Colin Turkington extends advantage on dramatic weekend

Colin Turkington has opened up a lead of more than 40 points after a dramatic weekend of racing in the BTCC at Knockhill.

The West Surrey Racing driver led the standings coming into the weekend and extended his advantage with second place in race one only to then lose ground with sixth in race two – with Tom Ingram cutting his lead down to four points after taking the flag in second.

When Ingram, and winner Ash Sutton, were both then excluded from the results for failing the ride height test, Turkington suddenly saw his lead extended and a second podium of the weekend in race three means he now heads Ingram by 43 points with six races to go.

Ingram was unable to make it into the points from the back of the grid whilst Sutton stormed through the pack to take eighth and is 51 points down.

“I’m pleased with my weekend, fourth and two seconds is an excellent score in this weather,” Turkington admitted. “It was very difficult out there and we weren’t sure what to expect this morning given the conditions. However, we knew form early on that we had a racy car and could go forwards and just played to our strengths.

“We didn’t have the quickest car but we had a good one and it allowed us to push hard in races one and three. Race two was more tricky in dangerous conditions on track but we’ve performed well and opened up a gap in the standings.

“I’m not worried going to Silverstone as we had a strong weekend there last year and whilst it won’t be easy, it hasn’t been easy throughout the second half of the season. We have to just be clever and continue to play to our strengths.”