Morgan tops BTCC Knockhill qualifying

Adam Morgan will start the first of three British Touring Car Championship races at Knockhill on Sunday from pole position after winning Saturday’s Race to Pole.

The Cataclean Plato Racing driver started from first on the grid after topping the first timed group session, and was largely untroubled throughout the 20-lap race, extended from 17 laps after an early safety car.

Gordon Shedden, a local driver who also serves as business development manager for the Knockhill circuit, started from second on the grid and after a slow start faced early pressure from Morgan’s teammate, the third-placed starter Dan Rowbotton. The pair went into the first turn side-by-side, but with Rowbottom dropping a wheel onto the grass, Shedden was able to hold his place.

Following a brief safety car interlude after Speedworks Corolla Racing's Josh Cook had a big off at the first chicane, Morgan again got away well but Shedden initially closed the gap as light rain started to tease. But as that settled, Morgan was again able to stretch out his lead while Rowbottom again began to apply the pressure on Shedden.

As the final lap started Shedden and Rowbotton were side-by-side, but with Rowbottom on the outside, there was no way past. Nevertheless, it was a 1-3 finish for Jason Plato’s Mercedes team which is running with damper improvements this weekend, changes that are paying off after an underwhelming start to a season which began with much fanfare for the new team.

Chris Smiley took fourth for Restart Racing ahead of Charles Rainford in his newly liveried WSR BMW. His teammate Daryl DeLeon was sixth, ahead of Mikey Doble who passed Ricky Collard with a last lap lunge at Clark's.

Collard fought back to go neck and neck with Doble at the line, with the LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing driver prevailing by 0.006s. Collard's Team Vertu teammate Tom Ingram was ninth, having started 11th after having a number of laps deleted for track limits violations in the timed sessions.

Dan Cammish completed the top 10 ahead of his NAPA Racing UK teammate and championship leader Ash Sutton.

Morgan becomes the sixth different winner in as many Race to Poles this season and will start on the point for a championship round for the first time since the event at the since-closed Rockingham Speedway in 2018. His teammate Rowbottom won the very first one at Round 1 at Donington Park after on-the-road winner Tom Ingram was penalized for a boost infringement.

• Watch all three races from Knockhill on Sunday on RACER Network and RACER+. See this weekend's TV page for air times.