BTCC: Rowbottom takes pole position in new format qualifying race at Donington Park

Daniel Rowbottom took the first pole position of the season at Donington Park this weekend in new qualifying format by 24 thousandths of a second.

The new season of BTCC started with a bang as the new qualifying format was introduced for the first time. Starting off with the drivers in two groups, group 1 would set the odd numbered positions on the grid for the qualifying race while group 2 would do the same for the even numbered side. Then after a 15 minute break, the pitlane would be open for the field to go and line-up ahead of the shorter qualifying race.

Group 1 would see reigning champion Tom Ingram set the pace taking the fastest time in the group. Behind him would be Rowbottom who put up a good fight against the Hyundai and showing the excellent pace the Mercedes and Plato Racing have already. Tom Chilton would take third fastest ahead of the all-new Audi of Aiden Moffat. Charles Rainford would complete the top five ahead of Chris Smiley and Gordon Shedden. Lewis Selby would lead Ricky Collard, Sam Osborne and Max Buxton to end the session.

Group 2 would see a NAPA Racing 1-2 with four time champion Ash Sutton leading Dan Cammish. The Toyota of Josh Cook would put in the third fastest time while Mikey Doble and Adam Morgan complete the top five. Daryl DeLeon would set a time quick enough to finish the session in sixth ahead of Árón Taylor-Smith, Dexter Patterson, James Dorlin and Nic Hamilton to round out Group 2.

With the Qualifying race set to take place not long after, drivers would have to switch their mindset to a completely different scenario to what they are used to. With half points on offer in the Overall Championship, the drivers have an opportunity to gain some places ahead of Sunday.

Ingram would start out of position causing him to get a 5 second penalty later on in the race. Ingram and Sutton would fight hard in the opening corners but Ingram defended the position before contact into McLeans forced the Hyundai wide giving Sutton the inside into Coppice.

They would run down into the chicane side by side with Rowbottom and Cammish hot in their heels. Ingram would cut across Sutton braking later into the chicane opening the door for Rowbottom to make an attack on both of them.

Ingram would keep the lead but now fighting the Mercedes who pulled alongside under braking and passing Sutton to take second. Sutton would get the run on both of them on the run to Redgate before contact between the Hyundai and Ford sends Sutton onto the grass and spinning into the path of Cammish. Sutton's race would end their with him starting twenty first for Sunday's opening race. Cammish would drop to tenth after avoiding his teammate and a lot of work to do.

Rowbottom would push Ingram hard down to the old hairpin and up the hill but all the battling up front allowed Cook to catch the lead pair. Ingram would spend the rest of the race trying to pull a 5 second gap to the field as the rest scrap away.

Ingram would almost scamper clear of the field but he crossed the line only second after Rowbottom finished within 24 thousandths of Ingram meaning that he takes pole position for the opening round of a season and on Plato Racing's debut and like Jason Plato done on his BTCC debut.

Behind them was Cook who took third position ahead of Doble who snatches the Independent's class pole position. Rainford rounds out the top five ahead of Chilton, Morgan and Moffat while Shedden and DeLeon complete the top ten.