British Touring Car Championship
Donington Park - Race 1 Report - 17/4/16
By MJP Media | 17 April 2016
Mat Jackson secures victory in the first BTCC race of the day from Donington Park which was halted when James Cole's Silverline Subaru BMR Racing Levorg GT burst into flames.
Mat Jackson wins the first race of the day from Donington Park
MG Racing RCIB Insurance were the dominant force at Donington Park yesterday. Josh Cook topped the time sheets in both the free practice sessions while team-mate Ashley Sutton took pole position ahead of Cook for the first of today's three Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship races. Mat Jackson qualified his Motorbase Performance Ford Focus on the second row of the grid alongside Gordon Shedden's Halfords Yuasa Racing Honda Civic Type R with Tom Ingram and Rob Collard on row three.
With yesterday's weather a distant memory, it was a bright and sunny morning that greeted the teams and fans at the fabulous Leicestershire circuit as the BTCC action commenced. Mat Jackson got an excellent start, passing the two MG6GTs of pole-sitter Ashley Sutton and Josh Cook to lead into the first corner. Ashley Sutton fared less well, losing several places but recovering to 3rd place behind Jackson and Cook.
Mat Jackson takes the lead into the first corner
The Safety Car was deployed following Warren Scott beaching his Silverline Subaru BMR Racing Levorg GT in the gravel trap at the first corner. He managed to get it going again with the assistance of the race marshals but was nearly a lap down on the rest of the field.
There was little change at the front of the field until lap 11 when Ashley Sutton dropped from 3rd to 6th place, promoting Rob Collard in the Team JCT600 with GardX BMW 125i M Sport and Jack Goff in the Team IHG Rewards Club BMW 125i M Sport to 4th and 5th respectively. Goff passed West Surrey Racing team-mate Collard on lap 13 before Sutton also passed Collard to take 5th place.
James Cole's Silverline Subaru Levorg GT engulfed by fire
The Safety Car was brought out again with just a few laps remaining when Matt Simpson and Dan Welch made heavy contact at Coppice, leaving both cars in a dangerous position. In a separate incident, James Cole's Silverline Subaru BMR Racing Levorg GT caught fire, causing the race to be immediately red-flagged as marshals dealt with the blaze. Cole was un-harmed however his car suffered substantial front-end damage.
With the race results declared, victory went to Mat Jackson in the Motorbase Performance Ford Focus with MG Racing RCIB Insurance's Josh Cook taking 2nd place ahead of Tom Ingram in 3rd for Speedworks Motorsport. Jack Goff finished 4th with Ashley Sutton 5th, and Rob Collard 6th. Jeff Smith, Aron Smith, Sam Tordoff and Colin Turkington rounded out the top ten. Jackson's victory means that four different drivers have won the first four races of the season, a sure sign that 2016 is going to be a classic year for the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.
Touring Car content supplied by MJP Media
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BTCC - Donington Park - Race 1 Report - 17/4/16
Mat Jackson secures victory in the first BTCC race of the day from Donington Park which was halted when James Cole's Silverline Subaru BMR Racing Levorg GT burst into flames.
BTCC - Donington Park - Qualifying - 16/4/16
BTCC rookie Ashley Sutton takes pole position in the qualifying session at Donington Park as team-mate Josh Cook makes it a front row lock-out for race one for MG Racing RCIB Insurance.
BTCC - Donington Park - Free Practice - 16/4/16
Josh Cook lays down the gauntlet by topping the time sheets in both free practice sessions at Donington Park in his MG Racing RCIB Insurance MG6GT.
Halfords Yuasa Racing and Andy Neate part company
After ending its relationship with third driver Andy Neate with immediate effect, Halfords Yuasa Racing will be a two-car squad for the remainder of the 2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.
BTCC - Donington Park - Preview
After a thrilling start to the 2016 season, the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship now heads to Donington Park on April 16th and 17th for the second meeting of the year.
BTCC - Brands Hatch (Indy) - Race 3 Report - 3/4/16
Adam Morgan wins the last race of the day from Brands Hatch for WIX Racing and lies 3rd in the championship behind Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden.