Located in Cheshire, Oulton Park has been a regular on the British Touring Car Championship scene since the very beginning. The circuit itself is unique in its elevation changes and highly stop-start nature. Over recent years, Oulton Park has been associated with a lack of overtaking, making qualifying more vital than ever before.

The big news to come from the BTCC paddock leading up to race day was an increase in boost given to both the Team BMR and Motorbase. Both the Subaru and Ford teams had been suffering an apparent lack of performance over the first three race weekends, so the question was: could Subaru repeat their 2016 success and plant the Levorg on pole?

If there was ever a debate that hung over Oulton Park it would be this: did the circuit favour the RWD or FWD cars? Traditionally it was very much a RWD circuit, but with the championship changing so much over recent years, would there be a shift in the balance?

History has shown that the first corner is make or break for a BTCC field at Oulton Park; the narrow circuit means contact is inevitable, but who will have the courage to push through to the front?

QUALIFYING: WAIT FOR YEARS THEN TWO COME ALONG AT ONCE

On a damp but drying track, it was Matt Neal who was the man to beat during qualifying. Following on from his first pole position in 5 years at Thruxton, Neal never really looked under threat, despite the best efforts of Andrew Jordan in 2nd.

The second row of the grid would be made up of Aiden Moffat in 3rd, who snuck in a stellar lap just before yet another qualifying red flag and Colin Turkington in 4th. For both drivers on the 2nd row, their achievements came as somewhat of a relief. For Moffat, the Mercedes severely under performed at Oulton in 2016, and Turkington had been fighting an electrical issue throughout qualifying. Having been languishing down in 20th, Turkington threw together a miracle lap at the end of the session.

Championship leaders Shedden and Tom Ingram were always going to suffer with the success ballast on board. In typical Shedden form, the Scotsman achieved an impressive 5th in the Honda, while Ingram could only manage 11th.

Oulton Park qualifying saw a return to form for Mat Jackson in the Motorbase Ford in 7th, while Plato in the Subaru could only manage a disappointing 17th. Other notable mentions include Jake Hill in the Team Hard VW, who having suffered a frustrating start to his season, achieved an impressive 10th. Rob Collard confronted his qualifying demons head on and will start the first race 9th.

RACE ONE: JOY FOR JORDAN AND INGRAM'S INSULT TO INJURY

Ahead of the opening race, Matt Neal was convinced he'd be trailing both BMWs off the line. As it turns out, it was only Jordan that would get the jump on the Honda. Jordan stormed into a lead he would never lose, despite the storming efforts of the Honda man, putting in fastest lap after fastest lap in his pursuits.

Behind however, the story was a lot less clear. In 3rd, Aiden Moffat in the Laser Tools Racing Mercedes delivered one of the greatest defensive drives I have seen in the BTCC. Holding back the efforts of names such as Turkington, Sutton & Jackson is no walk in the park, but Moffat expertly made his Mercedes the widest car at Oulton Park.

The pain train was formed, something had to give.

Enter Ash Sutton from stage right.

As Turkington tried everything to get passed the young Scotsman, Sutton took advantage and made his claim for move of the season, taking both drivers around the outside at Lodge corner. Whether as a result of the slight contact with Moffat or the electrical gremlins that plagued him in qualifying, Turkington slowed and would finish the first race way down the order.

The first race would be nothing but heartbreak for Tom Ingram in the Speedworks Toyota; after initial contact sent him off the track, his rear wheel would later liberate itself from his car, forcing a rare but brutal retirement for Tingram.

The problems for Tingram and Turkington would benefit championship contender Shedden who finished the race 7th, capitalising on their misery. Credit must also be given to Jackson who finished an impressive 6th and Team Hard who crossed the line 10th & 11th for Hill & Epps.

RACE TWO: SCINTILLATING SUCCESS FOR SUTTON & SUBARU

Before the race even started, tragedy struck the Mercedes of Adam Morgan as the car caught fire at the start of the green flag lap. As the flag dropped, it was all about Ash Sutton who stormed up from 3rd into a commanding lead on the option tyre and never looked back. His only challenger would be Rob Collard, but Sutton would never look back. Many would say his win was down to nothing but the boost readjustment; for me, it is Ash Sutton's unique determination and talent that got him his first win of the year.

It's always a worrying sight at Oulton Park when the two Honda team mates are racing each other, but Shedden and Neal made it work, swapping positions throughout with Neal eventually taking 3rd over the Scotsman.

For Shedden's title rivals, Turkington drove an impressive comeback despite his electrical issues to 13th at the flag, whereas it was further heartbreak for Ingram who was forced into a second DNF following contact with the Subaru of James Cole.

For me, the second race was all about the competitive return of Subaru. Behind Sutton, Plato got his Levorg into 11th, while young gun Josh Price took victory in the Jack Sears Trophy with an overall 15th. Considering his struggling start to 2017, this is a massive step in the right direction for Price, and he deserves all the credit for his achievements.

RACE THREE: DRIVING STANDARDS ANYONE?

It was Josh Cook who secured the reverse grid pole, virtue of his 6th place finish in the second race of the day. But it was Jordan who would get the lead off the start, with Cook slotting into 2nd. Josh Cook was then faced with the prospect of defending from both the Honda drivers. A few laps in however, Shedden's hounding broke the rear suspension of Cook's car, forcing the flying Ford to retire.

The safety car would soon follow as Moffat & Newsham came together, sending the young Scot shooting into the barrier. Off the restart, Jordan fell foul to the legendary driving of Gordon Shedden, opening the door for both Honda's to pass. Behind, the charging Turkington climbed the order but would reach no higher than 5th. This was down to the stunning defensive drive of Ash Sutton, holding off both Collard and Turkington off the restart.

For Tom Ingram, it was another 0 score as the Toyota failed to climb up the order. With his worst weekend out the way, it can only be onwards and upwards for the potential 2017 champion.

DRIVE OF THE DAY: ASH SUTTON

When talking about Sutton's success at Oulton Park, there is inevitably going to be some criticism regarding the boost increase that the Subaru's received ahead of the opening race. However, if their new look boost was the singular cause of their supremacy, then surely every car would be fighting for the win. In addition, surely the Ford's would also be dominant too, right?

But this was not the case, now was it? It is very easy to be a skeptic, but sometimes further analysis will change your outlook.

Throughout his career, Ash Sutton has been a highly competitive driver, who would never be afraid to push his car to the very limits. Since joining the BTCC, this attitude has not changed. Sutton has taken his Subaru and pushed it to the limit and beyond.

Remember the last time this happened? In 2016 a certain Colin Turkington achieved similar results with the Subaru, in fact taking the first Subaru win at none other than Oulton Park. Sutton is showing those same traits as Turkington; a man who is a double champion for a reason.

Sutton has proved beyond any doubt that he is a title contender for the 2017 season. His win in the second race was nothing short of masterful, making the most of his tyres and managing the gap to Collard like a true champion. In the final race of the day, Sutton brought the car home in 4th despite the success ballast. Not many others could have done that. Furthermore, his defensive drive in race three eclipsed almost anything else we saw that day; it was simply sensational.

Sutton deserves the success and the praise that goes with it.

WE NEED TO TALK DRIVING STANDARDS

Over recent years, many have criticised the Oulton Park rounds for lacking in overtaking. When the tarmac doesn't have the width of other circuits, its an inevitability. On a similar note, considering the intensity of touring car racing, there is a much higher chance of contact.

Not that this makes it ok if it does happen.

Oulton Park revealed a worrying lapse in driving standards from numerous drivers. In my opinion, Aiden Moffat was the worst offender across the three races. Granted, there isn't much room around Island Bend and up to Hilltop. However, driving someone off the road and onto the grass is not acceptable. During race three, this very move on Newsham ended with a high speed accident and a retirement for Moffat.

The other surprise is the actions of Gordon Shedden in the final race on Josh Cook. Yes, Cook's car may not have had the pace to out run the Honda, but he had every right to defend his position. And yet Shedden essentially drove the Maximum Motorsport car off the road; multiple hits on the rear unsettled the bumper and the final blow ruined his rear suspension. But all Shedden received was a verbal warning. Causing a collision is one thing, but purposely and consistently driving into a car and forcing it off the road should not be tolerated.

However, the list of offenders was more than just Shedden and Moffat. And this is a worrying sign. It's far too easy to cause contact and instantly blame the lack of space on the circuit. If the track is narrow, then adapt your driving and close quarter racing to suit it. It really is quite simple.

Let's hope by Croft people have learnt their lesson.

SUBARU: A RETURN TO FORM?

Yes, there was a boost upgrade. That is all I'm saying on the matter again.

Either way, it was really rather nice to see the Subaru's in a competitive position once again. Plato may not have been where he wanted to be, but there is no denying that there has been some improvements in his race pace. In the final race of the day, he was fighting it out at the bottom end of the top 10. Not bad at all really!

Of course it was Sutton that stole the show for Subaru, but my attentions were also stolen by a certain Josh Price. After a somewhat disappointing start to his 2017 campaign, Price enjoyed a highly competitive run in his Levorg. Race one acquired him a 22nd, followed by a 15th in race two (including a victory in the Jack Sears Trophy).

For many this may not seem like much, but considering his Levorg has been way off the pace up until this point, its great to see Josh getting to mix it with other drivers and show everyone what he is capable of.

TEAM HARD RISING

Sometimes things just never really go your way; a phrase considered true way more often than not for Team Hard. Their 2017 campaign has so much potential, but bad luck has marred consistently strong results so far. Until Oulton Park that is, where Jake Hill & Mike Epps enjoyed a competitive weekend. The pair netted an average finish of 9.5 (10th to round up) between them. The pair were inseparable in every race, always crossing the line together.

True team spirit right there.

In previous years, I would have said that Team Hard's lack of pace was down to the car, but this year they have a car that has more than proven itself over the last few years; bad luck has just plagued both lead drivers. If they can qualify at the top end, I believe they can avoid the typical midfield madness and challenge for top 5 results.

A NEW LOOK TITLE FIGHT

Leaving Oulton Park, the title standings have undergone somewhat of a reshuffle. I hold my hands up and say that I have clearly been wrong about the way the series has gone. Perhaps we are looking at much more than just a three way fight:

1) Gordon Shedden - 157

2) Rob Collard - 141

3) Tom Ingram - 132

4) Colin Turkington - 126

5) Matt Neal - 124

6) Ashley Sutton - 112

45 points now separate the top six drivers in the standings. Shedden has once more returned to the top of the table with a 16 point buffer over 2nd place Collard.

What I am most impressed with is how Tom Ingram remains a title contender in 3rd place, despite scoring a single point (for fastest lap) across the Oulton Park weekend. Ash Sutton has also made his bid for championship contention after a storming weekend. It's my belief that Tingram and Sutton that are the ones to watch; they are both new to the top of the table and can cause the biggest upset to the traditional table toppers.

Now, when it comes to Rob Collard, I am forever wondering how he has never won a title outright in the BTCC. Collard is a man that oozes talent from every fibre of his being; he has proven time after time that his race pace is one envied by many (have you seen his ability to carve through a field?). If he can just fix that qualifying bug, the man will be a serious contender for the not just the 2017 title, but many more into the future.

LOOKING AHEAD TO CROFT...

Croft will mark the halfway point in the 2017 BTCC season. A picture is beginning to form; but any touring picture is subject to instant metamorphosis in a single corner. The contenders have made themselves known.

Over recent years, Croft has lent itself to the RWD cars, so watch out for storming BMWs and Subarus. But if 2017 has taught us anything, its that the rule book has been ceremoniously hurled out the window.

What do you think will happen?

Photo Credit: BTCC.net