Race report
BTCC Snetterton
Snetterton BTCC: Turkington dominates opening race
Reigning BTCC champion Colin Turkington converted pole position into a dominant victory in the first race of the Snetterton weekend, leading an all-Team BMR podium.
Jamie Klein
Edited: Aug 9, 2015, 12:12 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Having locked out the top three spots on the grid, the Volkswagens of Turkington, Aron Smith and Jason Plato led away from the start in that order, with Andrew Jordan's MG the only man able to keep pace in the early stages.
Turkington wasted no time in edging away from Smith, quickly establishing a two second cushion after four laps, setting the fastest lap in the process to bag race two pole.
The Ulsterman was able to keep up his pace out front, despite running the less favoured soft tyre, and seal a second victory of the season by 1.7s from Smith.
As the top four broke away, a queue of cars steadily formed in the wake of fifth-placed Matt Neal (Honda), led by Andy Priaulx's BMW.
While Neal struggled on the soft tyre, carrying 57kg of success ballast, Priaulx made the move for fifth just after half-distance and proceeded to catch the top four - arriving on Jordan's tail by the final lap.
But there was nothing the triple World Touring Car champion could do to improve his position, as Smith took second from Plato, Jordan and Priaulx.
Neal hung on to sixth place, with Adam Morgan (Mercedes), Dave Newsham (Chevrolet), Jack Goff (MG) and Tom Ingram (Toyota) all in close company as the chequered flag fell.
From 16th on the grid, points leader Gordon Shedden had made his way up as high as 11th before a combination of soft tyre degradation and maximum success ballast saw him fall to 14th.
The Scotsman ceded the lead of the championship to the Plato by three points, with Turkington now a further 13 back in third.
Rob Collard was an early casualty after having the rear of his BMW hit by WSR teammate Sam Tordoff at the start, while the first race of Nic Hamilton's second-ever BTCC meeting came to a premature end after late contact with Stewart Lines.
Full results
Pos. Driver Car Time/Gap 1 Colin Turkington Volkswagen 23'46.381 2 Aron Smith
Volkswagen 1.706 3 Jason Plato Volkswagen 2.651 4 Andrew Jordan MG 3.442 5 Andy Priaulx BMW 3.732 6 Matt Neal Honda 8.340 7 Adam Morgan Mercedes 9.372 8 Dave Newsham Chevrolet 9.848 9 Jack Goff MG 10.045 10 Tom Ingram Toyota 11.206 11 Sam Tordoff BMW 15.928 12 Mat Jackson Ford 18.271 13 Warren Scott Volkswagen 18.322 14 Gordon Shedden Honda 23.640 15 Josh Cook Chevrolet 24.482 16 Mike Bushell Ford 24.919 17 Martin Depper Honda 25.357 18 Hunter Abbott Audi 25.603 19 Robb Holland Toyota 29.191 20 Barry Horne Ford 29.855 21 James Cole Ford 31.690 22 Derek Palmer Jr. Infiniti 42.713 23 Kieran Gallagher Toyota 1'06.737 24 Stewart Lines Toyota 1'17.497 25 Rob Austin Audi 2'08.449 26 Jeff Smith Honda 1 lap Ret
Nicolas Hamilton Audi Ret
Rob Collard BMW
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Singh wins race two of Vento Cup weekend
Next article Low downforce, high drag? Competitors provide feedback to NASCAR
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jamie Klein
Super Formula Fuji: Ayumu Iwasa wins as Kakunoshin Ohta misses chance to seal title
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
Super Formula Fuji: Ayumu Iwasa wins as Kakunoshin Ohta misses chance to seal title
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
More from
Aron Taylor-Smith
BTCC race winner Taylor-Smith returns in Cupra
BTCC
BTCC
BTCC race winner Taylor-Smith returns in Cupra
Taylor-Smith makes Blancpain GT switch with Bentley
GT World Challenge Europe Sprint
GT World Challenge Europe Sprint
Taylor-Smith makes Blancpain GT switch with Bentley
Taylor-Smith quits BTCC to pursue GT racing switch
BTCC
BTCC
Taylor-Smith quits BTCC to pursue GT racing switch
More from
Team BMR
BMR confirms end of Subaru BTCC deal
BTCC
BTCC
BMR confirms end of Subaru BTCC deal
Hailie Deegan wins K&N West race in wild finish
NASCAR
NASCAR
Hailie Deegan wins K&N West race in wild finish
Latest news
Winners and losers from F1's chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
Winners and losers from F1's chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix
Robert Kubica announces exit from AF Corse’s privateer Hypercar in WEC
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
40 min
Robert Kubica announces exit from AF Corse’s privateer Hypercar in WEC
Charles Leclerc penalised for Liam Lawson clash; Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman also punished after F1 Brazilian GP
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 h
Charles Leclerc penalised for Liam Lawson clash; Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman also punished after F1 Brazilian GP
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe