Event Review – Morgan moves to championship summit

BTCC wins Matt Neal, Josh Cook and Adam Morgan at Thruxton

Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport's Adam Morgan moved to the summit of the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship standings with victory in the final race in front a record crowd at Thruxton today (20 May), following on from points scoring finishes in the first two bouts in Hampshire.

Matt Neal claimed the early bragging rights as he converted pole position into a race one win, before Josh Cook scored his second victory in as many BTCC meetings with victory in the next contest.

Halfords Yuasa Racing’s Neal produced a commanding lights-to-flag performance in the opening race, after seeing off race-long pressure from Team BMW’s Colin Turkington.

Despite the season so far largely being dominated by a number of young drivers, it was the multiple BTCC champion duo of Neal and Turkington that fought back at the UK’s fastest circuit.

Neal took a maiden pole position for the all-new Honda Civic Type R during qualifying on Saturday, and he duly converted that advantage into a 62nd BTCC career victory. Turkington pulled his BMW 125i M Sport alongside the Honda off the line, but Neal hung on at the Complex as all 32-cars made it through for the first time.

Turkington kept Neal honest throughout the 16-lap duration, but their positions remained the same until the finish.

The Team GardX Racing with Motorbase Ford Focus of Sam Tordoff hounded down Dan Cammish’s Honda for the final place on the podium, but the latter fended off every advance, and grabbed the second outright rostrum of his debut season.

Power Maxed TAG Racing’s Cook then followed up his recent Donington Park success with another stellar display at the Hampshire speedbowl.

Pole-sitter Neal couldn’t hang on off-the-line as Turkington’s BMW blasted ahead of the Honda Civic Type R on the run down to the Complex.

Cammish’s Honda bogged down at the start, which allowed Tordoff’s Ford Focus and Andrew Jordan’s Pirtek Racing BMW by in a tussle for third.

Progress was soon being made behind, however, as the Power Maxed TAG Racing duo of Cook and Senna Proctor slipped past Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher’s Tom Chilton. Proctor’s advances were halted at that point but team-mate Cook was on a charge as he saw off Tordoff and Jordan in quick succession.

Cook’s Astra then surged around the outside of Neal’s Honda at the final chicane and by lap 10 the local hero was challenging for the lead. The moment of truth came at the end of the next tour as the Bath driver pulled an almost identical move on Turkington’s BMW 125i M Sport.

Team GardX Racing with Motorbase’s Tordoff held on to fourth from Jordan and Proctor.

Morgan's second win of the season came in dominant fashion as he commanded the final race from start-to-finish in his Mercedes-Benz A-Class.

The Lancastrian driver got a good getaway from pole position and he was able to defend well from an early attack from the Vauxhall Astra of Proctor.

Morgan's job was made slightly more comfortable when a charging Jack Goff hauled his Honda onto the back of Proctor's Astra, and a squabble for second ensued.

Goff made his move stick on Proctor in the final third of the contest, but it was too late to make any inroads into Morgan's advantage. The 29-year-old took the chequered flag and with it the lead in the overall drivers' standings.

Tordoff completed a solid day for Team GardX Racing with Motorbase by taking fourth, whilst Team BMW's Turkington fired himself back into championship contention with another top five finish, following on from his double podium earlier in the day.

Morgan leads the standings by just a point from Cook, with previous championship leader Tom Ingram a further ten points in arrears. Speedworks Motorsport’s Ingram endured a challenging day after a non-finish in the opener, but the Toyota star provided some respite with a seventh place and a brand new lap record in the finale.

Yvan Muller’s 2002 Thruxton benchmark was the longest standing lap record on the BTCC calendar, but it was beaten a number of times today. Eventually it was Ingram who earned the ultimate accolade – his 1:17.060s setting a new marker.

Vauxhall lead the Manufacturers’ standings, as well as the Teams’ table for the Power Maxed TAG Racing squad. Morgan and his Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport team hold the advantage in both Independents’ standings, whilst a trio of top ten finishes for BTC Norlin Racing’s Chris Smiley pushed him to the top of the Jack Sears Trophy.

The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship returns in three weeks’ time for Rounds 10, 11 and 12 at Oulton Park.

Matt Neal said: “That was very special – this one’s for Henry Hope-Frost. We’ve certainly got the fever today. It’s the first win for the new Honda Civic Type R, and on Yuasa’s 100th Anniversary weekend. I think the warm weather suited us and helped us to get the power down with front-wheel drive, and I got the best start I’ve made in a couple of years. We did a race simulation yesterday and knew we were pretty solid over a race distance. Still, I thought Colin would come back at me, but one of the new Civic Type R’s key strengths is its speed through the quick corners out the back of the lap and that allowed me to stretch my legs a bit.”

Josh Cook said: “That was really good fun. To win my first race at Donington Park was obviously enjoyable, but to do it from the middle of the pack like that was even better. It’s the first time I’ve been round here this weekend without any weight in the car. The Astra was on rails at the front and we were really strong through Church, which allowed us to carry good momentum onto the back straight. That said, the rear was moving around quite a lot which caused plenty of big sideways moments! All credit to the Power Maxed Racing guys – qualifying didn’t quite go our way, but we knew we had the pace and when the points are available, we’ll certainly take them.”

Adam Morgan said: “I didn’t expect this, to be honest, because I knew Senna [Proctor] and the Vauxhall would be quick so I was anticipating being put under a bit of pressure, but I was confident and I got the start really hooked-up. After getting through the Complex for the first time, it was just qualifying lap after qualifying lap – it was, ‘let’s get on with this and go’. Senna kept me honest and pushed me all the way, and Jack [Goff] did the same later on but I was able to manage the gap and on the last lap, I was able to calm it down a bit and enjoy the moment. It’s a credit to all the Ciceley guys, who have worked their socks off over the winter and early part of the season. To be leading the championship is a first for us, so now we’ll go to our favourite track carrying full ballast, and I’m looking forward to it.”

2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Round 7 – Thruxton

2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Round 8 – Thruxton

2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Round 9 – Thruxton

Penalties

Race 1
Michael Caine received a verbal warning and two penalty points for an incident involving Tom Boardman

Race 2
Josh Cook received a verbal warning for gaining an unfair advantage in an incident involving Andrew Jordan

James Cole received a verbal warning for an incident involving Tom Oliphant

Weekend
Adrian Flux Subaru Racing have been deducted 10 points from the Manufacturers’ and Teams’ totals as it has exceeded the engine allowance for the season

Adam Morgan takes lights-to-flag victory

Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport's Adam Morgan has moved to the summit of the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship standings with victory in the final race at Thruxton, following on from points scoring finishes in the first two bouts in Hampshire.

Morgan's second win of the season came in dominant fashion as he commanded the race from start-to-finish in his Mercedes-Benz A-Class.

The Lancastrian driver got a good getaway from pole position and he was able to defend well from an early attack from the Vauxhall Astra of Senna Proctor.

Morgan's job was made slightly more comfortable when a charging Jack Goff hauled his Honda onto the back of Proctor's Power Maxed TAG Racing's machine, and a squabble for second ensued.

Goff made his move stick on Proctor in the final third of the contest, but it was too late to make any inroads into Morgan's advantage. The 29-year-old took the chequered flag and with it the lead in the overall drivers' standings.

“I didn’t expect this, to be honest, because I knew Senna [Proctor] and the Vauxhall would be quick so I was anticipating being put under a bit of pressure, but I was confident and I got the start really hooked-up," said Morgan. "After getting through the Complex for the first time, it was just qualifying lap after qualifying lap – it was, ‘let’s get on with this and go’. Senna kept me honest and pushed me all the way, and Jack [Goff] did the same later on but I was able to manage the gap and on the last lap, I was able to calm it down a bit and enjoy the moment.

"The car was on rails, which is credit to all the Ciceley guys, who have worked their socks off over the winter and early part of the season. To be leading the championship is a first for us, so now we’ll go to our favourite track carrying full ballast, and I’m looking forward to it."

Sam Tordoff completed a solid day for Team GardX Racing with Motorbase by taking fourth, whilst Team BMW's Colin Turkington fired himself back into championship contention with another top five finish this afternoon.

Josh Cook backed up his earlier win with a sixth place in the final race, and the Power Maxed TAG Racing ace now sits just one point behind Morgan at the top of the standings.

Speedworks Motorsport's Tom Ingram provided some respite with seventh on a challenging day, having worked his way through the order after a non-finish in the opener.

Honda legend Matt Neal claimed eighth, which followed pole position, a race one win and a further podium in the second contest – underlining his desires to challenge for the title once more.

BTC Norlin Racing's Chris Smiley scored a hat-trick of top ten finishes with ninth in the final race, with Team BMW's Rob Collard completing the top running order.

2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Round 9 – Thruxton

1 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport 16 laps
2 Jack GOFF (GBR) WIX Racing with Eurotech +2.433s
3 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed TAG Racing +3.147s
4 Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Team GardX Racing with Motorbase +5.045s
5 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +5.994s
6 Josh COOK (GBR) Power Maxed TAG Racing +6.544s
7 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +6.922s
8 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +7.722s
9 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +12.985s
10 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +13.205s
11 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +15.230s
12 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +16.601s
13 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +16.809s
14 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +17.120s
15 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +17.350s
16 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing +17.830s
17 Jake HILL (GBR) Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing +21.896s
18 Tom BOARDMAN (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +24.707s
19 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +25.488s
20 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +26.026s
21 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +26.399s
22 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) Team HARD with Trade Price Cars +26.805s
23 James NASH (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +27.100s
24 James COLE (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +27.368s
25 Michael CAINE (GBR) Team HARD with Trade Price Cars +27.587s
26 Sam SMELT (GBR) AmD with Cobra Exhausts +34.620s
27 Mike BUSHELL (GBR) Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing +1 lap
28 Josh PRICE (GBR) Autoglym Academy Racing +6 laps
29 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmD with Cobra Exhausts +7 laps
30 Brett SMITH (GBR) WIX Racing with Eurotech +13 laps
DNS Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing
DNS Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing

Cook claims win at sun-baked Thruxton

Josh Cook has won his second BTCC race in as many meetings, following up his recent Donington Park success with another stellar display here at Thruxton.

Pole-sitter Matt Neal couldn't hang on off-the-line as Colin Turkington's BMW nipped in front of the Honda Civic Type R on the run down to the Complex for the first time.

Dan Cammish's Honda bogged down at the start, which allowed Sam Tordoff's Ford Focus and Andrew Jordan's BMW by in a tussle for third.

Progress was soon being made behind, however, as the Power Maxed TAG Racing duo of Josh Cook and Senna Proctor slipped past Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher's Tom Chilton. Proctor's advances were halted at that point but team-mate Cook was on a charge as he saw off Tordoff and Jordan in quick succession.

Cook's Astra then blasted around the outside of Neal's Honda at the final chicane and by lap 10 the local hero was challenging for the lead. The moment of truth came at the end of the next tour as he pulled an almost identical move on Turkington's BMW 125i M Sport.

The Bath driver never looked back as he took the win on-the-road from Turkington and Neal.

"That was really good fun," said Cook. "To win my first race at Donington Park was obviously enjoyable, but to do it from the middle of the pack like that was even better. It’s the first time I’ve been round here this weekend without any weight in the car. The Astra was on rails at the front and we were really strong through Church, which allowed us to carry good momentum onto the back straight.

"That said, the rear was moving around quite a lot which caused plenty of big sideways moments! All credit to the Power Maxed Racing guys – qualifying didn’t quite go our way, but we knew we had the pace and when the points are available, we’ll certainly take them."

Team GardX Racing with Motorbase's Tordoff held on to fourth from Jordan and Proctor.

Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport's Adam Morgan made solid ground to take seventh from fellow championship challenger Jack Goff. Chilton had to settle for ninth at the finish, whilst BTC Norlin Racing's Chris Smiley claimed his second top ten result of the day.

More to follow...

2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Round 8 – Thruxton

1 Josh COOK (GBR) Power Maxed TAG Racing 16 laps
2 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +1.325s
3 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +5.285
4 Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Team GardX Racing with Motorbase +6.287s
5 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +6.595s
6 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed TAG Racing +7.005s
7 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +7.419s
8 Jack GOFF (GBR) WIX Racing with Eurotech +7.816s
9 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +9.114s
10 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +10.203s
11 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +11.049s
12 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +12.177s
13 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing +14.844s
14 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +15.289s
15 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +15.741s
16 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +16.154s
17 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmD with Cobra Exhausts +21.203s
18 Jake HILL (GBR) Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing +22.390s
19 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +25.204s
20 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) Team HARD with Trade Price Cars +29.488s
21 James NASH (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +30.606s
22 Tom BOARDMAN (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +30.914s
23 Josh PRICE (GBR) Autoglym Academy Racing +35.311s
24 Sam SMELT (GBR) AmD with Cobra Exhausts +38.749s
25 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +41.190s
26 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +1m15.410s
DNF Michael CAINE (GBR) Team HARD with Trade Price Cars +2 laps
DNF Brett SMITH (GBR) WIX Racing with Eurotech +2 laps
DNF Mike BUSHELL (GBR) Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing +3 laps
DNF James COLE (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +13 laps
DNF Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +13 laps
DNF Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +14 laps

Neal secures home win for Honda

Halfords Yuasa Racing's Matt Neal secured a lights-to-flag victory in the opening Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race at Thruxton, after seeing off race-long pressure from Team BMW rival Colin Turkington.

Despite the season so far being dominated by a number of young drivers, it was the multiple BTCC champion duo of Neal and Turkington that stepped up to the plate at the UK's fastest circuit.

Neal claimed a maiden pole position for the all-new Honda Civic Type R during qualifying yesterday, and he duly converted that advantage into a 62nd BTCC victory. Turkington hauled his BMW 125i M Sport alongside the #25 Honda off the line, but Neal hung on at the Complex as all 32-cars made it through for the first time.

Turkington kept Neal honest throughout the 16-lap contest, but their positions remained the same until the finish. BMW man Turkington scored an extra point, however, as he smashed the longest-standing lap record in the BTCC – a 1:17.243s lap time beating Yvan Muller's benchmark from way back in 2002.

"That was very special – this one’s for Henry Hope-Frost," said Neal. "We’ve certainly got the fever today. It’s the first win for the new Honda Civic Type R, and on Yuasa’s 100^th Anniversary weekend. I think the warm weather suited us and helped us to get the power down with front-wheel drive, and I got the best start I’ve made in a couple of years.

"We did a race simulation yesterday and knew we were pretty solid over a race distance. Still, I thought Colin would come back at me, but one of the new Civic Type R’s key strengths is its speed through the quick corners out the back of the lap and that allowed me to stretch my legs a bit. I’ve now got to carry 75kgs in race two, but ballast gives you traction, doesn’t it, so bring it on!”

"No BTCC race is easy and you can never take anything for granted, but that was a great start to our day," responded Turkington. "Once again, the BMW was very strong over a race distance, but we just didn’t quite have the legs on Matt – we had the pace to begin with, but three-quarters of the way through, he started to leave me a bit through the quicker corners, just as my car was beginning a bit of rear stability.

"Still, I kept pushing to the last lap and whilst we didn’t quite have enough there, we look forward to the next one. Everybody knows in this championship that you’ve got to be consistent and keep scoring points – and uncharacteristically, that’s what we haven’t done so far this year, but the whole BMW team is really strong and hopefully we can build from here."

The final place on the podium wasn't so clear cut as Brett Smith made a sticky getaway from third on the grid. The WIX Racing with Eurotech man slipped down the order as Honda rookie Dan Cammish inherited fourth ahead of a fast-starting Andrew Jordan in the BMW Pirtek Racing car.

Sam Tordoff joined the battle shortly after and the Motorbase-run Ford Focus was soon by Jordan, who has himself been struggling with a stomach bug during the weekend.

Tordoff hounded down Cammish, although the latter fended off every advance for the duration of the race, and grabbed his second outright rostrum of his debut season.

"Matt [Neal]’s pole lap yesterday was pretty special – that certainly taught me a thing or two – and Sam [Tordoff] was really quick towards the end of the race," said Cammish. "I had to dig deep to hit every mark. What a great result for Honda, Halfords and Yuasa – and now we’ll aim to build on this."

Tom Chilton took a lonely fifth behind stable-mate Tordoff, after the Team Shredded Wheat with Gallagher driver also got the better of a fading Jordan.

Power Maxed TAG Racing's Senna Proctor and Josh Cook were seventh and ninth respectively, with the recovering Smith in-between the two Vauxhalls, and the spirited Chris Smiley in the BTC Norlin Racing Civic rounding out the top ten.

