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British Touring Car Championship
Brands Hatch (Indy) - Race 1 Report - 5/4/15

By MJP Media | 5 April 2015

Rob Collard takes the first win of the 2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season in an epic opening race at Brands Hatch as Team BMR pile on the pressure.

Rob Collard is delighted to win the first race of the 2015 season

With Andy Priaulx on pole in the Team IHG Rewards Club BMW 125i M Sport ahead of the three Team BMR Volkswagen CCs of Aron Smith, Jason Plato and Colin Turkington, the battle at the front for round one of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship was bound to be intense. To add spice to the mix, Priaulx was on the soft option tyre, which has traditionally been poor off the line in cold conditions. Brands Hatch was absolutely packed and the huge crowd was ready for action!

As the lights went out it was Priaulx who led into the first corner ahead of the field whilst his team-mate Rob Collard made a flying start to come up to second at Druids. At the end of the first lap it was Priaulx from Collard in 2nd with Aron Smith 3rd and Jason Plato 4th. Jack Goff was in 5th and Colin Turkington was now in 6th place.

Rob Collard ahead of Aron Smith and Jason Plato

The BMWs were able to build a small gap over the two Volkswagens, whilst Jack Goff had to fend off Colin Turkington in the battle for 5th. In 7th was Gordon Shedden, closely followed by Andrew Jordan and Matt Neal. In amongst this racing there was the important task of setting fast laps which would determine the grid for race two. Jason Plato was leading this particular battle in the early stages whilst running 4th with Andy Priaulx second fastest and leading the race.

At the halfway stage the top 6 were still running in formation with none of the drivers able to make a break with Gordon Shedden tagging onto the back of the top six queue. It was it this point that Andy Priaulx started to reach the limit with the soft tyres and on lap 14 Rob Collard was right behind him and being held up, allowing the Volkswagens to join the battle for the lead.

Rob Collard lifts the first winner's trophy of the 2015 BTCC season

Into Paddock Hill on lap 15, Andy Priaulx lost the lead as Rob Collard, Aron Smith and Jason Plato went through as he slipped to 4th. Jack Goff then also passed Priaulx whose tyres were now shot. Collard, Smith and Plato were then able to pull away at the front ahead of Goff, Colin Turkington and Gordon Shedden. With 3 laps to go the big battle was for 4th place with only inches separating the cars. At the chequered flag it was the hugely popular Rob Collard who took the win for JCT600 Racing with GardX with Aron Smith 2nd and Jason Plato 3rd for Team BMR. Jack Goff was 4th for MG 888 Racing with Colin Turkington 5th and Gordon Shedden 6th.

The grid for race two now depended on the fastest laps from race one. Jason Plato had the fastest lap and takes pole for race 2, plus the maximum success ballast, ahead of Andy Priaulx who will line up second. Gordon Shedden will start 3rd on the grid with Rob Collard 4th, Colin Turkington 5th and Aron Smith 6th. Jack Goff, Matt Neal, Adam Morgan and Andrew Jordan round out the top 10. Possibly the happiest man will be Andy Priaulx who will start second, but with much less success ballast than those around him.

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