Chilton fends off Cook and Plato for race three win

Motorbase Performance's Tom Chilton takes his first British Touring Car Championship victory of the season after fending off Josh Cook and Jason Plato for the race three win at Croft.

The Ford Focus RS driver led every lap of the reverse grid race from pole position, despite being subject of sustained pressure from the Honda of Cook and Vauxhall of Plato amid the tricky conditions.

Little over a second could seperate the front three over the 17 lap race, with Chilton, Cook and Plato breaking away from the remainder of the pack, which was led by Honda's Matt Neal for the majority of the race.

With the majority of the field electing to run the wet tyre in the changeable but drying conditions, tyre preservation became paramount as the track gradually dried.

Ultimately, Chilton held firm in the lead of the race, while Cook and Plato settled for second and third. Third place represents Plato's first podium finish since his second place finish here at Croft last season and also a first rostrum success with his new Power Maxed Racing squad.

Ashley Sutton made a late move on Matt Neal for fourth position towards the end of the race, while championship leader Colin Turkington also profited from a late charge to secure sixth after demoting his team mate Andrew Jordan on the final lap.

Following his qualifying woes from Saturday, Rory Butcher rescued a seventh place finish ahead of BMWs Jordan in eighth, with Adam Morgan and Dan Cammish completing the top-ten order in ninth and tenth.