It was a race with little by way of incident although championship leader Tom Ingram was forced out of the race with an electrical issue following contact with Cook's Astra. Tom Boardman and Michael Caine arguably produced the most dramatic moment of the bout with a clash at the final chicane sending both into retirement. Caine received a verbal warning and his licence was endorsed with two penalty points for his part in the incident.

2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Round 7 – Thruxton

1 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing 16 laps
2 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.860s
3 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +3.699s
4 Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Team GardX Racing with Motorbase +4.040s
5 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +5.290s
6 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +8.922s
7 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed TAG Racing +9.361s
8 Brett SMITH (GBR) WIX Racing with Eurotech +9.725s
9 Josh COOK (GBR) Power Maxed TAG Racing +14.929s
10 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +15.436s
11 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +15.591s
12 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +16.620s
13 Jack GOFF (GBR) WIX Racing with Eurotech +16.780s
14 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +17.787s
15 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +18.096s
16 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing +18.529s
17 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +19.922s
18 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +21.773s
19 James COLE (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +23.602s
20 Jake HILL (GBR) Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing +24.888s
21 Mike BUSHELL (GBR) Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing +26.893s
22 Josh PRICE (GBR) Autoglym Academy Racing +27.155s
23 James NASH (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +27.766s
24 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +28.022s
25 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmD with Cobra Exhausts +30.185s
26 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) Team HARD with Trade Price Cars +38.299s
27 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +38.648s
28 Sam SMELT (GBR) AmD with Cobra Exhausts +38.965s
DNF Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +3 laps
DNF Tom BOARDMAN (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +3 laps
DNF Michael CAINE (GBR) Team HARD with Trade Price Cars +4 laps
DNF Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +11 laps

LATEST: Ingram drops to tenth following track limits infringement

Championship leader Tom Ingram has had his fastest lap time removed post-qualifying for Round 7 of the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

The Race Director took the decision after Ingram, driving the #80 Toyota Avensis, was adjudged to have exceeded track limits. Speedworks Motorsport appealed the judgement, but stewards upheld the original decision of the Race Director.

Subsequently Ingram has dropped down to tenth on the grid.

An official amended grid will be released tomorrow morning.

YOUNG GUNS LEADING THE CHARGE

After six rounds there is an unfamiliar and fresh look to the front-running order of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

Tom Ingram at just 24-years-old currently leads the way from Adam Morgan (29), Josh Cook (26) and Jack Goff (27). The trend continues throughout the top eight drivers with reigning champ Ash Sutton (24), Aiden Moffat (21), Dan Cammish (29) and Chris Smiley (26) completing the line-up.

The result is an average age of under 26 in the current top eight drivers – a certain first for Britain's best championship. Whilst there are a host of talented experienced racers already fighting back here at Thruxton this weekend it seems the future is now in the BTCC!

Download your 'Young Guns' poster below:

Real deal Neal flies at Thruxton

Experienced heads fight back in BTCC qualifying

Halfords Yuasa Racing's Matt Neal produced a mind-blowing lap during qualifying for Round 7 of the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, smashing his own lap record by nearly half a second to grab pole position at Thruxton.

In a season that has so far been largely dominated by the ever-growing number of emerging young talents in the field, it was elder statesman Neal who produced the goods at the UK's fastest circuit.

Team BMW's Colin Turkington – another of the experienced heads in the ultra-competitive 32-car line-up – looked to have taken pole when he dipped under Neal's 2017 benchmark, but the Ulsterman still secured an impressive place on the front row for tomorrow's opener.

Brett Smith admitted he was literally sick with nerves prior to the session, with few predicting his high-rise finish. The WIX Racing with Eurotech man was confident however, and the 26-year-old duly obliged with a stellar lap to take third.

Dan Cammish was among a number of drivers to lose their fastest lap times, due to track limit infringements, but the BTCC rookie bounced back well to claim fourth at the flag – making it three Hondas in the top four of the final classification.

Power Maxed TAG Racing is enjoying something of a breakthrough season in the BTCC – with Senna Proctor and Josh Cook having taken a maiden win apiece at Brands Hatch and Donington Park respectively – and both young racers also starred today at a sun-baked Thruxton. With a ballast-laden Vauxhall Astra for Cook, however, it was this time left to Proctor to perform well during qualifying.

