Colin Turkington reigns supreme in Donington Park GP opener

Colin Turkington was wheel-perfect in the opening British Touring Car Championship race of the day at Donington Park as he claimed a fifth lights-to-flag triumph of the season.

The West Surrey Racing driver leapfrogged pole sitter Josh Cook and despite contending with a safety car restart and late challenge from Ash Sutton, he held firm to triumph; with Sutton and Jake Hill completing the podium.

One of the biggest moments of the contest came at the end of the lap one as championship protagonist Tom Ingram was sent tumbling down the order after receiving contact from Mikey Doble at the final corner – who was covering off a move from team-mate Aron Taylor-Smith.

More drama would shortly follow further back as Dan Rowbottom picked up a puncture while Andrew Watson endured a wild moment at the chicane, with his car subsequently clattering into the tyre stack and bringing out the safety car.

On the restart, Turkington controlled proceedings ahead of Sutton – who had found a way past Cook before the safety car – and he duly romped to the chequered flag; which was coincidently his third race one win in a row too.

Sutton would apply pressure in the latter stages however he wouldn’t be able to find a way past the Northern Irishman. Hill meanwhile did slither past Cook after the Toyota driver had a lurid slide at the chicane, which opened the door for the new championship leader.

Cook would shadow Hill to finish fourth while Ingram produced a stellar recovering to finish fifth.

Having been as low as 12th at one stage, the Hyundai driver charged back through the order to secure fifth while Adam Morgan, Rob Huff, Dan Cammish, Taylor-Smith and Sam Osborne rounding out the top ten.

Race two is scheduled to get underway at 14:35.