Team HARD with Trade Price Cars has today announced the signing of Ethan Hammerton, who will complete the remainder of the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship with the outfit.

Hammerton fills the seat vacated by Michael Caine after Carl Boardley temporarily took the reigns for the Knockhill race weekend.

The 17-year-old overcame more than 100 competitors to win a Team HARD young driver scholarship and has since been racing in the Volkswagen Cup with the stable. He steps up to Britain's premier motor racing series, fulfilling a lifelong ambition.

“I have watched the BTCC since I was a little kid and I can't believe I'm now going to be a part of the championship," said Hammerton.

“I switched from racing karts to racing cars in the Junior Saloon Car Championship when I was 15, in 2015, and from then it was my goal to race in the BTCC and I’ve achieved that ambition – it’s a dream come true.

"We were at Rockingham supporting fellow Team HARD graduate Bobby Thompson and the rest of team when discussions started with Tony (Gilham – Team Principal). I am over the moon that everything is now in place and I can’t wait to get out in the car.

“I know it’s going to be tough. I fully appreciate the trust put in me and will give everything I have for the team. I know how privileged I am to have been given this opportunity and I am realistic about my expectations.

“I really want to be in the BTCC next year and I'm hoping that this is just the beginning. I’d like to thank Tony Gilham, Team HARD, GKR Scaffolding, HMC Group, Hadrian Healthcare and my other sponsors for making this happen.”

Power Maxed TAG Racing and Josh Cook made the most of the hand they were dealt at Knockhill, battling through tough conditions and a couple of racing incidents to seal a strong points haul and keep their title hopes alive.

Cook strode to fifth, second and sixth placed finishes over the three rounds from Fife and managed consistent front-running pace, though he feels given slightly different circumstances that further headway could have been made, and more points earned.

“Ultimately, Knockhill was a good weekend for us I think," said Cook. "In race one I definitely thought we had the pace to head further up the order but it’s always a tricky circuit to pass on when people are defending.

"It was the same story for us in race two, though I think the decision to end it early in those conditions was the correct one.

"Had we had more time, I’m confident I would’ve been further up the board.

"Race three was frustrating after the incident with Rory Butcher but I took the place back a few laps later in any case.

"Overall, it was a good weekend for the team with the points we managed to bring in and sets us up nicely ahead of Silverstone. It was great to see so many fans donning the bright orange Euro Repar Car Service ponchos in an effort to stay dry!”

The weekend north of the border was a more frustrating one for team-mate Senna Proctor, who struggled to make progress in the wet – despite having shown form to the contrary in those conditions throughout his fledgling BTCC career to date.

Progress was steady – with Proctor managing a best of 16th before a DNF in the finale, after contact with Brett Smith's Honda, having qualified 24th.

“My weekend in one word? Frustrating," said Proctor. "The car was right on the pace Saturday during qualifying but I just couldn’t get a clear run in, helped in no small part by the session being red flagged.

"I fought hard and made up places throughout Sunday, but ultimately when you’re in traffic on a circuit like Knockhill, the opportunities to get through are few and far between.

"It’s a shame the day ended on a low note, but I’m looking forward to getting back in the points at Silverstone. We’ll come back stronger than ever!”

Power Maxed TAG Racing's Technical Director, Martin Broadhurst added:

“Unless you’re winning all three races and coming away with the fastest laps in every session, you can always do better, but I’m ultimately happy with the results this weekend.

"It’s unfortunate that Senna couldn’t have had a clear run during qualifying, which I think would’ve yielded higher places today, keeping him in the points, but he was on the pace and drove well. If the incident in race three hadn’t cost Josh places, I’m confident he would’ve been on the podium again."

Team Principal Adam Weaver echoed Broadhurst's positivity.

"Knockhill was definitely a positive weekend for us.

"Josh came away with a decent haul of points, and at the end of the day that’s what we’re here for.

"It’s unfortunate that Senna just couldn’t quite get the clear run he needed, but overall it was a good weekend for the team.

"The fact that we haven’t dropped out of the top three this year, and are now joint second with a team that has been in the championship much longer than us is a real boost.”

Cook's haul keeps him in touch in the running for the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship crown. PMR are now level with Halfords Yuasa Racing in joint second in the Teams' standings.

Speedworks Motorsport's Tom Ingram extended his lead in Dunlop's #ForeverForward standings leaving Rounds 22, 23 and 24 of the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Knockhill while Ash Sutton took overall weekend honours with a storming 29 points.

The overtaking league recognises and rewards drivers’ fight-backs from adversity and over the prior two weekends it had been Ingram who proved to be the comeback king, following two race one DNFs, one apiece at each of Snetterton at Rockingham which left him 27th on the grid for the second encounter at each of those meetings.

The Speedworks man fought back to third both times, allowing him to keep close tabs on standings leader Colin Turkington despite his misfortune.

At Knockhill, Dunlop’s Sport BluResponse wet tyres came into their own across all chassis and drivetrains in difficult conditions up in the Fife hills. Before the rain on race-day, the weather looked good.

With the circuit seeing a completely new surface laid over the winter, Jason Plato’s qualifying lap record was swiftly beaten in practice, and then again in qualifying as Halfords Yuasa Racing’s Dan Cammish secured his maiden BTCC pole position.

Heavy rainfall dominated on Sunday at Knockhill, seeing Dunlop's BluResponse tyre put to the test. Reigning champion Ash Sutton revels in mixed conditions and the wet and he duly flew from eighth on the grid to take the race one win.

His pass on Colin Turkington’s BMW 125i M Sport for the lead was voted the fans favourite overtake of the race. It was local driver Rory Butcher, though, who collected the race’s #ForeverForward honours, with 13 places gained moving up from 23rd to tenth on home soil.

The rain didn't abate for race two, eventually resulting in a red flag and an early end to proceedings but on track, Sutton continued his race one momentum, the Adrian Flux Subaru Racing driver crossing the line first. Ingram charged to second in his Toyota, revelling in the tricky conditions.

Both cars subsequently failed post-race ride height tests, allowing Andrew Jordan to inherit the win, becoming the 13th different winner of the year. Honda's Matt Neal picked up the most places, gaining 13 positions, with Ingram’s move on Jordan on the last lap voted the fans favourite of the race.

As a result of their exclusion, championship contenders Sutton and Ingram were forced to start from the back of the grid, prime #ForeverForward territory. As anticipated, Sutton carved his way through the field, with the Dunlop BluResponse rubber coping expertly with the torrid conditions.

Tom Chilton became the all-time record 14th different race winner for the season, taking a lights to flag victory and holding off a strong challenge from championship leader Turkington. Sutton came away with the #ForeverForward weekend honours, a total of 29 places gained from the three races, ahead of Butcher on 16.

Dunlop #ForeverForward weekend honours:

1. Ash SUTTON, 29
2. Rory BUTCHER, 16
3. Matt NEAL, 15
4. Stephen JELLEY, 15
5. Tom INGRAM, 15

Dunlop #ForeverForward overall standings:

1. Tom INGRAM, 134
2. Stephen JELLEY, 120
3. Senna PROCTOR, 111
4. Rob AUSTIN, 101
5. Josh COOK, 99
6. Bobby THOMPSON, 98
7. Ash SUTTON, 97
8. Aiden MOFFAT, 92
9. Ollie JACKSON, 89
10. Rory BUTCHER, 89

Tom Ingram has promised to ‘fight to the end’ in the chase for the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship crown, after what looked set to be a big points-scoring weekend north of the border at Knockhill was undone by a technicality.

With 66kg of success ballast in his Speedworks Motorsport Toyota at a circuit that leans towards favouring rear-wheel drive machinery, Ingram managed sixth position in qualifying.

