Gordon Shedden claimed victory in the second BTCC bout at Donington Park, as the Halfords Racing with Cataclean man showed the prowess of his Honda Civic Type R.
Colin Turkington failed to get away from the front row of the grid, allowing pole-sitter Tom Ingram to take a comfortable lead from the outset, whilst rookie Tom Gamble continued to impress in second for Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport.
Gamble couldn't hold Shedden back for long, however, as the #52 Honda made the move across the start/finish line on lap four.
A game of cat and mouse ensued, as did the new tactical additional of hybrid power, with both Ingram and Shedden holding on to the majority of their deployment until the latter stages.
Shedden eventually made his advantage stick as he nipped by Ingram's Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com machine at Mcleans on lap ten.
Ingram kept Shedden honest for the remainder but the three-time champion held on to open his victory account for the 2022 season.
"It wasn’t a lot of fun at the start of 2021," said Shedden. "But that’s fantastic, a third and a win today is great! Some great racing and the car’s mega at the minute so I’m really, really happy.
"This is the first time that everyone’s had a different level of hybrid available to them, so I’m managing what I want to do and I obviously don’t know what [Ingram is] going to do so it’s a little bit of cat and mouse.
"It’s great, there’s so many competitive cars. It’s just insane what’s happening out there, the level is just mega. So the fact we’re in the mix is great – that’s just what we want right now. There’s still another race to go today and another 28 races in the season, but if the rest of them are like that, it’ll be a lot of fun that’s for sure!"
"Mega result, really, really good!" responded Ingram. "I’m surprised at how much of a difference the hybrid energy made in terms of not having the deployment over the full race distance. I had to sort of save mine up and wait until I really needed it; I had to wait for somebody to get close. But great racing and great to get another top result in the points bank this weekend."
With Ciceley Motorsport team-mate Adam Morgan acting as a rear-gunner, Gamble incredibly went on to score a podium on his first day of racing in the UK's premier motorsport series.
"I didn’t think it could get much better after the first race, I thought that was a brilliant, solid start," said Gamble. "But I got off the line so well into second and just went for it. Luckily I had my team-mate behind me so I didn’t have anyone hassling me too much. But it’s brilliant – what a great start to the season!
"The good thing is, I’ve had two good results, so I can kind of go for it in race three. The pressure of those first two races is off so I’m chuffed to bits with a solid start like that."
Josh Cook's recovery from a tough qualifying continued as the Rich Energy BTC Racing star won a battle for fifth against reigning champion Ash Sutton in the #1 NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus.
Autobrite Direct with JourneyHero's Bobby Thompson enjoyed another encouraging outing in his Cupra Leon, as the Essex driver took seventh from Dan Lloyd in his EXCELR8 Motorsport-run Hyundai.
Jake Hill proved to be the standout star of race two as he surged from 28th and last on the grid to end the contest in an incredible ninth – also grabbing the reverse grid pole position in the process.
Rory Butcher provided a much-needed boost for Toyota GAZOO Racing UK with a top ten finish.
2022 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 2 – Donington Park
1. Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Racing with Cataclean 16 laps
2. Tom INGRAM (GBR) Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com +0.197s
3. George GAMBLE (GBR) Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport +2.250s
4. Adam MORGAN (GBR) Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport +3.230s
5. Josh COOK (GBR) Rich Energy BTC Racing +5.712s
6. Ash SUTTON (GBR) NAPA Racing UK +7.362s
7. Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) Autobrite Direct with JourneyHero +7.832s
8. Daniel LLOYD (GBR) Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com +7.988s
9. Jake HILL (GBR) ROKiT MB Motorsport +10.230s
10. Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Toyota GAZOO Racing UK +14.089s
11. Árón TAYLOR-SMITH (IRL) Yazoo with Safuu.com Racing +16.632s
12. Daniel ROWBOTTOM (GBR) Halfords Racing with Cataclean +17.079s
13. Jason PLATO (GBR) Rich Energy BTC Racing +18.368s
14. Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +18.440s
15. Michael CREES (GBR) CarStore Power Maxed Racing +21.689s
16. Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +22.069s
17. Ash HAND (GBR) CarStore Power Maxed Racing +23.567s
18. Dexter PATTERSON (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +26.830s
19. Jade EDWARDS (GBR) Rich Energy BTC Racing +27.727s
20. Sam OSBORNE (GBR) Apec Racing with Beavis Morgan +59.648s
21. Dan CAMMISH (GBR) NAPA Racing UK +1 lap
22. Tom CHILTON (GBR) Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com +2 laps
23. Nic HAMILTON (GBR) Yazoo with Safuu.com Racing +2 laps
24. Ricky COLLARD (GBR) Toyota GAZOO Racing UK +8 laps
25. Ollie JACKSON (GBR) Apec Racing with Beavis Morgan +8 laps
26. Jack BUTEL (GBR) Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com +12 laps
27. Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team BMW +16 laps
28. Rick PARFITT (GBR) Uptonsteel with Euro Car Parts Racing +16 laps
