Tom Ingram clinches second BTCC title at Brands Hatch

Tom Ingram returned to the summit of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship mountain at Brands Hatch this past weekend (October 4/5) as the Team VERTU driver was crowned champion for the second time in his career.

On what proved to be a momentous final day of the season around the Grand Prix circuit, the Hyundai i30 N driver held his nerve in front of a capacity crowd to cement his place as one of the true greats of the UK’s premier motorsport series.

Arriving at the Kent venue holding a commanding 33-point lead over four-time champion Ash Sutton, all eyes were on Ingram as he bid to join an exclusive club of double title winners that includes Alain Menu, John Cleland and James Thompson.

The final day of the season began with NAPA Racing UK’s Dan Cammish claiming a fairly routine victory after pole sitter Daryl DeLeon failed to take the start following sudden a loss of power on the formation lap.

Resisting an early challenge from his team-mate Dan Rowbottom, Cammish quickly found his rhythm out front and cruised to victory ahead of the Hyundai duo of Tom Chilton and Adam Morgan.

Crucially, Ingram moved forward and managed to extend his lead further – which in-turn presented him with the opportunity to wrap things up in the penultimate contest of the year.

Starting on the soft tyre for race two, Ingram did just that as he wasted no time in scything his way to the front before then cruising to a seventh win of the season and more importantly, a second title.

Josh Cook then brought the curtain down on the season by becoming the 13th different winner in his Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Corolla as he came out on top of a tense reverse grid finale.

Whilst being unable to stop Ingram from triumphing, multiple title-winner Sutton ultimately settled for runners-up laurels whilst Cammish, Hill and Rowbottom completed the top five in the standings.

Elsewhere, NAPA Racing UK and Ford claimed the Teams’ Championship for the fourth season in-a-row although they weren’t able to overhaul EXCELR8/Hyundai in the Manufacturer-Constructors Championship, who clinched the title for the very first time.

Daniel Lloyd and Restart Racing were the toast of the Independents’ as they were crowned Drivers’ and Teams’ champions respectively. DeLeon meanwhile managed to overhaul his West Surrey Racing team-mate Charles Rainford to lift the prestigious Jack Sears Trophy.

To view the full classification of results from all BTCC sessions at Brands Hatch, as well as the final championship standings, CLICK HERE.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will return in 2026, with the start of the brand-new season poised to start around Donington Park’s National layout on April 18/19.

Silverstone tees up grandstand finish to brilliant BTCC season

The 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will go down to the wire in less than two weeks’ time at Brands Hatch with Tom Ingram and Ash Sutton going head-to-head for the biggest prize in UK motorsport.

Holding a 33-point lead over his long-time adversary, Ingram will go into the finale in the box seat having been one of three drivers to triumph during the penultimate event of the season at Silverstone this past weekend (September 20/21).

In what was a feel-good visit to the Home of British Motor Racing, the battle for supremacy began in a wet-dry qualifying session on Saturday which culminated in West Surrey Racing’s Daryl DeLeon becoming the first Filipino driver to snare a BTCC pole position.

DeLeon would sadly be unable to convert his front row start in Sunday’s opening contest as Daniel Lloyd delivered a masterful performance to claim his first win in more than 1000 days and the first win ever for Restart Racing.

Dispatching former champions Gordon Shedden and Jake Hill in quick succession, Lloyd held his own out front and never looked like faltering. In the end the race would finish behind the safety car following a fire for Nicolas Hamilton’s Cupra, giving Lloyd the win ahead of Hill and Shedden.

Having battled his way into the top ten in race one following a lacklustre qualifying, all eyes were rightly on Ingram for race two and the Team VERTU lived up to all expectations as he cruised to his sixth win of the campaign.

Bolting on the soft tyre to his Hyundai i30 N, the 2022 title winner was up to third place at the end of the opening lap and then moments later, he was clear of the entire field. Despite having to contend with a late safety car, Ingram cruised to victory ahead of Sutton and Hill.

Arguably the biggest cheer of the weekend was saved for the reverse grid finale as NAPA Racing UK’s Sam Osborne produced a flawless driver to clinch a memorable maiden victory.