That placed Ingram directly between chief championship rivals Colin Turkington and Ash Sutton.

After toughing it out wheel-to-wheel with the fast-starting Sutton through the first few corners of the opener, made it beyond the BTCC’s newest winner Chris Smiley and remained in the podium scrap throughout, going on to take the chequered flag in the same position as he had started. It was Ingram's sixth Independents’ triumph of the season.

Race two was punctuated by safety car interventions for multiple accidents further down the order, ultimately being halted seven laps early due to the deteriorating conditions. In the ten laps of action that did take place, however, Ingram demonstrated strong pace, rising four places to take second at the chequered flag.

Unfortunately, Ingram, in company with race-winner Sutton – was excluded for failing the post-race ride-height check, demoting the pair to the rear of the grid for the day’s finale.

Ingram dug deep and fought through the field to cross the finish line 16^th.

“I think you’d have to classify that as a real missed opportunity of a weekend," said Ingram. "Knockhill was always going to be about damage limitation for us and we feared we might struggle a bit, but it’s fair to say we surprised ourselves in terms of our performance.

“We’ve lost touch a little in the championship, but the final couple of tracks should suit the Toyota well. We’ve won at Silverstone in each of the last two seasons and gone well at Brands GP too, so we’ll go there in confident mood and fully focussed on clawing back the ground we’ve conceded.

"We’re still holding our heads high and still in the fight – and we will keep fighting right to the end. From here on in, there can be no other strategy than maximum attack.”

The two non-scores mean he's slipped 43 points adrift of Turkington at the summit of the overall Drivers’ standings but he continues to lead the way in the defence of his hard-earned Independents’ Trophy.

Speedworks similarly remain atop the Independent Teams’ table, while occupying sixth spot in the Teams’ classification outright with just Silverstone and Brands Hatch GP left to run.

“Rules are rules and we obviously have to accept what happened, but it’s immensely frustrating to lose so many points for such a minor infringement,” reflected Team Principal, Christian Dick. “After that, progress was always going to be difficult in race three with 66kg from the back of the grid, but Tom did everything he could with another fantastic drive and deserved a lot more than he got out of the weekend.

 “It’s important to focus on the positives, though, and there are a great many to take away with us. We thought we would struggle even to crack the top 15 in qualifying at Knockhill, so to line up sixth and then really take the fight to the rear wheel-drive boys in races one and two massively exceeded expectations."

Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher saved its best until last at Knockhill, with Tom Chilton claiming a maiden race win of the season for the Motorbase-run squad with a commanding lights-to-flag drive in the final Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship round of the day this past Sunday.

The relentless rainfall did little to dampen Chilton’s spirits with the Gallagher-backed racer battling his way from a mid-pack start to take his first BTCC race win since 2011, and second Independent win of the season.

The weekend was a slow-burner for the Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher duo. Following a super-competitive qualifying session that saw over half of the grid beat the previous lap record, Chilton was the highest-placed Motorbase driver in 15th – in spite of being less than half-a-second off pole – with James Cole placing 22nd for the first of Sunday’s three races.

Passing Lloyd’s Honda on the opening lap in the extreme wet conditions, Chilton held his nerve in the safety car interrupted race and continued to scythe his way through the mid-field to eventually take 12th at the flag. With a tough task ahead of him on the notoriously difficult circuit, Cole endured a tough battle from a less-than-ideal qualifying place, picking up damage to bring the number Focus RS home 24th.

Race two was a dramatic affair, eventually red-flagged after just 20 laps given a first-corner off for Sam Smelt in the AmD Audi and worsening conditions. Chilton made an excellent start and had managed to work his way into the top ten by the first tour of the circuit, moving up to eighth by lap 12 before the race was ended. Cole was embroiled in the mid-pack scrap and struggled to progress but managed to make up four places to finally cross the line in 20th.

