BMW Pirtek Racing's Andrew Jordan claimed a lights-to-flag victory in the final Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race at Rockingham.

Jordan blasted his BMW 125i M Sport off the line and into a solid lead, before Ciceley Motorsport's Adam Morgan made a number of attempts to get past in the early running.

Eventually, Jordan pegged the gap and even made a good getaway during a late safety car period, as the 2013 BTCC Champion went on to take the honours by 1.724s.

"You never give up," said Jordan. "From 18^th yesterday you’d never have thought you could sneak a win out of it. My attitude’s been to do my best and see what I can go and do. What a cracking job the BMW Pirtek Racing guys have done. They’ve had a tough couple of meetings this side of the garage so this result is for them.

"I knew they’d be really racy behind me early on. I was driving in my mirrors for a bit. I knew eventually that Adam (Morgan) would take the edge off his front tyres and we could pull out a bit of a gap. I thought back to Snetterton once I was out there though and it’s never in the bag, but once I got a gap I knew for the restart if I could do the same, it’d be job done."

Morgan's Mercedes maintained second until the finish, although the fight for the final podium position proved more contentious.

"I’m chuffed to bits for the team," said Morgan. "It was a far harder race than it might have looked. As soon as the safety car came in, my front tyres just weren’t there and I had Jason (Plato) all over me. It’s great to be back on the podium and hopefully, it’s a sign of things to come in the next couple of weekends. The pace we had today is the pace we’ve had over the last four weekends. Things just haven’t gone our way, but that’s motorsport. We’re here to enjoy it – I had second in my head and that’s what I wanted."

Jack Goff had been battling hard all day in his Eurotech Honda Civic Type R, sometimes with the pace of his car fading towards the finish of each contest, but he would be embroiled in a dramatic incident in race three. Title hopeful Rob Collard hauled his BMW alongside Goff late on but unfortunate contact followed and Collard was fired out of the race. Goff continued but he had lost the position position to Subaru's Jason Plato during the melee.

"The car’s great," confirmed Plato. "We’ve had a great day – a brilliant day for the team. James’ win early on was epic and for Ash (Sutton) to get another win and a podium was perfect for him. We’ve got to do the best job we can for him until the end of the season. Ash represents our sponsors Adrian Flux, Subaru, Autoglym and all of our supporters. If I can’t win, the next best thing is for Ash to. We’re going to help him do that."

Goff held on to fourth ahead the top two in the title race – Ash Sutton and Colin Turkington – whilst Power Maxed Racing's Senna Proctor claimed a brilliant seventh and with it the Jack Sears Trophy.

Speedworks Motorsport's Tom Ingram completed his fightback day – following mechanical woes in race one – to claim eighth in the finale.

The rise of rookie outfit BTC Norlin Racing continued with both of its drivers getting inside the top ten, as Chris Smiley got the better of his more experienced team-mate Dave Newsham.

2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Round 24 – Rockingham

1 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing 17 laps
2 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +1.724s
3 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +2.025s
4 Jack GOFF (GBR) Eurotech Racing +5.214s
5 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +5.561s
6 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +5.908s
7 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +6.506s
8 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +6.786s
9 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +7.331s
10 Dave NEWSHAM (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +7.775s
11 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +9.328s
12 Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +9.621s
13 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +9.874s
14 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +10.285s
15 Mat JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +10.643s
16 Jake HILL (GBR) TAG Racing +10.980s
17 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +11.477s
18 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +11.836s
19 Michael EPPS (GBR) TAG Racing +12.151s
20 Aron TAYLOR-SMITH (IRL) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +12.414s
21 Brett SMITH (GBR) Eurotech Racing +14.412s
22 Stewart LINES (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +14.888s
23 Martin DEPPER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +1 lap
24 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +2 laps
DNF Rob AUSTIN (GBR) Handy Motorsport +3 laps
DNF Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +5 laps
DNF Josh COOK (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +5 laps
DNF Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +8 laps
DNF Josh PRICE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +14 laps
DNF James COLE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +15 laps
DNF Ant WHORTON-EALES (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +16 laps
DNF Will BURNS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +17 laps

Subaru star Ash Sutton has extended his lead of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship standings after securing a sixth race win of the season.

Having taken a one-two finish in the Rockingham opener it was Sutton cruising around the outside of his Adrian Flux Subaru Racing team-mate James Cole at the beginning of the next contest. Cole was also run out wide onto the grass later in the same lap and he would eventually be shuffled way down the order.

