Photo: PSP Images

BTCC heads to Snetterton for third meeting of the season

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Snetterton provides the next stop on the calendar for the British Touring Car Championship this weekend and following the clean sweep by a rejuvenated West Surrey Racing at Brands Hatch, the gloves are set to come off in battle for top spot.

The BMW squad kicked off the season on the back foot following the removal of the hybrid kit however hard work during the few days off between Donington Park and Brands Hatch saw them come complete a remarkable turnaround.

Reigning champion Jake Hill opened his account for the season before Daryl Deleon and Charles Rainford became first-time winners in the UK’s premier motorsport series.

Now heading to the longest circuit on the calendar – which in-turn has been a happy hunting ground for the rear-wheel-drive outfit in the past – the Sunbury-based team will be optimistic of continuing their recent run of form.

Four-time champion Ash Sutton heads to Snetterton sitting at the top of the standings although his lead sits at just five points, with fellow former champion Tom Ingram sitting in second place after tallying five podium finishes from the opening six races.

Hill’s resurgence has promoted him to third, a further seven points in arrears and with momentum on his side as heads to the venue that saw him record his highest weekend points tally on his way to championship glory last year.

Brands Hatch allowed the top-three to pull clear of the chasing pack and each of them will be eager to make in-roads at the Norfolk circuit.

Donington Park race winner Tom Chilton sits in fourth while his team-mate Adam Morgan is fifth after scoring his first podium of the year at last time out. Alliance Racing’s Dan Rowbottom and Dan Cammish are next up while Chris Smiley, Rainford and Aiden Moffat complete the top ten.

Sitting on the fringes of the top ten – and with full boost deployment available to them – include’s Deleon, One Motorsport charger Josh Cook, Independent front-runner Mikey Doble and lead Speedworks Motorsport racer Ronan Pearson.

Others to watch out for include multiple champion Gordon Shedden and Ryan Bensley, who will be making his BTCC debut after being announced as a late substitute at EXCELR8 for Michael Crees.

Qualifying at Snetterton takes place at 15:10 local time/16:10 CEST on Saturday before Sunday sees three races staged; the first at 11:30, followed by race two at 14:20 and race three at 16:55.