Starting from pole position virtue of the reverse grid draw, the Ford Focus ST driver had to contend with race-long pressure from Josh Cook in the Toyota however Osborne was wheel-perfect as he charged to the chequered flag ahead of Cook and Sutton.

Heading to the legendary Brands Hatch circuit, Ingram holds a 33-point advantage however with 67 points still up for grabs, nothing is guaranteed. The battle for third place has also closed up between Hill, Dan Cammish and Dan Rowbottom.

Alliance Racing/Ford hold a two-point lead in the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ order over EXCELR8 Motorsport/Hyundai, whilst the same two outfits under their NAPA Racing UK and Team VERTU names are separated by three points in the Teams’ table.

Lloyd, Mikey Doble and Chris Smiley are blanketed by just a handful of points in the Independent Drivers’ Championship while Restart Racing have already secured an unassailable lead in the Independent Teams’ Championship.

In the battle for Jack Sears Trophy supremacy, just eight points is the difference between BMW stablemates DeLeon and Charles Rainford.

Elsewhere on the TOCA support bill, Fionn McLaughlin edged closer to the Wera Tools F4 Championship certified by FIA title as he extended his lead in the standings to 61.5 points over James Piszcyk and Martin Molnar.

The Hitech TGR driver was perfection personified to win race one of the weekend however the Red Bull Junior ace could do nothing to stop Ethan Jeff-Hall and Tommy Harfield claiming a win apiece in races two and three.

Tom Ovenden remains on course to lift the VERTU MINI CHALLENGE JCW crown after title rival Jamie Osborne was forced to sit out Silverstone on medical grounds. Max Edmundson enjoyed his strongest outing to-date as he claimed two wins while Nathan Edwards was also a winner.

Elsewhere, Matthew Kyle-Henney and Samuel Harvey shared the spoils in the Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain while Andrew Rackstraw and Sebastian Hopkins claimed a win apiece in the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions, CLICK HERE.

How to Watch: Silverstone Showdown up next for the BTCC

The British Automobile Racing club supported Club Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship heads back down the country from a thrilling weekend at Donington – now speeding into Silverstone in Northamptonshire for the penultimate trio of rounds in the championship and it couldn’t be closer!

When is the next BARC weekend?
This weekend – 20-21 September

Where are the events being held?
Silverstone Circuit
Address: Silverstone Circuit, Towcester NN12 8TN

What is racing this weekend?

Out on track this weekend at Silverstone: Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, Wera Tools F4 British Championship, the VERTU MINI CHALLENGE, Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain and the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain.

How can I watch in person?

Wanting to soak up the on-track action in person at Silverstone?

Tickets are available on the day or on the Silverstone website from £27 for a Saturday ticket or £45 for a Sunday ticket – with weekend options available from £55. Children under 16 go free.

Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.silverstone.co.uk/events/british-touring-car-championship

If I can’t get to Silverstone or I am outside of the UK?

The TOCA Silverstone race weekend package will be broadcast live and for free on ITV4 and ITVX on Saturday and Sunday in the UK.

Qualifying will be available to all on ITVX on Saturday while race day will move to ITV4 in the UK. The uninterrupted coverage will feature all the on track drama with commentary, analysis and features throughout Sunday with coverage starting just ahead of the first BTCC race at 11:30.

International audiences will be able to watch the action on the BTCC YouTube channel with races live on the RACER network in the US and Canada.

What time are things happening on track at Silverstone?

Free Practice and Qualifying head the order on Saturday with on track action from 09:00 with the first race at 13:30. On Sunday we begin at 09:15 with the first race – with racing through to early evening.

Do you have any more information?

We have a few other handy links that might be useful to help you enjoy your weekend. Wherever you are!

Silverstone
Live Timing and Commentary: https://www.tsl-timing.com/event/253803
Timetable*: https://www.barc.net/event/toca-race-meeting-silverstone-national-september-20-21/
Live Coverage: https://www.itv.com/btcc

* Subject to adjustments prior and during the race meeting

Summer is sadly over, the nights are drawing in and we are heading into the final few months of the season.

New Junior Championship to join BTCC package in 2027

Organisers of the British Touring Car Championship – TOCA – have announced plans to welcome an all-new Junior Championship to its support package in 2027.

