BTCC title race hots up on dramatic return to Donington Park

The battle for supremacy in the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship saw more twists and turns play out this past weekend (August 24/25) as Colin Turkington, Ash Sutton and Dam Cammish scored a victory apiece at Donington Park – however it is Jake Hill that leads the way in the standings.

Entering the home stretch of the campaign, the UK’s premier motorsport series returned to the Leicestershire venue – albeit this time on the longer Grand Prix circuit – where a bumper trackside crowd was treated to blockbuster entertainment.

Proceeding’s began with LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ’s Josh Cook coming out on top of a breathless qualifying to claim his first pole position in more than two years, and on the home soil of Toyota UK no less.

In what proved to be a captivating fight for pole position, Cook edged out Team BMW’s Turkington to secure the bragging rights while Mikey Doble impressed in his Vauxhall to net third ahead of Sutton and Tom Ingram.

As he has done in each race meeting since the summer break, Turkington reigned supreme in Sunday’s opening encounter as he leapfrogged Cook at the start and then powered clear to clinch a pivotal fifth win of the season.

Despite coming under late pressure from Sutton, Turkington never looked likely to relinquish the lead as he bolstered his own championship aspirations while his BMW stablemate Hill rocketed up the order to complete the podium.

Ingram would endure a less than ideal start to his race day as contact from Doble sent him tumbling down the order on lap one. With the help of a safety car intervention closing the pack up, the Hyundai driver recovered to sixth however things would get worse come race two.

Fighting his way up to second place in no time at all, Ingram looked as though he could wrestle the lead off Sutton; that was until a stone pierced his radiator and forced him to retire as engine temperatures continued to rise.

The departure of the Team Bristol Street Motors driver meant that Sutton, who had grabbed the lead off Turkington on lap one, claimed a crucial win while the Northern Irishman and Hill filled the remaining spots on the rostrum.

The twists and turns of the BTCC title race threw up more drama in the weekend’s final contest as Sutton’s joy was short-lived as he scored zero points after getting caught up in an incident on the opening tour that saw him take an excursion through the gravel.

Out front, Alliance Racing’s Dan Cammish – another title contender – produced a wheel-perfect drive to claim his first win of the season however all eyes were on Ingram as he charged from the back of the grid to clinch runner-up laurels ahead of Aron Taylor-Smith.

Heading into the penultimate event of the season towards the end of September, Hill holds a nine-point advantage at the top of the Drivers’ Championship ahead of Ingram; Sutton, Turkington and Cammish complete the top five.

A strong weekend for NAPA Racing UK saw them continue their march at the summit of the Teams’ Championship, whilst Ford hold a narrow lead over BMW in the battle for the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ title.

Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing are on the verge of securing the Independent Teams’ crown for the first-ever time while Taylor-Smith is closing in on the Independent Drivers’ Championship. His Vauxhall team-mate Doble controls the Jack Sears Trophy leaderboard.

To view the full classification of results from all BTCC sessions at Donington Park, CLICK HERE.

The penultimate event of the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will see Rounds 25, 26 & 27 play out around the Home of British Motor Racing, Silverstone, on September 21/22.

Colin Turkington, Jake Hill and Rob Huff fly high in Scotland

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship enjoyed one of its most thrilling events of the 2024 season so far this past weekend (August 10/11) as Colin Turkington, Jake Hill and Rob Huff blasted their way to victory around Knockhill. 

As the UK’s premier motorsport series begins its approach towards the business end of the campaign, the annual trip north of the border saw further twists and turns play out in the battle at the top of the standings – which continues to be headed by Tom Ingram. 

Four-time champion Turkington was once again the driver to beat during Saturday’s qualifying session as he claimed a third pole position of the year, but only after edging out the impressive Árón Taylor-Smith to top spot by 0.035s.

Like he did at Croft, the Team BMW was perfection personified in race one as he converted his front row start into a commanding lights-to-flag win. However while the Northern Irishman cruised to victory, the battle for second place had everyone captivated. 