Sutton took command and even calmly dealt with a brief safety car period following an accident for reigning champion Gordon Shedden.

Josh Cook's MG and Mat Jackson's Ford made contact on lap eight, but the MG6 would face an even stiffer contest one tour later. Cook got tangled with Matt Neal's Halfords Yuasa Racing Honda and both cars were fired off onto the grass at Deene Hairpin.

With those two now out of contention there was yet more incidents down the order when Matt Simpson's Honda was tipped into the barrier following a tag from Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo's Rory Butcher.

When the dust literally settled it was Jack Goff still clinging on to second place but he was soon to get shuffled back by Jackson and Team BMW's Colin Turkington. Those two would go on to have a frenetic battle to the finish with Jackson claiming second place by the smallest of margins.

Jason Plato demoted Goff's fading Eurotech Honda down a further place late in the race, whilst Ciceley Motorsport's Adam Morgan made a number of eye catching moves to round out the top six.

BMW duo Andrew Jordan and Rob Collard were inseparable for much of the race, and the former was further rewarded for fending off his experienced stablemate by taking the reverse grid pole position for today's final encounter.

Fantastic performances from Chris Smiley and Tom Ingram completed the top ten order, as both stormed through the field. BTC Norlin Racing's Smiley made most of his progress early on as the Chevrolet Cruze carved its way from 20th on the grid to ninth. If that wasn't impressive enough, then Ingram's progress from 32nd on the grid was nothing short of phenomenal. The Toyota man made move after move to get inside the top ten, but Smiley impressively prevented the Speedworks Motorsport driver from making any further inroads.

Ashley Sutton said: "We definitely found something with the car at the start, but it faded away. I had to keep an eye on the time between myself and Mat (Jackson) as the car was moving around a little towards the end – it wasn’t the same. It’s a lot hotter than we’ve been used to recently so maybe we just overworked the tyres from halfway onwards. Luckily though, we had the gap from the start. We were told we could race. I had a very poor start again, which is something I’ve got to work on. I just did my normal living on the edge around the outside stuff. It worked that time. There were no pre-discussions."

Mat Jackson said: "Ash (Sutton) was really playing the game. There was a lot more pace in there. You’ve got rear-wheel drive and front-wheel drive, and it is what it is. It was entertaining. Josh (Cook) went into the hairpin wide and came through it. We made contact and that’s fine, but to drive you off in the manner he did, that isn’t racing. Colin (Turkington) is a fighter. He’s fighting for points and he would he would be trying everything. It’s all about corner exit in the battle between RWD and FWD. He kept it clean, and it was a good race."

Colin Turkington said: "You’re fighting instinct is to pass the next guy and get the bigger trophy but it’s about risk management at this stage of the season. I was really surprised again with the pace of the BMW on the hard tyre, Mat (Jackson) was some way up the road but we were so strong at the end. I wasn’t expecting a podium but we’ll take that. I was sandwiched between James (Cole) and Jason (Plato) and it would have been easy to have been moved aside. I had to be patient and protect my line. I could see where James was struggling and as soon as he made the slip, I pounced."

2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Round 23 – Rockingham

1 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing 18 laps
2 Mat JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +2.438s
3 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +2.730s
4 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +7.110s
5 Jack GOFF (GBR) Eurotech Racing +9.513s
6 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +10.101s
7 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +10.569s
8 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +10.756s
9 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +14.802s
10 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +15.349s
11 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +15.913s
12 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +18.138s
13 James COLE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +18.466s
14 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +19.262s
15 Aron TAYLOR-SMITH (IRL) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +20.029s
16 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +20.261s
17 Jake HILL (GBR) TAG Racing +21.624s
18 Ant WHORTON-EALES (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +22.278s
19 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +23.389s
20 Martin DEPPER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +24.479s
21 Will BURNS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +29.679s
22 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +30.884s
23 Dave NEWSHAM (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +31.330s
24 Brett SMITH (GBR) Eurotech Racing +35.011s
25 Stewart LINES (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +43.605s
26 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) Handy Motorsport +1 lap
DNF Michael EPPS (GBR) TAG Racing +3 laps
DNF Josh COOK (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +5 laps
DNF Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +7 laps
DNF Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +9 laps
DNF Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +16 laps
DNF Josh PRICE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +17 laps

 

Adrian Flux Subaru Racing's James Cole has taken his first ever Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship victory with a commanding drive in the opener at Rockingham. 

Cole's Subaru Levorg blasted away from pole position and fended off early challenges from fellow front row starter Jack Goff. The Eurotech Racing Honda was often within touching distance of the race leader, but rarely close enough to make a significant move.

29-year-old Cole gradually began to pull away from the chasing pack as Goff fell back into the clutches of Ashley Sutton's Subaru. Championship contender Sutton had previously defended from the fast starting MG of Josh Cook, who had himself surged from eighth on the grid up to fourth.

Once Sutton had pegged Cook's MG6 the young charger began to haul his Levorg onto the the back of Goff's Civic Type R. Sutton's moment would come on the second to last corner of the final lap as he made a move stick to give Adrian Flux Subaru Racing an impressive one-two finish.

"I’ll take that," beamed Sutton. "I was happy with third but Jack (Goff) ran a little wide into the hairpin on the last lap and I made it through. It’s another phenomenal result for Adrian Flux Subaru Racing. Josh (Cook) was on full attack mode, as you’d expect, and he could have stuck it up the inside a few times. We have to balance the car’s strengths over the lap with its weaknesses and play it accordingly."

Goff completed the podium ahead of Cook, whilst multiple BTCC champions Matt Neal and Colin Turkington claimed relatively lonely fifth and sixth places respectively.

"I’m surprised I held on as long as I did – I knew it’d be an uphill struggle," said a relaxed Goff. "The car was fantastic but I was struggling in the traction and braking zones late on. They can come up the inside or around the outside like at Snetterton in that situation. It’s another bit of silverware for our lads. Josh (Cook) was eager to get past into the last corner and was bumping a bit but that’s racing and we held on." 

Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo's Mat Jackson sealed seventh and Ciceley Motorsport's Adam Morgan grabbed a hard fought eighth place, after he eventually got the better of an early scrap with Tom Chilton's Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra. Josh Price and Jason Plato made it four Subarus in the top ten.

Title protagonists Tom Ingram, Gordon Shedden and Rob Collard endured a difficult outing, with all three failing to score points. Ingram's Speedworks Toyota suffered brake problems off the line and soon retired, whilst Shedden's Honda picked up a puncture late on. Collard's BMW 125i M Sport failed to make any real progress from 20th on the grid, and the experienced racer subsequently couldn't make the points for only the first time this season.  

The plaudits for Round 22, however, go to race winner Cole as he scored his first success in Britain's premier motor sport series. "I don’t want to say I’m speechless again, but I am," he said. "The race couldn’t have gone any more perfectly. I knew the front-wheel drives would be quick at the start. It was about getting away well and holding them off until they started to struggle. I knew the temperatures would suit us towards the end of the race, but at the start Jack (Goff) just wouldn’t go away.

"You can feel the tyres – it’s super abrasive here and we’re not as quick at the beginning here, but we can manage it better towards the end. If it’s a win, Ash (Sutton) can bugger off, but anything else, then fair enough. Race two with max ballast and hard tyres will be tough, it’s getting warmer though so you never know."

2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Round 22 – Rockingham

1 James COLE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing 16 laps
2 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +2.571s
3 Jack GOFF (GBR) Eurotech Racing +3.167s
4 Josh COOK (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +3.308s
5 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +4.946s
6 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +5.245s
7 Mat JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +7.937s
8 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +8.458s
9 Josh PRICE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +8.698s
10 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +10.157s
11 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +14.234s
12 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +14.976s
13 Dave NEWSHAM (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +15.839s
14 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +22.248s
15 Michael EPPS (GBR) TAG Racing +22.693s
16 Aron TAYLOR-SMITH (IRL) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +23.903s
17 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +24.200s
18 Ant WHORTON-EALES (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +24.870s
19 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +31.478s
20 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +32.048s
21 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +33.655s
22 Martin DEPPER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +35.254s
23 Will BURNS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +35.506s
24 Jake HILL (GBR) TAG Racing +37.687s
25 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +39.334s
26 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +40.884s
27 Brett SMITH (GBR) Eurotech Racing +43.747s
28 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +44.264s
29 Stewart LINES (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +51.271s
30 Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +1 lap
31 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) Handy Motorsport +1 lap
DNF Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +16 laps

• Alfa Romeo to return to BTCC grid in 2018 with Handy Motorsport
• Front-running squad officially unveils exciting plans with Italian marque
• Handy to field exquisite Alfa Romeo Giulietta model from next season
• Rob Austin ecstatic to be racing an Alfa Romeo touring car in 2018

Excitement in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship is at fever-pitch today, Sunday, 27th August, with the official confirmation Handy Motorsport is bringing the legendary Alfa Romeo brand back to the UK’s biggest and best motor racing series.

