RAWDON'S Sam Tordoff powered into the lead in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Drivers' Championship with a sensational performance at Oulton Park.

He secured a win and two second places as his results and those of Rob Collard gave Team JCT600 with GardX the advantage in the teams’ points race.

The 27-year-old's victory which was the fifth of his BTCC career and came in Race Two and was the 23rd for the BMW 125i M Sport, designed, built and run by West Surrey Racing.

His two second places mean he has now had five podium finishes in what is proving to be an increasingly exciting season for Tordoff.

He provided plenty of excitement for the crowd in the third race when he gained six places with a number of perfectly-judged passing manoeuvres in the closing stages to take second position.

Collard, driving the sister BMW, was another to put on a stirring show of overtaking to the huge Oulton Park crowd.

The next round takes place at Croft, North Yorkshire – the local circuit of both Tordoff and JCT600 – on June 18-19.

Tordoff said: “What an incredible weekend! I knew we’d be strong here because the BMWs always are at Oulton, but as well as I thought we’d go, I never imagined we could be on the podium in all three races.

"The plan was to go for top results in Races One and Two and then just get whatever we could in Race Three with maximum ballast, so to get second was really unexpected.

"It’s the best weekend I’ve had in my motor racing career and it gives me, Team JCT600 with GardX and WSR the leads of all three championships heading into my home race at Croft.

"That’s another circuit where the BMWs have traditionally been strong, so I think we have every reason to be confident.”

Dick Bennetts, his Team Principal, said: “It’s been a very good weekend for Team JCT600 with GardX. We’ve taken over the lead of the teams’ championship and Sam is in front in the drivers’ points after an incredibly consistent day’s racing and three podium finishes.

"To win a race while carrying 66kg of ballast in Race Two is very difficult, but Sam’s been in the zone today and he made some very impressive overtaking moves in Race Three."