Having ended its association with the previous proposed organisers, TOCA has confirmed that Power Maxed Racing will be design, develop and build the all-new fully bespoke car that will race in the new series.

Sister company, Power Maxed Motorsport, will undertake all aspects of the new programme, including the role of championship promoter.

The full specifications of the car and details of the championship (including the championship name) will be released over the coming months and has already received outline approval for 2027 by MSUK, subject to the normal final ratification process.

The cars will be designed and built to significantly exceed the current stringent safety standards, for racing by junior drivers from the age of 14.

All races will take place on the support bill to the BTCC, ensuring that young drivers, teams and all stakeholders benefit from the huge public trackside audience, as well as the substantial and unrivalled media and television coverage.

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “We are pleased to announce the introduction of a dedicated Junior championship within the BTCC package, commencing in 2027.

“Having received expressions of interest it was clear that Power Maxed Racing were best placed to independently develop, build and supply the bespoke car for this exciting new championship. 

“We look forward to sharing these plans as the programme progresses. We remain committed to creating the ideal and highest profile stepping stone for emerging talent and supporting the UK’s ongoing legacy of producing top level racing drivers.”

“This is fantastic news, and we are proud to be producing a bespoke car for a new Junior championship on the TOCA package from 2027,” added Adam Weaver, Power Maxed Racing Director.

“Having been closely involved in all levels of British motorsport, we know what is needed for a successful Junior programme and PMR obviously possess the high-level of design and engineering expertise to build an outstanding car. 

“This marks the early phases of this exciting development as shown by this initial render image of the car, and we look forward to sharing further information and updates with interested parties and the public in the coming weeks and months.”

Tom Ingram extends BTCC points lead at Donington Park

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship is set for a blockbuster final six races of the season after Tom Ingram extended his advantage to 32 points over Ash Sutton at the top of the standings around Donington Park.

Ingram arrived at the East Midlands circuit with a 17-point advantage over the four-time champion but a sublime race day on the Grand Prix layout of the East Midlands venue for the Team VERTU driver enabled him to stretch his lead even further.

Saturday’s track action belonged to Ingram’s Hyundai team-mate Tom Chilton as the veteran racer claimed his first BTCC pole position since 2011, and he duly converted that into a comfortable victory in the opener.

Chilton and Ingram pulled away from the chasing pack in the early exchanges and with the benefit of breathing space, they swapped positions so that Ingram could lead a lap and take a point – before the duo settled back into their original positions by mid-distance.

As Chilton and Ingram charged to a Team VERTU 1-2, the NAPA Racing UK trio of Dan Rowbottom, Sutton and Dan Cammish fought their way forward to finish third, fourth and fifth respectively.

Cammish then took centre stage in race two as he celebrated his 200th BTCC race in style by claiming a second win of the season. The Ford Focus ST utilised the faster medium tyre and when Sutton and Chilton hit strife following a safety car restart, the Yorkshireman dispatched Ingram and then romped to victory.

It wasn’t without drama however as a flash downpour in the closing laps sent Cammish and a number of others skating into the McLeans gravel trap. Thankfully the #27 was able to rejoin in the lead and take the win ahead of Adam Morgan and Gordon Shedden.

The weekend’s third and final contest then saw Ingram take his fifth victory of the year as he reigned supreme after wowing the crowds with a captivating wheel-to-wheel battle with title rival Sutton.

Despite starting from the third row, Ingram wasted no time in charging forward and he was soon hot on the heels of pole sitter Sutton, who was running the less favourable hard compound Goodyear tyre.

Swapping paint over a number of laps, Ingram finally broke the resolute defence of Sutton and once out front he swept his way to the chequered flag while Sutton and team-mate Rowbottom occupied the remaining podium places.

Leaving Donington Park, Ingram now sits 32 points ahead of Sutton while Cammish’s win enabled him to consolidate third place in the Drivers’ Championship.

Alliance Racing/Ford hold a slender one-point lead in the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ table, whilst rivals Team VERTU top the Teams’ order. Mikey Doble and Restart Racing are the Independent pace-setters, with Daryl DeLeon heading the Jack Sears Trophy standings.

Elsewhere, history was made on the TOCA support bill as Rodin Motorsport’s Dries van Langendonck became the youngest-ever driver to win a race in the Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA.

