Tom Chilton ends four year victory drought in chaotic second race

Tom Chilton ended a win drought running back to 2019 with victory in a chaotic second BTCC race of the weekend at Donington Park.

Chilton was one of the drivers who took the decision to switch to wet tyres just before the race got underway as rain started to fall and was able to reap the rewards when the weather continued to worsen as the action continued – enabling him to work his way to the front.

Dan Cammish had held onto the lead at the start ahead of Tom Ingram and Dan Rowbottom but the decision to start on slick tyres would ultimately be the wrong one with the leading runners not helped by the safety car coming out to recover the Toyota of Ricky Collard from the circuit at McLeans – thereby removing their lead over those cars to have dived in for wet rubber at the end of the green flag lap.

Adam Morgan led the wet-shod runners when the restart occurred but as those ahead were forced to pit, it was Chilton who stormed to the front – clearing Nic Hamilton and Morgan as they came through the slick-tyre entrants.

Once at the front, Chilton was able to control proceedings from the front to take a first win in four years ahead of Morgan, with Ronan Pearson also benefitting from the decision to switch to wet tyres early to come through and take his maiden podium finish.

Sam Osborne took fourth spot in his Ford ahead of Stephen Jelley, with the main battle in the closing stages being over the fight for sixth spot and the Independents class win.

Hamilton looked set to earn a place on the podium as he battled the Vauxhall of Mikey Doble, with the pair swapping places in the closing laps before Doble finally made a move stick going into the chicane for the final time.

Seventh was still a best result by far for Hamilton ahead of Nick Halstead, who was an unexpected figure inside the top ten, with Colin Turkington and Ingram rounding out the top ten after their pitstops.

Ash Sutton and Jake Hill were amongst those to finish up outside the points after their stops, with early leader Cammish back in 13th.