Making huge waves in the BTCC paddock, today’s announcement during the eighth race meeting of the current season at Rockingham in Northamptonshire marks a major development for top team Handy as it joins forces with the Alfa Romeo Dealer Council to reunite the championship with one of the globe’s most popular automotive marques.

The Swindon-based team, which is headed-up and owned by former BTCC driver Simon Belcher, will field a front-wheel drive Alfa Romeo Giulietta from the 2018 season forward which will be piloted, to great delight, by the squad’s hugely successful fan-favourite driver Rob Austin.

Behind the scenes, work on the project has been ongoing for some time and the completion of the deal for Handy to run the Giulietta model – which will contest the outright championship and Independents Trophy – comes through a partnership with the Alfa Romeo Dealer Council and is supported by the UK’s premier Alfa Romeo dealers. 

“It has been a long project to bring Alfa Romeo back to the BTCC, with many people working on this exciting development for some time – it’s incredible to have brought everything to fruition and an honour to be running the Alfa Romeo marque”, said team principal Belcher at the launch.

“Alfa Romeo is a passionate brand, steeped in heritage, and we have already started building our first bodyshell. Not only is this huge for Handy Motorsport, and fantastic for Alfa to have the latest Giulietta represented on the BTCC grid, it’s also massive for the BTCC as a whole.”

Synonymous with motorsport throughout its history, Alfa Romeo – which is owned by the FIAT group – hasn’t been represented on a BTCC grid since 2007 so with Handy Motorsport bringing the Giulietta into the championship from next year it is mouth-watering news for ‘Alfisti’ across the UK.

On two occasions Alfa Romeo has won the coveted BTCC title, the first with Andy Rouse in 1983 at the wheel of an Alfetta GTV6 and the second coming in 1994 with Italian ace Gabriele Tarquini piloting an Alfa Romeo 155.

Commenting on the news that an Alfa Romeo will return to the grid with Handy Motorsport, Alfa Romeo UK Dealer Council representative Peter James said: “It is fantastic to see Alfa Romeo return to the BTCC especially at such an exciting time for the brand. Alfa Romeo returning to the BTCC has been driven by the desire of the Dealer Council to see the marque back on the grid.”

Paul Doick, General Sales Manager for TH White Swindon, one of the Alfa Romeo brand centres, added: “I have known Simon [Belcher] for many years and we have been working together to deliver this project. I am confident now that working with Handy Motorsport will raise the brand awareness of Alfa Romeo and deliver incremental sales for the brand. There are very exciting times ahead…”

Today’s announcement marks another huge step forward for Handy Motorsport which has, since its debut in the BTCC in 2014, become one of the most popular and respected teams in the paddock – not least since joining forces with fan-favourite driver Rob Austin ahead of the 2016 season.

Initially running team boss Belcher for two seasons, following his graduation into the world of touring cars from the Renault UK Clio Cup where he was a two-time Masters Cup Champion, the team set out its intentions to become serious challengers when signing BTCC race winner Austin.

During his maiden season with Handy in 2016, Austin’s first year racing front-wheel drive in the championship, the Evesham driver secured the squad’s debut BTCC podium at Snetterton as well as Handy’s maiden Independents Trophy victory.

This season, Austin is currently just outside the top 10 in the overall championship and has one podium to his credit along with one pole position. In the Independents Trophy he has achieved one victory, three second places and four other podium finishes and is fourth in the class standings.

For Belcher, the move to an Alfa Romeo for 2018 again confirms the intent which Handy Motorsport has to become a consistent and regular podium finishing and race winning force in the BTCC and he says the partnership with the Dealer Council is the ‘next logical step’ for the team.

“We want to win, we have a great team and that passion runs deep in it”, added Belcher, “In an Alfa Romeo we will have a car which is born from that same passion and I am looking forward to this being an instrumental part of our team’s future. This is undoubtedly the next logical step for us and I am absolutely delighted to be able to announce this exciting partnership today.”

