Tag: BTCC

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship has announced a maximum 29-car entry for the 2023 season.

Following the December 1st 2022 entry approval deadline for all TOCA BTCC Licences (TBLs), the grid of the UK’s premier motorsport series will remain at 29 for a second successive campaign. 

Notable allocations for next year include Speedworks Motorsport increasing to three cars and West Surrey Racing expanding to four cars; a result of each team having purchased one TBL from the departing Ciceley Motorsport squad. 

Team HARD has also expanded its entry to four cars for the forthcoming campaign after securing one additional TBL from Carl Boardley Motorsport.

Teams will announce full details regarding their respective entries (drivers, team names and sponsors) over the coming weeks and months, prior to the release of the finalised entry list for the forthcoming season in April.

2023 TOCA BTCC Licence Allocation

EXCELR8 Motorsport – 4

Team Dynamics – 2 

Aiden Moffat Racing – 2

Motorbase Performance – 4

Team HARD – 4

Speedworks Motorsport – 3

West Surrey Racing – 4 

Power Maxed Racing – 2 

BTC Racing – 3 

Carl Boardley Motorsport – 1 

The 2023 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship blasts into life at Donington Park on April 22/23.

British Touring Car Championship organisers TOCA have announced a number of changes to next year’s sporting regulations. 

Following the annual end-of-season meeting between TOCA and all participating BTCC teams, the headline amendments include the return of the ‘Top Ten Showdown’ qualifying format, the reintroduction of the ‘Option’ tyre and changes to Hybrid deployment.

The ‘Top Ten Showdown’ – which was introduced in 2020 and expanded in 2021 – will be adopted at five of the ten events.

All drivers will take part in the normal 30-minute qualifying session to record their lap times before taking a short five-minute break. The fastest ten competitors will then progress into a ten-minute pole position session to determine the top ten positions on the grid. 

Qualifying sessions at Donington Park (April 22/23), Brands Hatch Indy (May 6/7), Oulton Park (June 17/18), Knockhill (August 12/13) and Silverstone (September 23/24) will all feature the format.

The reintroduction of the Goodyear ‘Option’ tyre will take place at all events with the exception of Thruxton, where only the hard tyre will be used due to the high-speed and more abrasive nature of the track.

A majority of events will see two of the three compounds – hard, medium or soft – where the ‘Option’ tyre must be used at least once during race one, race two or race three – ensuring a variety of strategies. At Snetterton and Croft, all three tyre choices must be used across the three races.

Teams will not have to specify before qualifying or the race in which they will use their ‘Option’ tyre, with all choices being declared upon cars leaving the pit lane.

Following the successful introduction of Hybrid power into the BTCC in 2022, several enhancements have been made to ensure deployment carries a greater impact from 2023 onwards.

From next year, the top seven cars in the championship and/or top seven cars on the grid will have a reduced Hybrid time during qualifying and the races on a sliding scale, whilst the minimum speed at which the system can be deployed for those top seven has been increased.

Cars from eighth place onwards will be able to deploy Hybrid power from a reduced minimum speed, ensuring these drivers can utilise the additional power quicker than the leading order. Those cars will only have deployment for 50% of the racing laps.

Hybrid will be available to be deployed on the first lap after the safety car too, with the minimum time between deployments has been increased to five seconds, preventing drivers from staying on the power at the conclusion of one lap and heading into another.

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “The changes we have made for 2023 have been done solely to keep to the core values of the championship – and that’s to make the BTCC as competitive, unpredictable, exciting and entertaining as possible.

“All year I’ve been asked by teams and drivers to bring the option tyre back for 2023, as they really enjoy the challenge it provides. So, we thank Goodyear for accommodating this and producing the three different specifications of tyres needed.

“As well, after the data-gathering and learnings from the first season using Hybrid, we identified ways in which to tweak how the Hybrid is deployed in order to better suit the competitive nature of the BTCC. Drivers throughout the field will now have to be more strategic as to when, where and how they use Hybrid.”

Tom Ingram admitted that clinching a maiden Kwik British Touring Car Championship title at Brands Hatch last weekend (October 8/9) as a ‘lifelong dream come true’.

Having previously missed out on the coveted crown on a number of occasions, the Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com driver produced a flawless performance at the Kent to come out on top of a thrilling four-way battle for outright honours.

Ingram went into the final weekend of the season sitting third in the points but pole position in Saturday’s qualifying session put him in the pound seat for race day in front of a packed trackside crowd. 

Converting pole into a brace of lights-to-flag victories in the opening two races, the 29-year-old went into last race with an 11-point advantage where a fine drive to fifth place was enough see him crowned champion.

Commenting on his title success, Ingram said: “I can’t believe it – this is a lifelong dream come true. I’ve been thinking about this moment for literally my entire life. The BTCC is what I always wanted to do. It’s what I always wanted to win. I’ve had a few years of coming into the finale with a chance and it not quite working out, so I honestly can’t put into words what this means and what an incredible feeling it is.

“I felt so relaxed going into the weekend, really chilled and actually more excited than anything else. I also knew I would need to attack – this was not the time to be ‘pointsy’ – and in all my years of driving around in circles, I’ve maybe only once before had a car as good as the Hyundai was at Brands Hatch.

“I said at the start of the weekend that after coming so close on so many occasions, I really didn’t want to be the bridesmaid anymore and it’s insane to think we’ve finally done it. I’ve got an absolutely fantastic team around me at Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com – they’ve worked tirelessly all year to make this happen, and this title is as much theirs as it is mine.

“I honestly cannot thank every single person who has helped me along this journey enough. I fell in love with the BTCC when I was just five-years-old, and when you’ve devoted your whole life to something, as my family and I have done… I simply don’t have the words. This isn’t going to sink in for quite some time.”

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship returns in 2023, with Donington Park providing the backdrop for the season-opener on April 22/23.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship brought the curtain down on its 2022 season at Brands Hatch this past weekend (October 8/9) with Bristol Street Motors with TradePriceCars.com’s Tom Ingram being crowned champion for the first time ever. 

On what proved to be one of the most thrilling finales in the series’ illustrious history, the Hyundai i30N driver produced a flawless performance in front of a bumper crowd to overturn a seven-point deficit and write his name into the history books.

After being in contention for six successive seasons, the 29-year-old finally secured the most coveted prize in UK motorsport with pole position, two victories and a fifth place around the world-famous Grand Prix layout of the Kent circuit. 

Outgoing champion Ashley Sutton settled for runners-up laurels whilst Jake Hill, Colin Turkington and Rory Butcher rounded out the top five in the standings. 

NAPA Racing UK clinched the Teams’ Championship whilst BMW wrapped up the Manufacturer-Constructor Championship for a record-extending seventh consecutive year. 

Josh Cook claimed the Independent Drivers’ Championship for the first time whilst also helping Rich Energy BTC Racing do the same in the Independent Teams’ Championship. Bobby Thompson was the final champion to be crowned after he edged out George Gamble to lift the Jack Sears Trophy. 

Ingram’s pursuit of the title began during Saturday’s final qualifying session of the season where he obliterated the lap record to take pole position ahead of Butcher and Sutton. 

Lining up on the front row for the first of Sunday’s three bouts, the front-wheel-drive ace made a perfect getaway and despite having to deal with two safety car restarts, he didn’t put a wheel wrong to clinch a pivotal win which vaulted him to the standings summit.

Behind, Butcher held firm in second whilst Hill came out on top of an almighty battle for third which saw Sutton – who was suffering from a turbo failure – and Turkington firmly in the thick of the action. 

Race two saw Ingram extend his lead in the points and with it, take a giant leap towards what would be maiden crown, as he made it two out of two. Despite having to contend with immense pressure from Hill, the front-wheel-drive ace was perfection personified in his way to his fifth win of the season.

That result set up a three-way showdown heading into the final race of the season, with Ingram leading Hill by 11 points and Sutton a further three in arrears. 

Starting from tenth virtue of the reverse grid draw – which was made by Jason Plato on what was his final BTCC appearance – Ingram achieved what had been a lifelong dream as he claimed the crown with a superlative drive in the finale.

At the front, Daniel Lloyd ended a rollercoaster season with victory ahead of Cook and Butcher however it was the battle for fourth that had everyone’s attention. Sutton, Hill and Ingram ran nose-to-tail in the closing stages and following a last lap pass on Hill at Paddock Hill Bend, Ingram shadowed Sutton across the line to wrap up an emotional title victory.

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 2023, with the start of brand-new season poised to start at Donington Park on April 22/23.

The 2022 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship is set to go down to the wire at Brands Hatch this weekend (October 8/9) with no less than four drivers in contention to lift the most coveted prize in UK motorsport. 

In what has been another blockbuster season for the BTCC, a gripping showdown is set to play out around the legendary Grand Prix layout of the Kent venue in three highly-anticipated encounters.

Seven points separate the top three – the closest margin since 2011 – and at the top of the pile is reigning champion Ashley Sutton. Aiming to clinch what would be a record-equalling fourth crown, the NAPA Racing UK driver is relishing the prospect of writing another piece of history in his already illustrious career.

“I’m absolutely buzzing and can’t wait to get to Brands Hatch this weekend!” Sutton stated. “If you’d have told me early on in the season that we’d be heading into Finals Day leading then I’d have bit your hand off. 

“Seven points between three of us is nothing; you really couldn’t script it. Anything can and usually does happen at the final round but I’m feeling very comfortable with the situation I’m in as I know the demands that come with the finale, both in and out of the car. 

“I love the Grand Prix circuit and I’m confident the car will be really strong. I’m just ready to go now!”

Sitting second in the standings is ROKiT MB Motorsport’s Jake Hill. Having been one of the standout performers this year, the West Surrey Racing driver enters the weekend riding a wave of momentum and full of confidence he can capture what would be a maiden title.

Looking ahead to the weekend, the BMW driver said: “I’m immensely proud to be in the position I’m in and have the team I have around me. I’ve chipped away during the second half of the season and now we’re within a few points of the top now.

“I’ve got to be open-minded and be prepared for all eventualities, it is the BTCC after all. Qualifying – like it has been all year – is going to be so important. Hopefully we can be up near the front on Saturday and then go from there on Sunday.”

Two points adrift of Hill is the Bristol Street Motors with TradePriceCars.com entry of Tom Ingram. Making history by becoming the first race-winner of the hybrid era, the Hyundai i30N racer has been a force to be reckoned with throughout the year and heading into the weekend, he’s feeling relaxed. 

“I feel really well placed and excited going into the weekend,” Ingram said. “I’ll be going there off the back of a win and with a decent amount of hybrid too. I’ve been in the position of going into the finale in contention before so it’s nice and familiar.

“There’s seven points with three races to go – I don’t know a year like it. This is going to the last lap of the last race. I don’t think you can rule any of us out from lifting that title come Sunday night.”

Colin Turkington is the fourth and final driver to enter the weekend with a mathematical chance of being crowned BTCC champion for what would be a record-breaking fifth time. 

After enduring a frustrating three races at Silverstone last month, the Team BMW trails Sutton by 27 points and the contender with the most to do – however he can’t be discounted at all. 

“I’ve got to just get my head down and make the most of what I’ve got,” Turkington stated.  “At this stage that’s a chance at winning, but that’s all I need to keep me focused on delivering my best.

“The strategy for me as 4th in the standings is really simple – drive as hard and as fast as I can – let’s aim towards the 67 points and see where it gets me.  I’ve got nothing to lose!”

With a total of 67 points on offer across the weekend at Brands Hatch, the battle for supremacy is likely to throw up plenty of thrills and spills; and go all the way to the 30th and final round of the campaign. 

It won’t just be the BTCC Drivers’ Championship that will be settled either as champions will be crowned in the BTCC Teams’, Manufacturer/Constructors’, Independent Drivers’, Independent Teams’ Championship’s, as well as the Jack Sears Trophy.

To find out more information on this weekend’s season finale, CLICK HERE.

British Touring Car Championship Chief Executive Alan Gow has reiterated plans for a significant new junior series to join the TOCA package from the 2024 season onwards.

Following confirmation that Ginetta will switch across to the British GT support bill on a full-time basis next year, a vacancy on the bill of the country’s most high-profile motorsport package has been left.

Despite only planning to fill one slot for the 2023 season in order to alleviate some stress on the timetable, Gow has confirmed that he aims to bring a top-level junior championship to the TOCA stable for 2024.

“We want to introduce a top-level junior series to the TOCA package from 2024 onwards,” said Gow. “I should note that we are not talking about an already existing series. We are looking for something fresh, new and exciting to bring to the most popular and high-profile motorsport package in the UK.

“Not only will this be fantastic news for the tens of thousands of fans trackside and the millions more watching on our live ITV network coverage, but I strongly believe this is an important step and a vital injection for the racing pyramid in this country and beyond.

“Young drivers – and indeed their teams, sponsors and all stakeholders – who are looking to reach the pinnacle of their respective fields really do need to flourish and develop within a high-profile environment and only the BTCC support race package provides the kind of season-long exposure that developing drivers should have.

“The process has already begun and whether this championship comes entirely from a third-party manufacturer or organisation, or indeed whether TOCA plays a role in the introduction of a new series, is yet to be determined. Although the end result is quite simple; I want to have the best junior series that this country can produce, in order to help develop and generate our finest and most complete drivers for the future.

“We will obviously carefully assess any applications for a new junior series from 2024 and award the slot to the most appropriate and impressive – it’s a fantastic opportunity for the development of junior drivers in the UK and one we’re all excited about.”

“The emails keep arriving ,” Gow concluded. “With regard to the full support series for 2023, we will only be filling one slot so as to take some strain off our race weekend timetables.

“We will take this opportunity to have different guest series’ joining the bill during the course of the 2023 season. So, it will likely be two, three or even four different championships filling the vacant slots at various times during the year, which will provide more variety for the fan base as well as giving those championships unprecedented levels of exposure.”

The chosen series’ will join Porsche Carrera Cup GB, British Formula 4 and the MINI Challenge on the BTCC support bill and any further announcement will be made by TOCA in due course.

Four drivers will head into the final three races of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season in contention to be crowned champion next month following an action-packed weekend (September 24/25) at Silverstone. 

Brands Hatch will provide the setting for the 2022 finale in less than two weeks’ time and it will see Ashley Sutton, Jake Hill, Tom Ingram and Colin Turkington all arrive with a mathematical shot at lifting the biggest prize in UK motorsport – with a maximum of 67 points set to be on offer at the famous Kent venue.

The penultimate event of the season at Silverstone saw its fair share of thrills and spills as both Hill and Ingram, along with Rory Butcher, enjoyed a share of the spoils around the 1.64-mile National circuit.

Qualifying at the Home of British Motor Racing on Saturday underlined how competitive the BTCC currently is with no less than 26 drivers being covered by less than second. At the top of the times, nobody could stop Toyota Gazoo Racing UK’s Butcher as he clinched pole position by the narrowest of margins. 

Just 0.037s separated the Scotsman and title contender Hill, who secured his sixth front-row start of the season. Hot on their heels was the duo of Adam Morgan and Ingram who locked out row two whilst Dan Cammish completed the top five.

Butcher converted his front-row start into a superb first win of the season in the opening contest after he soaked up immense pressure from the BMW duo of Hill and Morgan. Storming clear in the early running, the Toyota man was forced to deal with a safety car period but he ultimately didn’t put a wheel wrong to triumph. 

Further back, action was rife throughout the field with the likes of Ingram, Sutton, Cammish and Gordon Shedden in the midst of many wheel-to-wheel battles. Notably, Turkington endured a torrid time as a spin and further contact saw him non-score. 

Race two saw Hill stamp his authority on proceedings with a commanding victory. In what was a carbon copy of the day’s earlier bout, the MB Motorsport driver shadowed Butcher up until mid-distance before, after a brief safety car period, he hit the front following a fine move at Copse. 

Once out front, the rear-wheel-drive ace got his head down and pulled clear of the chasing pack, which was led by Butcher and three-time champion Shedden. Title rivals Sutton and Ingram rounded out the top five after a captivating cat-and-mouse battle down the three long straights of Silverstone.

The weekend’s third and final race saw Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com’s Ingram come to the fore as he cruised to a comfortable victory. Starting fourth, the Hyundai driver was in the right place at the right time as drama kicked off in front of him on lap one, with Morgan, Cammish and Josh Cook all in strife.

Despite having to contend with several safety car periods, Ingram remained relatively unchallenged out front to clinch his fourth victory of the season ahead of series leader Sutton and race one winner Butcher. 

With just one final race meeting left to run, Sutton holds a slender five-point lead at the summit of the Drivers’ Championship over Hill, with Ingram a further two markers adrift. Four-time champion Turkington will head into the event with the most ground to make up as he trails Sutton by 27 points.

Cook has provisionally wrapped up the Independent Drivers’ Championship whilst Rich Energy BTC Racing have edged closer to clinching the Independent Teams’ crown. 

BMW remain on course to win a seventh successive Manufacturer-Constructor title however they will need things to fall their way if they want to lift the Teams’ Championship, as NAPA Racing UK hold a commanding lead. 

In the Jack Sears Trophy, Bobby Thompson sits on the cusp of lifting the coveted title as he holds a 49-point lead over George Gamble in the category. 

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

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will bring the curtain down on its 2022 season on October 8/9, with three races scheduled to play out around the Grand Prix layout of Brands Hatch.

Dan Cammish, Ash Sutton and Josh Cook scored victory on what proved to be a blockbuster race day in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Thruxton this past weekend (August 27/28) to set up what promises to be a grandstand finish to the season.

Entering the business end of the 2022 campaign, the UK’s premier motor sport series put on  a show around the fastest circuit in the country for the bumper crowd that had flocked trackside. 

With every point proving to be crucial in deciding the destiny of the title, the battle for pole position in qualifying was as important as ever on Saturday afternoon; with NAPA Racing UK’s Cammish ultimately claiming bragging rights by a mere 0.017s.

Leaving it late in the session, Cammish powered his Ford Focus ST to the top of the times to pip Thruxton specialist Cook, who had held provisional pole for a majority of qualifying. Title contenders Jake Hill and Sutton locked out the second row whist Gordon Shedden rounded out the top five.

Cammish cruised to a commanding lights-to-flag victory in the opening contest whilst drama kicked off behind him. Sailing off into the distance as soon as the lights went out, contact between three of the chasing pack had everyone on the edge of their seats. 

Hill, Sutton and Cook came to blows through the Complex however they all emerged unscathed, although the latter was sent plummeting down the field. As the dust settled, Shedden picked his way through to second with Sutton hot on his heels in third; that would be where they’d finish. 

Race two saw NAPA Racing UK’s dream day continue as they recorded their first-ever 1-2 finish, with Sutton marking his 200th race in the BTCC with victory. 

Like he had done earlier in the day, Cammish dominated proceedings and had looked on-course to double his tally before the team made the decision to let Sutton through with two laps to go, allowing him to secure those extra few points in the fight for the title.

After dropping to third on the opening lap, Shedden – who in-turn was celebrating his 400th start in the series – enjoyed a relatively trouble-free run to third whilst Hill was fourth once again.

The third and final race of the weekend saw the ‘King of Thruxton’ Cook charge to a tenth career victory around the circuit. Starting fourth, the Rich Energy BTC Racing driver produced a superb opening two laps to fight his way to the front.

Once there, the Honda Civic Type R racer punched in a string of scintillating laps to pull clear of the chasing pack which was led by four-time champion Turkington. Cook would ultimately romp to a comfortable victory ahead the Northern Irishman and his BMW team-mate Stephen Jelley, who rounded out the rostrum.

Just two events and six races now remain in the 2022 season with Turkington sitting at the summit of the BTCC Drivers’ Championship. Elsewhere, Team BMW lead the way in the BTCC Teams’ Championship standings. 

Cook and Rich Energy BTC Racing continue to top the Independent Drivers’ and Independent Teams’ categories, with BMW setting the pace on the Manufacturer-Constructors’ leaderboard. In the Jack Sears Trophy, Bobby Thompson remains out front having further extended his lead. 

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

The penultimate event of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will see Rounds 25, 26 & 27 play out around the Home of British Motor Racing, Silverstone, on September 24/25.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship returns to Thruxton this weekend (August 27/28) for three blockbuster races that could prove pivotal in deciding who walks away as champion come the end of the season.

Now on the home stretch of what has been an action-packed campaign, the UK’s premier motor sport series returns to the fastest circuit in the country for the second time in 2022 and it’s all very much still to play for. 

Team BMW’s Colin Turkington arrives in Hampshire as the driver they’re all vying to catch after enjoying a weekend to remember last time out at Snetterton. Pole position, two wins and two fastest laps allowed the four-time champion to open up a 15-point advantage over his rivals.

Having seemingly found his groove in recent rounds, the Northern Irishman will be keen to extend his lead this weekend, however he’ll be well aware he needs to be at his brilliant best as a long list of contenders are hot on his heels. 

Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com’s Tom Ingram leads the chase for Turkington ahead of Jake Hill and reigning champion Ash Sutton; all three of them having been in fine form since the get-go – in particular since the turn of the summer.

Back in May Rich Energy BTC Racing’s Josh Cook made history as he became the most successful ever driver at Thruxton in the BTCC, winning for the eighth and ninth time. The Bath racer left with the championship lead but he now returns sitting fifth, 72 points shy of Turkington.

Engine performance has hampered the Honda Civic Type R driver recently however if there was anywhere Cook would want to get things back on-track then his home circuit Thruxton would undoubtedly be his first pick.

Other drivers that will be banking on local support include Toyota Gazoo Racing UK’s Ricky Collard and Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com’s Jack Butel. Collard will be keen to make his mark after he came oh-so close to a podium two weeks ago. 

Jason Plato moved to the county in recent years so Thruxton can be regarded as his local track during what is being touted as his final season in the series. At Snetterton, the double champion showed his class as he clinched a podium in what was his 650th BTCC race. 

Headline names continue to roll off the tongue as you look further down the championship standings with Rory Butcher, three-time champion Gordon Shedden, Daniel Lloyd, Adam Morgan and Stephen Jelley rounding out the top ten.

Throw into the mix the likes of Dan Cammish, Dan Rowbottom, George Gamble and Bobby Thompson, amongst many others, and you begin to see why the BTCC continues to be as competitive as ever.

As always it won’t just be the BTCC that takes centre stage over the course of the weekend, with a bumper supporting cast revved up and ready to dazzle the thousands of fans that are expected to flock trackside.

The Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship, ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA, Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup, Quaife MINI CHALLENGE Trophy and Porsche Carrera Cup GB will all be in action and putting on a show.

Away from the on-track entertainment there will be plenty to see and do around the venue with a bustling trade village, supercar display, skid pan rides, food stalls, live music, mini karts, face painting and an interactive kids show, all providing fun for all the family.

Fans will also be able to meet the stars and their cars of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship during the Pit Lane Autograph Session on Sunday morning between 10:00 – 10:30. 

Tickets for this weekend’s spectacle are available to purchase on the main gate across both days with children 12 and under admitted for free when accompanied by a paying adult. Programmes and FM receivers will also be on-sale at vendors around the venue.

The battle for supremacy in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship reached boiling point – much like the weather – at Snetterton this past weekend (August 13/14) as Colin Turkington and Ashley Sutton charged to victory. 

