Aron Smith has won the second of todays three Dunlop MSA British Touring Car races at Brands Hatch but Gordon Shedden is the new Champion.

Smith took the lead from Tom Onslow-Cole following the first of two safety car periods to achieve the first race win of his BTCC career in his Redstone Racing Ford Focus.

But second place and the fastest lap for Shedden is enough to make him the new 2012 Champion and the first Scottish driver to lift the BTCC crown since John Cleland in 1995.

Sheddens team-mate Matt Neal, the outgoing Champion, finished the race in third.

In addition, fourth position for Andrew Jordan was all he needed to clinch the Independent Drivers Trophy for the first time after only remaining rival Robert Collard retired early on.

Dalgety Bays Shedden commented: All I ever wanted as a kid was to race touring carsit was never about F1and it was John Cleland who was my hero.

I never thought Id ever get the chance to race them, though, let alone win a race and now Im the Champion. It is mind blowing

First-time winner Smith, who has come up through ranks of the BTCC-supporting Renault Clio Cup, said: To come here off the back of my first podium result at Silverstone two weeks ago and get my first win at the end of my first season in touring cars is just unreal.

The race, however, was marred by a series of incidents. On the opening lap Sheddens Honda was shoved from behind into Collards eBay Motors BMW which spun at the Druids Hairpin and was collected by both Will Bratts wixracing.co.uk Audi A4 and Adam Morgans Speedworks Toyota Avensis. Collard, his hopes of independents glory over, and Bratt were out on the spot.

Shortly after a safety car period to clear the stranded cars, Daniel Welchs Welch Motorsport Proton Persona became stranded in a gravel trap at Paddock Hill Bend after tangling with Nick Fosters eBay BMW and Andy Neates KX Momentum Racing MG6. Further up the track, exiting Druids, Dave Newshams Team ES Racing.com Vauxhall Vectra was sent spinning backwards into the barriers after contact. This again required a safety car period.

Then, in the races closing stages, Morgans car suffered a heavy crash as he steered to avoid Neates MG which was rejoining the track along the Cooper Straight. Behind, Aaron Williamsons Team HARD. Honda Civic and Onslow-Coles eBay BMW, the latter trying to make up places after a spin, collided as they tried to avoid Morgans shattered car and also rammed the barriers.