With the leading two cars excluded from the race results due to ride-height infringements, Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher's drivers were promoted to sixth and 18th. Chilton’s amended result proved to be the turning point of the weekend, placing the number three Ford Focus RS onto pole position for the final race of the weekend.

Determined to capitalise on his fortuitous position, Chilton stormed off the line and had built up a decent lead over Adam Morgan in the opening laps. A fast-charging Colin Turkington made it beyond the Mercedes man and had closed the gap to Chilton to less than half-a-second by the mid-way point of the race. A defensive masterclass followed, with Chilton holding off the two-time BTCC champion’s BMW for the final six laps. The 33-year-old’s determination and race-craft delivered the perfect end to the day for the Motorbase squad – claiming the first outright race win for the Ford Focus RS in its debut season.

Unfortunately, Cole’s woes continued with the 30-year-old entangled in the back-marker traffic he dropped back a couple of places to end the day in 22nd.

The weekend’s results helped to reinstate Chilton's championship fight, moving him into sixth place overall and closing the gap on the Independent Drivers' standings lead. Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher has also consolidated its fourth position in the overalls Teams’ running – as the highest-placed Independent team - and it has closed the gap to the current Independent Teams’ standings leaders to just four points with six rounds remaining.

Team Manager Oly Collins said: “That was a fantastic result which pays back the whole team for all the hard work behind the scenes. Tom was mega in the wet today and that first win for our Focus RS was exactly what he and the team deserved. We’ve had a strong car all year but for whatever reason we’ve just not been able to convert it to a win until today.

“It’s a super competitive championship and you just can’t underestimate what it takes to win races. It keeps us in the hunt for the title. Now we’re hungry for more with six races left!”

“I knew I had to get the perfect start because I had Turkington behind me in the rear-wheel drive and I did!" said Chilton. "Thankfully I didn’t make the same mistake from Rockingham and I kept the lead for the whole race. I knew that I had the car underneath me and with the experience from all of my years racing here it paid off. It was a really big fight at the end, with Turkington coming through but we had such a good car.

“All credit to the team giving me the car to do the job. Starting from 15th on the grid was tough but it just shows you that if you keep your nose clean and with a little bit of luck you can come through to take a win.”

James Cole added: “Congratulations to Tom on his win. It was a fantastic effort from the whole team and he drove really well to take that win. I think overall the result doesn’t show it, but we have found some improvements in the car which we can take forward to Silverstone. Some more consistent running is what we need, and to have two days of the same weather would be lovely. We’re upbeat for Silverstone, it’s a great circuit that should suit our car really well and it can’t come soon enough.”

Team BMW’s Colin Turkington has extended his advantage in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship standings after a double podium and a fourth place finish at Knockhill, as his title rivals hit trouble on a dramatic day of action.
 
Ash Sutton, Andrew Jordan and Tom Chilton took a win apiece around the characterful 1.27-mile Scottish circuit as drivers endured torrential conditions throughout.
 
Sutton’s promising looking race day somewhat unravelled after his victory – along with fellow championship contender Tom Ingram – when both were excluded from the race two result for a technical infringement, whilst wins for Jordan and Chilton have already confirmed 2018 as a record breaking BTCC season.
 
The 2017 BTCC campaign produced 13 different race winners, which was a new record high, but 2018 – which also marks the 60th anniversary of Britain’s biggest series – has set a new benchmark in the illustrious history of the much loved tin-top championship as Jordan and Chilton became the 13^thand 14^th victors of the season.
 
Adrian Flux Subaru Racing’s Sutton surged from eighth on the grid to grab a glorious win in the opening contest.
 
Pole-sitter Dan Cammish held the advantage off the line as the Honda Civic Type R showed good pace in the early running. 
 
The Team Parker Racing car of Stephen Jelley swapped positions with the manufacturer-backed BMW of Turkington no fewer than three times as both drivers endured slippery moments in the heavy rain. It was an exciting tussle that built towards an unfortunate crescendo, when the two cars touched and Jelley’s podium hopes ended in the gravel on lap 19.
 
