Manufacturer-backed Tom Ingram has taken a first double victory for the all-new Toyota Corolla having reclaimed the lead during a dramatic yet shortened Race Two at Silverstone.
Mid-race rain left the field running on slick Dunlop tyres in treacherous conditions, and the Mercedes A-Class of Adam Morgan was soon spiralling into the gravel and out of the race. The Safety Car was briefly called upon but with rain worsening following the restart the Race Director was left with no choice but to red flag the remainder of the contest.
Team Toyota GB with Ginsters' Ingram led from the outset before contact with Jason Plato's Vauxhall Astra let the BMW of Tom Oliphant nip by both of them and into P1.
Oliphant made his first ever restart while heading the pack, which also meant he was the first man to experience the wet conditions as the huge grid swarmed down to Copse. Oliphant's BMW 3 Series twitched wide on the exit of the first corner and he was soon shuffled down the order, as Ingram swept into an unassailable lead.
"Totally different race there and that rain was scary!" said Ingram. "I love it when it’s like that and you’ve got to be so mindful with everything. It was really enjoyable, and what a massive achievement for the team. I was happy to keep going. It’s nice in that situation with the drivers battling to see who’s bravest.
"I felt for Tom (Oliphant), losing it like that but I was trying to force him into making a slip. I’ve no idea where Jason (Plato) came from. He was tight left before the back straight and I don’t know if he came for a lunge and I didn’t see him. You always check your mirrors before turning in and next thing I knew I was broadside across the track!"
Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing's Plato was another who fell away late on, but the same couldn't be said for the charging title contenders of Colin Turkington and Dan Cammish.
Team BMW's Turkington surged from 14th to second, whilst Halfords Yuasa Racing's Cammish came from 11th to third – both drivers now hold the top two positions in the overall standings with the reigning champion leading his Honda rival by 11 points.
"Sometimes you can get races like that where the dice rolls your way," said Turkington. "I had weight out of the car for the first time this weekend and I don’t think I’ve a round tyre left on the car! It was so tricky coming through the pack. I feel like I’m back in it now, so on we go!"
"What a crazy race," responded Cammish. "I knew I had to be more aggressive which I was. It was one of those races where doors open for you as people squabble. As the rain came we were so strong. I was almost by him coming to the safety car period. It might have been a chance at a victory but I’m happy with that and I’m right in the mix."
Plato took fourth ahead of the BTC Racing duo of Josh Cook and Chris Smiley, whilst Oliphant eventually wound up seventh.
BMW Pirtek Racing's Andrew Jordan lost ground in the championship race with an eighth place finish, whilst Mike Bushell and Matt Simpson completed the top ten positions.
The top 11 cars were chosen at random during the reverse grid draw, which means Adrian Flux Subaru Racing's Ash Sutton will start the Silverstone finale from pole position.
2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Round 26 – Silverstone
1 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Team Toyota GB with Ginsters 19 laps
2 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +1.021s
3 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +1.424s
4 Jason PLATO (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +2.543s
5 Josh COOK (GBR) BTC Racing +3.956s
6 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Racing +4.431s
7 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Team BMW +4.910s
8 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +5.116s
9 Mike BUSHELL (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +5.334s
10 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +6.777s
11 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +7.277s
12 Michael CAINE (GBR) Motorbase Performance +7.930s
13 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +8.056s
14 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +8.478s
15 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +8.573s
16 Jake HILL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +9.265s
17 Daniel ROWBOTTOM (GBR) Cataclean Racing with Ciceley Motorsport +9.451s
18 Mark BLUNDELL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +10.258s
19 Michael CREES (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +10.266s
20 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +12.280s
21 Jack GOFF (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +1 lap
22 Rob SMITH (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +1 lap
23 Carl BOARDLEY (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +48.514s
24 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +6 laps
25 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +7 laps
26 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +7 laps
27 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +8 laps
28 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +8 laps
29 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +8 laps
30 Sam OSBORNE (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +17 laps
