Back to our look through the exploits of 2017’s record 13 different Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race winners, and next on the list is incumbent champ Ash Sutton.

As in 2016, Subaru's Levorg sprang into life in Cheshire at Oulton Park. Andrew Jordan in the Pirtek-backed BMW 125i M Sport had taken the initiative with victory in the opener, and as a result he carried the full complement of success ballast into the second bout of the day. 

Typically, the BMW fired away from the line strongly, with Jordan maintaining that initial advantage but it wasn't long before Sutton's Subaru loomed large in his mirrors. On lap two, the Levorg drew alongside the 1 Series into the Island Hairpin and Sutton managed to get the move done at Hislops. It was cork out of the bottle stuff from there as he scampered away from the chasing pack, leaving Jordan to fend off the rest with maximum weight on-board.

Adrian Flux Subaru Racing's maiden win in 2017 was made to look serene, despite it being at the time only Sutton's second BTCC victory.

“That couldn’t have gone any better!” he said post-race. “After seeing the performance of the soft tyres in race one, I didn’t feel too confident, especially with an extra 57kg having been thrown at me but I got a great start and then the pace was just in the car. I had to get away as quickly as I could because we all know Rob Collard’s a charger and he was going to be coming after me, but I made the break by Andrew [Jordan] just in time.

“It was then a question of managing the race, and it’s phenomenal to score the first win of the year for Adrian Flux Subaru Racing. We had a bit of a difficult start to the season, so this one is for all the boys – they’ve done a mega job to get the car to where it is now.”

After Oulton came Croft, the scene of Sutton's maiden victory in the championship in 2016. He goes well in North Yorkshire, that much is now known. He notched pole position by some half-a-second, following a curtailed qualifying session, and converted to score victory in race one.

It was Sutton's exemplary defensive drive that caught the eye as he and experienced campaigner, and indeed double champion, Colin Turkington duelled for top honours for much of the contest. The duo were rarely separated by more than a couple of tenths of a second and despite the Team BMW racer's best efforts, with several attempts on Sutton's lead, the Subaru man prevailed. Roles were reversed in the final round from Croft, however, providing in two rounds a tantalising little precursor to what we'd see unfold in the battle for the title.

A stunning pair of victories at Snetterton was next on the hit list for Sutton in 2017, bringing his overall tally for the season to four. The two drives were truly imperious, including a fight from third on the grid to top step in the opener and a comprehensive lights-to-flag performance in the second race of the day, despite the 75kgs of ballast bolted to the Subaru.

“We’re in a real rhythm at the minute and I’m really enjoying it," he said at the end of the weekend. "The car is phenomenal. We made some changes between races one and two and if anything, we made the car even better! Considering where we were at the end of the opening race weekend back in April I’ll take where we are at this stage! It’s just about being consistent now as it’ll only get harder from here on in.”

Truer words would not be spoken – consistency is key in the BTCC and Sutton knew that at just beyond the half way stage of the campaign things would only get more difficult from there on in if he was to go on and secure the biggest prize in British motorsport.

A strong weekend followed that win-double, at Knockhill in Scotland with yet another victory, plus one more to add to the tally at Rockingham shortly thereafter.

Controversy and a bump in the road looked to have thrown a spanner in the works for his title tilt at Silverstone, however. The race for the crown took several twists and turns after a sensational penultimate race weekend of the season, leaving a head-to-head between Sutton and Turkington heading into the finale at Brands Hatch.

The drama ensued when, battling for the final podium position, Sutton nosed down the inside of Turkington's BMW at Luffield with just a lap to go. The latter couldn't hang on and the standings leader looked to have sealed the move that would push himself further beyond the grasp of the Ulsterman in the Drivers' running. 

However, after the chequered flag fell, it emerged that the TOCA stewards were analysing the incident for any potential wrongdoing. Subsequently, Sutton was penalised for the move, handing the podium place to Turkington and in a double-whammy, as it was the young star's third penalty strike of the campaign, he was forced into starting the final round in Northamptonshire from the very back of the grid.

Trouble for Turkington in that final round, though, proved something of a reprieve for Sutton – who battled back to 11th with the bit between his teeth. This meant that despite the controversy, Sutton was able to extend his lead in the standings to ten points with 67 still to play for at Brands Hatch, and we all know what happened there by now.