Hugely popular touring car ace Austin is, understandably, equally as elated as team boss Belcher to be working the with legendary Alfa Romeo marque as the beginning of another new chapter in his exciting and successful BTCC career.

“Driving an Alfa Romeo in the British Touring Car Championship next season? It doesn’t get much more exciting than that does it!”, said the multiple BTCC race winner, “I genuinely love the Alfa Romeo brand, I had an Alfa when I was younger and I loved that car. Early on, when Simon [Belcher] and I started talking before I joined the team, working towards this deal was part of the plan.

“Ever since my engineer Matt and I had the Audi, we talked about what we’d love to do working from a blank sheet of paper and that’s what we can do now with the Giulietta. We’ve always wanted this opportunity and we’ve got enough time ahead of next season to do this job properly. The car is well suited to the BTCC regulations, we’re going to build a work of art as much as a racing car!”

Welcoming the announcement, BTCC Series Director Alan Gow said: “What a great name to welcome back! Alfa Romeo has a great history in the BTCC, particularly having won it twice before, and everyone loves the Alfa Romeo brand. Handy Motorsport have been working on this project for the last couple of years and they’ve put their heart and soul into it.

“To have the support of the Alfa Romeo UK Dealer Council means a great deal to them and it means a great deal to me and everyone involved in the BTCC. It goes to show that the people at the sharp end in selling Alfa Romeos see the fantastic value in the BTCC. I’ve even lost count as to exactly how many marques we’ve got in this championship right now, which is also testament to the success of our regulations and the BTCC as a whole.”

Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship Series Director Alan Gow spoke to btcc.net following the official confirmation that legendary Italian marque Alfa Romeo is set to return to the UK’s biggest and best motor racing series.

Handy Motorsport's Simon Belcher and Rob Austin spoke to btcc.net following the official confirmation that the team is bringing the legendary Alfa Romeo brand back to the UK’s biggest and best motor racing series – the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. 

Adrian Flux Subaru Racing's James Cole has claimed a maiden Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship pole position after producing a fantastic late qualifying lap at Rockingham.

The 29-year-old has been in stellar form in recent weeks, having taken a series of top five finishes, but few could have expected a first ever BTCC pole for the Subaru star. Not only was Cole's lap a stunning pace-setter, but it was also the first ever qualifying top spot for a rear-wheel drive car at Rockingham.

Eurotech Racing's Jack Goff led the way for a significant period, but he eventually had to settle for second after Cole's hugely impressive flying lap.

Speedworks Motorsport's Tom Ingram vied for top spot with Goff in the early running, and seemed a likely candidate for pole position having earlier set the pace in both practice sessions. The Toyota driver was able to deliver his own solid effort during qualifying, but it was only good enough for third on the grid when the chequered flag fell.

Championship contenders Ashley Sutton and Colin Turkington were next on the timesheets, as the talented duo coped brilliantly with the ballast-laden Subaru and BMW respectively. Sutton even recovered from an earlier moment when he outbraked himself into turn two, and had to spin his Levorg back into action. 

Halfords Yuasa Racing's Matt Neal was seventh, ahead of MG Racing RCIB Insurance's Josh Cook. Power Maxed Racing's Tom Chilton showed well to seal ninth in his Vauxhall Astra, ahead of BTCC legend Jason Plato.

Reigning champion Gordon Shedden could only take 16th in his Honda Civic Type R, whilst fellow title protagonist Rob Collard struggled down in 20th in his Team BMW 125i M Sport.

The competitiveness of the session was once again there for all to see as 27 of the 32 competitors were blanketed by less than a second.

Rockingham will now host what is expected to be a pivitol triple header of races tomorrow, as the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship fight moves towards the final stretch. Rounds 22, 23 and 24 of the 30-race season will be contested around the 1.94-mile circuit with all the action being screened live and exclusively on ITV4 from 10:45. 

James Cole said: "I did not expect that at all and until I was told at the end of the session I had no idea! I didn‘t want my team to tell me – amazing job by them, this is fantastic. I’m genuinely speechless! Given how we were in FP1 and FP2, if we got everything right for qualifying I was expecting to maybe get into the top ten but didn’t think we could do that! It always feels very, very good to be up there. Going into race one, here it’s about looking after your tyres and with a front-wheel drive car next to me, I’m looking forward to it! My confidence is up and what more of a boost can you get than that? It’s qualifying where we’ve been weaker at times and we’ve been stronger in the races, so I’m looking forward to it. Ask me in the morning how I slept!"

