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British Touring Car Championship
Silverstone - Race 3 Report - 28/9/14

By MJP Media | 28 September 2014

Mat Jackson takes victory in the final race of the day as the championship battle goes down to the wire at Brands Hatch with Colin Turkington enjoying a 50 point lead over Jason Plato.

Mat Jackson is ecstatic with his win in the 3rd race at Silverstone

Firstly and mostly importantly we can bring you up to date with news on Rob Collard after his monumental crash which brought race 2 to an end. Rob was airlifted to hospital as a precaution with suspected concussion is thought to be doing well. He is being kept under observation overnight. Back to the racing and we had a mouth-watering race in prospect with the reverse grid putting Colin Turkington 6th on the grid and Jason Plato 7th on the soft Dunlop tyres. These are scary grid positions for the two title contenders as there will be lots of drivers around them who are only intent on winning and there is the real danger of being taken out and scoring no points. The teams left the pits to a magnificent bagpipe serenade to celebrate Aiden Moffat's 18th birthday today which he is enjoying with two top 20 finishes already for Laser Tools Racing.

As the cars lined up it was Fabrizio Giovanardi on pole in what was looking like a strong Airwaves Racing Ford Focus ST while Sam Tordoff in second place had engine difficulties on the grid with the team saying it was 'cranking low'. As the cars set off on the formation lap, Tordoff's car went up in smoke and didn't move at all, pouring oil all over the grid! As usual, the fantastic BTCC marshals were on hand to sort out the mess although a delayed start was necessary and the race distance was reduced to 21 laps.

Mat Jackson at the wheel of his Airwaves Racing Ford Focus ST

As the evening light started to fade it was Fabrizio Giovanardi and Mat Jackson who got the best starts with Giovanardi leading from Jackson, Aron Smith in 3rd and Colin Turkington in 4th. Three cars went off at the first corner including James Cole who was nudged into a spin by Hunter Abbott. Cole was then heavily hit by Robb Holland and Martin Depper causing a safety car period at the end of the first lap with Cole and Holland both retiring. The safety car stayed out for 4 laps, coming in at the end of lap 5.

Mat Jackson got a great restart and left team-mate Fabrizio Giovanardi for dead with the Italian being hounded by Aron Smith with Colin Turkington just behind. On lap 7 of the revised 24 laps, Smith passed Giovanardi for 2nd place and left Turkington no option but to try and pass Giovanardi as well as he was being caught by Alain Menu and Jason Plato! On lap 11 Luke Hines crashed out in his Toyota Avensis, however no safety car was required. At the front, Jackson was able to keep his lead at about 2 seconds from Smith, but the big battle was still for 3rd where Turkington was desperate to get past, but without taking any risks. On lap 19 Plato was really out of order as he deliberately pushed Turkington into the side of Giovanardi, however his gamble didn't pay off as Turkington was still able to get clear in 3rd, with Plato 4th and Menu 5th.

Race 3 podium: Colin Turkington, Mat Jackson and Aron Smith

At the chequered flag it was a great victory for Mat Jackson in the Airwaves Racing Ford Focus ST ahead of his former team-mate Aron Smith in the Chrome Edition Restart Racing Volkswagen CC. Colin Turkington finished 3rd to enhance his title hopes further with championship rival Jason Plato 4th ahead of Alain Menu in 5th and Andrew Jordan 6th. Aiden Moffat finished his 18th birthday with a third top 20 finish to complete a good day.

Going into the final meeting of the year at Brands Hatch on October 11th and 12th, Colin Turkington (who has now secured the 2014 Independents' Trophy) has a 50 point advantage over his only championship rival Jason Plato with Gordon Shedden now unable to win the title a further 50 points back. Turkington certainly has one hand on the trophy and the final meeting at Brands Hatch in 2 week's is sure to be an absolute cracker! We'll see you then, but meanwhile look out for a chance to win tickets to the final BTCC meeting with our special competition here later this week!

Touring Car content supplied by MJP Media