Sutton was already ahead at this point as he made light work of the BMWs ahead of him, before he scythed past then leader Cammish in the Halfords Yuasa Racing car.
 
Cammish fell into the clutches of the Bavarian machines after that and had little defence, but he was able to get himself back on the podium after the Turkington/Jelley collision.
 
Treacherous conditions – and a number of incidents – eventually put paid to an exciting second race, which Sutton led on the road from start-to-finish. 
 
The reigning champion had to contend with two safety car periods as a number of drivers struggled on the slippery surface with heavy rain falling throughout.
 
Ollie Jackson’s Audi was the first casualty as the mid-pack bunched up on the opening lap and then a further delay followed when Tom Oliphant’s Mercedes and Carl Boardley’s VW both slid off-track.
 
The race was eventually red flagged after 20 laps when Sam Smelt’s AmD-run Audi A3 went straight on at the chicane and made heavy contact with the barrier. Smelt emerged completely unharmed but the decision was made to stop the race early.
 
Sutton took the chequered flag ahead of Ingram and Jordan, but further drama followed during post-race scrutineering.
 
The Subaru Levorg of Sutton and Toyota Avensis of Ingram failed ride height checks and were subsequently excluded from the result, handing victory to Jordan with Power Maxed TAG Racing’s Josh Cook and Cammish completing the podium.
 
Chilton then became the 14th different race winner in 2018 so far – an all time record number with six races of the season still remaining.
 
The Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher driver won the damp finale with relative ease, albeit withstanding late pressure from championship leader Turkington in the closing stages.
 
It was the maiden victory of the season for the Motorbase stable and also Chilton’s first overall success since re-joining the series at the beginning of last year.
 
Turkington was arguably the biggest winner in the final race as a second place finish extended his championship lead over Ingram and Sutton, who both produced good comeback drives to finish 16^thand eighth respectively.
 
BMW Pirtek Racing’s Jordan rounded off a brilliant Knockhill weekend with another podium, following on from his race two victory. The 2013 champion also proved to be the highest points scorer across the three races.
 
Turkington now holds a 43-point lead over Ingram with Sutton a further eight in arrears.
 
BMW/Team BMW leads the Manufacturers’ and Teams’ standings, whilst Ingram/Speedworks Motorsport top both Independents’ Teams and Drivers tables.
 
A double overall podium for Cammish also helped him extend his advantage in the Jack Sears Trophy
 
The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship returns at Silverstone in three weeks’ time (15/16 September) before the season finale takes place at Brands Hatch at the end of the month.
 
Colin Turkington said: “It's been my strategy just to consistently score. Two podiums and a fourth is a great haul. You get to this stage of the season and the race weekends don't follow a predictable pattern. Anything can happen at any given time. I'd rather have the points in the bag than go chasing them. It’s been a great day for BMW all-round, too. Whether the tracks suit you or not is almost beside the point now. You've just got to keep plugging away and fighting for points. You've seen today that results can be taken away through nothing to do with your driving.”
 
Ash Sutton said: “I’ve always gone well in the rain. When I was in the MG I shone but the Adrian Flux Subaru Racing guys have done a great job with this. I didn’t expect that from where we were but there are a lot of laps. You just have to pace yourself and see what you can do. I do have to take risks to catch up to Colin (Turkington) and Tom (Ingram) but those risks paid off in race one. It’s going to be a difficult title defence after what happened in race two though. We’ve just got to keep pushing and pushing. I’d rather come out of this championship having pushed too far than not having gone for it.”
 
Andrew Jordan said: “That was wet. It was hard work. The track was at that slimy stage and I probably hurt the rears a little bit and I might not have had enough to go after the lead couple. A fourth, a third and a win is a good effort and I’m happy with that. Coming off the back of a tough weekend at Rockingham I wasn’t too despondent. I’ve been here long enough to know not to dwell on it. When my day comes, I’ll have a good day – I knew that.”
 