Jack Goff said: "It’s not too bad. I thought we had it with a minute to go but the front row’s still good. We were out of position at Knockhill so it’s nice to be up here again as it can be so difficult to pass cars when everyone’s running so closely. There are places to pass here but with a rear-wheel drive car ahead of me, I know it’ll be hard work – I know how fast they start, I had that experience last year over and over again."

Tom Ingram said: "I'm happy to be third, albeit slightly disappointed that we couldn't quite get onto the front row given the pace we showed in the two practice sessions. In that respect, it's a bit of a missed opportunity but nonetheless, it puts us on the inside line and it's a good place to start. The weight makes quite a big difference around here but we'll see what we can do tomorrow."

Ashley Sutton said: "I’m over the moon with that effort. I’ve got everyone behind me that needs to be behind me and as the second heaviest car on the grid (in terms of success ballast), I’m so pleased. It was the deepest I’ve ever dug for a lap. We were 0.4 seconds away at the start of the session so we made a couple of tweaks and it was just a case of giving it a big effort and seeing what we came up with. I’m over the moon for James (Cole). His driving’s come a long way this year and he’s deserved that. He’s done a sterling job."

Colin Turkington said: "That’s pretty solid for us all things considered. Rockingham is for sure one of the more difficult places to carry ballast. We need to sit down now and try and see what we can do for the race. The car’s working really well and it has been from the get go this weekend – good balance and pretty smooth so far. The 75kgs of ballast you get for leading the championship into a race weekend is equivalent to a passenger being alongside me. As much as you try not to think about it, as soon as you get in the car, everything seems more lethargic – even though it seems like it’s only a small percentage of the overall weight of the car. It’s incredible the difference it does make. That said, I prefer to have the points on the board and carry the weight. You’re keeping an eye on the guys running at the front of the championship. I’m very aware of who I’m racing and it might be a long day ahead tomorrow, but I’ll give it my best shot."

2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Qualifying – Rockingham

1 James COLE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing 1m23.187s (83.95 mph)
2 Jack GOFF (GBR) Eurotech Racing +0.048s
3 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +0.082s
4 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.121s
5 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.195s
6 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +0.198s
7 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.263s
8 Josh COOK (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +0.295s
9 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +0.382s
10 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.435s
11 Mat JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +0.467s
12 Josh PRICE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.481s
13 Aron TAYLOR-SMITH (IRL) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +0.485s
14 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +0.493s
15 Michael EPPS (GBR) TAG Racing +0.509s
16 Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.512s
17 Dave NEWSHAM (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.518s
18 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +0.550s
19 Ant WHORTON-EALES (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +0.564s
20 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +0.637s
21 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +0.674s
22 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +0.742s
23 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) Handy Motorsport +0.789s
24 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +0.814s
25 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.825s
26 Brett SMITH (GBR) Eurotech Racing +0.924s
27 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +0.970s
28 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +1.072s
29 Martin DEPPER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +1.112s
30 Will BURNS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +1.671s
31 Jake HILL (GBR) TAG Racing +1.796s
32 Stewart LINES (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport 2.333s

Tom Ingram doubled up by setting the pace in the final Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship practice session at Rockingham, as he had done in the earlier running around the 1.94-mile Northamptonshire circuit.

A warmer track temperature meant that overall lap times were slower compared to the opening session, but it was still Ingram leading the way in his Toyota Avensis. 27 cars were blanketed by less than a second in the fraught final preprations ahead of qualifying at 15:30 later today.

Speedworks Motorsport man Ingram has been one of the quickest drivers throughout the 2017 BTCC campaign, but a mid-season slump had seemingly put paid to his championship hopes. A win at Knockhill last time out, however, has reignited his title charge and positive results here could once again see the 26-year-old back in the mix.

"I don’t know if the circuit’s changed but we were the best part of three to four tenths slower than we went in FP1," commented Ingram. "It is hotter now and the circuit seems to have taken a step back. It’s all about managing the tyres here. We know it’s a case of nursing them which from our point of view as drivers is difficult, as you have to balance trying to go as fast as you can with managing the rubber."

Rockingham is a happy hunting ground for Ingram and was the venue for his first ever BTCC podium back in 2015.

"I’ve always gone really well here though," he concluded. "I’ve always got on really well with the place in everything I have ever driven. If we can continue this weekend as we finished at Knockhill, I’ll be happy."

