The 2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship title race saw further twists and turns unfold north of the border this past weekend (September 14/15) as Knockhill served up a blockbuster three races.
Making its annual trip to Scotland, Britain’s premier race series saw the pendulum in the championship battle swing back and forth on a dramatic race day, setting up a sensational showdown with six races left to run.
Saturday around the undulating 1.27-mile layout belonged to home hero Rory Butcher, who used all of his local knowledge to top the times in both practice sessions, before then going even faster to clinch pole position in qualifying.
The Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance converted his front-row start into a popular victory in race one, albeit he had to fend off the attentions of BMW Pirtek Racing’s Andrew Jordan.
Leading for a majority of the contest, the Scotsman lost the lead heading onto the final tour after a sluggish exit out of the final hairpin, allowing Jordan to power past. The BMW ace wasn’t in the lead for long however as he carried too much speed heading into Duffus Dip, allowing Butcher back past and clear to net his third win of the season.
Behind the tussling top two, Dan Cammish maintained his championship charge with yet another podium ahead of series leader Colin Turkington.
Race two would see the battle for supremacy in the title race blown wide open as Jordan scored his sixth win of the year whilst Turkington was forced out of the points after contact with Butcher.
Powering into the lead off the start, the 2013 champion showed the chasing pack a clean set of heels and was unchallenged – as all the action kicked off behind.
Both Cammish and Turkington found their way by Butcher but the Team BMW driver was to find himself in strife moments later. Nudging his Honda Civic Type R down the inside of the reigning champion at Scotsman, inevitable contact tipped Turkington into gravel-bound spin and tumbling down the order.
Following the drama, the trio of Jordan, Cammish and Butcher filled the podium positions whilst Turkington clawed his way back to 19th, crucially out of the points.
The third and final race of the day in the Scottish highlands belonged to TradePriceCars.com’s Jake Hill, who took his first-ever BTCC win with a commanding lights-to-flag performance.
Drawn onto pole position virtue of the reverse grid draw, the Audi S3 driver became the tenth different victor of the season as he controlled proceedings, leading Josh Cook and Adam Morgan.
Further back, the title race saw yet more drama play out – this time for Jordan. Whilst trying to avoid the spinning Subaru of Senna Proctor on the opening lap, the BMW 3 Series driver found himself forced into retirement and critically scoring no points.
Turkington meanwhile recovered from his race two travails to take tenth at the chequered flag after a gritty drive.
Leaving Knockhill, Turkington holds a ten point advantage over Jordan, with Cammish a further point back.
To view the full classification of results, click here.
The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship heads to Silverstone on September 28/29 for Rounds 25, 26 & 27, marking the penultimate event of the 2019 campaign.