On what proved to be a scorching seventh event of the season at Norfolk track, Turkington – who was celebrating his 500th BTCC start on Sunday – stamped his authority on the title fight with a dominant double before reigning champion Sutton struck back in race three.

Qualifying on Saturday arguably belonged to West Surrey Racing as Turkington led home a front-row BMW lockout, snatching pole position from team-mate Jake Hill in the latter stages.

The four-time champion lit up the timesheets in the closing minutes to edge out Hill, who had been on course to improve his time before catching traffic at Coram. Tom Ingram netted third whilst Stephen Jelly and Adam Morgan rounded out the top five.

Race one on Sunday saw Turkington keep stablemate Hill at bay to claim a commanding lights-to-flag victory. Holding the lead off the line, the Northern Irishman was never headed despite having to deal with two safety car periods and Hill, who was threatening to make a move throughout the contest.

Ingram remained within striking distance of the top two however the Hyundai man was never able to launch a proper attack and ultimately settled for third place. 

Turkington and Hill then produced a carbon copy performance in the second encounter. Blasting off the line, the BMW duo ran side-by-side for much of the opening lap before the pole sitter pulled clear as they filed through Brundle and Nelson.

Once out front Turkington didn’t put a wheel wrong to lead home the second successive WSR 1-2 of the day, with Ingram once again completing the podium in third. 

NAPA Racing UK’s Sutton then came to the fore in the reverse grid encounter as he scored his second win in as many race weekends. Drawn onto pole position after two ninth place finishes earlier in the day, the Ford Focus ST driver fought back from a sluggish start to dominate proceedings.

Behind, Jason Plato marked his 650th series start with a welcome return to the podium. The double title winner dispatched Dan Rowbottom early on and from there enjoyed a trouble-free run to the flag to clinch this first podium of the season.

The final spot on the rostrum had everyone on the edge of their seats as Ricky Collard and Ingram went door-to-door on the final lap. Collard would prevail on the road however he would later be hit with a one-second time penalty for an incident, promoting Ingram up a position to give him a hat-trick of third-place drives.

With three events remaining, Turkington holds the advantage at the summit of the BTCC Drivers’ Championship whilst Team BMW lead the way in the BTCC Teams’ Championship standings. 

Josh Cook and Rich Energy BTC Racing continue to top the Independent Drivers’ and Independent Teams’ categories, with BMW setting the pace on the Manufacturer-Constructors’ leaderboard. In the Jack Sears Trophy, Bobby Thompson remains out front. 

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

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship continues in less than two weeks’ time as Rounds 22, 23 & 24 take place at Thruxton on August 27/28.

Tickets for the series’ second visit to the fastest circuit in the UK are available to purchase at advance prices via https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc-august. 

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship blasted back into life in spectacular fashion at Knockhill this past weekend (July 30/31) as Jake Hill, Ashley Sutton and George Gamble each scored victory.

Kicking off the second half of the season with its annual trip north of the border, the UK’s premier motor sport series served up three pulsating races for the bumper crowd that had flocked trackside. 

As expected, qualifying proved to be an ultra-competitive affair with the top 24 being covered by less than a second. At the top of the times, ROKiT MB Motorsport’s Hill proved to be the benchmark as he secured his second pole position of the season in style.

The BMW driver punched in no fewer than three laps that were quicker than all of his rivals and under the existing race lap record to clinch top spot. Reigning champion Ash Sutton meanwhile hauled his Ford Focus onto the front row ahead of a quartet of rear-wheel-drive cars.

Race one proved to be a modern-day classic as Hill got the better of Sutton to clinch his second win of the year. Holding the lead off the line, Hill held on for much of the opening tour before Sutton made a stunning move around the outside of Duffus Dip to take the lead.

Inseparable throughout the opening exchanges, Hill ramped up his pursuit of the three-time title winner and made a move stick for first approaching mid-distance. Once out front there was no stopping the WSR man as he pulled clear to win ahead of Sutton and Colin Turkington. 

