BTCC Oulton Park: Jordan wins dramatic race three

Most of the frontrunners started on the fragile soft tyre and Rob Austin's rear-wheel-drive Audi grabbed an initial lead from row two.

He was soon under pressure from poleman Jeff Smith's Eurotech Honda Civic and Austin's robust defence resulted in a big, jostling lead pack.

In the many moments of contact, Jason Plato's MG picked up damage that resulted in a fire and Gordon Shedden had to pit after picking up a puncture.

Smith eventually tapped the struggling Austin out of the way at Lodge on lap seven of 15 and was followed through by Adam Morgan (Ciceley Racing Toyota Avensis).

Jordan soon overcame Austin and then passed Morgan. He closed on team-mate Smith, who held the lead until he dropped the Civic at Hislop's and spun back to fifth. A further off at Cascades forced him out of contention.

Jordan was left to take his second victory of 2013, from the WSR BMW of Colin Turkington and Morgan.

The Toyota narrowly held off Matt Neal for the final podium spot. The Honda driver had been involved in the earlier action, including a dramatic lunge on Turkington that helped Jordan escape.

Austin eventually came home fifth, ahead of Audi team-mate Will Bratt, while Sam Tordoff came through from row 11 to finish seventh.

Having led the S2000 class for much of the race, Lea Wood went off at Cascades, allowing Liam Griffin to secure Jack Sears Trophy honours.

Results - 15 laps:

Pos Driver            Team/Car              Time/Gap
 1. Andrew Jordan     Eurotech Honda        22m17.987s
 2. Colin Turkington  WSR BMW               + 1.358s
 3. Adam Morgan       Ciceley Toyota        + 4.523s
 4. Matt Neal         Honda                 + 4.601s
 5. Rob Austin        Austin Audi           + 7.605s
 6. Will Bratt        Austin Audi           + 8.712s
 7. Sam Tordoff       MG                    + 15.018s
 8. Nick Foster       WSR BMW               + 15.798s
 9. Aron Smith        Motorbase Ford        + 16.761s
10. Frank Wrathall    Dynojet Toyota        + 17.876s
11. Rob Collard       WSR BMW               + 18.491s
12. Jack Goff         Hard Vauxhall         + 19.731s
13. James Cole        Hard Vauxhall         + 20.813s
14. Dave Newsham      Speedworks Toyota     + 25.507s
15. Ollie Jackson     Speedworks Toyota     + 30.114s
16. Liam Griffin      Motorbase Ford*       + 33.473s
17. Gordon Shedden    Honda                 + 1m03.583s
18. Jeff Smith        Eurotech Honda        + 1 lap
19. Mat Jackson       Motorbase Ford        + 1 lap
20. Tom Onslow-Cole   Hard VW               + 1 lap
21. Lea Wood          Wood Vauxhall*        + 2 laps
22. David Nye         Welch Ford*           + 3 laps

Retirements:

   Daniel Welch      Welch Proton           7 laps
   Jason Plato       MG                     3 laps
   Warren Scott      BMR SEAT*              0 laps

* S2000