The BTCC summer break is officially over as racing got back underway at Croft circuit for the second half of the British Touring Car Championship season.
Tom Ingram took pole position yesterday but a damp track would pose a tricky challenge for the drivers in race one. Slicks were absolutely the tyre of choice. However, damp patches around the circuit would make it hard to keep temperature in the tires.
Ingram takes the championship lead in style
Tom Ingram took his third race win of the season in dominant fashion. The Hyundai driver had the best return from the summer break as possible as he took the championship lead away from rival Ash Sutton. He now sits 13 points clear at the top with two races to go in the day.
Ingram came under pressure initially from the fast starting Dan Cammish. But after a few laps, Ingram managed to break away from Cammish who was sitting around half a second behind. A late safety car saw Ingram’s work come undone but he continued to show his pace and crossed the line with a one second gap come the flag.
Sutton suffers late puncture
A huge moment in the championship picture as Ash Sutton picked up a puncture on the safety car restart. Sutton managed to pull into the pits but came out in 20th position, where he would eventually finish. The puncture reportedly to be caused by a nail or screw in the tyre.
Sutton was having a great race up to that point. On the less favourable hard tyre, Sutton fought through the field and managed to get up to sixth place. Before his puncture, Sutton was looking to be in a great place for races two and three after getting the hard tyre out of the way. However, he will now be taking the start for race two in 20th position. He will definitely be one to watch in race two with the soft tyre and maximum boost allowance.
Smiley and Shedden collide on lap 10
The leading independant standings driver Chris Smiley came together with Oulton park race winner Gordon Shedden. The pair came to blows at Clervaux corner as Smiley mounted the inside kerb, sending him into Shedden’s path. Smiley’s Hyundai ended up stuck in the gravel which was recovered under a safety car.
In a pivotal weekend for the Independant championship with One Motorsport missing this round, there are plenty of points and positions up for grabs.
Main image credit BTCC