Josh Price takes maiden TCR UK victory

JP Racing’s Josh Price took a controlled victory in the 2018 TCR UK Championship finale at Donington Park, with a sweeping move around Redgate and then a blistering pace that were enough to earn him an 18-second advantage at the chequered flag.
Stewart Lines ended his campaign on a high after an impressive fightback - coupled with a sublime defensive performance - to score a season-best second place for Maximum Motorsport, and the best result for a Cupra in the series. Newly-crowned TCR UK Champion Daniel Lloyd showed his class after recovering from the rear of the field - and one or two setbacks - to complete the podium in the WestCoast Racing-run Volkswagen Golf GTI.
It was Price who made the best start, out-dragging Carl Swift’s Cupra to the first corner and boldly seizing the lead on the outside of Redgate, before easing clear as a thrilling seven-car scrap for the runner-up spot behind played out. Initially Swift held on ahead of Lines, before the latter lost out to Andreas Bäckman through the Goddard Chicane - and then paid him back in kind on the exit of the Old Hairpin as the Swede attempted to relieve Swift of second. That scuffle allowed Lloyd - recovering after earlier contact at McLeans with Lewis Kent’s Hyundai i30 N - on their tail, after moves on first Finlay Crocker and then Jessica Bäckman down the Craner Curves.
As Swift faded, Lines moved to the head of the group and Bäckman was bested by Lloyd on the outside of Redgate, before the duo played out a tense final two laps eventually decided in Lines’ favour. The Bäckmans finished fourth and fifth respectively - Andreas ahead of Jessica - with Vice-Champion Ollie Taylor’s Pyro-run Honda Civic Type-R FK7 classified sixth.