Celebrating his 15th birthday on Saturday, the McLaren Development Driver marked his debut by charging to pole position in qualifying and then followed it up by claiming a sensational maiden win in the weekend’s finale.

Before van Langendonck charged to the top of the podium, Tommy Harfield claimed his and Chris Dittmann Racing’s first British F4 in race one. James Piszcyk then boosted his championship chances with a commanding fourth win of the season in race two.

Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain title contenders Will Martin and Andrew Rackstraw couldn’t be split over the course of the weekend with each driver claiming a win apiece. With four races left to run, Martin holds an eight-point lead over the Century Motorsport racer.

Rounding out the weekend were a trio of races from the VERTU MINI CHALLENGE Trophy, two of which were won by Westbourne Motorsport’s Olivier Algieri. The Wera Alliance Racing Academy machine of Murray Richardson scooped outright honours in the remaining contest.

To view the full classification of results from Donington Park, CLICK HERE.

Jake Hill and Tom Ingram fly high as BTCC stars in Scotland

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship set pulses racing in Scotland this past weekend (August 16/17) as Jake Hill and Tom Ingram scorched their way to the top step of the podium at Knockhill.

Making the annual pilgrimage north of the border for the seventh meeting of the season, the UK’s premier motorsport series delivered a stunning three races in Fife which resulted in two title winners enjoying a share of the spoils.

West Surrey Racing proved to be the cream of the crop during Saturday’s qualifying session as they claimed a remarkable 1-2-3 finish, with Charles Rainford beating Daryl DeLeon and reigning champion Hill to pole position.

After missing the previous round at Croft on medical grounds, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport’s Hill enjoyed the perfect return to tin top action as he claimed a commanding victory in the first of Sunday’s three races.

Both Rainford and DeLeon enjoyed moments out front however it was Hill that stamped his authority on proceedings as he dispatched both drivers in quick succession and then cruised to a second win of the season.

Pole sitter Rainford was able to maintain his pace up front to clinch second place whilst Team VERTU’s Ingram – who had opted to run the medium tyres – passed team-mate Senna Proctor on the run to the chequered flag.

That pre-planned position switch set up Ingram to claim a sublime victory in race two. Utilising the faster soft tyre, while the BMW pairing of Hill and Rainford were on the medium compound, Ingram charged into the lead in the opening laps and then cleared off into the distance.

As the Hyundai i30 N racer romped to a fourth victory of the year, the NAPA Racing UK duo of Dan Cammish and Ash Sutton battled their way up the order to move into second and third respectively.

While Ingram ticked down the laps out front, Sutton spent the final nine laps chipping away at the gap to Cammish. Then, just as Proctor did for Ingram in race one, the Yorkshireman moved over on the run to the finish line to allow Sutton to claim the extra points for second place.

The BTCC then brought the curtain down in Scotland with another captivating contest and just as he had done at the start of the day, Hill ended it standing on the top step of the podium – this being the seventh time in his career he had done so around Knockhill.

Hill started from the front row alongside DeLeon and by the second lap he had slipped down the inside of his team-mate upon entry into Duffus Dip. That would be the last anyone saw of the rear-wheel-drive ace then as he cruised to victory.

Behind him, Cammish elevated himself up to second place and then once again played the team game to allow Sutton – who had come out on top of an almighty duel with Ingram – to finish ahead of him on the run to the line.

However, due to the yellow flags being waved for the stricken BMW of DeLeon, officials reversed the positions post-race after it was deemed that Sutton took the position from Cammish under yellow flag conditions.

That position swap means that Ingram heads back down south with a 17-point lead at the top of the BTCC Drivers’ Championship. Elsewhere, Alliance Racing/Ford and NAPA Racing UK lead the BTCC Manufacturers/Constructors Championship and BTCC Teams’ Championship respectively.

Three wins from three races for Chris Smiley means he and Restart Racing are out front in the Independents Championship whilst DeLeon holds a slender one-point lead over Rainford in the Jack Sears Trophy.

Adding to the Knockhill spectacle over the course of the weekend were a number of full-throttle races on the TOCA support bill.

Fionn McLaughlin, Adam Al Azhari and Rowan Campbell-Pilling each claimed a win apiece in the Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA while Will Martin and Sebastian Hopkins were victorious in the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain.

