The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship produced one of the most dramatic final days of the season in history at Brands Hatch this past weekend (October 12/13) as Colin Turkington sensationally retained his title to become a record-equalling four-time champion.
Going down to the wire, the Team BMW driver overcame the odds in a Round 30 showdown with Dan Cammish and Andrew Jordan to complete a remarkable comeback; drawing level with Andy Rouse on four titles in the process.
Turkington arrived at the Kent venue in the pound seat with a 16-point lead and extended his advantage in qualifying as he stormed to pole position, clinching an additional point.
However, a frenetic opener in challenging conditions blew the title race wide open as Cammish stormed from 12th on the grid to his second win of the campaign. The Halfords Yuasa Racing mastered the wet track on his slick tyres to pick his way through the pack, leading a Honda 1-2.
With the standings even close heading into the penultimate race of the season, drama ensued further as Turkington was involved in a first-lap incident with Matt Neal – sending him into a spin and out of the points, finishing P25.
The Northern Irishmanâs demise opened the door for Jordan and Cammish to power their way into contention, crossing the line second and third behind the dominate Ashley Sutton, who clinched his first win of the season in emphatic fashion.
Cammishâs second visit to the podium of the day propelled him to the top of the standings and with an eight-point lead over Turkington with one race to go. Jordan would make it a three-way fight by needing to make up 13 points if he was to become champion.
Virtue of the reverse grid draw, the top 11 were reversed – setting up a final race that will live long in the memory. Starting in 25th, Turkingtonâs hopes of retaining his crown looked slim whilst it was all to play for for Cammish and Jordan.
Launching off the line as the lights went out, Turkingtonâs charge to stay in contention began with ten places gained by the end of the first lap. Up ahead whilst Jason Plato led the way to the flag, Jordan muscled his way into the top five, with Cammish finding himself in the thick of the action inside the top ten.
As the laps ticked by, both Turkington and the Toyota of Tom Ingram were on the attack and the pair soon swarmed the back of Cammish. Finding a way past into Druids, Turkington was picking points off the series leader but it still wasnât enough.
Knowing that eighth position was good enough to secure him a maiden BTCC Driversâ crown, Cammish suffered heartache a lap and a half away from the chequered flag. Speeding towards Hawthorn Bend, the Yorkshiremanâs Civic Type R suffered a brake failure and hit the barriers.
In an instant, his title dreams were over and suddenly Turkington found himself back on top of the pile and powered his way to the chequered flag to become a four-time BTCC champion.
Jordan and Cammish finished the season tied on points however it was to be the BMW Pirtek Racing driver that ended the year in second after winning more races.
BMW successfully retained their BTCC Manufacturer/Constructorsâ Championship whilst Halfords Yuasa Racing regained the Teamsâ title.
Rory Butcher clinched both the Independent Driversâ Championship and the Jack Sears Trophy, with Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance scooping a first-ever Independent Teamsâ title.
To view the full classification of results from Brands Hatch, click here.
The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will return in 2020 with the opening event of the season taking place at Donington Park on March 28/29.