TCT: Swift Inherits First Win after Late Crash

A dramatic opening Dunlop Tyres Touring Car Trophy race saw Carl Swift win after the leading duo crashed with a few minutes to go, allowing the Endurance Financial Cupra TCR driver to take the honours.

Swift’s success also gave him the TCR UK victory as the end of the race was red flagged after contact between polesitter Henry Neal and race leader Ollie Taylor. The incident brought an end to what had been a scintillating battle between the front row starters. The resulting podium saw three different manufacturers bring home trophies.

Neal had made a poor start, bogging down on the opening lap, dropping to fourth by the first corner. He made it back to third at the end of the lap, as Alex Day ran wide, into Lodge, allowing Neal to get the run onto the main straight.

Taylor had taken the lead due to Neal’s misfortune, but struggled to extend the gap, with Carl Swift and Neal soon closing to within a second. The Team Dynamics driver had the brakes over Swift, but the Cupra clearly had the straight line speed, holding off the polesitter until the fifth lap.

From there, Neal closed down Taylor, catching him within a few laps and setting the fastest lap of 1min 44.503. Heading onto the ninth lap, Taylor hugged the pitwall, pulling back to the racing line at the last minute, Neal took the opportunity, moving to the inside and rubbing Taylor onto the curb. Taylor pulled back in front, with Neal on the poor line into Cascades.

Neal was not prepared to settle for second though and two laps later, repeated the move. This time though, Taylor was closing the door. Neal locked up at the two collided into Old Hall, running off into the barriers.

The race was red flagged as a result.

Swift was thus handed the win, with the Yorkshire driver noting that he’d dropped back due to his tyres going off in the closing stages. He was joined by Alex Day, who had been one of the quickest in the closing laps, as the only rear-wheel drive car, giving him the endurace advantage in his Audi ‘Sherman’ A4 for HMS Racing.

Third place Sunny Wong had a lonely run to the flag. After dropping back from the top four, the Teamwork Huff driver dropped eight seconds to the car in front. It would matter little though, with the result of the crash promoting him onto the podium.

In the fight for fourth, James Turkington spent much of the first half battling tightly with series newcomer Guy Colclough. The Cupra TCR DGS mixed well with the Northern Irish Saloon Car Champion, but Turkington eventually pulled away, claiming the spot ahead of the Cupra.

The top three will be given a 60kg ballast for race two, with the grid the determined by the result of race one.