First win for Jordan and NGTC-powered Vectra

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Sun 20th June 2010 Andrew Jordan put in an impressive performance to take his first BTCC win and the first win for an NGTC-engine car in the third race of the day at Croft.

Jordan started the race from pole position after the reverse grid was formed of the top seven finishers from race two. The Pirtek Racing driver made a strong start but was helped out by the chaos that ensued behind him at the first corner. There was contact between Tom Boardman and Tom Onslow-Cole. That left Onslow-Cole in second, Plato in third and Boardman in fourth. It also meant that Jordan's lead at the end of the first lap was over three seconds.

Gordon Shedden climbed to fifth from seventh on the grid, but not without making contact with the rear of Paul O'Neill's Sunshine.co.uk Integra. O'Neill lost another place on lap two, this time after a gentle tap from Rob Collard at Sunny In.

Jason Plato slowed from third position on lap three – he made it back to the pits to change a punctured right rear tyre, but lost almost a lap in the process, ending his chances of a point-scoring finish.

Jordan was still out front on his own, with Onslow-Cole, Boardman, Shedden and Collard behind him. Collard claimed fourth when he passed Shedden at the hairpin on lap eight, before closing on Boardman and taking third a couple of laps later. The WSR driver had Onslow-Cole and second position in his sights when he slowed at the Complex on lap 12, just moments after clipping a stack of tyres. He pitted before rejoining, but ended the race a lap behind the leaders.

Matt Neal was running eighth and hoping to capitalise on Plato's woes when his Civic slowed and he retired on lap 10. Meanwhile, Neal's teammate Gordon Shedden was suffering from its early-race contact and he was shown the black and orange flag for his damaged bodywork.

As Andrew Jordan enjoyed a comfortable run to the flag at the front, there was plenty of action behind. Onslow-Cole held second position, but it was Steven Kane who finished third, despite starting the final lap in sixth. The Airwaves BMW driver made the most of Paul O'Neill's efforts to pass Boardman and ended up ahead of Boardman, O'Neill and Chilton. The result continues Kane's run of podiums at each of this season's five meetings.

Chilton finished the race in fourth, ahead of O'Neill, Boardman and Mat Jackson. Daniel Lloyd, Shedden and Alex MacDowall completed the top ten.

In the championship standings, Matt Neal leads by eight points from Jason Plato. Gordon Shedden is third, a further 11 points behind.

Rounds 16, 17 and 18 of the 2010 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship take place in seven weeks' time at Snetterton on 7/8 August.