Sutton's six wins and nine further podium finishes saw him over the line in fine style to seal a first Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship crown in just his second campaign – the youngest man to become champion since way back in 1966.

Colin Turkington has today announced a new partnership with SAP®: a world leader in business technology.  Embarking on a new partnership, Turkington and SAP will be joining forces to showcase the SAP Business One® software in the 2018 British Touring Car Championship. This will mark a fantastic occasion for the double champion as he welcomes a prestigious global company into the BTCC.

“I’m delighted to welcome SAP into the Team BMW family and am incredibly proud to introduce them to the British Touring Car paddock,” commented Colin Turkington.  “It’s a great honour to represent such a well-known software company and a great privilege to display a brand of such status on my race gear.  It goes without saying that this new partnership has injected a huge boost of motivation for 2018, but also a great reward for my 2017 campaign. 

"On the track I must act and react in real time, adapting to the environment as it unfolds.  This is also true within the team as we strive to find a margin on our rivals.  SAP lead the way in providing a real time infrastructure for their customers in business and we share a deep understanding of what it takes to be successful.

"I take great pride in ensuring I deliver both on and off the track and work hard at establishing long and successful relationships with my partners.  We have plenty of exciting plans in the pipeline with SAP Business One and I look forward to showcasing these throughout the season.”

As a market leader in enterprise application software, SAP applications and services are used by more than 378,000 business and public sector customers.  Enabling businesses to keep pace with their competitors and challenging them to push boundaries, SAP is at the centre of today’s business and technology revolution.  In selecting Team BMW driver Colin Turkington, Matt Sinclair, UKI Head of SAP Business One, believes they have chosen the perfect sporting ambassador and is excited to share the SAP Business One opportunities to the UK and Ireland BTCC audience. 

“The BTCC is truly a fantastic racing series, and really showcases British Motorsport around some of the most exciting tracks in the world. The BTCC attracts a huge variety of people and substantial audiences to every single race, with even larger audiences tuning in around the world. This gives us a huge reach for the SAP brand, into some locations and audiences we otherwise wouldn’t be able to reach.

"We are absolutely delighted to be partnering with Colin Turkington. He is a fantastic talent in the sporting world, with a huge following across the UKI, but also across other countries in the region. Colin is a down to earth, pleasant individual, and really represents what we are all about in the SME space – working with integrity and passion to help SMEs run simpler and run better.”

Plans to celebrate 60 years of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at this summer’s Silverstone Classic (20-22 July) have moved up a gear with confirmation of a special track parade on Tin Top Sunday.
 
Marking the series’ Diamond Jubilee, Sunday’s packed race programme already includes no fewer than four epic retro showdowns featuring more than 150 cars that have competed in Britain’s most popular national championship over the past six decades. The remarkable racing legacy still competing today ranges from the giant-killing Minis, legendary Lotus Cortinas and mighty US muscle cars of the sixties right up to the high-tech Super Tourers of the nineties and beyond.    
 
Adding to the celebrations, the most iconic cars from these spectacular encounters will be selected to join an exclusive BTCC Diamond Jubilee showcase which will take to the famous Silverstone Grand Prix circuit at lunchtime on Tin Top Sunday.
 
Fittingly, the anniversary parade will feature 60 iconic BTCC cars and be fronted by an Austin Westminster and the Adrian Flux sponsored Subaru Levorg as raced respectively by the late Jack Sears (photo above) and Ash Sutton (photos below top and bottom) to win the very first BTCC crown in 1958 and the latest in 2017.
 
The historic collection will also include a number of significant BTCC cars not racing at the Classic – such as Frank Gardner’s title winning Alan Mann-prepared Ford Escort from 1968 (photo below centre) – as well as a large number of past and present drivers including double champions John Cleland (photo below middle right) and Jason Plato (photo below middle left), the latter the most victorious BTCC driver of all times with an unrivalled 97 race wins.  
 
“Saloon car racing has always been massively popular here in the UK and this incredible parade will not only stir up lots of great memories but mark the timeless BTCC’s 60^th birthday in terrific style,” said Nick Wigley, CEO of Goose Live Events, organiser of the Silverstone Classic. “We have already invited a number of noteworthy stars and cars to join us for these very special celebrations and would love to include all those who’ve played a role in creating what to this day is one of the best-loved and widely-watched championships in the world.”
 
Marking the occasion, a special one-off photo call is also being organised for all the many past and present BTCC drivers attending the Classic. This will take place in the International Paddock immediately before the dazzling Diamond Anniversary Parade takes to the hallowed circuit.  
 
“We are delighted that the Silverstone Classic is saluting the BTCC’s diamond anniversary with what’s clearly going to be a magnificent gathering of stars and cars from the past 60 years,” said Alan Gow, Series Director of the BTCC. “The BTCC has a remarkable history and this great parade will not only put the spotlight on much of that wonderful heritage but also act as the perfect curtain-raiser to our own one-off Diamond Double 60-mile race taking place the following weekend at Snetterton.”
 
Other highlights at this year’s Silverstone Classic include standout celebrations to mark 60 years of Formula Junior, a dramatic Saturday evening ‘Daytona at Dusk’ sportscar showpiece plus live music performances by Soul II Soul and UB40 featuring Ali, Astro and Mickey included in general admission.
 
Full details of all 2018 ticket prices are detailed on the silverstoneclassic.com website.

Team BMW has presented the colours in which Colin Turkington and Rob Collard will contest the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

The pair of BMW 125i M Sports, with which the WSR-run team won both the Manufacturers’ and Teams’ titles in 2017, will appear on-track for the first time today at Brands Hatch as pre-season testing continues.

The revised livery pays tribute to the traditional BMW Motorsport colours that have been carried by countless numbers of championship-winning touring cars since the 1970s.

Dick Bennetts, Team Principal, said: “We’re very pleased to once again carry the BMW Motorsport colours into the new BTCC season on the cars of Colin and Rob and hope they’ll prove as successful as they were in our double title-winning season last year. We have had a productive few tests in 2018 so far and want to continue this as we conclude our preparations for the start of the new campaign at Brands Hatch in April.”

AmDtuning.com with AutoAid/RCIB Insurance Racing has confirmed the signing of Scottish driver Rory Butcher for the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.
 
Rory will embark on his first full season in the series with the West Thurrock-based outfit and will partner series returnee Tom Boardman in the team’s second MG6 GT.
 
The 31-year-old joins AmDtuning.com having made his debut in the series last season, when he was called up by the Motorbase team for the final four rounds of the year in place of Luke Davenport after his injury in qualifying at Croft.
 
On his first time in the car, Butcher snared a pair of top ten finishes at Knockhill and showed impressive speed through the remaining rounds, pushing regularly for more points finishes.
 
Having sampled the MG for the first time during a test at Snetterton, Butcher is set for further pre-season running in the coming weeks ahead of the opening rounds of the season at Brands Hatch on the weekend of 7-8 April.
 
Rory will be eligible to compete for the Jack Sears Trophy this season, which is now open to those drivers without a podium finish in the series.
 
“My move into the BTCC last season was all a bit last minute and I was thrown in at the deep end for my debut on home soil at Knockhill," Butcher said. "So I was determined to try and get a place on the grid this year to build on what I learned from the final four rounds of 2017 and to start building a long-term BTCC career.
 
“In January, it looked like it wasn’t going to be possible but then I spoke to Shaun (Hollamby) about the MG and with a lot of effort from the team and from my sponsors – who were eager to join me in the BTCC - we’ve been able to pull together a deal - which I’m absolutely delighted about.
 
“It's is such a strong series, particularly this season, that it hard to make too many predictions about what we can expect to achieve, but the team has shown what it can do in recent seasons and my goal is to regularly fight inside the points and push for some strong results as the season goes on.
 
“Twelve months ago, I didn’t imagine I would be racing in the BTCC but there is no better place for me to be in terms of profile. The series is the very pinnacle of British motorsport and I’m really excited about the prospect of a full season on track with AmD in 2018.”
 
Shaun Hollamby, AmDtuning.com team boss, added: “Rory is a driver who we have been talking to for some time, and we are delighted to have concluded a deal for 2018. His career record speaks for itself, and the way he performed last year when he joined the grid in difficult circumstances was hugely impressive.
 
“Since announcing the MG programme, a huge amount of work has gone into preparing and updating the cars and bringing in the drivers is the final piece of the jigsaw.
 
“We have to give thanks to both RCIB Insurance and AutoAid for their support in putting such a strong driver line-up together and I’m confident that in Rory and Tom, we have a pairing is capable of picking up some really strong results on track. We want to challenge towards the front, and I fully expect Rory to be in the mix towards the top of the Jack Sears Trophy standings.”

We're looking back at 2017’s record 13 different Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race winners, and next up it's Team BMW's Rob Collard.

Hampshireman Collard produced a typically swashbuckling start, ensuring he would be in the top six by the time the race was red flagged early-on. The BMW racer had fired his 125i M Sport beyond four rivals before the impact of Lloyd's MG meant Armco repairs were required and a delay ensued.

No matter though, as Collard produced a similarly spritely getaway at the restart – another quick launch, hoisting his 1 Series into third spot and right onto the back of the factory Hondas ahead. Jack Goff was up there too, in Eurotech Racing's Civic Type R. 

A real set-to into the final chicane after the high-speed blast around the back of Thruxton Circuit saw Collard draw three wide with Goff and Shedden alongside. Notoriously racy come Sunday, Collard came out on top of that particular battle with Neal now in his sights out front.

The drama wasn't done there, however, as Neal's Honda appeared to be in trouble – coasting down the pit-lane and handing the race lead to Collard. Shedden in the sister Halfords Yuasa Racing machine dispatched Goff for second spot,  and looked to be hot on the heels of the leader. 

With the race building to a climax, things were unfortunately cut short after Martin Depper's Motorbase Ford ran out of road at Goodwood and scattered debris over the track. Another red flag, and this time that would be that – leaving Collard to notch a first-ever victory on home turf. Shedden came home second with Tom Ingram rounding out the podium.

“That was an explosive few laps!” beamed Collard post-race. “The BMW felt absolutely stunning and I’m so pleased for the team. We did a lot at the first start, and then the re-start was similarly textbook. I had a really good opening lap and then I’m not sure what happened to Matt – I could see sparks coming off – so it was obviously a shame for him but I will take this one and with pride."

Rob scored an additional six podiums and would go onto finish fifth in the overall standings, despite sitting out the whole finale weekend and two of the three rounds at Silverstone following the after-effects of an accident in Round 25.

The 60th Anniversary Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship is almost upon us and testing, which has been in full-swing for some months now throughout busy winter programmes up and down the pit-lane, is now coming to a head with all cars due on track together for the first time at Season Launch, Donington Park on Tuesday 27 March.

Preparations have been taking place at home and abroad, with teams taking to Spain and Portugal as well as touring circuits around the UK. Season Launch will be the first of two official pre-season tests, with another to follow on 29 March at Brands Hatch.

Tuesday morning at Donington Park will see teams and drivers fulfil a barrage of media duties, with driver line-ups to be introduced, new sponsors and partners to be publicly unveiled, as well as 'covers-off' for 2018's cars in their fresh new liveries – the media will be watching on, there to cover it all.

Prior to the afternoon test session, gates will open to the public at 1230 in the afternoon on Tuesday 27 March with admission free-of-charge. The circuit is running a hospitality taster for the upcoming season, priced at £40 per head. Fans are kindly asked not to queue before 1200 to avoid congestion during a busy morning of media activities.

The paddock will be open to all, as is the case at every BTCC race weekend, giving supporters the chance to meet their heroes and get up-close and personal with this year's batch of cars. From 1300, cars are set to take to the track for a full afternoon of testing which will come to a close at 1700.

Testing on 29 March at Brands Hatch is also set to be free to enter for the public.

For more information head to doningtonpark.msv.com.

Continuing our look back at 2017's record 13 different Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race winners, we switch focus to winner number six – Halfords Yuasa Racing man Matt Neal.

The triple champion's Thruxton drive saw him seal a 60th BTCC victory with a faultless lights-to-flag performance. Neal led team-mate Gordon Shedden home, with Eurotech Racing's Jack Goff rounding out an all-Honda top three.

Neal's weekend started positively, as he romped to a maiden pole position of the season, and, incredibly, a first in five years. He made his advantage count away from the line, pulling clear of Shedden who was hauling the maximum 75kgs of success ballast in his position of then-championship leader. From there, the experienced racer was able to manage the situation and control the gap to the chasing pack.

The closest Shedden would get to making a move stick was a side-by-side through the Complex on the opening tour, but Neal held firm. The victory drew him level with four-time champion Andy Rouse in races won, second only to Jason Plato in the all-time tally.

“I hadn’t given much thought to equalling Andy’s win tally, to be honest,” Neal said post-race. “We all thought Andy’s record was unachievable and even though Jason [Plato] exceeded it, I never thought I would get there – just unbelievable. Yes, there are a lot more races in the season now, but its tough out there.

Matt went on to score another victory – at Silverstone, which saw him pass Rouse's record – and a further six podiums on the way to seventh spot in the overall standings.

Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race-winner and BRDC Rising Star Aiden Moffat has announced award-winning technology company EMACS Bodyshop Management Systems as sponsors for the forthcoming season.

EMACS General Manager Chris Mortimer said: “The opportunity to support Aiden is a fantastic one for us as a business. It will allow us to showcase our growing brand to a wider audience and this deal was the right one for us.

"We wanted to partner with a group of people who hold similar values to our own, and had that true winner's attitude. Both Laser Tools Racing and Aiden Moffat fall firmly into that camp as victorious competitors in top-flight British motorsport and we feel their reputation matches our own very high professional standards.

"We're looking forward to watching Aiden's season with great interest." 

EMACS is no stranger to success of its own, with its systems winning the bodyshop industry's coveted ABP Club Repairers' Choice Awards for the last nine years on the spin. Its assets recognise that time is money, especially true in the workshop environment where keeping vehicle downtime to a minimum is essential and effective time management could well lead to improved turnover.

Moffat spoke of his delight at welcoming the company onboard for 2018.

"To be at the very top of your profession for nine years in a row is an amazing feat in any industry," said the Scot. "As a team, we always aspire to reach the top and stay there, so we can really appreciate the achievements EMACS has under its belt. It shows just what can be done with professionalism, dedication and hard work."

We're reliving the efforts of a record 13 different Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race winners from 2017, and today it's the turn of Team BMW's Colin Turkington.

The Ulsterman's victory at Donington Park made it five winners from the opening six rounds of what was already shaping up to be an ultra-competitive campaign.

Halfords Yuasa Racing's Gordon Shedden had looked to have sewn up a top points score after a strong drive in difficult conditions, passing four cars ahead of him despite losing early ground to Josh Cook's Ford Focus off the line. The Scot made it back past Cook three laps later before latching onto the back of Turkington's 125i M Sport, slipping by the BMW at the end of the same tour.

Pole-sitter Dave Newsham scampered into the distance while those behind battled amongst themselves but, now in clear air, Shedden was able to reel in the BTC Norlin Racing Chevrolet, making a move stick around the outside of Redgate for the lead. Drama ensued after the chequered flag fell, however, when it became clear that the Civic Type R had fallen foul of ride height regulations and had been excluded from the final result.

It all meant that Turkington had actually made the winning move on lap eight, passing Newsham at the final chicane for what became a net 20-point haul.

“That was incredibly tricky,” said Turkington post-race. “We were just on the limit of grip everywhere. The Craner Curves were just the biggest challenge. I enjoyed it, and I was just trying to focus on Gordon and keep the lap times consistent."

Another victory followed at Thruxton as the Ulsterman's title charge gathered momentum. Turkington's Round 29 victory, though, was something really special and ensured the race for the title would go down to the wire.

The double champ flew from 15th on the grid to eventually muscle his way beyond leader Aiden Moffat's Laser Tools Racing Mercedes, clinching what was an emotional win.

There was no time to waste in his chase and the 125i M Sport scythed beyond several seasoned racers, as well as eventual champion and then-direct rival for the crown Ash Sutton in the Adrian Flux Subaru Racing Levorg.

“I’ve still got the fight!” said an impassioned Turkington after Round 29. “What an amazing race. I wasn’t expecting to make that much progress but the strategy was really good. I missed out in race one but with the soft tyre and no weight the 1 Series was blinding.

"I had the fire in my belly, there was too much at stake not to. The grip was there in the warmer part of the day. Once you make a few places up, you get a bit of confidence and we were strong in the right areas, so I could make the cutback and we were strong on the brakes too.

“Aiden (Moffat) was carrying full weight and driving a very defensive race – I came with so much more pace and was able to brake so much deeper.

"The disparity between the two cars at that point was pretty obvious and there was too much at stake to follow him around, so I may have just kissed him."

It wasn't to be in the end for Turkington as a puncture ended any potential championship charge in the finale prematurely.