Taylor-Smith had held firm during the first half of the contest however both Adam Morgan and Josh Cook began to apply pressure as the race drew towards ints conclusion, with both drivers finding a way past at the chicane.

Once clear of the Vauxhall driver, Cook then launched a sensational move around the outside of Morgan at turn one to snatch second place away. Despite quickly pulling away, Cook was unable to making any inroads into Turkington, who had scarpered up the road. 

After battling back from – by his own standards – a tough qualifying, Turkington’s BMW stablemate Hill came to the fore in race two as he utilised the soft tyre to record his sixth win of the season.

The Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport driver wasted no time in fighting his way to the front and once he got into the lead there was no looking back. NAPA Racing UK’s Dan Rowbottom followed Hill’s charge to net second while Turkington tallied more valuable points in third.

An argument could be made that the BTCC saved its best till last as race three proved to be one to remember as TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK’s Rob Huff withstood race-long pressure from Ingram to claim a second win of the season. 

Ingram was another driver that was recovering from a tough qualifying showing but despite his best efforts, he could do nothing to find a way past Huff who was wheel-perfect in his Toyota Corolla GR Sport. 

Huff would hold firm either side of a brief safety car period to triumph while Ingram claimed a well-earned podium; and he was joined on the rostrum by his Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS team-mate Tom Chilton.

Heading back down south, Ingram now leads Hill by three points in the Drivers’ Championship with Ford and NAPA Racing UK topping the Manufacturer-Constructor and Teams’ categories respectively after seven events. 

Aron Taylor-Smith and Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing continue to close in on clinching the Independent Drivers’ and Independent Teams’ crowns, whilst Mikey Doble is the current pace-setter in the Jack Sears Trophy. 

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

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season continues in less than two weeks’ time when the series travels returns to Donington Park – this time on the Grand Prix circuit – on August 24/25.

Colin Turkington, Josh Cook & Tom Chilton win big at Croft

Colin Turkington, Josh Cook and Tom Chilton were victorious at Croft Circuit this past weekend (July 27/28) as the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship kicked off the second half of its 2024 season in blockbuster fashion. 

Blasting back into life at the British Automobile Racing Club’s North Yorkshire venue following a five-week hiatus, the UK’s premier motorsport series delivered three captivating contests for the bumper crowd that was in attendance. 

Qualifying on Saturday saw Turkington live up to his name of being the ‘King of Croft’ as he paced the opposition on his way to claiming pole position. The Team BMW driver was in formidable form as he upped the ante as the sessions progressed before setting a best time of 1:21.072.

Behind, NAPA Racing UK’s Dan Cammish secured the remaining spot on the front row while Tom Ingram and the hugely impressive Aron Taylor-Smith claimed third and fourth respectively. Rounding out the top six was the lead Toyota of Rob Huff and reigning champion Ash Sutton.

Race one belonged to Turkington as he led from start-to-finish on his way to a 70th career victory in the BTCC. Blasting away from pole position, the four-time champion driver withstood early pressure before soon breaking free and comfortably triumphing.

Ingram would lead the chase for the Northern Irishman after getting the better of Cammish however he could do nothing to overhaul him. Completing the podium – fresh off of signing a new multi-year deal – was the aforementioned Cammish in his Ford Focus ST. 

With the front-runners being forced to run the hard tyre, race two provided unmissable viewing as LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ driver Cook produced a stunning move late on to clinch his second win of the season. 

Running on the faster soft tyre, the Toyota driver battled his way up to second place before then overhauling stablemate Rob Huff with a breathtaking move around the outside of the Jim Clark Esses. 

It was an overtake that had everyone glued to the action but thankfully both drivers emerged unscathed. Cook then powered clear to take victory while Huff and Dan Rowbottom each made a welcome return to the rostrum in second and third. 

Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS’ Chilton concluded the action by taking a hugely popular win in a frantic reverse grid contest. Drawn onto pole position, the Hyundai driver put in a sublime performance with Cammish and Ingram rounding out the podium.

Leaving Croft, Ingram leads the way from Hill in the Drivers’ Championship whilst Ford and NAPA Racing UK top the Manufacturer-Constructor and Teams’ categories respectively with four events now remaining. 

Elsewhere, Aron Taylor-Smith and Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing comfortably remain out front in the Independent Drivers’ and Teams’ standings, with Mikey Doble holding the advantage in the Jack Sears Trophy.

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

The 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season continues in less than two weeks’ time when the series travels north of the border to Knockhill for Rounds 19, 20 & 21 on August 10/11.

BTCC partners with world renowned oil and additive brand LIQUI MOLY

The British Touring Car Championship has announced that it is welcoming German motor oil and additive manufacturer, LIQUI MOLY, as its ‘Official Oil and Lubricants Partner’ with immediate effect.

Putting pen-to-paper on a long term three-and-a-half-year deal, the relationship between them will officially kick off at Croft at the end of July with the event ‘Presented by LIQUI MOLY’. The brand will then lend its name to the race weekend at Croft for the subsequent events in 2025, 2026 and 2027.

LIQUI MOLY branding will be present at all BTCC race venues, with circuit signage and podium backdrops among the areas in which its logo will be presented. Furthermore, the blue-red-white company branding will be present on the official BTCC website and other media channels.

“The BTCC is not only a firm fixture in motorsport throughout the United Kingdom, but also attracts fans worldwide,” says Debbie Barnes, Managing Director of LIQUI MOLY UK.

“Speed, adrenaline rush, emotions – the BTCC has been thrilling motorsport enthusiasts for decades. Placing LIQUI MOLY in this dynamic environment is the perfect opportunity for us to increase the fascination for our quality brand – and our partners and customers will hugely benefit from this partnership.”

“We are delighted to welcome LIQUI MOLY into the BTCC family,” said Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive. “We have always cherished our loyal and long-term relationships with our very specific and carefully chosen partners, and we look forward to LIQUI MOLY joining that illustrious group.

“LIQUI MOLY is a much admired and trusted motor oil and additive manufacturer throughout the world, not just in motorsport, and we are looking forward to what will be a hugely successful partnership.”

BTCC welcoming applications for new teams to join 2025 grid

The British Touring Car Championship has announced that it has opened applications from interested teams that are looking to join the UK’s premier motorsport series from the 2025 season onwards.

Having reached its ‘quality over quantity’ targets for the 2024 campaign, BTCC Chief Executive Alan Gow will consider applications from ‘fresh, high-quality’ outfits as part of the championship’s forward development plans.

“For the last six years I’ve said many times that, ideally, I’d like to cap our numbers to around 24 cars for several different reasons – not least of which is to support our teams by utilising the sound commercial principle of maintaining ‘supply’ just below ‘demand’ in order to underpin their entries and investment,” said Gow.

“Whilst reviewing these plans I also appreciate that some interested new teams (i.e. non-current TBL holders) have, until now, been unable to join the championship due to the tightly controlled restrictions of the TBL allocation system.

“With that in mind, I’ve opened the door for expressions of interest from up to two, two-car teams who are looking to join the championship from 2025. With high and consistent levels of quality and competitiveness throughout the current grid, the final number could then be capped at 24 cars/TBLs.”

“Stable technical regulations are, of course, one of the most cost-effective ways of controlling costs and equalising competition. So, whilst new technical regulations are due to be introduced from 2027, these will be an evolution of the current hugely successful and stable NGTC regs.

“Therefore, cars purchased or built by current or new teams will also be valid to use during that next phase of the regulations, with only relatively minor updates that are specifically aimed at reducing costs, whilst continuing to provide the proven equality of performance that exists.”

Confidential expressions of interest should be directed to; alan.gow@btcc-toca.com.

Tom Ingram, Josh Cook and Jake Hill triumph as BTCC hits half-way mark

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship reached the halfway mark of the 2024 season in blockbuster fashion this past weekend (June 22/23) as Tom Ingram, Josh Cook and Jake Hill blasted their way to victory at Oulton Park.

Basked in glorious sunshine, qualifying kicked proceedings off on Saturday afternoon and the session belonged to Team BRISTOL MOTORS’ Ingram as he obliterated the existing BTCC lap record to secure a second successive pole position in the series; taking his tally to three for the season.

In what proved to be a relentless battle in the Cheshire sun, Ingram went almost half a second quicker than last year’s pole time to claim bragging rights, while NAPA Racing UK’s Ash Sutton delivered another stunning performance to join him on the front row.

Behind the top two were the stablemates of Ingram and Sutton as the trio of Dan Cammish, Tom Chilton and Dan Rowbottom filled third, fourth and fifth on the grid for the first of Sunday’s three races.

There was no denying Ingram in the opening bout on Sunday as he withstood an early challenge from Sutton to clinch not only a third win of the season but also the 30th of his career.

Fans were treated to a thrilling start to the race as two of the series’ leading lights went wheel-to-wheel, with contact being made between them at both the Island hairpin and Hislops chicane. Despite Sutton’s best efforts Ingram maintained the lead throughout and that was to be that for the reminder of the contest as Ingram led home Sutton and Cammish.

LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ driver Cook then opened his account for the season in race two as he powered his way to glory after producing one of the finest opening laps in recent memory.

Starting in eighth and on the Goodyear soft tyre, the Toyota Corolla racer avoided a melee at turn one before then blitzing the top four to take the lead by the end of the first tour. Once out front Cook steadily pulled clear of the chasing pack to take the chequered flag by more than eight seconds over Ingram and Hill who were second and third.

The Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport BMW of Hill then capped off a scorching day of racing by claiming victory in the reverse grid finale on the last lap.

Hill – who is undoubtedly in the form of his life at the moment – hunted down long-time race leader Mikey Doble before making a decisive move on final tour to net him a fifth win of the season.

Despite relinquishing the lead in the final moments, Doble recorded a first-ever finish in the BTCC and he did so by leading home team-mate Aron Taylor-Smith for a maiden Power Maxed Racing double podium.

Heading into the series’ annual summer break, Hill holds a slender advantage over Ingram at the top of the Drivers’ Championship whilst Ford and NAPA Racing UK currently lead the way in the Manufacturer-Constructors Championship and Teams’ Championship respectively.

Taylor-Smith and Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing head the standings in both the Independent Drivers’ and Independent Teams’ categories, with Doble proving to be the driver to beat in the Jack Sears Trophy after five events.

To view the full classification of results from all BTCC sessions at Oulton Park, CLICK HERE.

The BTCC season recommences on the weekend of July 27/28; where Croft Circuit plays host to Rounds 16, 17 and 18.

Tickets for the BTCC’s annual trip to North Yorkshire can be purchased online at https://croftcircuit.co.uk/racing/btcc.

Brilliant BTCC weekend sees Jake Hill and Ash Sutton conquer Thruxton

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship delivered a blockbuster spectacle at Thruxton this past weekend (June 8/9) which culminated in Jake Hill and Ashley Sutton enjoying a share of the spoils. 

Making its only visit of the season to the home of the British Automobile Racing Club, the UK’s premier motorsport series was greeted in Hampshire by cool conditions and packed spectator bankings – all of whom witnessed a blockbuster day of tin top thrills. 

Qualifying on Saturday afternoon saw Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS driver Tom Ingram walk away with the bragging rights as he produced a superlative lap to clinch a second pole position of the season in his Hyundai i30 N. 

On a weekend that coincided with centenary celebrations for the manufacturer-backed outfit, Ingram struck late to snatch top spot while Dan Cammish, Hill, Dan Rowbottom and Sutton trailed behind by a few tenths of a second.