Over in the Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain, Jacob Tofts and Tom Bradshaw were the big winners whilst Nathan Edwards, Josh Porter and Max Edmundson reigned supreme in the VERTU MINI CHALLENGE JCW.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Knockhill, CLICK HERE.

How to Watch: BTCC Rollercoaster ride comes to Knockhill

The annual visit to Scotland is here – the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship heads to Knockhill for the short sharp – white knuckle ride of a lap. The picturesque and undulating layout is a favourite for drivers and the passionate Scottish fans – who travel in their droves to see Britain’s premier racing series and supports in action.

All eyes will be on the front duo of Ash Sutton and Tom Ingram who are fighting tooth and nail for the title this season. Sutton is looking for his record breaking fifth crown while Ingram is hoping to double up on his 2022 title success. Other drivers will be hoping to claw back some points in Scotland to keep them in with a chance of the title come Brands Hatch with hard chargers Dan Rowbottom and Dan Cammish leading the pack.

The passionate crowd will be cheering for their home heroes too, with Aiden Moffat, Dexter Patterson and Gordeon Shedden set to receive the biggest support come race day. Triple BTCC champion Shedden has four victories on home soil and would dearly love to add another to his tally for Toyota Gazoo Racing UK this weekend – while Moffat and Patterson will be eyeing their first win in Scotland.

Motorsport eyes from around the world will be on the Power Maxed Racing squad this weekend. The West Midlands based firm received the heart-breaking news that their facility was engulfed with flames last Saturday – with the race transporters the only thing remaining from the unstoppable blaze. Thanks to the incredible support of the BTCC community, the team along with drivers Mikey Dobale and Nick Halstead are set to role out in Cupra Leons provided by other teams. No matter which team fans support – everyone will be willing the PMR team to success at Knockhill after everything they have been through.

When is the next BARC weekend?
This weekend – 16-17 August

Where are the events being held?

Knockhill Circuit
Address: Saline, Dunfermline KY12 9TF

What is racing this weekend?

Out on track this weekend: Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, Wera Tools F4 British Championship, the VERTU MINI CHALLENGE and the Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain

How can I watch?

Wanting to soak up the on-track action in person at Knockhill? Tickets are available on the day or on the Knockhill website from £31 for a Saturday ticket or £42 for a Sunday ticket – with weekend options available from £60. Children under 12 go free with discounts for teens and Seniors.

Tickets can be purchased here: www.knockhill.com/events/british-touring-car-championship

BTCC battle resumes in spectacular fashion at Croft

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship resumed at Croft Circuit this past weekend (August 2/3) and it proved to be an event that will live long in the memory as Tom Ingram, Ash Sutton and Dan Rowbottom all triumphed.

Returning to action following its annual summer break, the UK’s premier motorsport series took centre stage in front of a capacity crowd in North Yorkshire – where the battle for title supremacy swung one way and then the other.

Saturday’s track action at the British Automobile Racing Club venue was dominated by Team VERTU’s Ingram as he topped the times in both practice sessions and then snared pole position in qualifying, smashing the existing lap record in the process.

Ingram led from start-to-finish in race one as he kept home heroes Dan Cammish and Senna Proctor at arm’s length throughout. Crucially, four-time champion Sutton encountered problems which resulted in him not scoring – handing Ingram the lead in the standings.

Race two saw NAPA Racing UK’s Rowbottom clinch his third win of the season as he made use of being the highest-placed soft tyre car on the starting grid. The Ford Focus ST driver went from fourth to first in a matter of laps and from that point on he didn’t look back.

Tom Chilton followed Rowbottom in the opening exchanges but was unable to mount a challenge. Instead, he settled for second place while the West Surrey Racing BMW of Daryl Deleon completed the podium in third.

Further back, many eyes were fixed on Sutton as he worked his way from the back of the field to finish fifth; crucially out-scoring Ingram by a handful of points.

One of the most captivating races in recent memory then closed out proceedings at Croft and the end result saw Sutton standing tall ahead of Ingram; with the pair having fought their way to the front to finish first and second.

