BTCC

Turkington Makes It Two From Two At Rockingham

2 Mins read

Colin Turkington doubled up with victory in the second Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race at Rockingham, leading again from lights-to-flag to further extend his series lead to 51 points.

The West Surrey Racing driver left the Triple Eight pairing of Jason Plato and Sam Tordoff behind him with another strong getaway as the lights went out, Plato moving to the inside of his team-mate for second spot behind the BMW into turn two for the first time.

Turkington’s lead extended slowly as Plato tried to keep pace with the WSR man over the 16 laps, but the MG began to struggle in the second half of the race as Plato was forced to defend from team-mate Tordoff while Turkington stretched away.

An eighth win of the season for Turkington gives him a healthy championship lead with seven races of the season remaining, leading home Plato by just over eight seconds.

Tordoff squeezed ahead of Alain Menu for third at Tarzan hairpin in the early stages after the Swiss claimed the spot at the start, after which Tordoff held off the closing Andrew Jordan in the final laps also for third, the Pirtek Racing Honda coming from as low as 10th following a disappointing opening lap.

Jordan squeezed by both Rob Austin and Fabrizio Giovanardi at Gracelands on laps five and seven, continuing his charge by moving ahead of Mat Jackson on lap nine. Airwaves Racing endured a rough opening sequence of laps, as both Ford Focuses came together at Yentwood in a dramatic moment for David Bartrum‘s squad.

Jordan then made his way up to fourth ahead of Menu at Tarzan on lap 11, the softer tyre compound chosen for race two proving the right call for the reigning champion.

Menu’s final lap was almost three seconds slower than Austin who claimed fifth place on the final lap, and Menu will be on pole position for the final race which will see the top six reversed.

Jackson finished seventh ahead of Gordon Shedden who again struggled after a first lap scuffle saw him run deep at Gracelands in the Honda Civic Tourer. Shedden now lies 51 points adrift of Turkington, tied for second with Plato.

Rob Collard finished ninth in the second WSR BMW, while the top 10 was rounded out by the impressive Hunter Abbott, enjoying his best BTCC weekend so far.

Martin Depper enjoyed a strong race in the second Pirtek Racing Honda Civic, collecting 12th place after displaying pace that was ultimately quicker than both factory Yuasa Hondas, Matt Neal one of his victims during the charge.

Tom Ingram and Nick Foster were both involved in the same battle which was lead by Jack Goff, but both suffered terminal damage that dropped them out of the points.

Adam Morgan was a retirement from the race having run so well during the morning’s opening race, his Ciceley Racing Mercedes slowing to a crawl at the banking. This was the location for a big spin also for Chris Stockton, another retirement from the race.

Race three sees Menu start from pole at 16.40, and you can follow the action this weekend with The Checkered Flag and via@tcfBTCC.

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