The Yorkshireman grabbed fifth, ahead of championship leader Tom Ingram – the Toyota marksman taking sixth place on-the-road despite his Avensis carrying maximum weight. Ingram, however, was later adjudged to have exceeded track limits. Speedworks Motorsport appealed the post-qualifying judgement, but stewards upheld the original decision of the Race Director. Subsequently Ingram dropped down to tenth on the grid.

Ford duo Sam Tordoff and Tom Chilton were next up in the timesheets, with the Motorbase-run machines showing solid pace around the Hampshire speedbowl. BMW Pirtek Racing's Andrew Jordan is looking to ignite his championship challenge and he'll have to do so from eighth on the grid, whilst Chris Smiley was ninth – another notable result from the fledgling BTC Norlin Racing squad.

There was little by way of off-track incidents during the 30-minute session but there were a number of notable front-running absentees from the top ten, including Adam Morgan (12th), Jack Goff (14th), Josh Cook (15th) and Ash Sutton (18th).

Rounds 7, 8 and 9 of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship will take place at Thruxton tomorrow (20 May) with a huge crowd expected to descend onto the sunny grass banks of Hampshire, and many more watching the action live and exclusively on ITV4 from 11:15.

Matt Neal said: "I was hanging everything out there! I honestly didn’t think we had that kind of pace in the car, but it just shows that this new Civic Type R is really up for it. I’m well-chuffed. This event is like a home grand prix for us, with Honda and Yuasa based just up the road in Swindon and a different livery on the car this weekend in recognition of Yuasa’s 100^th Anniversary. Things haven’t gone our way so far this year, but we always remain hopeful. We did a good race simulation this morning, and the car was really kind to the tyres. The trouble, obviously, is I’ve got Colin [Turkington] alongside me with his fast-starting rear-wheel drive BMW, but it would be nice to break our 2018 duck tomorrow..."

Colin Turkington said: "I’m really pleased. The BMW has been fantastic all day. Thruxton is not somewhere that is generally one of our best tracks – it tends to be a little bit more difficult for us here – so all credit to Team BMW for this effort. They’ve kept improving the car bit by bit, and whilst it’s tough for us to match the front-wheel drive guys here over a single lap, this is the fastest time I’ve ever done at Thruxton. We are hoping the race will come to us, and the warmer the better for us tomorrow. It’s not going to be won at the first corner – it will be all about tyre management. We need to think long and hard tonight about how to optimise the car over a race distance, and hopefully we will come out firing on all cylinders."

Brett Smith said: "I knew coming into this weekend that Thruxton would be my best chance for a podium so far. This has always been a Honda circuit – it tends to favour front-wheel drive anyway, but I think the Honda is the best chassis on the grid – and I’m chuffed to bits with P3, right behind the pole man. I knew it was in the car and me, but I got myself so worked up beforehand that I ended up being sick. I was that nervous – proper James Hunt style. I’ve not got any ballast on-board, so the goal has to be to get a podium tomorrow – at the very least."

2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Qualifying – Thruxton

1 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing 1m15.612s (112.17mph)
2 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.235s
3 Brett SMITH (GBR) WIX Racing with Eurotech +0.435s
4 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.477s
5 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed TAG Racing +0.533s
6 Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Team GardX Racing with Motorbase +0.609s
7 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +0.644s
8 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +0.706s
9 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.783s
10 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +0.795s
11 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +0.845s
12 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +0.901s
13 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +0.911s
14 Jack GOFF (GBR) WIX Racing with Eurotech +0.926s
15 Josh COOK (GBR) Power Maxed TAG Racing +0.991s
16 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +1.020s
17 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing +1.029s
18 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +1.078s
19 Mike BUSHELL (GBR) Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing +1.154s
20 James COLE (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +1.167s
21 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +1.193s
22 James NASH (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +1.215s
23 Josh PRICE (GBR) Autoglym Academy Racing +1.282s
24 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +1.306s
25 Jake HILL (GBR) Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing +1.325s
26 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +1.471s
27 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +1.722s
28 Michael CAINE (GBR) Team HARD with Trade Price Cars +1.958s
29 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmD with Cobra Exhausts +2.056s
30 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) Team HARD with Trade Price Cars +2.161s
31 Tom BOARDMAN (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +2.501s
32 Sam SMELT (GBR) AmD with Cobra Exhausts +2.659s

Cammish leads the way in FP2

Halfords Yuasa Racing's Dan Cammish finished the second Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship Free Practice session of the day from Thruxton top of the pile.

