BTCC Silverstone – Sam Osborne takes magnificent maiden win

Sam Osborne took his maiden win with a sensational lights to flag victory in round 27 at Silverstone. The Yorkshireman took his first win despite intense pressure from Josh Cook throughout the race.

Championship protagonist Ash Sutton took third to keep the title hopes alive with rival Tom Ingram fifth.

Sometimes the forgotten man in the NAPA Racing stable, Osborne can name race winners Dan Cammish and Dan Rowbottom as team mates, as well as four time champion Sutton no less. But Osborne was picked for pole by virtue of the reverse grid draw.

He led from the start, and held his nerve as there were battles throughout the field. The title rivals Ingram and Sutton were moving up the grid from the middle of the pack.

Sutton made it to third by lap six with Ingram in sixth, with Rowbottom and Jake Hill between them.

Cook was bearing down on Osborne, with the gap standing at seven tenths on lap 12. It was a tactical arm wrestle of when and how to use the boost. By lap 16 the gap was just two tenths with Cook, a multiple race winner, breathing down Osborne’s neck.

With just three laps to go Cook went wide into Luffield, losing the back end. This gave Osborne the slight gap he needed to cruise home for his first win, under intense pressure.

Sutton came third to cut into Ingram’s lead slightly, with Hill between the pair. Aiden Moffat was sixth with Vertu Hyundai pair Adam Morgan and Tom Chilton next. Dan Cammish and Mikey Doble rounded off the top ten.

The final points places were taken by Aron Taylor-Smith, Charles Rainford, Senna Proctor, Rowbottom and Dexter Patterson.

Osborne can finally call himself a race winner, and joins his NAPA teammates in that regard.

Going into the final three rounds at Brands Hatch in two weeks time, Ingram has a 33 point lead over Sutton. The title battle is sure to go down to the wire.

Related posts:

BTCC Croft – Ingram takes title lead with win after Sutton suffering puncture BTCC Croft – Rowbottom takes third win of season with Sutton cutting Ingram’s championship lead BTCC Donington Park – Ingram increases title chances with win over Sutton BTCC Silverstone – Lloyd takes win for Restart Racing, title rivals secure points