Mat Jackson wins the first BTCC of the day but Daniel Lloyd steals the headlines!

Jackson had the lead by the first corner and just pulled away (Photo by Marc Waller)

Jackson had the lead by the first corner and just pulled away (Photo by Marc Waller)Mat Jackson has won the first race of the day here at Donington park but the biggest talking point was on a driver who isn’t even racing this weekend as Eurotech announced that they have signed Daniel Lloyd to race for them from Thruxton onwards

after securing the Halfords Yusas Honda TBL vacated by Andy Neate. More on this story will follow in a separate article.

Mat Jackson took the lead from the start after a great getaway before slicing down the inside into the lead at the first corner. Ashley Sutton, starting from pole had a nightmare get away dropping down to fourth as he was swamped. Team mate Josh Cook did better but couldn’t hold back Jackson and slotted into second place, a position he held until the end.

Ashley Sutton meanwhile fought back to third on the opening lap but then came under attack from Tom Ingram’s Speedworks Toyota who also had a poor start and was now also fighting back. Behind them came Goff and Collard in the WSR run BMW’s and then the works Hondas on full ballast and soft tyres.

The ballast seemed to really take the edge of the tyres on both Shedden’s and Neal’s car and they soon started dropping down the order. Shedden eventually ending up eleventh and Neal twelfth.

Ingram found a way past Sutton and pulled away to move into a third place he wasn’t to lose. Goff also found a way past Sutton but Collard remained a second behind.
Jeff Smith was a strong seventh for Eurotech slicing past both works Hondas decisively. He then had to make a quick dash out the car after the race in time for the announcement of Daniel Lloyd’s signing to the team.

Jeff Smiths move on Matt Neal was impressive (Photo by Marc Waller)Cole's fire stopped the race (Photo by Marc Waller)Martin Depper was amongst the retirements (Photo by Marc Waller)Daniel Lloyds drive is announced live on ITV4 (Photo by Marc Waller)Josh Cook celebrates second (Photo by Marc Waller)Aron Smith’s BKR VW made it to eighth despite a difficult first lap with Sam Tordoff making it three WSR BMW’s in the top ten. Colin Turkington’s Subaru was tenth with the race finishing under a red flag caused by his team mate James Cole.

Cole has appeared down the pit straight with flames pouring out the bottom of his Subaru. He pulled in the pit exit to get the fire put out but the resulting cloud of smoke obscured any vision down the straight meaning a red flag was the only possibility. With the race so close to the end a result was declared.

Behind the two works Honda’s already mentioned, the rest of the points scorers were Morgan’s Mercedes, Jordan’s Pirtek Focus and Hunter Abbott in the Power Maxed Chevrolet took the final point. Jason Plato had looked set for fifteenth but a battle with Abbott and Moffat saw him in finish in seventeenth.

Full results are available on TSL timing

The second race of the day gets underway at 14:27 By Marc Waller

   

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