Collard wins race one amidst chaos

West Surrey Racing’s Rob Collard has won the first race of the 2012 British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch.

Pole sitter Dave Newsham led the field away on the opening lap, with Matt Neal overtaking Rob Collard off the line to take second. The first casualty of the race was Speedworks’ Adam Morgan who was sent speeding off track at the first corner after contact. Newsham managed to lose his lead to Matt Neal on the following corner after a slide, who in turn lost the lead to Rob Collard. As the safety car was bought out Frank Wrathall retired to the garage with a gear box problem.

An exciting battle between the top five ensued after the safety car was bought in, with the race extended to 27 laps. Matt Neal overtook Collard for the lead with Dave Newsham following him through. Behind them Tom Onslow-Cole was able to overtake Jason Plato after an intense battle between the BMW and MG. Plato was able to re-overtake Onslow-Cole with Gordon Shedden following him through soon after. Plato then made a move on Collard.

As the field crossed the line for lap 15 Newsham made a move to retake the lead of the race from Matt Neal. However the Vauxhall Vectra was sent spearing off track after contact from Jason Plato. Aron Smith also ended up off track after contact on the same lap, bringing out the second safety car of the race.

Rob Collard led them away after the safety car pulled back into pit lane. John Thorne was the last casualty of the race ending up in the gravel at Paddock Hill Bend on the penultimate lap. In the end WSR’s Rob Collard took the chequered flag ahead of Honda Yuasa Racing’s Matt Neal. Tom Onslow-Cole took the final podium position for WSR after a challenge from Plato right up until the finishing line.