Charles Rainford wins final BTCC race at Oulton Park

Credit: BTCC

Race two winner Ash Sutton, drew number 11, meaning Restart Racing’s Chris Smiley will start the reverse grid race three on pole position, ahead of Sutton’s NAPA Racing UK teammate, Sam Osborne. PMR’s Dexter Patterson and WSR’s Charles Rainford made up the second row on the grid. James Dorlin came into the pit lane at the end of the formation lap with power steering issues.

Smiley got away well, but was instantly under pressure from Rainford, who got past Osborne for second at the race start. There was then a big crash on the exit of turn one involving Árón Taylor Smith and Adam Morgan, with both cars being heavily damaged. This quickly brought a safety car, with Smiley leading ahead of Rainford and Osborne. Dorlin rejoined from the pit lane, luckily being able to get on the pack of the pack due to the safety car.

The turn one crash was caused by Taylor Smith, who spun, likely due to cold tyres, collecting the innocent Morgan, with both making significant contact with the barriers. Gordon Shedden also retired after getting away slowly with a driveshaft problem. Max Buxton entered the pit lane under the safety car to allow his team to clear grass from the front of his car, which was caused by him avoiding the crash on the opening lap. He rejoined at the back of the pack.

Credit: BTCC

After a lengthy safety period, the racing got back underway on lap five with three additional laps being added. Smiley made an initially good restart, but would lose the lead into Casacades as Rainford moved into first place. There was multiple overtakes deeper in the pack following the restart, including Ricky Collard passing Osborne for third place. Collard would then move into second at the end of the same lap.

Tom Ingram made quick progress after the restart, moving from eighth to fourth. He continued his progress, overtaking Smiley for third into the final corner on lap six. The lead Restart Racing Hyundai of Smiley continued to drop as Cammish overtook him at the same corner on the following lap.

Rainford’s lead was at just under two seconds as the race approached half distance. Osborne, Patterson, Josh Cook and Dan Rowbottom had a hard fought battle for sixth place. Ingram meanwhile, had put in the fastest lap of the race and was beginning to catch Collard for second as Rainford remained out front.

On lap nine, another safety car was brought out following a significant incident involving Lewis Selby and Tom Chilton. The former looked displeased following the crash as Chilton lost control of his car after using the kerb entering Cascades and made subsequent contact with the NAPA Ford. Both drivers then ended up in the barriers on the exit of the corner.

Credit: BTCC

Following another long safety car period, the race resumed with just six laps remaining. Collard was flashing his lights on the restart, looking to disctract Rainford, who made a successful restart. Deeper in the pack, battles emerged, but the top positions remained the same following the restart. There was contact involving Mikey Doble at the chicane, but the close racing resumed.

Smiley and Rowbottom then began a significant battle for sixth place, allowing Cook in fifth to pull away behind the top four. Sutton remained in a lowly ninth place ahead of PMR’s Aiden Moffat. Due to the two safety car periods, it meant the drivers had boost for the majority of the remaining laps, presenting an interesting addition to the overtaking ability of drivers.

Cook was the closest to anyone in the top five, applying pressure to Cammish for fourth as Rainford built a gap of nearly a second on his penultimate lap. Rowbottom continued his battle with Smiley, but was still unable to make the overtake stick. He would eventually move into sixth, going round the outside of Smiley at Cascades on the final lap.

Rainford would hold on for the race three win as Collard and Ingram made it a double podium for Team VERTU. Cammish and Cook remained in fourth and fifth. The top ten was completed by Rowbottom, Smiley, Patterson, Sutton and Moffat. Doble, Nicolas Hamilton, Osborne, Dorlin and Daryl DeLeon completed the points. The only other finisher was Buxton.

The BTCC returns on the 25-26th July, following the summer break.