The race for the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship is continuing to build as Colin Turkington headed a quintet of title contenders in a thrilling opening race at Donington Park.

In a contest arguably more fitting for a frenetic finale it's clear that the importance and tension in every race is going to be at the highest level between now and the end of the season, but it was four-time champion Turkington that kept his powder dry in the Grand Prix circuit opener.

With drama throughout the order, Turkington simply blasted his #20 BMW 330e M Sport off-the-line, past pole-sitter Josh Cook, and he never looked back.

Team BMW's Turkington sustained late race pressure from NAPA Racing UK's Ash Sutton, after the latter had skipped by a lurid LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ Toyota of Cook, and the top two romped on to further boost their respective championship chances.

It was Turkington's fifth win of a fantastically fast season – he has only taken more wins in the same season on two occasions in his career – showing that he has lost none of his speed.

"I need them all (points) at this stage of the season," said Turkington. "Fantastic race, probably my best win of the season. It’s always tough when you’ve got Ash [Sutton] behind you, but I got the start I needed on lap one just to break Josh [Cook]. I was able to get away.

"I knew it was going to be super difficult race with Ash behind following the safety car period, it was cat and mouse, but I gave my last push with four laps to go and we had enough."

Jake Hill completed the podium to move back into the standings lead, after he too got by Cook following another wild moment through the Fogarty Esses for the #66 Toyota Corolla.

Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS' Tom Ingram may have relinquished the championship lead, but the 2022 champ will arguably be delighted to recover to finish fifth following heavy early contact with Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing's Mikey Doble.

It could have been the end of the contest there and then for Ingram, but the #80 Hyundai recovered unscathed as he eventually charged back through the order, having dropped to 12th following the incident.

Team BMW's Adam Morgan got the better of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK's Rob Huff late on to claim sixth, whilst NAPA Racing UK's Dan Cammish kept his championship chances alive with eighth.

Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing's Aron Taylor-Smith and NAPA Racing UK's Sam Osborne rounded out the top ten, and a special mention for debutant Dan Zelos – scoring points in his first ever BTCC race with a 12th place finish in the #45 Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS Hyundai.

Donington Park – Race 1 – Final Classification: