Current British Touring Car ace Anthony Reid has won the first ever BTCC Masters race for 16 former champions and heroes of the series in identical SEAT Cupras, held at Donington Park yesterday.

Reid, who started from second on the grid, survived a late attack from his former BTCC team-mate and double champion Alain Menu to hold on for victory. Gabriele Tarquini, the 1994 BTCC champion, passed 1996 title-winner Frank Biela on the final lap to finish third having started last on the grid.

Scot Reid, who had earlier won the BTCC’s HarrierZeuros Independents Trophy title for the WSR MG team, was elated to be crowned inaugural BTCC Master.

“I completely fluffed my start and went before I should have so stopped and everyone seemed to go past me,” said Reid. “I thought that was it – game over – and never thought I’d get near the front again. But what an absolute privilege to be part of this race and to become BTCC Master is amazing.”

Swiss Menu, who pipped Reid to the second of his BTCC titles in the final round of 2000, was also delighted to be on the podium. Menu said: “I didn’t go into this race thinking about where I might finish. The main thing for me was to have fun and, I have to say, I had much, much fun! What a race.”

Italian Tarquini’s drive to the front was one of the race’s highlights after his name had been picked last out of the hat in the draw that decided the starting grid order. Tarquini said: “I had a fantastic last lap. With the same car for everyone, it was very difficult to overtake, but I decided to attack in the final ten laps. It’s a dream after starting 16th.”

Unable to finish the race were Kelvin Burt, Johnny Cecotto, Tim Harvey, Patrick Watts and Jason Plato. Burt crashed when his car was spun sideways in a midfield dice, while Cecotto and Harvey fell off the circuit together when a group of cars failed to round Redgate corner five abreast. Plato, who races for SEAT Sport UK in the BTCC, and Watts both retired with damage after their cars collided.