Thruxton BTCC: Collard wins race shortened by two big crashes

The initial part of the race had been stopped after an opening-lap crash. Triple Eight MG team-mates Dan Lloyd and Aron Taylor-Smith, along with Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall rookie Senna Proctor, made contact going into the flat-out Church corner.

Both MGs were spat on to the grass and Lloyd’s car rolled and was badly damaged. He was uninjured, but the race was red-flagged.

There was an hour-long delay while the barrier was repaired, which meant the race distance was reduced to 10 laps. The cars started the second part from the positions in which they finished lap three of the opening part.

That put Collard on row three, and he powered around the outside of those ahead to battle with the front-row starters Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden (Team Dynamics Honda).

The trio went into the opening five corners side-by-side, but Neal kept the advantage from Shedden. However, a huge slide at Church from Shedden allowed Collard to draft alongside going into the Club Chicane at the end of the opening tour, despite a three-abreast moment with Shedden and Jack Goff (Eurotech Honda).

At the end of the second lap, Neal darted for the pits as his power steering had failed. After a quick stop to rectify the problem he was able to rejoin, but it handed the lead to Collard who was not to lose it.

Collard said: “That was an explosive few laps. The cars were stunning. I did a lot of work on the first start and the second start was textbook. It was brilliant. Although it was poor luck for Matt Neal, I will take my chances with that. I am thrilled.”

Shedden maintained the pressure on Collard, while Tom Ingram (Speedworks Toyota Avensis) climbed his way up through the pack to third place.

The top three were locked in combat on lap seven when Martin Depper went off heavily at Village Corner and badly damaged his Motorbase Performance Ford Focus. He was uninjured but the race was declared over.

Goff was fourth from Rob Austin (Handy Motorsport Toyota), who held off Colin Turkington (WSR BMW) for fifth. Adam Morgan was right in their wheel tracks in the seventh spot in his Ciceley Racing Mercedes.

Matt James / Autosport