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
