Tom Ingram surged to victory in the opening Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship race of the weekend at Oulton Park this afternoon (Sunday).

The Team VERTU Hyundai launched well from pole position to hold the lead at the start, with the fast starting Dan Cammish taking second after passing Chris Smiley off the line. Cammish’s teammate Sutton was promptly through to third too in another of the NAPA Racing UK Fords, leaving Smiley’s Restart Racing Hyundai fourth as the pack streamed towards Island for the first time.

Full-speed action was briefly paused on lap two following a collision between Sam Osborne and Stephen Jelley at the exit of the Island hairpin. Racing resumed on lap five with a revised distance of 16 tours around the Cheshire circuit and Ingram controlled matters from there. The 2022 champion was rarely troubled as he drove home to claim his second win of the season.

Behind that, Cammish circulated with Sutton in close proximity for much of the race before the latter’s pace decreased heading onto the final lap. This allowed Smiley to pop past on the approach to Hislops chicane and seize the final spot on the rostrum, just behind Cammish.

Sutton crossed the line fourth, just ahead of Tom Chilton who has earlier moved into fifth with a move at Hislops of his own on Team VERTU teammate Adam Morgan who crossed the line in sixth.

Last year’s title winner, Jake Hill, produced a charging drive to take seventh after starting only 13th on the grid. The Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport made progress throughout the race, culminating on a pass on Senna Proctor at Lodge two laps from the end.

The top-10 was completed by Josh Cook and James Dorlin, with the former coming out on top following an elbows-out duel which lasted for much of the race. After several previous attempts, Cook passed Dorlin for good on lap 12.

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, Oulton Park, Race 1

1. Tom Ingram, Team VERTU, Hyundai i30N
2. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK, Ford Focus ST, +5.490s
3. Chris Smiley, Restart Racing, Hyundai i30N, +6.355s
4. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK, Ford Focus ST, +6.721s
5. Tom Chilton, Team VERTU, Hyundai i30N, +7.016s
6. Adam Morgan, Team VERTU, Hyundai i30N, +7.775s
7. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, BMW 330i M Sport, +7.789s
8. Senna Proctor, Team VERTU, Hyundai i30N, +9.748s
9. Josh Cook, BTC Racing, Honda Civic Type R, +13.083s
10. James Dorlin, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK, with IAA, Toyota Corolla GR Sport, +14.060s

Click here to view full results and times from this event.