Charles Rainford grabs deserved BTCC Oulton Park Race 3 win

Charles Rainford took victory in the British Touring Car Championship at Oulton Park‘s Race 3, having faced little pressure throughout.

11 was the number drawn ahead of the race, meaning Chris Smiley took pole position after Árón Taylor-Smith received a 10-second time penalty post-Race 2.

Sam Osborne took place behind, with Charles Rainford, Dexter Patterson, and Ricky Collard the beneficiaries of Race 2’s top 11 being reversed.

Before the lights went out, James Dorlin peeled into the pits with a power steering issue. But there was no issue for the other Restart Racing car of Smiley, who led through the first corner.

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Taylor-Smith immediately tangled with the Plato Racing Mercedes of Adam Morgan, sending both out of the race. The weekend ending in heartbreak for both after promising starts.

The Laser Tools with MB Motorsport Corolla lost its backend through Old Hall, with the Irishman collecting Morgan despite attempts to avoid. A safety car was immediately called, while the race was extended to a maximum of 18 laps.

In double disappointment for MB, Gordon Shedden peeled into the pits and retired from the race.

The racing resumed on lap five, with Rainford immediately flying around the outside of Smiley at Cascades. Dan Cammish continued his hard-charge, jumping straight to P4 as Ingram followed behind.

Collard showed the best pace of the race, going down the inside of Smiley at Lodge as the Restart Racing man continued to fall. At the same time, Ingram completed a bold move down the inside of Cammish at Old Hall, before also pipping Smiley at Lodge at the end of the lap.

Smiley continued his nightmare at Lodge Corner, with Cammish getting ahead the very next lap. Up front, Rainford was holding his gap, while Collard pulled away from Ingram and the latter had a healthy gap to Cammish in P4.

Lewis Selby managed to get the move done on Tom Chilton on lap nine, but contact sent the pair into the gravel before the NAPA man instigated a verbal feud.

The stewards brought out the second safety car of Race 3, while the off-track conversation between Selby and Chilton ended in friendly fashion.

Racing resumed on lap 14, with Rainford’s strong lead having been chopped away. Collard and Ingram followed him, with Cammish P4. Smiley was fifth, while Josh Cook sat P6 after gaining nine places. Cook managed to dispatch Smiley one lap later for his tenth overtake of the race.

An excellent move from Dan Rowbottom on the final lap saw Smiley fall once more, with the Mercedes sailing around the outside of the Hyundai.

Aside from that, and a great move from Nic Hamilton on Osborne, Race 3 had a far more peaceful second half than its first.

At the flag, it was Rainford who took his second victory of the season for WSR, ahead of Collard and Ingram. Cammish finished P4, while Cook ended his outing fifth.

Rowbottom claimed P6, with Smiley, Patterson, Ash Sutton, and Aiden Moffat rounding out the top 10. Mikey Doble finished P11, Hamilton P12, Osborne P13, Dorlin and Restart Racing recovered to P14, while Daryl De Leon closed out the points.

BTCC Oulton Park Race 3 Results

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