Turkington gives BMW first win
Colin Turkington has won the first of today's three British Touring Car Championship races at Croft, claiming BMW's first win in the series for 11 years
"I'm delighted," he told autosport.com. "It was really frustrating last time at Thruxton. I knew when we tested that the car felt really good and to dominate the race was great.
"After having such a good season last year it's been a bit of a slow start. I'm so pleased to see the whole team so happy."
Turkington made a strong start in his rear-wheel driver 320si to get past pole-sitter Gordon Shedden at the start. Shedden also lost out to teammate Matt Neal on the opening lap, but eventually finished second.
Neal was involved in an incident with Turkington's teammate Tom Onslow-Cole, who after pitting to repair a punctured tyre re-emerged at the head of the field.
Onslow-Cole soon let Turkington past, but Neal was behind him heading into the hairpin. The pair made contact, putting the BMW driver out and dropping Neal down to third.
SEAT's Darren Turner came home in fourth place, with the BTC-spec Honda Integra of Mike Jordan breathing down his neck.
The pair was followed by Fabrizio Giovanardi and Jason Plato - who are battling each other for the lead of the championship - and Tom Chilton.
Classified: Pos Driver Make Time 1. Colin Turkington BMW 22:06.494 2. Gordon Shedden Honda + 3.957 3. Matt Neal Honda + 5.083 4. Darren Turner SEAT + 6.829 5. Mike Jordan Honda + 7.503 6. Fabrizio Giovanardi Vauxhall + 9.494 7. Jason Plato SEAT + 12.696 8. Tom Chilton Vauxhall + 15.593 9. Mat Jackson BMW + 17.176 10. Gareth Howell SEAT + 19.431 11. Chris Stockton Lexus + 33.975 12. Simon Blanckley Honda + 47.221 13. Erkut Kizilirmak Vauxhall + 53.159 14. Martyn Bell BMW + 55.010 15. Fiona Leggate MG +1:09.211 16. Jim Pocklington BMW + 1 lap 17. John George Honda + 1 lap 18. Richard Marsh Alfa Romeo + 1 lap Not Classified: Driver Make Laps Tom Onslow-Cole BMW 6 Eoin Murray Alfa Romeo 4 Matt Allison SEAT 4 David Pinkney Alfa Romeo 3 Jason Hughes MG 1 Fastest lap: Turkington, 1:27.210 on lap 4
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