Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

BTCC Brands Hatch: Goff beats Turkington to win season opener

Jack Goff won the opening round of the British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch after tense race-long battle with Colin Turkington on a slippery track

Goff took his Eurotech Honda from pole position to an immediate advantage, but Turkington's WSR pressed him all the way.

Despite getting alongside on a couple of occasions, the Northern Irishman was unable to usurp the leader who crossed the line 0.5 seconds ahead.

Goff said, "what a great way to start the season - it was almost perfect, although I did make one small mistake that almost gave Colin a chance to jump me. I was at maximum concentration all the way through that. We couldn't really have asked for any more, and it has been a reward for all the hard work everyone has put in."

Turkington said he tried to grab the chance when Goff ran slightly wide coming off Clearways at half distance, but had to back out of it.

"He was wide, and I tried the inside but it was so slippery there that I just couldn't get the power down.

Towards the end, when the rain stopped, Jack's car was better than mine and he was just able to edge away. I will take second place though, I am happy with that."

Behind them, Andrew Jordan took third place in his WSR BMW 125i M Sport after an early battle with newcomer Dan Cammish in the Team Dynamics Honda Civic Type R.

Cammish held on for 10 laps until Jordan reasserted himself going into Paddock Hill Bend. Cammish dropped down the order as the handling of his Civic deteriorated.

That allowed Tom Ingram into fourth place in the Speedworks Toyota Avensis when he jumped his rival at Paddock Hill Bend on lap 15.

Tom Chilton (Motorbase Ford) and Adam Morgan (Ciceley Racing Mercedes) also managed to muscle past the wilting Cammish to grab fifth and sixth positions.

Ash Sutton's drive from 18th on the grid to seventh place in the Team BMR Subaru Levorg was a highlight.

The 2017 champion overhauled Cammish on the final lap to seal the position. Cammish narrowly held off Chris Smiley (BTC Norlin Honda) to the line.

However, Smiley was penalised for 'gaining an unfair advantage' in a clash with James Cole, dropping Smiley to 10th behind Cole's Motorbase Ford.

Front row starter Sam Tordoff was ruled out after a lap-one collision. The Motorbase Focus racer was slow on the opening lap and a concertina effect into Clearways meant he was in contact with Matt Simpson's Honda.

The incident also involved Josh Cook's Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall and Matt Neal's Team Dynamics Honda, which retired in the gravel at Clearways.

Race one - 27 laps

Pos Driver Team Car Gap
1 Jack Goff Eurotech Racing Honda 27m11.465s
2 Colin Turkington WSR BMW 0.547s
3 Andrew Jordan WSR BMW 2.481s
4 Tom Ingram Speedworks Toyota 3.577s
5 Tom Chilton Motorbase Ford 11.290s
6 Adam Morgan Ciceley Motorsport Mercedes 12.263s
7 Ash Sutton Team BMR Subaru 14.578s
8 Dan Cammish Team Dynamics Honda 15.087s
9 James Cole Motorbase Ford 15.612s
10 Chris Smiley BTC Norlin Honda 15.715s
11 Brett Smith Eurotech Racing Honda 16.352s
12 Ollie Jackson AmD Tuning Audi 24.724s
13 Rory Butcher AmD Tuning MG 25.244s
14 Aiden Moffat Laser Tools Racing Mercedes 27.530s
15 Rob Collard WSR BMW 28.106s
16 Tom Oliphant Ciceley Motorsport Mercedes 28.689s
17 James Nash BTC Norlin Honda 29.739s
18 Tom Boardman AmD Tuning MG 30.860s
19 Bobby Thompson Team Hard Volkswagen 31.281s
20 Jason Plato Team BMR Subaru 32.190s
21 Michael Caine Team Hard Volkswagen 36.255s
22 Stephen Jelley Team Parker Racing BMW 36.635s
23 Josh Price Team BMR Subaru 40.825s
24 Sam Smelt AmD Tuning Audi 52.214s
25 Jake Hill Team Hard Volkswagen 1 Lap
26 Sam Tordoff Motorbase Ford 2 Laps
27 Senna Proctor Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall 2 Laps
- Josh Cook Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Not classified
- Rob Austin HMS Racing Alfa Romeo Retirement
- Matt Neal Team Dynamics Honda Retirement
- Mike Bushell Team Hard Volkswagen Retirement
- Matt Simpson Eurotech Racing Honda Retirement


Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article BTCC Brands Hatch: Goff takes pole after Cammish gets penalty
Next article BTCC Brands Hatch: Proctor scores first win after slicks gamble

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe