James Thompson has moved back into the lead in the Green Flag British Touring Car Championship despite crashing during the feature race at Croft.

The 28-year-old triumphed in the sprint race, his fourth victory of the season, before an engine misfire eventually forced him to retire from the main event.

The Yorkshireman's victory in the early race proved enough to move him ahead of his championships rivals.

Afterwards he said: "I had to work very hard for that.

"Yvan (Muller) and I did our best to get away early on and we had our own little battle. We pushed hard as we dared and obliterated the lap record."

Tables turned

Thompson stayed in front for the entire sprint race and benefitted from Muller's departure with a puncture four laps from the finish.

The tables were turned in the feature race as Muller passed Thompson on lap one.

After the mandatory pit stops, Andy Priaulx came out in front but Muller once again stormed into the lead before taking victory by one-and-a-half seconds.

The big loser of the weekend, however, was Matt Neal who failed to pick up a single point in either race.

Results:

Round 11 (19 laps):
1 James Thompson (Gbr) Vauxhall 30mins 22.948secs
2 David Leslie (Gbr) Proton at 5.500secs
3 Colin Turkington (Gbr) MG at 6.371
4 Andy Priaulx (Gbr) Honda at 7.746
5 Warren Hughes (Gbr) MG at 8.356
6 Alan Morrison (Gbr) Honda at 9.215
7 Aaron Slight (Nzl) Vauxhall at 15.037
8 Carl Breeze (Gbr) Peugeot at 26.943
9 Dan Eaves (Gbr) Peugeot at 33.018
10 Norman Simon (Ger) BMW at 45.367

Round 12 (25 laps):
1 Yvan Muller (Fra) Vauxhall 36min 47.084sec
2 Priaulx at 1.443sec
3 Anthony Reid (Gbr) MG at 8.145
4 Eaves at 20.231
5 Turkington at 21.213
6 Paul O'Neill (Gbr) Vauxhall at 22.553
7 Leslie at 30.626
8 Bennett at 38.036
9 Gareth Howell (Gbr) MG at 58.082
10 Slight at 59.682.

Championship standings:
Drivers:
1 Thompson 118pts, 2 Matt Neal (Gbr) Vauxhall 101, 3 Muller 98, 4 Reid 74, 5 Priaulx 66, 6 O'Neill 65
Manufacturers:
1 Vauxhall 289, 2 MG 182, 3 Honda 121, 4 Proton 111

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