Race 1
Championship leader Sutton had to fight back from third after slipping back off the line in the opener, but the NAPA Racing UK driver soon stormed by his rivals for a comfortable victory.
Ingram (BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8) flew past Sutton as the lights went out and he was immediately followed through by Ricky Collard (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK), as the title-race looked to be taking a turn under heavy rain clouds.
Sutton cruised by Collard before the end of the first tour, however, and then he squeezed by Ingram’s #1 Hyundai just a lap later as the pair ran towards the Melbourne Hairpin.
The #116 Ford Focus gradually pulled clear while Ingram would eventually be embroiled in a titanic tussle in the wet for second.
Hill (Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport) was the star of the show as he gradually made his way up to fifth, before the #24 BMW 330e M Sport really came alive in the second half of the contest.
Hill sliced by Team BMW stablemate Colin Turkington for fourth and then took the final podium place away from the courageous Collard.
Second seemed an impossible task, but Hill reeled in Ingram and a monumental battle took place on the final corner.
Race 2
Reigning champion Ingram refuses to give up his title without a fight as the BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 man wrestled victory away from title rival Sutton in the second BTCC bout.
NAPA Racing UK’s Sutton maintained his lead from pole position while Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport’s Hill initially held off Ingram as the pair ran down the Craner Curves for the first time.
Ingram made his way by Hill shortly after, before making a brilliant move past Sutton on the run down to the Old Hairpin.
Sutton immediately had to think about defending second place from Hill and stablemate Colin Turkington as the BMW 330e M Sports closed in.
Hill showed his nose on a number of occasions and the pair even swapped paint on the final lap, but Sutton claimed second ahead of Hill and Team BMW’s Turkington.
Race 3
Scotsman Butcher claimed his first win of the season after long-time race leader Dan Lloyd spun out on the final lap when a driveshaft broke on his Team HARD-run Cupra.
Pole-sitter Lloyd had dealt with every challenge that the reversed-grid had thrown at him – including a safety car period and late surge from Butcher – but incredibly with just half a lap to go his Autobrite Direct with Millers Oils car spun wildly into the gravel on the run out of McLean’s.
It was heartbreak for Lloyd, but a huge win for Butcher, as both drivers demonstrated the emotional highs and lows of the BTCC. It was also a much-needed victory for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK after a frustrating season at times, but the Speedworks Motorsport run squad showed solid pace for much of the weekend.
There were more celebrations on the podium as CarStore Power Maxed Racing’s Aron Taylor-Smith returned to the rostrum for the first time in seven years.