Honda machinery held second, third and fourth places on the timesheets in FP2 as Independent runner Jack Goff edged out the manufacturer-backed duo of Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal.

Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo's Mat Jackson claimed fifth ahead of an impressive run from Laser Tools Racing's Aiden Moffat.

Ant Whorton-Eales backed-up his earlier encouraging showing by taking seventh in the AmD Audi. The rookie claimed his first ever BTCC top ten finish at Knockhill earlier this month, and the reigning Renault UK Clio Cup Champion looks to have solid potential again at Rockingham.

Adam Morgan proved the potency of the Mercedes A-Class with eighth, whilst the Subaru pairing of Jason Plato and Josh Price completed the top ten placings.

2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Free Practice 2 – Rockingham

1 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport 1m23.277s (mph)
2 Jack GOFF (GBR) Eurotech Racing +0.088s
3 Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.164s
4 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.199s
5 Mat JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +0.238s
6 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +0.302s
7 Ant WHORTON-EALES (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +0.317s
8 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +0.354s
9 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.394s
10 Josh PRICE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.420s
11 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.430s
12 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +0.437s
13 Josh COOK (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +0.482s
14 Aron TAYLOR-SMITH (IRL) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +0.496s
15 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +0.528s
16 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.561s
17 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +0.576s
18 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +0.605s
19 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +0.637s
20 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.647s
21 Michael EPPS (GBR) TAG Racing +0.700s
22 Dave NEWSHAM (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.709s
23 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +0.794s
24 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +0.843s
25 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) Handy Motorsport +0.872s
26 James COLE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.894s
27 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +0.910s
28 Jake HILL (GBR) TAG Racing +1.071s
29 Martin DEPPER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +1.094s
30 Brett SMITH (GBR) Eurotech Racing +1.135s
31 Will BURNS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +1.140s
32 Stewart LINES (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport NO TIME

Speedworks Motorsport's Tom Ingram has set the benchmark in the opening free practice session at Rockingham, following on from his return to winning ways at Knockhill last time out.

The young Toyota star – a three-time race winner this season – was the only man to dip into the 1m22s time bracket, whilst Adam Morgan and Ashley Sutton completed the top three order.

Eurotech Racing's Jack Goff  and Ant Whorton-Eales in the AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts Audi made for a youthful looking front five, and Ollie Jackson confirmed AmDTuning.com's potential by bringing his Audi S3 home in sixth.

BTC Norlin Racing looks set to continue its recent run of good form as Dave Newsham claimed seventh in his Chevrolet Cruze. The Inverness-based racer took a trio of top ten finishes for the impressive rookie outfit in Scotland earlier this month and the squad could be targeting its maiden podium here in Northamptonshire.

MG Racing RCIB Insurance's Josh Cook made a welcome return to the top ten after a difficult sequence of results, whilst the experienced Jason Plato and Rob Austin completed the leading order.

"Not a bad way to start the weekend," said Ingram. "We've still got some work to do to get the car to where we want it to be, but it's encouraging to be there or thereabouts."

"Rockingham should suit everyone – neither front-wheel driven or rear-wheel driven cars really have an advantage, just given the layout of the circuit, so we're hopeful we can be up there."

2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Free Practice 1 – Rockingham

1 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport 1m22.995s (84.14mph)
2 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +0.161s
3 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.375s
4 Jack GOFF (GBR) Eurotech Racing +0.494s
5 Ant WHORTON-EALES (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +0.555s
6 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +0.570s
7 Dave NEWSHAM (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.622s
8 Josh COOK (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +0.632s
9 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.659s
10 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) Handy Motorsport +0.718s
11 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +0.759s
12 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.774s
13 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.780s
14 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +0.824s
15 Jake HILL (GBR) TAG Racing +0.829s
16 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.832s
17 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +0.837s
18 Josh PRICE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.839s
19 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +0.898s
20 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +0.922s
21 Aron TAYLOR-SMITH (IRL) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +0.928s
22 Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +1.006s
23 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +1.093s
24 James COLE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +1.128s
25 Mat JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +1.184s
26 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +1.299s
27 Martin DEPPER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +1.345s
28 Brett SMITH (GBR) Eurotech Racing +1.361s
29 Will BURNS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +1.478s
30 Michael EPPS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +1.586s
31 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +1.600s
32 Stewart LINES (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +2.794s

More to follow...