Hill became the first treble winner of the season in the first of Sunday’s three races as his lightening start propelled him onto what proved to be a comfortable lights-to-flag victory ahead of Cammish and Sutton. 

Race two then saw the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport driver make it back-to-back triumphs as he inherited the victory following a post-race penalty for on-the-road winner Ingram.

Ingram had initially powered his Hyundai to the chequered flag however he was to be demoted back to third after gaining an unfair advantage in an incident involving Cammish at the final chicane.

Sutton was the first to hound Hill for the lead but damage to his Ford would see him drop back, which in-turn left the door open for Ingram to seize the moment and claim what he thought would be a third win of the year. 

Unfortunately, his part in an incident which saw him straight-line the chicane led to him being pushed back behind Hill and Cammish in the final result.

Reigning champion Sutton would come to the fore in the day’s final contest as he opened his win account for the year in style, bouncing back from a sluggish start to comfortably claim victory. 

Starting fourth, the four-time champion bogged down off the line, which dropped him back a few places, but once he was up and running there was no stopping him. Rising through the order with relative ease, the front-wheel-drive ace soon dispatched Josh Cook and Cammish before overhauling Adam Morgan for the  win. 

Following the conclusion of Rounds 10, 11 & 12, Sutton tops the BTCC Drivers’ Championship – five points ahead of Hill – whilst Ford head the Manufacturers-Constructors Championship.

In the Teams’ Championship, NAPA Racing UK lead the standings after three events whilst Aron Taylor-Smith and Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing sit out front in both the Independent Drivers’ and Independent Teams’ Championship’s respectively. 

The Jack Sears Trophy – which is open to drivers who hadn’t scored an outright podium in the series prior to the start of the season – continues to be led by Mikey Doble.

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

The 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship reaches the halfway mark of the 2024 season in less than two weeks’ time at Oulton Park on June 22/23.

Jake Hill and Rob Huff score famous BTCC wins at Snetterton

Jake Hill and Rob Huff shared the Snetterton spoils in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship this past weekend (May 25/26) as ever-changing weather conditions played their part in delivering an action-packed third meeting of the season.

Hot on the heels of blockbuster events at Donington Park and Brands Hatch, the country’s premier motorsport series served up three hard-fought contests around the 300 layout – which further shook up the championship order in the process. 

Qualifying on Saturday afternoon proved to be an edge-of-the-seat affair as Hill powered his Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport BMW to a well-deserved pole position in the final moments of the session.

Having shown his hand in greasy conditions earlier in the day, Hill produced a superlative last-gasp lap to claim top spot ahead of reigning champion Ash Sutton, who was as equally impressive given he had just one second of hybrid deployment available to him.

Behind the top two, Adam Morgan netted third ahead of Dan Cammish and the returning Bobby Thompson, who was making his debut with West Surrey Racing after putting together a deal that will see him drive for the team for the remainder of the season.

Sunday’s opening contest proved to be a masterclass from Hill as he claimed a comfortable lights-to-flag victory. Opting to run the soft tyre on his rear-wheel-drive machine, Hill blasted away from pole position and was ultimately never challenged on his way to a first win of the year.

As Hill scampered clear, stablemate Thompson continued his dream debut with the team by progressing up to second while Sutton completed the podium in third, which in-turn saw him equal the record of scoring seven consecutive top three finishes. 

If Hill’s victory in race one was impressive, the way he went about triumphing in race two will be remembered for some time as he obliterated the field in a frenetic wet-dry-wet race.

A huge storm had hit the circuit prior to lights out which led to a lengthy delay as circuit officials shifted large areas of standing water. With the sun beaming down, many drivers opted to switch to slick tyres however Hill remained on wets, which proved to be an inspired decision.

Hill’s chances of victory had looked almost impossible though as he was hit with a ten-second penalty for jumping the start. He immediately began to build a lead out front though and when the rain returned, he only got stronger and triumphed by more than 15 seconds ahead of Dan Cammish and Josh Cook.

The final word of the weekend went the way of home hero Huff who led home a first-ever Toyota 1-2-3 to claim his first win in the BTCC in 20 years. 

Hill originally had looked like he would score a historic hat-trick of wins as his gamble to run on wet tyres powered him into an early lead however as the track continued to dry, the slick-shod cars closed in.

Huff, Cook and Aiden Moffat led the charge for the BMW driver and all found a way past just after mid-distance. Once they were out front, there was no stopping them as Huff recorded a famous third career win in the series.

Leaving Snetterton, Sutton holds a ten-point lead over Colin Turkington at the top of the BTCC Drivers’ Championship whilst Ford head the Manufacturers-Constructors Championship.

In the Teams’ Championship, NAPA Racing UK lead the standings after three events whilst Aron Taylor-Smith and Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing sit out front in both the Independent Drivers’ and Independent Teams’ Championship’s respectively. 

The Jack Sears Trophy – which is open to drivers who hadn’t scored an outright podium in the series prior to the start of the season – continues to be led by Mikey Doble.

On the TOCA support championship, Dan Zelos continued his march towards what could be a third Vertu MINI CHALLENGE JCW title as he claimed three wins from four races – one of which came in his 100th start in the series.

Zelos looked unbeatable around the longest circuit on the calendar however his team-mate Max Hall managed to overhaul on him the finale to clinch a third win of the season.

Alex Ninovic was one of the leading lights in the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA as he claimed two wins, with Yuanpu Cui also clinching a breakthrough win.

The Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain began its campaign with Seb Hopkins and Max Coates sharing the spoils, with Luke Hilton and Chris Lulham doing the same in the Hagerty Radical Cup UK.

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

The fastest track in the UK, Thruxton Circuit, provides the next stop on the calendar with Rounds 10, 11 & 12 taking place on June 8/9. Advance tickets for the event are currently available to purchase from the Thruxton website.

Colin Turkington and Ronan Pearson victorious at Brands Hatch BTCC scorcher

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship continued its action-packed start to the 2024 season at Brands Hatch this past weekend (May 11/12) as Colin Turkington and Ronan Pearson blasted their way to victory in front of a bumper trackside crowd.

Two weeks on from a spectacular season-opener at Donington Park, the UK’s premier motorsport series took centre stage at the world-famous Kent venue for what turned out to be three breathtaking contests around the short yet challenging Indy circuit.

Qualifying proved to be a frenetic affair on Saturday as the varying levels of hybrid deployment for the front-runners played its part in mixing up the order. At the front however there was no stopping BMW as Colin Turkington and Adam Morgan clinched a Team BMW 1-2.

Four-time champion Turkington comfortably progressed through the first two segments of the session before then blitzing the opposition to snare pole ahead of Morgan, Dan Cammish, reigning champion Ash Sutton and Josh Cook.

Turkington continued his rich vein of form on Sunday as he converted his front row start into a commanding lights-to-flag victory in race one. Opting to run the soft tyre, the Northern Irishman quickly established a lead out front and from there he was never challenged.

Behind him an almighty battle for second place played out with Cook and Sutton captivating those in attendance as they traded paint across a number of laps. In the end it would be Cook that would prevail ahead of the Ford man.

Race two followed a similar theme to that of earlier in the day as Turkington once again romped to victory, albeit this time he had to contend with a brief safety car period so that the stricken BMW of Jake Hill could be recovered at Druids.

Wheel-perfect from the get-go, the multiple title winner was again unchallenged as Sutton battled Ingram for runners-up laurels. Sutton had defended resolutely for much of the race before a late lunge at Paddock Hill Bend saw Ingram finally find a way past.

The final encounter saw Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS’ Pearson then take a fantastic maiden win ahead of team-mate Tom Chilton and Sutton, who extended his podium streak to six successive races.

