BTCC: Silverstone race one notes

James Thompson and Yvan Muller led Vauxhall to a 1-2 in the first of two Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship rounds at Silverstone, but only after Honda's Matt Neal retired from the lead in the closing stages.

Neal, in his Honda Civic Type-R, had taken the race lead from Thompson's Vauxhall Astra Coupe on the second lap. He was still in front with three of the race's 25 laps to go when his car hit mechanical problems, allowing Thompson and Muller two sweep past.

Colin Turkington achieved MG's first podium finish of the season in third, but only at the expense of team-mate Warren Hughes whose sister ZS cruelly hit problems with just over a lap to go.

Gavin Pyper, in GA Motorsports' Vauxhall Astra Coupe, was the first Hilton Independents Trophy home as he crossed the line in sixth.

Luke Hines took his and his team Barwell Motorsport's first Production class win as he crossed the line 11th in their Honda Civic Type-R ahead of points leader Michael Bentwood, in Edenbridge Racing's BMW320i.

-btc-