Charles Rainford on pole as BMW dominate in Knockhill qualifying

Charles Rainford continued his impressive rookie season as he took his first British Touring Car Championship career pole at Knockilll, after taking his first win earlier this season at Brands Hatch.

The WSR driver set the important lap in the final part of qualifying with a time of 50.673 seconds to take pole position. He beat teammate Daryl Deleon to pole by just 0.013 seconds, with Deleon looking the favourite throughout Q1 and Q2. The top three was rounded out by the third BMW driver, Laser Tools Racing’s reigning champion Jake Hill, who was 0.187 seconds off of pole.

NAPA Racing’s Daniel Rowbottom was the closest front wheel drive car to the dominant BMWs, finishing fourth, ahead of championship leader Tom Ingram in fifth. His Team Vertu teammate Senna Proctor completed the ‘Quick Six’ order, who struggled with track limits in the final part of qualifying, not managing to set a competitive lap time.

Neither of Rowbottom’s NAPA teammates made it into Q3 with Cammish missing out in seventh, and Ash Sutton struggling down in 11th, 0.165 seconds off a spot in Q3. Sutton had a scary moment late on at the exit of the chicane, running wide through the gravel.

Aron Taylor Smith, who has looked on pace all weekend only managed to qualify 8th as the lead Toyota. Behind him was lead independent Chris Smiley for Restart Racing, and lead Scotsman Aiden Moffat completing the top ten in the last of the BMWs. NAPA’s Sam Osborne completed the Q2 order in 12th.

Tom Chilton struggled in his Team Vertu Hyundai, finishing ninth in his group in Q1. Power Maxed Racing finished eighth and 11th in their respective groups for Mikey Doble, who had a late spin at the exit of the chicane, and Nick Halstead. It was PMR’s first qualifying session with their loaned CUPRAs.

Home favourite Gordon Shedden struggled, finishing ninth in his group after missing the majority of free practice two.

Race one is scheduled for 11:25 local time on Sunday, with support action from British F4, Porsche Carrera Cup GB, Porsche Sprint Challenge GB and the Vertu Mini Challenge.