Today’s #DramaInTheBTCC looks back at the opening rounds of the 2014 season from Brands Hatch.

Fresh from announcing seven former champions and a record breaking 31-cars on its grid, the anticipation surrounding the championship was arguably at an all-time high as we travelled to Kent for the annual curtain raiser.

Last year’s encounter brought snow to the legendary circuit but we were blessed with relatively mild conditions this time around.

Despite the change in climate the result was still the same in qualifying as reigning champion Andrew Jordan scored the first pole position of the season, as he did in 2013.

The drama started on the opening corner of the opening race as Jordan slid wide through Paddock Hill Bend, before saving his Honda Civic and guiding it to a memorable victory.

Alain Menu was the first spinner of the new season as he went off at the same corner, whilst Jason Plato faced heartache in race two when his MG failed to get off the line.

Rob Collard’s BMW and the new Civic Tourer of Matt Neal made contact in the second showdown as Neal’s team-mate Gordon Shedden did well to take evasive action. There was no stopping Jordan, however, as he stormed to race win No.2 for Pirtek Racing, whilst Neal scored the first ever BTCC podium for an ‘estate’ style car.

The final race brought an abrupt end to promising rookie Tom Ingram’s debut day in the series, after contact with Menu’s VW fired his Toyota into the barrier. Ingram humorously said afterwards, “It’s my first day at big school and they’re all picking on me!”

There was success for Colin Turkington in the eBay Motors BMW as he took his first victory of the year whilst Plato ended his day on high after surging through the field to reach the podium.

So after all the talk of the off-season the 2014 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship had made an immediate impact with action aplenty. ITV Sport was obviously there to capture all the action - click here to see a brief recap on the opening day drama.

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