Cammish, on what Honda considers home soil in Hampshire with its UK base just up the road in Swindon, set his benchmark time just prior to a mid-session red flag stoppage, with Rory Butcher's MG requiring recovery after an off in sector two. In fact, few went quicker following that interruption and the order remained largely unchanged as the minutes ebbed away.

Colin Turkington brought his BMW 125i M Sport around second fastest, having earlier set the pace in the opening practice session this morning. He was followed in third by Senna Proctor – showing once again that the Power Maxed TAG Racing Vauxhall Astras are set to be in the mix this weekend.

Mike Bushell notched the fourth fastest time in the Volkswagen CC – a car that is well suited to the speed, balance and poise required at the Hampshire Speedbowl – the site of its maiden podiums in the BTCC back in 2013.

Cammish's team-mate, Matt Neal, fired the sister, current-generation FK8 Honda Civic Type R to fifth spot and, having secured pole position and a race one win at Thruxton last year, he'll be aiming to kick on a notch further in qualifying.

Neal was followed by standings leader Tom Ingram in the Speedworks Motorsport Toyota, who, with the maximum complement of ballast aboard his Avensis is sure to be encouraged by his FP2 showing.

Andrew Jordan brought his BMW Pirtek Racing 125i M Sport around in seventh, followed by the WIX Racing with Eurotech's Jack Goff and the sister Civic of Matt Simpson, while Brett Smith completed the top ten.

Qualifying is next on the agenda at 1525 – with all the action live over at itv.com/btcc/qualifying-live.

2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Free Practice 2 – Thruxton

1 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing 1m16.459s
2 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.061s
3 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed TAG Racing +0.082s
4 Mike BUSHELL (GBR) Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing +0.201s
5 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.303s
6 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +0.424s
7 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +0.434s
8 Jack GOFF (GBR) WIX Racing with Eurotech +0.471s
9 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +0.566s
10 Brett SMITH (GBR) WIX Racing with Eurotech +0.679s
11 Josh COOK (GBR) Power Maxed TAG Racing +0.711s
12 Jake HILL (GBR) Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing +0.744s
13 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing +0.783s
14 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +0.792s
15 Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Team GardX Racing with Motorbase +0.846s
16 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +0.869s
17 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +0.873s
18 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +0.899s
19 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +0.900s
20 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +1.025s
21 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +1.026s
22 James COLE (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +1.276s
23 Tom BOARDMAN (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +1.356s
24 Josh PRICE (GBR) Autoglym Academy Racing +1.435s
25 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +1.442s
26 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +1.458s
27 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmD with Cobra Exhausts +1.509s
28 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) Team HARD with Trade Price Cars +1.526s
29 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +1.624s
30 James NASH (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +1.652s
31 Sam SMELT (GBR) AmD with Cobra Exhausts +1.996s
32 Michael CAINE (GBR) Team HARD with Trade Price Cars TIME NOT RECORDED

Turkington tops early Thruxton order

Team BMW's Colin Turkington has set the pace in the opening Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship Free Practice session at Thruxton.

The double BTCC champion has endured a challenging start to his 2018 campaign – a second place finish at Brands Hatch being his best result so far – but the signs are good for a return to form in Hampshire. In truth, it has been misfortune rather than pace that has hampered his efforts in the opening two events, but both he and his WSR team hope that any technical issues are now behind them.

Turkington set his benchmark lap time midway through the session and he was immediately followed by the impressive Vauxhall duo of Josh Cook and Senna Proctor. The Power Maxed TAG Racing pairing have taken a maiden win apiece from the events at Brands Hatch and Donington Park and there's every sign that the Vauxhall Astra squad could be a championship threat this season.

Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher took fourth with Tom Chilton, whilst the works-backed Honda of Dan Cammish was fifth. Cammish has shown good pace during the early stages of his BTCC career and it's a vital weekend for Halfords Yuasa Racing as the manufacturer team needs to start turning speed into consistent points finishes.

Jack Goff continued his high-rise form with a steady sixth ahead of reigning champion Ash Sutton. The Adrian Flux Subaru Racing star set the pace during pre-season testing here at Thruxton – some half a second quicker than Turkington's time today – suggesting there may be more pace to come as this weekend develops.

Andrew Jordan was eighth with Mike Bushell ninth in the Team HARD Volkswagen. Bushell ran extremely well during testing here and the VW CC has always been a potent force around the fastest circuit in the country.

Team BMW's Rob Collard was tenth, ensuring that all three WSR BMW 125i M Sports were in the top ten.

Free Practice 2 starts at 1230 before the qualifying session commences at 1525, where all the action will be streamed live via www.itv.com/btcc.

2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Free Practice 1 – Thruxton

1 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW 1m16.268s
2 Josh COOK (GBR) Power Maxed TAG Racing +0.119s
3 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed TAG Racing +0.403s
4 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +0.446s
5 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.451s
6 Jack GOFF (GBR) WIX Racing with Eurotech +0.562s
7 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.603s
8 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +0.610s
9 Mike BUSHELL (GBR) Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing +0.629s
10 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +0.647s
11 Brett SMITH (GBR) WIX Racing with Eurotech +0.670s
12 Jake HILL (GBR) Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing +0.680s
13 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +0.804s
14 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.864s
15 Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Team GardX Racing with Motorbase +0.877s
16 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) DUO Motorsport with HMS Racing +1.058s
17 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +1.082s
18 James COLE (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +1.093s
19 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +1.113s
20 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +1.284s
21 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +1.297s
22 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +1.539s
23 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +1.565s
24 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmD with Cobra Exhausts +1.692s
25 Josh PRICE (GBR) Autoglym Academy Racing +1.697s
26 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) Team HARD with Trade Price Cars +1.765s
27 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +1.847s
28 Sam SMELT (GBR) AmD with Cobra Exhausts +1.874s
29 Michael CAINE (GBR) Team HARD with Trade Price Cars +1.898s
30 Tom BOARDMAN (GBR) AmD with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing +2.354s
31 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +2.387s
32 James NASH (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +2.472s

Yuasa to mark its centenary with special BTCC livery at Thruxton

Yuasa will mark the 100^th anniversary of its founding by running a vintage Yuasa logo on both Halfords Yuasa Racing Honda Civic Type Rs at Thruxton for Rounds 7, 8 and 9 of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship this weekend.

Drivers Matt Neal and Dan Cammish will carry a special livery on their cars with a ‘Celebrating 100 Years’ windscreen sun strip and a vintage Yuasa Battery logo on the bonnet. The circular logo appeared on all Yuasa products sold and produced in the UK up until 1992 when it was replaced with the current ‘water tower’ logo familiar to all BTCC fans.

The Yuasa Battery Storage Company was founded by Shichizaemon Yuasa in 1918, and began manufacturing Japan’s first automotive batteries soon after. The company grew to become a battery super power, renowned worldwide for its innovation and quality.

Yuasa is the market leading brand for both vehicle and industrial batteries in the UK. It is distributed in the UK by the European arm of global battery manufacturer GS Yuasa who are based in Japan and were formed in 2004 by the merger of Yuasa Corporation and Japan Storage Battery (GS).

The GS Yuasa Corporation is the world’s leading manufacturer of energy storage solutions and the number one choice for quality, reliability and performance. The company is celebrating its 100^th anniversary during 2017 and 2018, with GS having been founded in 1917 and Yuasa in 1918.

James Hylton, Managing Director of GS Yuasa Battery Sales UK Ltd said: “We are delighted to be celebrating the 100^th anniversary of Yuasa’s founding. We wanted to do something extra special to mark the occasion… after all it is not often you get the chance to celebrate such a momentous milestone!

“Having sponsored Halfords Yuasa Racing since 2011, the Yuasa logo has become synonymous with BTCC racing. Thruxton is our ‘home’ event so it is the perfect venue to run the vintage Yuasa logo and highlight our centenary to hundreds of thousands of motorsport fans both at the circuit and live on TV.

“Halfords Yuasa Racing tend to be rapid around the Thruxton circuit so we’re hoping Matt and Dan will be right at the front of the pack!"