Wins for Ingram, Goff, Neal at Silverstone, Sutton holds BTCC lead
Tom Ingram (Speedworks Motorsport), Jack Goff (Eurotech Racing) and Matt Neal (Halfords Yuasa Racing) are the race winners in the ninth round of the 2017 British Touring Car Championship season at Silverstone.
For Ingram, it’s the fourth wins of the season while Goff scored his first wins this season and the second win in a career. For Neal, Silverstone’s win is his second this season and 61st in a career.
Tom Ingram celebrates his fourth win this season
Ingram has won red-flagged first race
In the first race of the weekend, Tom Ingram (#80 Toyota Avensis) took an early lead from pole-sitter Jack Goff (#31 Honda Civic Type R) and stayed in front until the lap 14, when multi-car accident happened which caused the red flag. Adam Morgan (#33 Ciceley Motorsport Mercedes A-Class) joined them on a podium, scoring his fourth podium of the season.
Two main championship contenders, Colin Turkington (WSR, #4 BMW 125i M Sport) and Ashley Sutton (Team BMR, #116 Subaru Levorg), finished fourth and fifth respectively.
The race ended on lap 14. The accident occurred when Chris Smiley’s Chevrolet touched Aron Taylor-Smith’s MG on the run down to Maggotts. Rob Collard’s BMW was collected and his damaged car slid across the grass back across the circuit at Becketts. He was then hit by Will Burns (VW), with Andrew Jordan (BMW) also being involved. Collard and Burns are both being taken to hospital, missing the rest of the BTCC weekend at Silverstone.
Jack Goff finally wins in 2017
Jack Goff finally captured victory in a Honda
In the race 2, which Tom Ingram started from pole, Jack Goff returned the favour and took the lead at the start of the race. He stayed in front until the end to take his first victory in a Honda Civic Type R and the second BTCC win in a career, more than two years after his maiden win in an MG.
Two main championship contenders for the title battled for the final podium. The controversial fight ended with Ash Sutton on P3 and Turkington behind him, but Sutton received a time penalty after the race so their final positions have been reversed. As this is Sutton’s third penalty strike of the season he was moved to the back of the grid at the start of third Silverstone’s race.
Dave Newsham (BTC Norlin Racing, Chevrolet Cruze) finished ninth in the second race. As Sutton was moved on the grid, Newsham was a pole-sitter on the reverse grid for the third race.
Matt Neal scores his 61st BTCC win
Matt Neal from 12th to win in third race
Halfords Yuasa Racing’s Matt Neal proved that starting grid position doesn’t mean nothing as he surged from 12th on the grid to a victory in the third race. He shared a podium with Power Maxed Racing’s Rob Huff and Dave Newsham. WTCC star Rob Huff participated in Silverstone’s BTCC round as a replacement for Tom Chilton who was unfit after a surgery.
Championship leader Ashley Sutton finished 11th. Colin Turkington didn’t finish the race as his BMW was damaged in an accident which happened in front of him, involving Stephen Jelley’s Ford and Jason Plato’s Subaru.
Check the results of BTCC races at Silverstone
After nine rounds and 27 races, only two drivers remain in title race. Ashley Sutton is in the championship lead with 338 points on his account, Colin Turkington follows with 318 points.
The final round is scheduled for October 1 at Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit.
Photos: btcc.net,
