SPEEDWORKS Motorsport celebrated a season-best finish to date in the second Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race of the day at Oulton Park.

Tony Hughes piloted the Northwich team’s Avensis to 14th place, two higher than his previous highest position at the end of a race.

He trailed Toyota rival Frank Wrathall across the line at the Little Budworth circuit.

Speedworks opted for a similar wet set-up to the one that delivered a point in the Independent Team Trophy in race one, allowing Hughes to climb into the top 15 runners by the end of lap three.

He fell three places on the next circuit though.

Retirements for rivals Dave Newsham (Special Tuning Racing), John George (GoMobileUK.com with Techspeed) and Chris James (Team ES Racing) propelled him back to 15th after a brief safety car period.

There followed an extraordinary episode on the race’s last lap when title favourite Matt Neal (Honda Team Racing) attempted to dive inside teammate and leader Gordon Shedden at Lodge corner.

Neal’s Civic remained in the gravel, leaving Hughes to pinch a further before taking the chequered flag.

Shedden, on course for victory, placed sixth.

Champion Jason Plato (Silverline Chevrolet) capitalised to scoop an unexpected victory, while Rob Collard (WRS) pipped James Nash (888 with Collins Contractors) for second spot on the finish line.