British Touring Car Championship
Knockhill - Race 1 Report - 25/8/13
By MJP Media | 25 August 2013
Colin Turkington wins the first race from Knockhill. Gordon Shedden takes 2nd place following an exciting battle with pole-sitter Rob Austin.
Colin Turkington celebrates winning the first race at Knockhill
There is plenty of Scottish interest at the 7th meeting of Britain's premier motorsport series with Gordon Shedden from Dalgety Bay defending his 2012 Drivers' Championship and 16-year-old Aiden Moffat from Dalkeith making history by being the youngest driver ever to take part in the BTCC. Further Scottish interest lies with Inverness-based racer Dave Newsham in the Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Avensis and Kieran Gallagher in the RCIB Insurance Racing Vauxhall Insignia previously driven by Jack Goff.
Following a stunning performance in yesterday's qualifying session, Rob Austin started the first of the three Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship races from Knockhill in pole position. The WIX Racing driver shattered the previous qualifying lap record by over half a second to put his Audi A4 at the front of the grid alongside the eBay Motors BMW 125i M Sport of Colin Turkington. Row 2 was taken by Gordon Shedden and Jason Plato with Matt Neal and Adam Morgan on row 3.
Gordon Shedden pushing Rob Austin to the limit
Off the line, Rob Austin got a good start but was immediately put under pressure from Colin Turkington who took the lead on lap 2. Austin then fell into the clutches of Gordon Shedden and after a brief but intense battle, lost another place to the Scot on lap 4. The front-runners then extended their lead over the following pack however a safety car period to recover the stricken RCIB Insurance Vauxhall Vectra of Paul O'Neill bunched the field up again.
When racing resumed, Colin Turkington re-established his advantage at the front with Gordon Shedden and Rob Austin in pursuit. Whilst challenging Shedden for 2nd place, Austin also had to contend with the hard-charging Jason Plato in the MG KX Momentum Racing MG6 who was starting to mount a challenge for 3rd.
Turkington, Austin and Shedden fighting for the lead
After a hard-fought race, victory went to Colin Turkington and the eBay Motors team with Gordon Shedden 2nd for Honda Yuasa Racing. Rob Austin held on to finish 3rd for WIX Racing with Adam Morgan 4th for Ciceley Racing. Jason Plato and Rob Collard completed the top 6 places. Liam Griffin won the Jack Sears Cup for S2000 specification cars.
Special mention should go to young racer Aiden Moffat who, in his first competitive British Touring Car Championship race, brought his Finesse Motorsport Chevrolet Cruze home in 22nd place in the 26-strong field and 3rd in the Jack Sears Cup class.
Touring Car content supplied by MJP Media
A VIEW FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT
A regular account of life in the British Touring Car Championship from the driver's point of view
Lots of luck at Snetterton - most of it bad!
In this edition, Dave Newsham looks back at the series of unfortunate events at Snetterton which caused him to loose places in the Championship.
It's half time and still all to play for!
Following the summer break, Speedworks Motorsport driver Dave Newsham is keen to get racing again as he looks forward to Snetterton this weekend and the second half of the 2013 BTCC season.
It's wet, it's dry, it's wet, it's dry... it's Yorkshire!
As the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship reaches the half-way point in the 2013 season, Dave Newsham looks back at the events at Croft.
Oulton Park Diary
Dave Newsham reviews the events of Oulton Park and looks forward to Croft.
What we've been doing ahead of Oulton Park!
It's been four weeks since our last outing at Thruxton and instead of sitting around doing nothing and waiting for the next round of the British Touring Car Championship at Oulton Park to come round, we have been busy.
Thruxton review - Don't look back in anger
Excess baggage, substantial changes and wheel-to-wheel action - Dave Newsham looks back at the Thruxton weekend.
TOURING CARS - LATEST NEWS
Race reports and previews from the British Touring Car Championship plus British interests in other international Touring Car series
BTCC - Knockhill - Race 1 Report - 25/8/13
Colin Turkington wins the first race from Knockhill. Gordon Shedden takes 2nd place following an exciting battle with pole-sitter Rob Austin.
BTCC - Knockhill - Qualifying - 24/8/13
Rob Austin secures a stunning maiden pole position in qualifying at Knockhill to shatter the previous BTCC qualifying record by over half a second.
BTCC - Knockhill - Free Practice - 24/8/13
Gordon Shedden and Rob Austin top the time sheets in the free practice sessions at Knockhill. Adam Morgan did well to finish 2nd in both sessions.
Scottish youngster to make BTCC history at Knockhill
16-year-old Aiden Moffat will make history this weekend as he becomes the youngest ever driver in the British Touring Car Championship!
Dunlop Sport Maxx Soft tyres - the story so far
The new Dunlop Sport Maxx Soft tyre has proved to be an exciting development in the 2013 British Touring Car Championship. Here we look at its story to date.
BTCC - Knockhill Preview - WIN TICKETS!
Scotland prepares for action as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship heads to the Knockhill circuit in Dunfermline on August 24th and 25th for the 7th round of the 2013 season.