Pearson made a sluggish start from pole position which allowed Aron Taylor-Smith to blast into the lead however it was short-lived as Pearson regained the position at Clearways at the end of the first lap.

With a clear road ahead of him, the Hyundai driver set off to comfortably triumph while Chilton muscled his way past Taylor-Smith – which in-turn opened the door for Sutton – to complete the rostrum.

Leaving Brands Hatch, Sutton holds a two-point lead over Turkington at the summit of the BTCC Drivers’ Championship whilst BMW top the Manufacturers-Constructors Championship.

In the Teams’ Championship, NAPA Racing UK head the standings after two events whilst Aron Taylor-Smith and Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing have established themselves as the early front runners in the Independent Drivers’ and Independent Teams’ Championship’s respectively.

The Jack Sears Trophy – which is open to drivers who hadn’t scored an outright podium in the series prior to the start of the season – is led by Power Maxed Racing’s Mikey Doble.

To view the full classification of results from all BTCC sessions at Brands Hatch, CLICK HERE.

Snetterton provides the next stop on the calendar for the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship; with Rounds 7, 8 & 9 taking place on May 25/26.

BTCC announces unchanged calendar for 2025 season

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship has revealed an unchanged calendar for its 2025 season.

Just a few days on from the opening rounds of the 2024 campaign, the UK’s premier motorsport series has released its schedule in record time following close co-operation between TOCA, ITV and all venues.

Donington Park’s National circuit kicks off the season at the end of April before the rolling into Brands Hatch Indy and Snetterton.

Thruxton and Oulton Park take centre stage in June before the series then takes its annual summer break, where the traditional Goodyear Tyre Test is expected to take place a yet-to-be confirmed venue.

The second half of season commences with a busy August courtesy of visits to Croft and Knockhill before then returning to Donington Park, this time to tackle the Grand Prix circuit.

Silverstone will host the penultimate meeting of the year in September before champions will be crowned on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit in early October.

“It’s good news for our partners, stakeholders and fans that we can confirm next season’s BTCC calendar earlier than ever before, allowing for important planning to commence for all parties,” said Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive.

“The schedule has become a tried and tested formula in recent years and is universally backed. We are continuously pushing the boundaries on-track with new-for-2024 qualifying, hybrid and tyre regulations, so I am sure our teams will be happy with the continuity and consistency of our calendar.

“Of course, being able to agree our dates so early with our partners at ITV ensures we have locked in the primary slots for our continued all-day-live and free television coverage on ITV4. It also has a positive benefit for the rest of British motorsport, as other organisers can continue planning and scheduling their own events.

“Last year, I said we were unlikely to release our calendar any earlier than mid-May… I was wrong… and we are delighted to be able to announce this schedule earlier than ever before!”

2025 British Touring Car Championship Calendar

April 26/27 – Donington Park (National)
May 10/11 – Brands Hatch (Indy)
May 24/25 – Snetterton (300)
June 7/8 – Thruxton
June 21/22 – Oulton Park (Island)
August 2/3 – Croft
August 16/17 – Knockhill
August 30/31 – Donington Park (GP)
September 20/21 – Silverstone (National)
October 4/5 – Brands Hatch (GP)

Tom Ingram and Aiden Moffat share wins at blockbuster BTCC opener

Tom Ingram and Aiden Moffat made a winning start to the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season this past weekend (April 27-28) as they claimed victory at Donington Park.

Lifting the curtain on the new campaign after months of excitement and anticipation, the UK’s premier motorsport series blasted back into life in spectacular style with three high-octane contests around the 1.98-mile National layout.

On what proved to be a ground-breaking opening meeting – which saw each race broadcast live on TikTok as well as ITV4 – the 20-car entry kicked off proceedings with a frenetic qualifying session on Saturday, which was running under the new ‘Quick Six’ format.

Starting with the grid being split into two groups, the top six drivers from each segment progressed into Q2 where they then battled to move on to Q3, which saw the fastest six drivers ultimately battle it out for pole position.

