Thruxton BTCC: Collard wins second race after myriad red flags

The initial part of the race had been red flagged after an opening lap crash.

Triple Eight MG team-mates Dan Lloyd and Aron Taylor-Smith, along with Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra rookie Senna Proctor, made contact going into the flat-out Church corner.

Both MGs were spat on to the grass and Lloyd's car rolled and was badly damaged. He was uninjured, but the race was stopped.

There was an hour-long delay while the barrier was repaired, which meant the race distance was reduced to 10 laps.

The cars started the second part from the positions in which they finished lap three of the initial segment of the race.

That put Collard (WSR BMW 125i M Sport) on row three, and he powered around the outside of those ahead to battle with front-row starters Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden (Team Dynamics Honda Civic Type Rs).

The trio went into the opening five corners side-by-side, but Neal kept the advantage from Shedden.

However, a huge slide at Church from Shedden allowed Collard to draft alongside going into the Club Chicane at the end of the opening tour despite a three-abreast moment with Shedden and Jack Goff in his Eurotech Civic Type R.

At the end of the second lap, Neal darted for the pits as his power steering had failed.

After a quick stop to rectify the problem he was able to rejoin, but it handed the lead to Collard who stayed ahead until a second red flag brought the race to a premature end.

Collard said: "That was an explosive few laps.

"The cars were stunning. I did a lot of work on the first start and the second start was textbook. It was brilliant.

"Although it was poor luck for Matt Neal, I will take my chances with that. I am thrilled."

Shedden maintained the pressure on Collard, while Tom Ingram (Speedworks Toyota Avensis) climbed his way up through the pack to third place.

The top three were locked in combat on lap seven when Martin Depper went off heavily at Village Corner and badly damaged his Motorbase Performance Ford Focus. He was uninjured.

Goff was fourth from Rob Austin (Handy Motorsport Avensis) and WSR driver Colin Turkington for fifth, while Adam Morgan was right in their wheel tracks in sixth spot in his Ciceley Racing Mercedes-Benz A-Class.

RESULT - SIX LAPS: