Snetterton BTCC: Tordoff storms to first win ahead of Plato

Poleman Tordoff made a good start to lead MG team-mate Jason Plato and reigning champion Gordon Shedden (Honda Civic) into Riches.

The rookie gradually edged away from Plato, who came under increasing pressure from Shedden and the soft tyre-shod WSR BMW of Colin Turkington.

Andrew Jordan's Eurotech Civic was also close to the group in the late laps, after twice swapping places with Aron Smith on the opening tour. But Plato held on to complete an MG one-two.

Smith eventually overcame Adam Morgan's challenge to complete the top six in his Motorbase Ford Focus.

Championship leader Matt Neal's works Honda Civic started 11th and made it to eighth in the opening part of the race.

But Mat Jackson's Focus, up from 13th, caught him and started applying pressure in the closing stages.

When Neal ran wide at Williams on lap 10 of 12, Jackson powered by to finish eighth.

With James Kaye (AmD Honda Civic) and Liam Griffin (Motorbase Focus) both hitting troubles, S2000 pacesetter Lea Wood had an even easier run to Jack Sears Trophy honours.

Race one - 12 laps:

Pos  Driver            Team/Car               Time/Gap
 1.  Sam Tordoff       MG                   23m55.798s
 2.  Jason Plato       MG                      +2.514s
 3.  Gordon Shedden    Honda                   +3.564s
 4.  Colin Turkington  WSR BMW                 +3.829s
 5.  Andrew Jordan     Eurotech Honda          +4.313s
 6.  Aron Smith        Motorbase Ford          +8.908s
 7.  Adam Morgan       Ciceley Toyota         +10.845s
 8.  Mat Jackson       Motorbase Ford         +14.590s
 9.  Matt Neal         Honda                  +16.005s
10.  Rob Collard       WSR BMW                +16.569s
11.  Jack Goff         Hard Vauxhall          +23.480s
12.  Tom Onslow-Cole   Hard VW                +24.572s
13.  Jeff Smith        Eurotech Honda         +29.742s
14.  Nick Foster       WSR BMW                +33.588s
15.  Rob Austin        Austin Audi            +33.771s
16.  Ollie Jackson     Speedworks Toyota      +34.289s
17.  Daniel Welch      Welch Proton           +35.331s
18.  Dave Newsham      Speedworks Toyota      +37.361s
19.  Lea Wood          Wood Vauxhall          +40.771s*
20.  David Nye         Welch Ford             +57.834s*
21.  Robb Holland      Hard Vauxhall        +1m03.162s
22.  Andy Neate        IP Chevrolet         +1m14.195s

Retirements:

     Warren Scott      BMR VW                  11 laps*
     Will Bratt        Austin Audi              9 laps
     Liam Griffin      Motorbase Ford           6 laps*
     James Kaye        AmD Honda                4 laps*
     Frank Wrathall    Dynojet Toyota           2 laps

* S2000