Turkington Back to Winning Ways

Muller jumped the Championship leading Honda Integra-R of Matt Neal off the line to take second at the start, but with Turkington carrying no success ballast was unable to challenge for the lead, and was almost three seconds behind when the safety car was deployed before the race stoppage.

"It's great to get the first win for a new team out of the way," admitted Turkington. "I was pleased to see Yvan disappearing in my mirrors, so I could take it a bit easier after the first few laps."

The race was curtailed by red flags after Mark Proctor's independently-run Astra Coupe crashed heavily at the exit of Barcroft after suffering a mechanical problem. Although Proctor was uninjured, both car and, significantly, tyre barrier were heavily damaged, forcing officals to stop the race.

Neal repulsed the early-race challenge of Jason Plato to claim the final spot on the podium, with his pursuer frustrated by the onset of understeer in the mid-part of the race. Neal's teammate, Dan Eaves, was fifth after passing the Honda Civic of Tom Chilton up the inside of Sunny In on lap six.

Rob Collard followed home Chilton in the WSR-run MG ZS, and was showing improved race pace in relation to the field after a disappointing qualifying performance, with the third works Vauxhall of Gavin Smith eighth.

SEAT''s Luke Hines crashed out of the race at Barcroft on lap three after dropping a wheel on the grass at the exit of the fast corner. Despite hitting the barriers at in excess of 100mph, he also emerged unscathed.

The Tech-Speed bio-ethanol powered Astra Coupe of BTCC debutante Fiona Leggate finished 11th after spending much of the race battling with Proctor. It is the first time a bio-ethanol car has appeared in the Championship.