Chris Stockton holds his hands up for clash with James Cole

BTC Racing’s Chris Stockton came together with the United Autosports Toyota of James Cole in the first race of the day at Rockingham. The Chevrolet Cruze driver took responsibility for the incident which eliminated Cole from the race and saw Stockton drop to the back of the 31 car field.

Stockton locked up heading into Deene at the start of lap three and bounced across the kerbs, hitting Cole’s Toyota Avensis in the side, with Cole’s car forced to limp back to the pits to retire.

“I think it was Martin Depper behind me, so I covered the inside, but unfortunately when I braked I was on the dirty side of the track, and it’s filthy out there off the racing line, and it just did not stop,” said Stockton to TouringCarTimes. “I went through the corner and unfortunately collected James (Cole) on the way through. It was my fault, but I braked where I normally braked.

“My car drove like a crab after that, even keeping up with them was hard work.”

Cole was animated after the incident, with Stockton not yet having been down to the team to apologise for the error. The United Autosports driver stressed his dissatisfaction with the incident and the progress during the season so far, where the 26-year-old’s best finish has been 14th at the opening round at Brands Hatch.

“I don’t actually know who hit me, I just felt the smash and was facing the other way. I looked when I turned in, there was no one there, and then before I knew it I was smashed into. It could be worse, it could be like Lea Wood’s, as that was a big accident,” said Cole to TouringCarTimes.

“Sadly we haven’t got a car that’s quick enough at the moment, so we’re racing with the idiots at the back and that’s the only words to describe them, I know touring car has got a bit of bumping and bashing about it, but that’s not bumping and bashing, that’s just stupidity, and it’s just getting boring now.

“Our car isn’t quick enough, our package just isn’t working to the best of its ability, we can just about string a good lap in qualifying. Next year, things need to change as it’s just not good enough for the team, they’re not happy with the results, we’re not happy, and it’s just not where we deserve to be.”

No penalties if any have yet been confirmed for the incident.