Laser Tools Racing endured the highs and lows of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship during the latest rounds at Oulton Park, as seven points finishes were punctuated by a pair of retirements for the West Lothian-based squad.

Despite a damp start to Saturday, qualifying on the 2.23-mile circuit in the afternoon was dry and saw reigning champion Ash Sutton take tenth, Aiden Moffat 12th and Carl Boardley 19th on the grid for Sunday’s opening contest.

Race one got underway in dramatic fashion, as the trio made good starts before contact within the pack sent Sutton off and onto the grass before rejoining at the back of the field.

Moffat made up a number of places, picking off several cars ahead to take eighth by the end of the first tour. Boardley also moved up to 17th as Sutton headed for the pit lane to clear his radiator.

A multi-car collision saw the race red-flagged and the trio headed back to the grid for a six-lap restart.

Moffat once again got off to a great start and was into sixth by lap three while Sutton similarly rocketed through the order, breaking into the points with 14th.

Boardley, who started from 13th on the grid, made up two places and held his own to take 11th as the chequered flag fell.

A determined Sutton made up several places at the start of race two and was into the top ten by the second tour, improving to eighth by lap five and holding the position throughout.

Team-mate Moffat held sixth for most of the encounter, before nipping past the Honda of Gordon Shedden and into the top five in the final laps.

Having lost ground during the first part of the race, Boardley would regain 11th equalling his best finish in the series.

The final race of the day became a case of what might have been, with Sutton squeezing past pole-sitter Senna Proctor before an incident saw the race red-flagged and the cars once again headed back for a restart.

Proctor put up more of a fight second time round and Sutton wasn’t able to get ahead with the ease he had earlier, but contact during his challenge for the lead saw the Infiniti drop down the order.

A further tap from his team-mate in the #41 car resulted in the retirement of the championship leader before the opening lap was through.

Boardley ran as high as 12th before an off on the final corner on lap eight brought his race to a disappointing end.

A consistent performance from Moffat saw the Scot take fourth at the flag, having improved throughout the day.

Leaving Cheshire, Sutton still holds the top spot in the Drivers’ battle while the team tops both the overall and Independent Standings. Moffat sits sixth in the Independent Drivers’ Championship, while Boardley’s Jack Sears Trophy bid sees him third with six race weekends left on the calendar.

The squad will now turn its attention to its home event on 14/15 August, as the BTCC heads to Knockhill for Rounds 13, 14 and 15 of the 2021 campaign.