Photo: PSP Images

Tom Ingram wins red-flagged Race 1 at Silverstone after major crash

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Speedworks Toyota driver Tom Ingram has won the first race of the day at Silverstone, which was red-flagged after 18 laps following a major incident for West Surrey Racing’s Rob Collard and Team HARD’s Will Burns on lap 14.

Ingram had sailed into the lead at the start ahead of pole-sitter Jack Goff’s Eurotech Honda, while Jake Hill briefly moved up to third in his Team HARD Volkswagen, before sliding wide at Maggotts, and then dropped down the order as he pitted with a power steering problem.

Adam Morgan was now promoted to third in his Ciceley Mercedes and was closing on Goff’s Honda, while behind Matt Neal in the Team Dynamics Honda and Colin Turkington in the WSR BMW were working their way forward, with Neal passing Austin’s Handy Toyota for fourth, with Turkington following him through into fifth.

On lap five, rain began to fall on the circuit creating slippery conditions, with race leader Ingram running wide at Copse but still able to rejoin in the lead.

Turkington was struggling in the mixed weather and fell behind Motorbase’s Mat Jackson, but was soon promoted to fourth when Matt Neal and Mat Jackson collided at Copse as they battled for position on lap nine.

The race-ending moment came on lap 14, as Rob Collard was knocked into a spin in his BMW after a side-swipe from the Triple Eight MG of Aron Taylor-Smith, who in turn was avoiding BTC Racing’s Chris Smiley.

An out of control Collard careered across the wet grass and lost traction, rejoining the circuit backwards and was collected by Will Burns’ Volkswagen, with the other WSR BMW of Andrew Jordan also caught up and retiring with damaged suspension.

The race was red-flagged four laps later with Will Burns requiring to be moved to hospital. Collard was able to walk away from his car, but the 125i M Sport has suffered significant damage.

Ingram was therefore declared the winner ahead of Goff and Morgan.

Colin Turkington finished fourth and closed to ten points from Ash Sutton, meaning the championship is now guaranteed to go to the wire at Brands Hatch as Sutton can’t pull out enough of a gap to secure the title today.

Race 2 is scheduled to take place at 14:32 BST.