Pole sitter Aiden Moffat defended valiantly in the opening exchanges however things soon kicked off, starting with Moffat’s team-mate Charles Rainford making contact with Cammish at the Complex which sent him skating into the side of Deleon and Chris Smiley.

Following a lengthy safety car period, the action resumed with Ingram and Sutton going side-by-side for second at the chicane. Ingram came out on top and then went after Moffat – however the Scotsman’s defence was resolute.

The defining – scarcely believable moment – at the front came later on that lap as Sutton went from third to first at the hairpin. Diving underneath the scrapping Moffat and Ingram, the NAPA Racing UK driver survived contact from Gordon Shedden and to come out in the lead and from there he went on to reign supreme.

Ingram would ultimately cross the line in second while Yorkshireman Proctor delivered one of the standout performances of the day as he went from the rear of the field to third. Remarkably the Hyundai driver made up 12 positions on the opening two laps alone.

Leaving Croft, Ingram holds an eight-point advantage over Sutton in the BTCC Drivers’ Championship whilst Rowbottom is a further 70 points in arrears back in third place.

It wasn’t just the BTCC that starred at Croft either as adding to the excitement were a host of races from the VERTU MINI CHALLENGE JCW, Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain and the Legends Cars Elite Cup.

Tom Ovenden and Nathan Edwards claimed a win apiece in the VERTU MINI CHALLENGE JCW while Will Martin and defending champion George Gamble did the same in the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain.

In the Legends Cars Elite Cup, Tyler Read was provisionally crowned champion as he blasted his way to four wins from six races. Will Gibson and American ace Trevor Krouse picked up the remaining victories that were on offer.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Croft, CLICK HERE.

How to Watch: Croft crucial to BTCC title fighting return

After a short summer break, the circuit racing calendar for the British Automobile Racing Club is alive and kicking. Last week we were in Zandvoort for our annual away day – now we restart the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship with our very own jewel of the north – Croft – hosting Britain’s premier racing series.

There is a titanic clash between Ash Sutton and Tom Ingram brewing at the top of the table, but Croft is always one to help shake-up the race to the title. Can the chasing pack of Dan Cammish, Dan Rowbottom, Jake Hill and Adam Morgan slingshot their way up the order after the three rounds in Yorkshire?

Joining us in the trip up north will be fellow BARC championships – Vertu MINI Challenge, Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain and a guest series in the shape of the rapid Legends. Plenty for all tastes and interests!

When is the next BARC weekend?
This weekend – 2-3 August

Where are the events being held?

Croft Circuit
Address: West Ln, Dalton-on-Tees, Darlington DL2 2PL

What is racing this weekend?

Out on track this weekend: Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, Vertu MINI Challenge, Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain and guest series – Legends Cars Elite Cup.

How can I watch?

Wanting to soak up the on-track action in person at Croft? As well as the racing there is lots to do for the whole family. Tickets are available on the day or on the Croft website from £21 for a Saturday ticket or £38 for a Sunday ticket – with weekend options available from £57. Children under 12 go free with discounts or teens.

Tickets can be purchased here: https://croftcircuit.co.uk/racing/btcc

If I can’t get to Croft or I am outside of the UK?

The TOCA Croft race weekend package will be broadcast live and for free on ITV4 and ITVX on Saturday and Sunday in the UK.

Qualifying will be available to all on ITVX on Saturday while race day will move to ITV4 in the UK. The uninterrupted coverage will feature all the on track drama with commentary, analysis and features throughout Sunday with coverage starting just ahead of the first BTCC race at 11:30. This will be the first race in recent memory without Steve Rider anchoring the coverage.

International audiences will be able to watch the action on YouTube with races live on the RACER network in the US and Canada.

What time are things happening on track?

Free Practice and Qualifying head the order on Saturday with on track action from 09:30 with the first race at 11:30. On Sunday we begin with the pit lane walkabout, with the first race beginning at 12:10.

Do you have any more information?

We have a few other handy links that might be useful to help you enjoy your weekend. Wherever you are!

Live Timing and Commentary: https://www.tsl-timing.com/event/253103
Timetable*: https://www.barc.net/event/toca-race-meeting-croft-august-2-3/
Live Coverage: https://www.itv.com/btcc

* Subject to adjustments prior and during the race meeting

Look Back: Croft welcomes the BTCC

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship returns to action after the summer break – with drivers ready to ignite the title tilting battle. Will it be Ash Sutton for a record-breaking fifth, or is Tom Ingram hoping to double-up his own crown count.

With plenty of points on offer, expect a whole host of drivers to claw their way into the fight and be in with a shout at the finale too. Croft always helps to shape BTCC the season. But why is it a special place? Let’s take a look back.

Croft is nestled in North Yorkshire – just a stone’s throw from Darlington. The former airfield is relatively flat – but does provide close, hard-fought racing on the technical circuit. The 2.127 mile venue first hosted the British Saloon Car Championship back in 1968 with the likes of Gordon Spice, John Fitzpatrick, Roy Pierpoint and eventual champion Frank Gardner doing battle.

That initial stint lasted until 1971, with a major Croft regeneration for competitors and spectators following in the seventies and eighties. To bring it in line with other venues, the circuit went through extensive work including investment in the pits paddock and circuit itself. With a deprived north of England tin-top following chomping for saloon car action – the return of the BTCC in 1997 was a hugely popular move.

Welcome Back

In the height of the Super Touring era – with eight manufacturers locking horns with each other, the championship made its way to Croft. Current ITV4 pundit Tim Harvey, who was driving for Peugeot in the 1997 season remembers the first meeting back fondly, talking to BARC a few years ago.

“It was certainly an interesting one. The one thing no venue can control is the weather, and Croft didn’t drain well back in those days – it’s much, much better now – but it’s testament to the circuit’s strength-of-character that the race meeting went ahead and went well, and Croft has remained a favourite on the BTCC calendar ever since.”

But why is it so popular with the drivers and spectators? “Croft always generates great action, with plenty of opportunities for overtaking and, dare I say it, incidents! It’s a difficult circuit to master; the first half of the lap is a high-speed challenge, before you get to the Complex, where you need to slow it all down. There’s a bit of everything, which is what the drivers really appreciate.”

That first meeting for the BTCC in 1997 saw a dominant display from Alain Menu – driving for the Williams Renault team. The Swiss ace put it on pole twice and won both races, oh… and captured the fastest lap in the second race. It was some performance from the Laguna driver, with only Gabriele Tarquini able to stop the clean sweep as the Italian punched in the fastest lap in race one for Honda.

Jordan joins the winners circle

Fast forward now to 2010. Manufacturers were still present in the BTCC with Chevrolet, Honda dominating the order, but a thorn in their side was a young Andrew Jordan who was constantly hounding the top spots in his Triple Eight run Vauxhall Vectra. The 2013 BTCC Champion took his first ever championship win in 2010 and backed that up with another win in 2014.

Subaru drivers simmer

In 2016, who can forget the clash between the two Subarus of Jason Plato and Colin Turkington. More on Colin shortly.The two character extremes came to blows after a coming together on track. A late lunge from Plato into Tower on Turkington held them both up, allowing the BMW of Rob Collard to nip up the inside and benefit from two position gains. It took a while for things to melt after that icy encounter between the Levorg drivers!
Sutton takes to the top step

Also in 2016 a star was born. In the MG6, a young Ash Sutton in his debut season got his elbows out in a rain soaked final race of the day to seal his first win in the demanding touring car championship. He has since gone on to win a further six races at the northern England circuit with further wins coming in the Subaru Levorg and more recently the NAPA Ford Focus.

‘King of Croft’ – Colin Turkington

Colin Turkington the undisputed King of Croft. The Northern Irishman has an incredible 15 wins with the first coming at the wheel of a front-wheel-drive Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch in 2005. Infact his first ever BTCC podium was at Croft in 2002 in the Atomic Kitten-backed MG. The Yorkshire circuit really does hold a special place for Colin, with the remainder of those victories coming in rear-wheel-drive machines – a drivetrain suited to the start-stop nature of the more technical sections.

A further 14 wins in Subarus and BMWs propelled him to the top of the all time winners list at the Yorkshire venue. His most recent coming only last year. Will Turkington return in 2026 or is that marker ready to be reeled in by Ash Sutton? If Sutton was to win all three races in a weekend it would take him another two and a bit seasons to pass another four-time champion! We will wait and see!

Who will be the King of Croft this weekend? Tickets are available on the gate or online at https://croftcircuit.co.uk/racing/btcc – you don’t want to miss out!

BTCC reveals updated technical regulations from 2027

The British Touring Car Championship has announced its technical regulations for the next five-year cycle, with this latest evolution set to commence at the start of the 2027 campaign.

This season marks the 15th year since the NGTC regulations were first introduced, with the aim of them being to reduce costs and promote greater parity among competitors. 

Despite there being one remaining year of the existing specifications, series organisers TOCA has put together an evolution of these successful regulations for a further five years – running up until at least the end of 2031.

The goal of the new regulation cycle was to protect the assets of teams by maintaining eligibility for existing machinery, whilst introducing additional car and engine options, thereby expanding opportunities.

From 2027, providing that the vehicle brand is sold within the UK, then any model from that brand can be entered – as long as the car is originally equipped with an internal combustion engine as its primary means of motive power and, of course, conforms to the size and body regulations as per currently.
 
This change will allow a wider variety of cars to enter the BTCC, thus providing teams with greater flexibility and availability in choosing models that fit their goals, as well as giving spectators the experience of seeing cars compete that they may not have seen before.

In addition to that, TOCA has unlinked the engine requirements to each respective car, meaning that any BTCC-homologated engine can be used – not necessarily that from the original manufacturer of that specific car. 

Registered BTCC engine builders will also be bound to supply its engine to any interested team(s) if requested, although no engine supplier can provide more than 50% of the entered cars – with the exception of the TOCA engine, which is always made available to all teams.

Opening up engine availability and supply will enable teams and engine builders to more easily select their optimum base engine and share development costs.

A number of other technical regulations have received modest amendments with the full document due to be released over the coming weeks.

“We’re pleased to announce the BTCC’s technical regulations for the next five-year cycle, to commence in 2027, and I thank all our teams for their invaluable input over the last two years to bring them to fruition,” said Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive.

“Every team wanted the BTCC to continue with the evolution of our great technical regulations… that was unquestioned. Therefore, our current stakeholders now have the assurance that their major components and capital investment will remain valid through 2031. 
 
“This evolution of the regulations also provides teams with more options, through opening the door to a host of new models and engines that can now be eligible for the BTCC.
 
“We value these successful regulations, which will have largely been in place for almost 20 years at the conclusion of this next cycle. The BTCC technical regulations, like the BTCC itself, is a true British success story.”

TOCA to operate and promote BTCC through 2031

Motorsport UK and BARC (TOCA) Limited have today (10 July) announced the extension of its current agreement, with TOCA now contracted to operate and promote the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) through to the end of 2031.

The most recent and ongoing reappointment by Motorsport UK – the governing body of UK motorsport – will see TOCA continue to organise and promote the championship beyond the conclusion of the current contract, which ends in 2026. This new term ensures the continuation of that agreement for another five years, through to the end of 2031.

Running since 1958, the BTCC is the third oldest motorsport championship in the world, with only Formula 1 and NASCAR boasting longer histories in the sport. In the modern era, the BTCC welcomes up to 40,000 spectators each weekend, enjoys live free to air UK television coverage on the ITV network and is streamed live across the globe.

Now, thanks to this latest announcement, TOCA – one of the longest standing and renowned motorsport operators and promotors in the world – can continue to plan and invest in the long-term strategy for the UK’s most popular and competitive motorsport championship.

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “This agreement is important for the sustained growth of the championship. The BTCC has been in safe hands for many years and this continuity of the commitment between TOCA and Motorsport UK ensures enduring stability for all our teams and stakeholders.

“As well, it enables us to commit to our updated technical regulations for 2027 and beyond, which will be released later this month, as well as all the other important elements in order to ensure the continued success and vibrancy of the BTCC.”

David Richards CBE, Chair of Motorsport UK, commented: “The British Touring Car Championship is one of the oldest, most popular and competitive motorsport championships in the world.

“TOCA have been wonderful custodians of the BTCC, utilising their expertise and know-how to operate and promote the championship with the highest of standard.

“Motorsport UK is delighted to confirm TOCA’s operation of the BTCC through to 2031 and we look forward to continuing and growing our partnership.”