Tom Chilton said: “I’m so happy for everybody at the team. They’ve worked so hard and it’s finally come good. It’s our fifth podium this year and we just kept missing out on the win but we’ve got it. I love these conditions when it's greasy and horrid and I love Knockhill. To win here again is great. I’m very happy. It’s such a silly thing. Points make prizes but it’s something about getting the win and it’s why we go racing for these little highs. Spray the champagne as hard as you can and get those trophies up high on the mantlepiece.”

Mickey Butler, Manager, UK and One Brand Motorsport Events, said: “It was a difficult weekend for all the drivers, but the Dunlop BluResponse held up in very tricky conditions. It never favoured one chassis or drivetrain, it worked perfectly on everything!”

2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Round 22 – Knockhill

1 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing 27 laps
2 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +1.287s
3 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +2.779s
4 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +2.999s
5 Josh COOK (GBR) Power Maxed TAG Racing +3.433s
6 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +4.370s
7 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +6.606s
8 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +7.015s
9 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +7.778s
10 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +8.108s

2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Round 23 – Knockhill

1 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +1.222s
2 Josh COOK (GBR) Power Maxed TAG Racing +1.835s
3 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +2.577s
4 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +3.077s
5 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +3.659s
6 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +4.305s
7 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +6.981s
8 Jack GOFF (GBR) WIX Racing with Eurotech +7.653s
9 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing +8.239s
10 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +8.586s

2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Round 24 – Knockhill

1 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher 27 laps
2 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.948s
3 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +6.332s
4 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +10.899s
5 Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Team GardX Racing with Motorbase +11.112s
6 Josh COOK (GBR) Power Maxed TAG Racing +11.590s
7 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +12.075s
8 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +15.266s
9 Jack GOFF (GBR) WIX Racing with Eurotech +16.153s
10 Dan LLOYD (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +16.446s

Penalties:

Weekend
AmD with Cobra Exhausts has had 10 points deducted from its Teams' and Independent Teams' Championship scores having changed an engine above the number permitted

DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing has had 10 points deducted from its Teams' and Independent Teams' Championship scores having changed an engine above the number permitted

Race 1
Matt Simpson was officially reprimanded and received two penalty points for an incident involving Matt Neal

Colin Turkington was officially reprimanded and received two penalty points for an incident involving Stephen Jelley

Race 2
Ash Sutton was disqualified from the results of Round 23 for failing the ride height check

Tom Ingram was disqualified from the results of Round 23 for failing the ride height check

Race 3
Rory Butcher was verbally reprimanded for an incident involving Josh Cook

Tom Chilton has become the 14th different Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race winner in 2018 so far – an all time record number of winners with six races of the season still remaining.

The 2017 BTCC campaign produced 13 different victors, which was a new record high, but 2018 – celebrating the 60th anniversary of Britain's biggest series – has set a new benchmark in the illustrious history of the much loved tin-top championship.

Chilton won the damp Knockhill finale with relative ease albeit withstanding late pressure from championship leader Colin Turkington in the closing stages, but the delighted Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher squad welcomed their man home in jubilant fashion.

It was the first victory of the season for the Motorbase stable and also Chilton's first overall success since rejoining the series at the beginning of last year.

"I'm so happy for everybody at the team," said Chilton. "They've worked so hard and it's finally come good. It's our fifth podium this year and we just kept missing out on the win but we've got it. I love these conditions when its greasy and horrid and I love Knockhill. To win here again's great.

"I knew the circuit was drying and I knew the tyres were going to go off. I tried to protect them early on and when I saw Colin (Turkington) was closing I just kept at it and pulled out a tenth here and there. I'm very happy. It's such a silly thing. Points make prizes but it's something about getting the win and it's why we go racing for these little highs. Spray the champagne as hard as you can and get those trophies up high on the mantlepiece."