Armed with more hybrid power this year, Ingram left it until the final moments to charge to pole position ahead of Ash Sutton by 0.051 seconds; while Colin Turkington, Jake Hill, Ronan Pearson and Andrew Watson completed the top-six.

Heavy rain battered the circuit on Sunday morning which led to substantial delays but when the action finally did get underway it was Ingram that emerged as the driver to beat as he claimed a comfortable lights-to-flag victory.

Withstanding a challenge from the fast-starting BMWs off the line, a lengthy safety car period to recover the crashed Ford Focus of Sam Osborne soon neutralised proceedings. On the restart, Ingram pulled clear and from there he was never challenged.

Behind him, reigning champion Sutton found a way past Hill in the closing stages to net second with the Laser Tools Racing BMW ace settling for third place.

Ingram doubled up in race two as he produced a fine late overtake on Hill to claim his second win of the weekend under the flightpath of East Midlands airport.

Hill took the lead as the lights went out and controlled much of the bout before Ingram and Sutton reeled him in. With four laps to go, the Hyundai ace found a way up the inside of Hill at the top of the Craner Curves to reclaim top spot.

Sutton wasted no time in following Ingram as he dived down the inside of him at the Old Hairpin a few moments later and he shadowed the 2022 champion home in what was a carbon copy podium from race one.

LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ’s Moffat then brought the curtain down on the opening weekend of the year with a superlative drive in race three to claim victory ahead of Turkington and Sutton.

On his debut outing for Speedworks Motorsport and Toyota, the Scotsman was wheel-perfect as he utilised all of his hybrid deployment to fend off the charging multiple champions at the end. Moffat made his way into the lead at mid-distance after overhauling his Toyota stablemate Rob Huff, who in-turn had taken the lead from Adam Morgan before that.

Leaving Donington Park, Ingram holds the advantage at the top of the Drivers’ Championship with Sutton and Hill completing, the trio blanketed by just 16 points at this early stage.

BMW lead the early going in the BTCC Manufacturer-Constructors Championship whilst NAPA Racing UK hold the early bragging rights in the BTCC Teams’ Championship. In the Independents’ category, Aron Taylor-Smith and Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing lead the way after the opening three rounds.

The Jack Sears Trophy – which is once again open to those drivers that have yet to score an outright podium in the series prior to the season starting – saw Mikey Doble edge out Nick Halstead to claim weekend honours.

To view the results of all BTCC sessions at Donington Park, CLICK HERE.

The 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship continues at Brands Hatch on May 11/12; with Rounds 4, 5 & 6 playing out around the Indy layout of the Kent venue.

Global Media Properties named exclusive commercial partner for BTCC

The British Touring Car Championship has announced the appointment of Global Media Properties (GMP) as its Exclusive Commercial Partnership Agency.

This partnership heralds a new era of strategic collaboration aimed at driving innovation, fostering new partnerships, and enhancing consumer experiences within the UK’s premier motorsport series.

In its capacity as the Exclusive Commercial Partner, GMP will spearhead the development and execution of a dynamic commercial strategy tailored to meet the evolving demands of modern businesses and audiences. This entails reimagining the BTCC’s commercial proposition to align seamlessly with contemporary content and ROI expectations while unlocking new avenues for growth and engagement.

Moreover, GMP will extend its expertise to BTCC teams, offering support in their pursuit of new partnerships and sponsorship opportunities, further enriching the competitive landscape of the championship.

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “As we embark on this exciting journey with GMP, we are confident that their innovative approach and strategic insights will elevate the BTCC to new heights of commercial success and audience engagement.”

“Securing the BTCC as a client is a testament to our commitment to excellence and innovation in the field of commercial partnerships,” added Greg Albrecht, CEO of Global Media Properties. “We are eager to collaborate with Alan and his team to unlock the full potential of the championship and deliver unparalleled value to commercial partners and consumers alike.”