BMW took another double victory in 2019, this time with Pirtek’s Andrew Jordan, with Josh Cook tasting victory in race 3.

WSR repeated the double that they achieved with Colin Turkington at Donington, this time with Andrew Jordan. Josh Cook also showed what Honda could do in a drizzly race 3.

Race 1

After multiple issues with track limits in yesterday’s Qualifying session, there was a tyre barrier in place to avoid abuse of track limits at the final chicane.

Pole sitter Sam Tordoff lead away from pole as Jordan made a textbook good start to move into second. However, his WSR teammate Tom Oliphant was given a drive through penalty for a false start.

As the race went on, Yuasa Racing’s Matt Neal was trying to pass BMR’s Ash Sutton. On Lap 9, the pair got a little too close, with Sutton clipping Neal in the rear into the final chicane.

Subsequently, Neal ended up going down the escape gap to take the position.

Up front Tordoff was still on top, but on Lap 13, made a mistake through the high speed Church corner. This allowed Jordan to power past the Honda and into the lead.

Tordoff then dropped into the clutches of Dan Cammish, who went for second place on the final lap. However, Tordoff was able to fend him off.

But Jordan bounced back from his crash in Donington to take his second victory of the season, and the fourth for BMW.

Tordoff came home second, ahead of Cammish, with Turkington fourth and AMD team-mate Butcher in fifth place.

Jason Plato started the day well in sixth, and was followed by Neal, Rob Collard, Ash Sutton and Jake Hill to complete the top ten.

Tordoff revealed post race that his mistake through Church was caused by a battery problem mid race. This is believed to have affected his power steering, and ultimately cost Tordoff the win.

Race 2

Jordan then converted his race 2 pole into the lead, as Turkington jumped up to third off the line. He then quickly overcame Tordoff into the Complex for second.

There was contact between Ollie Jackson and Chris Smiley through the final chicane at the end of Lap 2. Although Smiley continued, Jackson had to retire due to sufficient damage.

Three laps later, there was more carnage at the chicane. Tordoff and Cammish came together, which send both of them through the escape road, with the latter taking the position.

Plato then passed Tordoff for fourth intoTturn 1, with Matt Neal following through into the Complex to take fifth position. However, the weather started to turn, and on Lap 10, the rain started to fall at Thruxton.

There were drive through penalties for Chilton and Rowbottom for track limits abuse on Lap 14.

Back at the front, despite pressure from Turkington, Jordan stayed in the lead despite having ballast on his car. He kept his composure to win for the second time on the day, and the 23rd of his career.

Cammish took third place once again, ahead of Plato and Neal. AMD team-mates Tordoff and Butcher finished sixth and seventh respectively, with Ingram, Collard and Cook rounding up the top ten.

Sutton came home 11th, Jake Hill in 12th, Chilton in 13th, although would be dropped to 25th after not serving his drive through, Morgan in 14th and a recovering Oliphant in 15th.

Race 3

The reverse grid draw for race 3 was made by ex-McLaren Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh, and drew Ash Sutton onto pole position. There were still rain clouds hovering over the Thruxton circuit, but no drivers started on wet tyres.

Sutton got away well from pole, but Cook managed to drag alongside into Complex to take the lead. Behind them, Collard took too much speed and spun out, collecting Adam Morgan and sending other drivers off in avoidance.

The incident caused a safety car, which Nic Hamilton pitting for wets. The race returned to green on lap 4, and Cook held the lead on the restart.

After making a good start up to third from 5th, Butcher was on the move and past Sutton into Church to pursue after Cook. However, teammate Tordoff’s race was over, as he slowed on Lap 6 with a technical problem.

A second safety car was deployed on Lap 9 for debris, after a clash between Carl Boardley’s VW and the MG of Rob Smith. Hamilton’s wet tyre gamble had been unsuccessful and he pit for slicks.

The race restarted on Lap 12, and again Cook remained in the lead. However, race 1 and 2 winner Jordan was spun out by Stephen Jelley on the exit of Complex.

Despite pressure for the rest of the race from Butcher and Sutton, Cook stayed in control and took his second win of the season.

Behind the top three, Neal finished fourth, ahead of Ingram and Cammish. Oliphant ended his day in seventh, while Plato ended another productive day in eighth. Turkington claimed ninth place and Aiden Moffat claimed tenth place.

Chilton finished 13th, Collard recovered from his spin to 14th, with Jordan 17th after his incident.

Leaving Thruxton

The paddock leaves Thruxton with Colin Turkington and Rory Butcher tied for championship lead, with both drivers on 102 points. Josh Cook is just 2 points behind in third and Sutton also in touch on 97 points.

The next round of the 2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car takes place at Croft on the 15-16 June. In addition, the BTCC will also return to Thruxton later this August.