Turkington was arguably the biggest winner in the final race as a second place finish extended his championship over Tom Ingram and Ash Sutton, who both started at the back of the grid after being excluded from the second contest. 

BMW Pirtek Racing's Andrew Jordan completed a brilliant day with another podium, following on from his race two victory, whilst recent Rockingham race winner Adam Morgan came home fourth.

Sam Tordoff scored his best result of the day with fifth ahead of the impressive Josh Cook – the Power Maxed TAG Racing man surging up the standings order with a trio of good results.

Home hero Rory Butcher was seventh, with the hugely impressive Sutton coming home eighth. The Adrian Flux Subaru Racing man produced a masterclass of  wet weather driving as he blasted from 30th on the grid and made up an incredible 22 positions.

The two privateer Hondas of Jack Goff and Daniel Lloyd completed the top ten order.

2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Round 24 – Knockhill

1 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher 27 laps
2 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.948s
3 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +6.332s
4 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +10.899s
5 Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Team GardX Racing with Motorbase +11.112s
6 Josh COOK (GBR) Power Maxed TAG Racing +11.590s
7 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +12.075s
8 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +15.266s
9 Jack GOFF (GBR) WIX Racing with Eurotech +16.153s
10 Dan LLOYD (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +16.446s
11 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +17.016s
12 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +17.533s
13 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing +18.607s
14 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +19.057s
15 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +21.412s
16 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +25.592s
17 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +26.595s
18 Glynn GEDDIE (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +27.150s
19 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +27.210s
20 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) Team HARD with Trade Price Cars +27.600s
21 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +28.149s
22 James COLE (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +12.585s
23 Carl BOARDLEY (GBR) Team HARD with Trade Price Cars +34.540s
24 Ricky COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +1 lap
25 Mike BUSHELL (GBR) Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing +2 laps
DNF Brett SMITH (GBR) WIX Racing with Eurotech +6 laps
DNF Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed TAG Racing +7 laps
DNF Ollie PIDGLEY (GBR) Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing +8 laps
DNF Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmD with Cobra Exhausts +20 laps
DNF Sam SMELT (GBR) AmD with Cobra Exhausts +25 laps
DNF Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +25 laps

Adrian Flux Subaru Racing's Ashley Sutton and Speedworks Motorsport's Tom Ingram, who finished first and second on the road respectively in Round 23 of the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, have been excluded after both cars failed a post-race ride height check.

Both will start from the rear of the grid for Round 24 later today but will carry success ballast matching their on the road position. As a result BMW Pirtek Racing's Andrew Jordan inherits the race victory in Round 23. Jordan becomes a record-equalling 13th race winner so far this season.

A new grid has been issued, with Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher's Tom Chilton inheriting pole position with Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport's Adam Morgan alongside him.

Adrian Flux Subaru Racing's Ash Sutton had seemingly scored his second victory of the day in a shortened Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race at Knockhill, before both he and second placed Tom Ingram were excluded post race (see separate bulletin), handing victory to Andrew Jordan.

Worsening conditions – and a number of incidents – eventually put paid to an exciting contest which Sutton led on the road from start-to-finish. The reigning champ had to contend with two safety car periods as a number of drivers had trouble mastering the slippery surface with heavy rain falling throughout.

Ollie Jackson's Audi was the first casualty as the mid-pack bunched up on the opening lap and then a further delay followed when Tom Oliphant's Mercedes and Carl Boardley's VW both found themselves in trouble off-track.

The race was eventually red flagged after 20 laps when Sam Smelt's Audi A3 went straight on at the chicane and made heavy contact with the barrier. Smelt emerged completely unharmed but the decision was made to stop the race early.

Power Maxed TAG Racing's Josh Cook was first to nudge past Team BMW's Turkington and Honda's Dam Cammish immediately eyed his opportunity to follow suit, the latter having previously lost places when he outbraked himself into the final hairpin.

