ground, until he was in range of Turkington and Goff, squabbling for fourth spot. The Honda mainstay wasted little time and pounced when he saw his opening as the pair ahead clashed on the way out of the hairpin and lost enough momentum to see Neal slip through.

His charge wouldn't end there, though, as when Plato strategically held up Tordoff on the penultimate lap, Neal eyed his opportunity to blast into the lead and grasped it with both hands. A blanket could have been thrown over all three of them as they shot across the line to begin the final tour, and when the dust settled it was Neal from Tordoff and Plato after a breathless battle. 

Mat Jackson then produced his own memorable defensive drive in the finale, fending off a gaggle of cars to top the pile.

Status quo prevailed over the course of the opening laps as Jackson led from Collard and Turkington. Come lap eight, that scrap had spilled over as the latter pair came into contact, tipping Collard into a slide. Further contact ensued as the duo struggled to disentangle themselves and both were fired onto the grass and out of contention. 

Ford then battled BMW, Subaru and Honda as Tordoff, Plato, and home hero Shedden remained inseperable throughout the remainder of the race.

Jackson placed his Focus perfectly to thrwart each and every advance coming from those behind. When the chequer fell, the leaders were seperated by just 1.2 seconds with Jackson the victor.

The short, scenic, undulating and characteristic Knockhill Circuit is the perfect track to tee up three typically all-action rounds and will undoubtedly provide another trio of tin-top tussles that will not be forgotten in a hurry.

Timetable and Tickets
All three BTCC races on Sunday, 13 August – and the day’s other races – will be broadcast live and in high definition on ITV4. Those in attendance at the circuit can stay in touch with the commentary and live timing from every session, available at btcc.net/live throughout the weekend.

The support series on the TOCA package are also guaranteed to thrill, with a double-digit total of races set to entertain the crowds. Porsche Carrera Cup GB, F4 British Championship and the Ginettas will all be appearing, making for a jam-packed weekend of truly unmissable racing.
 
Tickets are still available for the champion’s homecoming at Scotland’s Knockhill circuit (12/13 August), the BTCC’s only venture north of the border. Prices start at just £39 for adult weekend tickets, with discounts available for family bookings and children under 12 able to enter free of charge. For more information and to order tickets, head to www.knockhill.co.uk or call 01383 723337.

Power Maxed Racing's Senna Proctor took maiden Dunlop #ForeverForward honours of the season at Snetterton, gaining 24 positions over the course of the weekend.

Proctor qualified in 27th but immediately set about showing his true pace with a fightback to 17th in the opening round – a ten place gain. Race two saw some of those early gains eroded as the Vauxhall rookie found himself 23rd come the chequered flag.

Another battle back through the pack ensued – this time all the way up to a top ten finish and strong points with an impressive drive to 9th to seal by far and away the best result of his inaugural BTCC campaign so far.

Next in the weekends' running came Adrian Flux Subaru Racing's James Cole and Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport man Stephen Jelley – each gaining 18 spots over Rounds 16, 17 and 18.

The former improved from 26th on the grid for the opener to fifth come the final race of the day while the latter jumped in steps from 29th to 15th, gaining back ground lost in race two in the finale.

A special mention in #ForeverForward this weekend must go to debutant Brett Smith, in for father Jeff at Eurotech Racing. Smith gained the most positions in a single race in the finale, tied with Laser Tools Racing's Aiden Moffat, on the way to a tally of 17 places gained over the three rounds – enough for third spot in the weekend's running.

Despite never sealing overall weekend honours, Dave Newsham’s consistency across the season is playing dividends as he now leads the #ForeverForward standings with 80 points, Colin Turkington is second with 78, while Jake Hill third with 76

#ForeverForward – Snetterton:

1) Senna Proctor 24
2) Stephen Jelley 18, James Cole 18
3) Brett Smith 17

#ForeverForward – Overall Standings:

1) Dave Newsham 80
2) Colin Turkington 78
3) Jake Hill 76

Will Burns saw impressive pace and racecraft rewarded with a first visit to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship podium at Snetterton this past weekend after taking a maiden victory in the Jack Sears Trophy.

The Weston-Super-Mare racer enjoyed his most competitive outing in the BTCC so far in Norfolk as he battled to a hat-trick of top twenty finishes in his Auto Aid/RCIB Insurance Racing Volkswagen CC, narrowly missing out on a first ever overall points finish.

After picking up season's best qualifying and race finishes at Croft before the summer break, Burns returned to action in buoyant mood that he could improve upon those results around a circuit he’d previously finished on the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup podium at in 2014 and 2016.

Luck wouldn’t be in his favour on Saturday however, as after two productive free practice sessions, his hopes of challenging for the top twenty in qualifying were ended by a gearbox failure just as he was about to start his flying laps on new tyres.

Not only did it end his session immediately before he’d set a representative time, leaving him 28th on the grid, but the problem also led to a late night for the Team HARD mechanics as they changed his gearbox, with a fantastic effort ensuring the car was ready to go for the opening race.

Burns rewarded their efforts with one of his most impressive drives of the season so far. Calmly moving his way up the order during a frenetic race, he climbed into the top twenty by the end of lap six, before eventually working his way into a superb sixteenth place at the finish.

A strong performance in race two would yield the same result, with Burns recovering well after losing ground early on to pass former double BTCC champion Jason Plato for sixteenth, before then closing down a three second gap to Rob Austin, who occupied the final points position.

The Cases Ltd, Eurocams and Weston College supported driver had finished both those races as the leading Jack Sears Trophy entrant, meaning he headed into the final encounter knowing a top four class finish would be enough to earn him a first piece of BTCC silverware.

As it was, Burns briefly had loftier ambitions as he emerged from a brilliant opening lap in eleventh position overall, however on the next tour a piece of robust driving from Tom Chilton sent him off circuit and down to 22nd place – though crucially still fourth in class.

From there, a composed and mature drive saw Burns keep his nose clean and soak up some late pressure from class rival Josh Price to bring the car home in eighteenth position, a result that was enough to see him take the JST victory.

That meant Burns, who turned 27 years of age during the summer break, would take to the podium alongside BTCC champions Colin Turkington and Gordon Shedden, much to the delight of his team, friends, family and sponsors.

“I couldn’t be happier with how the weekend panned out," said Burns. "The team worked overnight to repair the gearbox after qualifying and despite starting so far back, I was still feeling confident of some strong results heading into the three races.

“I was starting to feel like some of the other drivers were just looking at me as a backmarker getting in the way, but now I’ve shown that I can battle with many of the regular podium finishers and showed some good racecraft

“I really feel like I deserve to be in that midfield action now and I’ve proven that by taking three top twenty finishes, narrowly missing out on my first points finish twice, and picking up my first Jack Sears Trophy victory.

“It’s a dream come true to step onto the BTCC podium alongside the likes of Gordon Shedden and Colin Turkington. It’s a dream that was starting to feel like it would never come, but we kept pushing, luck came our way and now hopefully we can win it again.”