Josh Cook broke the initial grid dominance of the BMW led by Colin Turkington to seal the opening race of the day at Hatch Indy Brands and the fourth round of the 2022 British Touring Car Championship (BTCC)

the Rich Energy BTC Racing Honda produced a stellar ride as it bided its time as BMW’s resolve began to fade with oily conditions due to wet weather at the Kent circuit, which proved a challenge for some.

Turkington and his teammate Jake Hill argued to start the race but Cook took the scalp from Stephen Jelley who faded the most going down to 20th place at the end of the race.

From there he came off the track allowing Jelley to regain his position but on lap seven he was back to third ahead of the Leicester driver and halfway through Hill’s struggles were evident as he ran wide at Clearways, allowing Cook to move back into second and a simple pass five laps later took him into the lead.

He potentially had to fight Jake Hill again, but despite the elimination of Turkington, the ROKiT MB Motorsport rider ran through the gravel at Paddock Hill Bend to deny any late chances as he slipped to fourth.

This allowed the championship leader, Tom Ingram and NAPA Racing United Kingdomit is Dan Cammish take the opportunity to complete the podium while Hill and Turkington had to settle for fourth and fifth places.

Another story came from seventh place Rory Boucher who came off the track on the formation lap because his slicks weren’t warmed up, but as soon as they did he hung up in the lead lap and stormed the peloton in a pretty stellar drive potentially heading for the leaders if he had a few more laps.

The same can be said for Sutton Ash with the defending champion finishing ninth after a terrible qualifying by his own admission sitting 18th and now he can attack forward in race two.

2022 British Touring Car Championship – Race 1 – Brands Hatch Indy 

1. Josh COOK (GBR) Rich Energy BTC Racing 52.218s
2. Tom INGRAM (GBR) Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com +0.802s   
3. Dan CAMMISH (GBR) NAPA Racing United Kingdom +4.209s 
4. Jake HILL (GBR) ROKiT MB Motorsport +5.037s
5. Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) The BMW team +7.691s 
6. Adam MORGAN (GBR) Car gods with Ciceley Motorsport +10.120s 
7. Rory BOUCHER (GBR) Toyota GAZOO Racing France +10.848s 
8. Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Racing with Cataclean +11.670s 
9. Ash SUTTON (GBR) NAPA Racing United Kingdom +12.509s 
ten. Daniel ROWBOTTOM (GBR) Halfords Racing with Cataclean +14.385s 
11. Ash HAND (GBR) CarStore Power Maxed Racing +15.034s 
12. Michael CREES (GBR) CarStore Power Maxed Racing +15.344s 
13. Tom CHILTON (GBR) Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com +15.459s 
14. George GAMBLE (GBR) Car gods with Ciceley Motorsport +16.222s 
15. Daniel LLOYD (GBR) Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com +17.661s  
16. Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) Autobrite Direct with JourneyHero +19.664s
17. Jason PLATON (GBR) Rich Energy BTC Racing +20.553s 
18. Jade EDWARDS (GBR) Rich Energy BTC Racing +28.181s
19. Jack BUTEL (GBR) Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com +28.884s
20. Stephen JELLEY (GBR) The BMW team +29.631s
21. Aron TAYLOR-SMITH (IRL) Yazoo with Safuu.com Racing +34.740s 
22. Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Race laser tools +35.759s 
23. Ollie JACKSON (GBR) Apec Racing with Beavis Morgan +35.985s 
24. Sam OSBORNE (GBR) Apec Racing with Beavis Morgan +36.219s 
25. Dexter PATTERSON (GBR) Race laser tools +36.748s 
26. Ricky COLLARD (GBR) Toyota GAZOO Racing France +40.999s 
27. Nic HAMILTON (GBR) Yazoo with Safuu.com Racing +47.763s 
28. Rick PARFITT (GBR) Uptonsteel with Euro Car Parts Racing +48.505s
29. Will POWELL (GBR)Autobrite Direct with JourneyHero +1 turn