Ulster driver and former Champion, Team BMW’s Colin Turkington moved to the top of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship standings after scoring a podium hat-trick at Knockhill.

Adrian Flux Subaru Racing stars Jason Plato and Ash Sutton claimed a win apiece, whilst Speedworks Motorsport’s Tom Ingram came out victorious in the final encounter at the Fife circuit.

Plato converted his 50^th BTCC career pole position into a commanding lights-to-flag victory in the opener, as he signalled his return to form in style.

The front four – all rear-wheel drive machines – made an even getaway off the line, meaning Plato led from team-mate Sutton, and the two Team BMWs of Turkington and Rob Collard.

The battle remained tense throughout the 24-lap race with the quartet often covered by just a second. The Subaru duo of Plato and Sutton even made a failed attempt to briefly switch positions, in order to provide the latter with a potentially vital championship point for leading a lap, but when the chequered flag fell it was the elder statesman who had taken a hugely deserved win.

Sutton then secured his fifth win of the 2017 BTCC season as he pipped Plato in race two.

The race commenced in frenetic fashion as a multi-car accident saw no fewer than five cars fired out of the contest. With cars littered in the gravel and across the track, the race was inevitably red flagged and a lengthy stoppage followed.

Plato led away from the restart and the Subaru duo remained inseparable throughout. The slightly lighter machine of Sutton had the edge, however, and he would finally make a move stick on lap 11. Plato kept his young prodigy honest for the remainder of the duel, but Sutton held on to fire himself within two points of the championship summit.

Turkington maintained his position at the top of the standings as he claimed his second podium of the day for Team BMW. Collard finished fourth in the sister Bavarian machine, as he kept up his own championship challenge.

Speedworks Motorsport’s Ingram won the final encounter around the tight 1.3-mile circuit after getting the better of an early battle against Ant Whorton-Eales’ AmDTuning.com with Cobra Exhausts Audi and Rory Butcher’s Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo Ford.

The Toyota man never looked back as he took his third win of the 2017 campaign to reignite his championship challenge – it was also the first win at Knockhill for the Japanese marque since Julian Bailey’s success in 1993.

Reigning champion Gordon Shedden grabbed a hugely popular second place finish, whilst Turkington completed his podium hat-trick with third.

Turkington leads the standings by four points from Sutton, whilst Shedden is a further eight points back. BMW and Team BMW top the Manufacturers’ and Teams’ tables.

Ingram and his Speedworks Motorsport squad are heading the Independents’ order, whilst Senna Proctor maintained his advantage in the Jack Sears Trophy.

The BTCC returns in two weeks’ time at Rockingham (26/27 August) for Rounds 22, 23 and 24 of the series.

Colin Turkington said: “If I could keep finishing third between now and the end of the season I’d be in pretty good shape but Knockhill has been great. It’s always a circuit I enjoy coming to. I wouldn’t have expected that. It shows you don’t always have to win the races to score the most points. I go home tonight satisfied but also quite aware of the hard work that lies ahead. There’s nobody slow out there, everybody’s fast and those reverse grid races are incredibly tough. I picked my way through and just survived at the end.”

2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Round 19 – Knockhill

1 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing 24 laps
2 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.216s
3 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.902s
4 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +1.580s
5 James COLE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +11.188s
6 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +16.492s
7 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +21.946s
8 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +28.348s
9 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +29.167s
10 Dave NEWSHAM (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +29.991s

2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Round 20 – Knockhill

1 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing 22 laps
2 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.238s
3 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +3.198s
4 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +5.063s
5 James COLE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +6.831s
6 Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +9.401s
7 Dave NEWSHAM (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +25.803s
8 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +25.954s
9 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +26.361s
10 Ant WHORTON-EALES (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +28.889s

2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Round 21 – Knockhill

1 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport 27 laps
2 Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +1.167s
3 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +1.556s
4 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +4.172s
5 James COLE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +4.463s
6 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +5.179s
7 Mat JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +5.538s
8 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +5.784s
9 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +6.333s
10 Dave NEWSHAM (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +7.193s