5 – Snetterton – Thrills, spills, and a new BTCC winner
The return from the summer break saw the BTCC well and truly come back with a bang, with mixed fortunes for the MG KX Momentum Racing squad at Snetterton’s 300 circuit.
The Norfolk venue suited the MG6 handsomely and a qualifying lock-out and dominant one-two finish in race one duly followed…but not fronted by the man you would have expected.
Rookie Sam Tordoff – having already surpassed Andy Neate’s 2012 tally at the squad – claimed a superb maiden pole position on Saturday afternoon before leading experienced team-mate Jason Plato in race one on his way to a first BTCC victory, but their luck would change in race two.
Tordoff dropped back with a slow start and eventually fell out of contention after two offs caused by brake problems late in the race, while runaway leader Plato was denied victory by a driveshaft failure after an early safety car period.
Colin Turkington then drove a determined defensive effort to keep the marauding pack behind him, where Andrew Jordan charged towards the front, muscling Gordon Shedden aside before reaching leader Turkington.
After several laps of pressure, the Pirtek Racing Honda snuck inside the WSR BMW at Williams Bend and squeezed through into the lead, going on to claim another crucial win on his way to the title. Behind him, Aron Smith finished third for the Airwaves team’s maiden visit to the rostrum of 2013, overtaken by Matt Neal who pulled off a great pass at the Brundle’s/Nelson’s complex.
Race three was equally dramatic, Turkington again leading a tight pack after a chaotic first lap.
Shedden spun Turkington in race three (Photo: PSP Images)
Dave Newsham lost his pole position advantage before tangling with Neal at Oggies, while further back down the road Plato’s weekend ended in spectacular fashion as he was spat off the road and into a barrel roll after the heavy connection with the barriers that followed.
Turkington was under pressure from Shedden at the front, a dice that ended in tears when the Scot out-braked himself at Agostini hairpin and tapped the Irishman’s BMW 125i into a spin, Shedden beating the excelling Airwaves Fords of Mat Jackson and Smith en route to the win.
(Main Photo Credit: btcc.net)
