Colin Turkington led home fellow West Surrey Racing competitor Jake Hill in a BMW one-two, as he claimed a lights-to-flag victory in the opening Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship race of the day on the Snetterton 300 circuit this afternoon.
It was just a second win of the season for the four-time champion from Northern Ireland, and one which allowed him to extend the series lead he carried into the weekend. Just as in qualifying, Turkington's status as championship leader meant he had only restricted access to hybrid boost, but his pace was still enough to lead the race throughout.
Turkington made a good start from the line to hold the lead into Riches on the first lap and he never looked back from there in his Team BMW branded 330e. Two safety car periods threatened to destroy his advantage - the first for Michael Crees's stricken Vauxhall Astra, the second for an off-track excursion from Aiden Moffat's Infiniti - but the series veteran remained in control.
Late in the race Hill attempted top reign in his teammate and there were several moments where it appeared that his machine under the ROKiT MB Motorsport banner might be able to force an opening. Ultimately, Turkington had just enough to keep his fellow BMW driver at bay and they crossed the line after 15 laps just over a second apart.
Tom Ingram completed the podium in his EXCELR8-prepared Hyundai after an early dice with the BMWs of Adam Morgan and Stephen Jelley. Ingram held firm as the pack streamed through the infield section on lap one and kept ahead of the two German machines which squabbled amongst themselves until Morgan moved ahead at Hamilton. They finished in that order, with Morgan fourth ahead of Jelley who completed the top-five.
The race also featured a strong drive from series legend Jason Plato who scooped sixth position in a fiercely contested midfield in his final Snetterton BTCC event. Dan Cammish was seventh just ahead of Daniel Rowbottom who edged out Ashley Sutton in a drag to the line on the final lap. Three-time champion Gordon Shedden rounded out the top-10.
Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, Snetterton, Race 1, Result
1. Colin Turkington, Team BMW, BMW 330e M Sport, 15
laps
2. Jake Hill, ROKiT MB Motorsport, BMW 330e M Sport,
+1.098s
3. Tom Ingram, Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8, Hyundai i30N,
+3.604s
4. Adam Morgan, Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport, BMW 330e M
Sport, +4.171s
5. Stephen Jelley, Team BMW, BMW 330e M Sport, +5.133s
6. Jason Plato, Rich Energy BTC Racing, Honda Civic Type
R, +6.519s
7. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK, Ford Focus ST, +6.975s
8. Daniel Rowbottom, Halfords Racing with Cataclean, Honda
Civic Type R, +7.915s
9. Ashley Sutton, NAPA Racing UK, Ford Focus ST,
+7.945s
10. Gordon Shedden, Halfords Racing with Cataclean, Honda
Civic Type R, +8.037s
For full timings and results from this weekend's event, please click here.