Dave Newsham repeated the success he enjoyed at Snetterton to win the final race of the day at Knockhill. Jeff Smith was an unlikely podium finisher in second place, with Matt Neal retaking the championship lead in third.
Despite a small amount of rain before the race, everyone started on slick tyres. Newsham controlled proceedings from pole, and despite coming under pressure towards the end of the race, duly took an emphatic victory at his home circuit.
Behind, it was an all Honda affair as Smith lead Neal and Jordan to the chequered flag. Neal had endured a difficult day in the previous two races, but due to championship rivals Gordon Shedden and Jason Plato failing to score means he has retaken the championship lead.
Plato’s race was over before it had even begun as he brought the car into the pits at the end of the first of two warm-up laps with a suspected turbo problem. The MG driver has endured a dismal time at the Scottish circuit, having earlier been taken out in race one before only managing to recover to eleventh place in race two.
Shedden’s retirement was more dramatic. Ahead of him, Aron Smith and Nick Foster collided leaving Shedden with nowhere to go on the approach to the chicane. The home favourite therefore took to the grass, filling his radiator with mud and grass, ending his day early. It was a disappointing way to end following two third place finishes in the earlier races.
Despite the best efforts of Neal and Jordan on the final lap, they could not find a way past the inexperienced Jeff Smith, who claimed his first podium in the BTCC with second place – his best result in the BTCC to date.
Behind, Aron Smith completed a strong day to take the best of the rest, despite having been fined for his involvement in the Plato clash in race one. Meanwhile, his Redstone Racing team mate Mat Jackson made it out following his earlier problem with the exhaust on the NGTC Ford in race two.
