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