50 not out for Colin Turkington

Reigning champion Colin Turkington claimed his 50th career BTCC victory with another lights-to-flag triumph at Oulton Park. The triple BTCC champion and current standings leader now adds a half century of wins to his ever growing list of accolades, as the Team BMW superstar commanded this latest contest with consummate ease. BMWs stormed into a 1-2-4 off the line as Andrew Jordan relegated Dan Cammish's Honda down to third, whilst Tom Oliphant also hauled his fast-starting 3 Series into contention. The drama commenced behind as Adrian Flux Subaru Racing's Sutton went off following slight contact with Rob Collard's Vauxhall on the opening lap, whilst a touch between Josh Cook's Honda and Jack Goff's VW eventually caused a high impact incident with Chris Smiley's BTC Racing Civic Type R. Cook seemingly tapped Goff ahead of him under braking, which left the Team HARD car running out of control on the grass. Goff's CC then slid back across the track before careering into the unaware Smiley. A lengthy safety car period followed, which had looked to scupper Matt Neal's surge through the order from the back of the grid. Undeterred by the delay, however, Neal would continue his charge in his Halfords Yuasa Racing car in the latter half of the race. Another safety car interrupted proceedings after Sam Osborne's MG went heavily into the barrier at Old Hall, but the lead positions stayed the same until the finish as Turkington led home Jordan, Cammish and Oliphant. Sam Tordoff was fifth and the top independent driver for Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance, whilst Team Parker Racing's Stephen Jelley produced a hugely impressive drive to take sixth. The BMW 1 Series driver made a number of stellar moves during the race, including a classic pass by double champion Jason Plato. Rory Butcher's Honda and Tom Ingram's Toyota were seventh and eighth respectively, whilst Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing's Plato and BTC Racing's Josh Cook completed the top ten order. Notable results outside of the top ten included Jake Hill's 12th for tradepricecars.com, which also gave the Kent driver pole position for the reversed race three grid after his ball was picked out at random by MSV Chief Executive Jonathan Palmer. Cataclean Racing with Ciceley Motorsport's Daniel Rowbottom took 15th and with his first ever BTCC championship point.