Sport   Motorsport   Touring Cars

British Touring Car Championship
Snetterton - Race 1 Report - 12/8/12

By MJP Media / Pictures: Andrew Hartley | 12 August 2012

Jason Plato wins the first race from Snetterton as pole-sitter Frank Wrathall takes 2nd. Andrew Jordan takes 3rd following a thrilling battle with Dave Newsham.

Jason Plato celebrates victory with Frank Wrathall and Andrew Jordan
Jason Plato celebrates victory with Frank Wrathall and Andrew Jordan

Following his spectacular qualifying performance yesterday, Frank Wrathall started the first race of the day at Snetterton from pole position - the first BTCC pole position for a Toyota driver since 1993. Alongside Wrathall's Dynojet Toyota Avensis on the front row was the MG KX Momentum Racing MG6 of Jason Plato. Dave Newsham and Andrew Jordan lined up on the 2nd row with Adam Morgan and Daniel Welch on row 3.

As the lights went out, Jason Plato and Dave Newsham both got great starts and passed Frank Wrathall into the first corner. Adam Morgan spun his Speedworks Toyota Avensis on the first lap but recovered and rejoined having lost several places. Following a fire in his Honda Yuasa Racing Team Civic yesterday, Gordon Shedden started the race at the back of the grid having not set a qualifying time but by the end of the first lap had made his way up to 8th from 22nd on the grid.

Robb Holland and Adam Morgan crash out on lap 3
Robb Holland and Adam Morgan crash out on lap 3

The safety car was deployed on lap 3 following a coming together between Adam Morgan and the Team HARD. Honda Civic of Robb Holland which caused both cars to hit the safety barrier with Holland's mounting the tyre barrier.

Racing resumed on lap 8 with Jason Plato out in front ahead of Dave Newsham and Frank Wrathall. Behind the leaders, Matt Neal in the Honda Yuasa Racing Team Civic was being challenged by Daniel Welch in the Welch Motorsport Proton Persona. On lap 9, Dave Newsham tried to pass Plato but failed and in the process allowed Wrathall to pass and take 2nd place. As Plato extended his lead the battle behind him was intense with Dave Newsham, Frank Wrathall and Andrew Jordan pushing each other hard.

Pole-sitter Frank Wrathall on his way to 2nd place for Dynojet
Pole-sitter Frank Wrathall on his way to 2nd place for Dynojet

Behind the front-runners a battle was developing between eBay Motors team-mates Tom Onslow-Cole and Rob Collard. Meanwhile, Gordon Shedden was gradually making up places and by lap 11 was running in 9th place. As Dave Newsham in the Team ES Racing.com Vauxhall Vectra and Andrew Jordan in the Pirtek Racing Honda Civic battled for 3rd place, Frank Wrathall extended a slight gap in 2nd place.

In a flurry of last-lap action, Andrew Jordan passed Dave Newsham only for Newsham to re-take the position seconds later. Jordan hadn't finished yet and passed Newsham a second time to take 3rd place. At the chequered flag it was victory for Jason Plato with Frank Wrathall 2nd and Andrew Jordan 3rd. Dave Newsham finished 4th ahead of Matt Neal in 5th and Daniel Welch in 6th. Following an impressive drive through the field from the back of the grid, Gordon Shedden finished 8th.

Dave Newsham was subsequently excluded from the race result after his Vauxhall Vectra failed to meet the minimum weight requirement. Matt Neal was therefore promoted to 4th with Daniel Welch 5th.

Pictures courtesy of Andrew Hartley

Touring Car content supplied by MJP Media

Olympus Camera

TOURING CARS - LATEST NEWS

Race reports and previews from the British Touring Car Championship plus British interests in other international Touring Car series


BTCC - Snetterton - Race 1 Report - 12/8/12 BTCC - Snetterton - Race 1 Report - 12/8/12
Jason Plato wins the first race from Snetterton as pole-sitter Frank Wrathall takes 2nd. Andrew Jordan takes 3rd following a thrilling battle with Dave Newsham.


BTCC - Snetterton - Qualifying - 11/8/12 BTCC - Snetterton - Qualifying - 11/8/12
Frank Wrathall claims pole position for the first race from Snetterton tomorrow in the Dynojet Toyota Avensis. Gordon Shedden makes qualifying after a serious fire in his Honda Civic but fails to set a time.


BTCC - Snetterton - Free Practice - 11/8/12 BTCC - Snetterton - Free Practice - 11/8/12
Jason Plato and Andrew Jordan top the time sheets in free practice at Snetterton whilst Gordon Shedden is 'on fire' in more ways than one!


Thorney Motorsport announce radical changes for Snetterton return Thorney Motorsport announce radical changes for Snetterton return
In a surprise announcement, Team HARD. boss Tony Gilham will drive the Thorney Motorsport Vauxhall Insignia when the team return to the BTCC at Snetterton.


BTCC - Snetterton - Preview BTCC - Snetterton - Preview
After its summer break, the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship resumes at Snetterton in Norfolk on August 11th and 12th.


American Robb Holland to join Team HARD. at Snetterton American Robb Holland to join Team HARD. at Snetterton
The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship is set to get its first American driver in almost 40 years after Robb Holland signed for Team HARD.


Chevrolet announce shock withdrawal from Touring Cars Chevrolet announce shock withdrawal from Touring Cars
Chevrolet today announced that they are pulling out of the FIA World Touring Car Championship at the end of the 2012 season.


BTCC - Croft - Race 3 Report - 24/6/12 BTCC - Croft - Race 3 Report - 24/6/12
Jason Plato wins the last race of the day at Croft. Matt Neal ends the 1st half of the season at the top of the championship table but Gordon Shedden is just 1 point behind as the BTCC starts its summer break.


BTCC - Croft - Race 2 Report - 24/6/12 BTCC - Croft - Race 2 Report - 24/6/12
Gordon Shedden leads Matt Neal to a fantastic 1-2 victory for Honda Yuasa Racing in the 2nd race at Croft and regains his lead in the championship. Rob Austin takes the final podium place after a thrilling drive.


BTCC - Croft - Race 1 Report - 24/6/12 BTCC - Croft - Race 1 Report - 24/6/12
Matt Neal wins the first race from Croft Circuit as Jason Plato's car suffers yet another pre-race failure. Rob Collard finished 2nd with Gordon Shedden 3rd.


BTCC - Croft - Qualifying - 23/6/12 BTCC - Croft - Qualifying - 23/6/12
Honda take the top 3 places in qualifying at Croft as Matt Neal secures pole position for the first race tomorrow ahead of Andrew Jordan, Gordon Shedden and Frank Wrathall.


BTCC - Croft - Free Practice - 23/6/12 BTCC - Croft - Free Practice - 23/6/12
Honda dominate the first free practice session from Croft Circuit however Jason Plato goes fastest in the second session.