Charles Rainford completes BMW hat-trick at Brands Hatch

Charles Rainford produced a defensive masterclass to become the newest race winner in the British Touring Car Championship and complete a clean sweep for West Surrey Racing at Brands Hatch.

Hot on the heels of his stablemate Daryl Deleon opening his win account in the series, Rainford delivered a wheel-perfect performance in the reverse grid finale to climb from third on the grid to triumph ahead of reigning champion Jake Hill and Tom Ingram.

Pole sitter Dan Rowbottom held the lead initially as Rainford found a way past Hill at Surtees. In no time at all the BMW driver was on the bumper of the Alliance Racing driver and dived down the inside at Paddock Hill Bend to take the lead.

Hill soon relegated Rowbottom and set off in pursuit of his stablemate. Playing a cat-and-mouse game in deploying boost, Rainford held firm and ultimately inadvertently helped by Max Hall who was being lapped.

After suffering a puncture at Paddock Hill Bend, the Cupra driver was hobbling back to the pit lane when he nearly ran into Hill. Thankfully the reigning champion avoided him and despite a late charge from Ingram, he held onto second place.

As the race progressed a number of cars came into their own with Ash Sutton, Chris Smiley and Josh Cook charging forward to complete the top-six.

EXCELR8 Motorsport’s Tom Chilton charged forward to finish seventh ahead of Aiden Moffat while Rowbottom tumbled to ninth. Completing the top ten was three-time champion Gordon Shedden.

The next BTCC race takes place at Snetterton on May 24-25.