Rockingham BTCC: Sam Tordoff wins from 10th after leaders collide

The WSR BMW 125i M Sport driver, who started on the fifth row, took advantage of a clash among several frontrunners going into the Deane hairpin on the opening lap to slice up to fifth place immediately, and then set about picking off his rivals one by one.

He took fourth from Ashley Sutton's MG at Deane hairpin on lap two then moved to third ahead of Gordon Shedden's fully ballasted Honda.

All that remained in front were the two Motorbase Fords of leader Mat Jackson and Andrew Jordan.

Tordoff capitalised on a small slip by Jordan on lap seven of 18 to jump inside the Focus going into the Brook chicane, and then repeated the move two laps later to claim the lead.

"The car was absolutely beautiful," said Tordoff.

"I could put it anywhere and it reacted well.

"We made a set-up change for the race because I was running without any weight, and it worked really well.

"I think the Fords could see that I had more pace and then didn't fight too hard to stop me getting through."

Jordan passed Jackson for second place as the two Motorbase cars were wary of Rob Collard's BMW closing in behind.

Collard managed to pass Jackson with five laps left going into the Deane hairpin to claim the final rostrum place, but Jordan remained just out of reach.

Behind Jackson, MG's Sutton took a lonely fifth from Matt Neal, who had battled his way through a tight midfield pack.

Aron Smith was seventh in the Team BKR VW CC, ahead of Adam Morgan's Mercedes-Benz and the similar car of Aiden Moffat.

Shedden, hampered with the less favourable harder tyres and 75kg of ballast, dropped to 10th at the flag.

Jason Plato and Colin Turkington's Subaru were both victims of the opening lap crash, along with Josh Cook's MG.

RACE TWO RESULT

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