Sutton wasn’t to be denied his first win of the season in a pulsating second contest. In a repeat of the day’s earlier race, the NAPA Racing UK driver filled the mirrors of Hill in the early exchanges and charged past on lap five exiting the chicane as the race one victor made a slight mistake.

Once out front the 28-year-old was pinpoint perfect, withstanding waves of pressure from both Hill and Turkington to secure his maiden win in the hybrid era. 

Former two-time champion John Cleland drew Gamble onto pole for the reverse grid bout, a race that had everyone in attendance on the edge of their seats once again.

Getting a perfect launch as the lights went out, the Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport driver didn’t put a wheel wrong for the entirety of the 24-lap contest to claim his first-ever win in the BTCC.

Behind, Butcher – who launched an early challenge to Gamble during the opening laps – could do nothing to stop Hill who claimed second however the Scotsman was able to fend off the late advances of Turkington and Sutton to net a podium on home soil. 

Leaving Knockhill, Turkington holds the advantage at the summit of the BTCC Drivers’ Championship whilst Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com lead the way in the BTCC Teams’ Championship standings. 

Josh Cook and Rich Energy BTC Racing continue to top the Independent Drivers’ and Independent Teams’ categories, with BMW setting the pace in the Manufacturer-Constructors’ leaderboard. Gamble’s dream day also saw him to close to within five points of Bobby Thompson in the Jack Sears Trophy.

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

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship continues in less than two weeks’ time as Rounds 19, 20 & 21 take place at Snetterton on August 13/14.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship was back in action this week as a majority of the field took part in the two-day Goodyear Tyre Test at Snetterton.

In scorching conditions, NAPA Racing UK ultimately set the pace around the Norfolk venue with reigning champion Ashley Sutton and team-mate Dan Cammish occupying the top spots on the combined times at the conclusion of running. 

Sutton – who currently sits fourth in the standings at the midpoint in the season – completed a total of 155 laps around the 300 configuration in his Ford Focus ST, more than anyone else.

His best lap came on Wednesday morning where he shaved more than six tenths of a second off the current race lap record, setting a best time of 1:55.121.

“We were selected to do some Goodyear tyre testing,” explained Sutton. “So pretty much our whole day was based around testing out the option tyre and a few other things. I kind of took the limelight away from Dan [Cammish] who had raw pace on the right tyre if I’m honest. We were just running a completely different programme, as requested by Goodyear.

“We still made good progress with the car over the two days. We feel like we’ve had a lot of potential and that potential seemed to be showing in Dan’s pace too, but I’m pleased with the two-day tyre test and am looking forward to going to Knockhill and trying out some of the things we’ve learnt.”

Cammish finished a mere 0.015 seconds behind the three-time champion whilst Jake Hill, current series leader Tom Ingram and Gordon Shedden – the pace-setter throughout Tuesday – rounded out the top five. 

Toyota’s Ricky Collard finished up sixth on the timesheets with Michael Crees, Dan Rowbottom, Jason Plato and Stephen Jelley completed the top ten. 

In total, 30 drivers hit the track over the course of the two days to for over 14 hours of testing, accruing almost 2,500 laps of the 2.97-mile layout. 

Alongside teams and drivers testing various strategies, a selection of drivers also undertook Goodyear’s own testing programme, as the tyre company evaluates making adaptations ahead of next season.

“Snetterton gives us all we need,” said Mickey Butler, Goodyear Motorsport Event Manager. “It’s a mixture of corners, low speed, high speed and great visibility around the track. We can understand where we currently are from previous years’ testing and the data we’ve built up. 

“It works really well for us. Obviously, we’re in the new hybrid world and we’re still developing our understanding of that, like everybody else, and then also adapt a new tyre for 2023 to make the racing even more exciting.”

To view the full classification of times from the BTCC Goodyear Tyre Test at Snetterton, CLICK HERE. 

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship recommences on July 30/31 when the series makes its annual trip north of the border to Knockhill for Rounds 16, 17 & 18.