This blog will be automatically refreshed throughout race 1 of the British Touring Car Championship at Snetterton.
13:39Join us again at 14.40 for race two, full race one report up online soon
12:40Plato wins from Wrathall, Jordan edges Newsham, Neal, the Welch-Onslow-Cole-Shedden train, the superb Mat Jackson, and Lea Woodgrounding out the top 10.
12:38Jordan passes Newsham for third…gets retaken, then takes it back again!
12:36Onslow-Cole really working Welch hard for 6th.
12:35Can Jackson break the top ten? He’s flying in the Focus.
12:33Ollie Jackson and Chris James into the pits. The latter came together with Andy Neate, who spun but continued.
12:33Plato: New lap record. 1m 58:682s
12:31Mat Jackson is just one place outside the points in the new NGTC Focus
12:30Andrew Jordan beginning to pressure Dave Newsham for third.
12:29Shedden passes Collard for 9th.
12:28Gilham is running 15th in the Insignia, battling with NickFoster & Chris James.
12:27Neal retakes Dan Welch as Newsham looks to do the same to Wrathall. Meanwhile Shedden’s up to 10th.
12:25Welch passes Neal for 5th, as Newsham pulls alongside Plato for the lead – but runs wide and is passed by Wrathall.
12:23Race distance has indeed been increased to 15 laps. Welch pressuring Matt Neal.
12:22Racing resumes!
12:19One more lap behind the Safety Car then we should be back underway.
12:19The Safety Car gives Rob Austin a chance to catch up after his trip to the pits.
12:17Still Safety Car conditions here at Snetterton. Lap 6/12 started, so three laps should be added soon…
12:13Dan Welch is now behind Matt Neal – whose up two places to fifth. Order is: Plato, Newsham, Wrathall, Jordan, Neal, Welch, Wood, Onslow-Cole, Collard, Aron Smith, Neate, Shedden, Jeff Smith, Foster, Gilham, Mat Jackson, James, Ollie Jackson, Hughes, Austin.
12:11Morgan and Holland made contact on the way into Montreal. Both are in the tyre wall.
12:10Big gainers from the start were Gordon Shedden up to 13th and Tony Gilham up to 15th.
12:10Morgan has crashed with Robb Holland. Safety Car out.
12:08Rob Austin comes into the pits, and exits again. Trouble for the Audi.
12:07Adam Morgan has spun, he’s now last. Shame after such a strong qualifying.
12:07It’s all happening on lap one. Jason Plato and Dave Newsham leapfrog Frank Wrathall and the Vectra is now pressuring Plato for the lead.
12:05We’re off!
12:04Remind you of the top ten. Frank Wrathall heads Jason Plato, Dave Newsham, Andrew Jordan, Adam Morgan, Dan Welch, Matt Neal, Lea Wood, Tom Onslow-Cole and Jeff Smith.
12:00Wrathall leads the grid away for the formation lap.
11:58The grid is clearing now…
11:56The sun is out and the cars are on the grid…stay with us to see how it unfolds…
11:54The cars have formed up on the grid in the blistering Snetterton sun, Frank Wrathall will lead the grid away when it’s cleared.