Despite the positions on-the-road it would eventually be Jordan who was classed as the record equalling 13th race winner of this BTCC season so far when Sutton's Subaru and Ingram's Toyota both failed a post-race ride height check.

Adam Morgan (Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport) and Tom Chilton (Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher) finished fifth and sixth respectively with the latter also getting the reversed grid pole position for today's final race.

2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Round 23 – Knockhill

1 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +1.222s
2 Josh COOK (GBR) Power Maxed TAG Racing +1.835s
3 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +2.577s
4 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +3.077s
5 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +3.659s
6 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +4.305s
7 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +6.981s
8 Jack GOFF (GBR) WIX Racing with Eurotech +7.653s
9 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing +8.239s
10 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +8.586s
11 Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Team GardX Racing with Motorbase +8.913s
12 Ricky COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +9.413s
13 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +10.083s
14 Dan LLOYD (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +10.522s
15 Glynn GEDDIE (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +11.107s
16 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed TAG Racing +11.755s
17 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +12.219s
18 James COLE (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +12.585s
19 Brett SMITH (GBR) WIX Racing with Eurotech +14.839s
20 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +14.839s
21 Ollie PIDGLEY (GBR) Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing +16.001s
DNF Sam SMELT (GBR) AmD with Cobra Exhausts +11.553s
DNF Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +18.962s
DNF Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) Team HARD with Trade Price Cars +3 laps
DNF Mike BUSHELL (GBR) Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing +3 laps
DNF Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +10 laps
DNF Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +10 laps
DNF Carl BOARDLEY (GBR) Team HARD with Trade Price Cars +14 laps
DNF Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmD with Cobra Exhausts +20 laps
EXCL Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing
EXCL Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport

Reigning Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Champion Ash Sutton surged from eighth on the grid to grab a dramatic win in the opening contest at Knockhill.

The 1.27-mile Scottish circuit threw up an enthralling race in treacherous conditions, which included hordes of eye-catching overtaking manoeuvres throughout the field.

Pole-sitter Dan Cammish held the advantage off the line as the Honda Civic Type R showed good pace in the early running. The privateer-run BMW of Stephen Jelley was busy holding off the works' duo of Andrew Jordan and Colin Turkington, whilst a gaggle of cars attacked them from behind.

Jordan seemed to do his title contending team-mate Turkington a favour by blocking BTC Norlin Racing's Chris Smiley on the first lap, and when the spray cleared it was Turkington in third.

The Team Parker Racing car of Jelley then swapped positions with Team BMW's Turkington no fewer than three times as both drivers endured slippery moments in the heavy rain. It was an exciting tussle that built towards an unfortunate crescendo, when the two cars touched and Jelley's podium hopes were ended in the gravel on lap 19.

Sutton was already ahead at this point as he made light work of the BMWs ahead of him, before he scythed past then leader Cammish in the Halfords Yuasa Racing car.

Cammish then fell into the clutches of the Bavarian machines and seemingly had little defence, but he was able to get himself back on the podium after the Turkington/Jelley incident.

Sutton eventually cruised to his fifth win of the season – clocking the fastest lap in the process – as championship leader Turkington took a relatively lonely second by the time the chequered flag fell. Cammish completed the rostrum positions, as Jordan held on to fourth ahead of a charging Josh Cook.

Power Maxed TAG Racing's Cook completed his own impressive run from tenth of the starting grid. The Bath racer picked off one rival after another with his final pass by Tom Ingram's Toyota securing a top five finish. 

Speedworks Motorsport's Ingram produced a damage limitation performance by starting and finishing sixth, ensuring that Turkington's championship advantage has not been extended too much.

The Ciceley Motorsport duo of Tom Oliphant and Adam Morgan finished seventh and ninth respectively, with the fading Smiley wedged between them at the finish.

Scotsman Rory Butcher rounded out the top ten after the AmD MG man made the most passes during the race – rising up 13 places in front of his passionate home crowd.