BTCC: Turkington and Sutton excel at wet and chaotic Oulton Park

The British Touring Car Championship returned to action this weekend at Cheshire’s Oulton Park raceway.

With the paddock enjoying two weeks’ respite since Brands Hatch, mixed weather forecasts promised entertaining racing throughout Round 3.

Team BMW’s Colin Turkington entered the event with an established gap over second-placed Ash Sutton.

Race 7

Thanks to a sterling effort in Saturday’s qualifying session, Rory Butcher lined his Motorbase Ford Focus up on pole for the weekend’s opener. However, with rain pouring down on the track, and the start delayed due to Carl Boardley’s green flag crash, the Scot would face many a challenge if he were to win the race.

Butcher managed to hold off a rampant Turkington when the lights went out, with the latter coming under significant pressure in the following laps from Josh Cook. By lap 4, Butcher had shot away from the battle pack, but lost his gap to second when the safety car emerged following a shunt at Old Hall.

Upon the restart, Cook mounted various attacks on the Motorbase machine, eventually getting past after a great tussle through Turn 1 and down to Cascades. In the dying stages, both Dan Cammish and Tom Ingram would steal the fastest lap off of Cook, who ultimately crossed the line first. Butcher and Cammish seemed to fill the other podium spots, with Jake Hill besting Turkington for what was P4 and P5.

Sadly, post-race, Cook’s FK8 Honda Civic narrowly failed the ride height checks. As a result, Butcher was promoted to race winner, whilst Cook was disqualified from the standings. Jake Hill bagged MB Motorsport’s maiden BTCC podium, also.

After the race, Butcher said:

“After Brands Hatch, we finished and got a podium with points on the board. I was determined to try and win but Josh was on a mission and put me under pressure. When alongside I tried to hold him off but in the end he got through and was the quicker man.”

Race 7’s Top 10:

1. Rory Butcher
2. Dan Cammish
3. Jake Hill
4. Colin Turkington
5. Tom Chilton
6. Tom Ingram
7. Adam Morgan
8. Ash Sutton
9. Chris Smiley
10. Senna Proctor

Race 8

Butcher replicated his strong start in Race 8, with Sutton placing fourth from eighth by the end of the first lap, also. The Infiniti Q50 set the fastest time by the end of lap 3, with only two seconds separating the front four.

The battle reached its climax when Sutton sped past Turkington approaching Hislop’s on lap 5, later rounding up Cammish at Lodge. Butcher, with a once healthy lead resulting from the tussles, had Sutton clipping at his heels soon after – he conceded position at Old Hall on lap 8.

Drama occurred at Hislop’s towards the end of the affair, when Cook, having made 14 spots from his starting position, was spun by teammate Michael Crees in a determined racing incident. A lengthy battle between Cammish and Turkington was also resolved, with the latter coming out on top for P3. Sutton, however, could not be caught, and won his second race of the year.

Race-winner Sutton said:

“Everyone at Laser Tools Racing and BMR Engineering did a mega job. I wanted to get the first couple of laps out of the way. It’s very narrow around here and it’s easy to make car contact. But once we got into that clean air into fourth, we knew what we’ve got, we know what we can do with it.”

Race 8’s Top 10:

1. Ash Sutton
2. Rory Butcher
3. Colin Turkington
4. Dan Cammish
5. Tom Ingram
6. Tom Oliphant
7. Jake Hill
8. Tom Chilton
9. Adam Morgan
10. Bobby Thompson

Race 9

Sutton selected the number 10 ball in the reverse grid draw; consequently, Bobby Thompson started up front. However, the Trade Price Cars Audi S3 could not convert from launch, bogging down badly, and allowing Adam Morgan, Tom Oliphant and Turkington through. Thompson would fall further in the opening lap, being pushed adrift at Island.

It was a race to forget for many front runners, with Cammish struggling for pace, Matt Neal sliding off at Cascades, and Ingram pulling into the pits before the contest had even started.

By lap 6, Turkington had already nailed two consecutive fastest times, and was on the back of fellow BMW-operator Oliphant. As directed by team orders, Oliphant would let Turkington through a lap later, maximising his weekend’s points haul.

A large smash at Druids between Stephen Jelley, Ollie Brown and Nic Hamilton initially brought out the safety car, but with extensive track damage and a tight schedule to adhere to, it was upped to a red flag. Adam Morgan became the sixth winner in nine races, with the BMW duo completing the podium ahead of Sutton in fourth.

Race-winner Adam Morgan said:

“A win at our home track, with our sponsors Carlube Triple R here too, it couldn’t have happened at a better time! It was very difficult, having Colin behind me for that many laps. I’m delighted for everyone at Ciceley Motorsport. We’ve worked and worked and worked with the Mercedes and we keep finding little bits here and there and she’s come good.

Race 9’s Top 10:

1. Adam Morgan
2. Colin Turkington
3. Tom Oliphant
4. Ash Sutton
5. Tom Chilton
6. Senna Proctor
7. Jake Hill
8. Rory Butcher
9. Chris Smiley
10. Aiden Moffat

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Weekend Analysis

Colin Turkington exits a wet and chaotic Oulton Park with an extended championship lead. Mr Reliable is living up to his name in 2020, picking up solid points every race, and avoiding unnecessary altercations like no-one else can.

It’s good to see Ash Sutton and Rory Butcher continue to perform well, as the constant pressure will build towards an exciting finale come November. It truly is anyone’s title a third of the way through.

Team HARD.’s mechanics will be put through many a sleepless night in the wake of Knockhill next Sunday. The Kent-based operation could have done without extensive damage, but a plethora of spills across their four drivers quelled those thoughts. Motorbase (the alternate south-easterly squad), on the other hand, will be laughing on their way to Scotland, owing to Rory’s splendid form and home circuit to come.

Championship Standings:

1. Colin Turkington – 141pts
2. Ash Sutton – 122pts
3. Rory Butcher – 100pts
4. Tom Oliphant- 99pts
5. Dan Cammish – 92pts

Standout Performers:

1. Colin Turkington
2. Adam Morgan
3. Ash Sutton

The next round of the BTCC is at Knockhill on 29-30 August.