Tag: MINI CHALLENGE Trophy

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.

Tom Ingram, Ash Sutton and Dan Rowbottom emerged as the big winners on a weekend to remember at Thruxton Circuit as a bumper crowd flocked through the gates for the annual visit of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

In what is one of the standout events of the year at the high-speed Hampshire venue, the UK’s premier motorsport series delivered three blockbuster contests that were ultimately won by the top three in the overall standings.

Despite the contrasting weather conditions – which saw heavy rain on Saturday make way for bright sunshine on Sunday – those in attendance had the opportunity to experience the brand-new Woodham Hill spectator banking, which provided stunning new views of the action.

In addition to the wheel-to-wheel racing that was served up, fans also had an abundance of off-track activities such as live music, a dedicated kids’ zone, an array of food stalls, a supercar display, the Crazy Cart Championship and camping facilities to enjoy.

Four-time champion Sutton was the driver to beat in qualifying as he mastered the soaking wet conditions in his NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus to clinch pole position ahead of title rivals Tom Ingram and Dan Cammish.

Race one on Sunday would then see Team VERTU’s Ingram make it nine different winners from ten races of the season as he found a way past pole sitter Sutton and before streaking clear to triumph ahead of Cammish and One Motorsport’s Josh Cook.

For Cook, his charge from 14th to third was all the more remarkable after his car had to be rebuilt overnight following a sizeable crash in qualifying – one which resulted in the circuit’s most successful BTCC driver needing to go to hospital for precautionary checks.

After missing out on victory in race one, Sutton produced one of the finest opening laps in recent memory in race two to charge to a third victory of the season, with Ingram and Rowbottom trailing behind in second and third.

Rowbottom then capped off another strong weekend in his own Ford Focus ST by getting the better of reigning champion Jake Hill to secure his second win of the season in the reverse grid finale.

Contact with Sutton at the high-speed Noble Corner brought Hill’s charge to a premature end and in-turn allowed Ingram and Cammish to fight their way onto the remaining two steps of the rostrum.

Of course it wasn’t just the BTCC that had fans on the edge of their seats though as an action-packed support bill saw three other categories tackle the fastest circuit in the country.

The Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA showcased potential single-seater stars of the future and it was the trio of Martin Molnar, Leo Robinson and impressive debutant Salim Hanna that claimed a win apiece.

Will Martin and Sid Smith proved to be the cream of the crop when it came to the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain as they starred in the monstrous 911 category, snaring one win each to bolster their own championship challenges.

Closing out the action were three unmissable races from the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy. EXCELR8 Motorsport’s Gabe Fairbrother prevailed in a wet opening bout before rookie Jenson Mason delivered a defensive masterclass to triumph in race two.

Westbourne Motorsport’s Olivier Algieri then got the better of team-mate Rhys Hurd to win an instant classic in the finale.

Thruxton’s next race event takes place in less than a fortnights’ time as the Thruxton Retro takes centre stage. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/thruxton-retro.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) is poised to speed into Hampshire this weekend (June 7-8) as Thruxton Circuit prepares to host Rounds 10, 11 & 12 of the 2025 season.

Renowned for producing edge-of-the-seat entertainment around the the fastest circuit in the country, the UK’s premier motorsport series will headline what promises to be a weekend to remember at the home of the British Automobile Racing Club with three colossal tin top contests.

Despite there having only been three events, this season is already shaping up to be an instant class with the opening nine races producing eight different race winners – three of which were first-time winners.

NAPA Racing UK’s Ash Sutton has been at his brilliant best so far and he arrives sitting atop the Drivers’ Championship – although circling behind him are a number of heavy hitters that are all ready to pounce if given the chance.

Seven podium finishes have provided the backbone to Tom Ingram’s charge so far however it is the top step that the 2022 title winner would love to scale this weekend – especially given Team VERTU have never won around Thruxton.

Reigning champion Jake Hill has endured a rollercoaster campaign to-date but the BMW driver can never be counted out and after all, he was twice a winner at this event last year.

Elsewhere, Dan Rowbottom and Dan Cammish both triumphed last time out at Snetterton while the Hyundai pairing of Adam Morgan and Tom Chilton have shown relentless speed and consistency.

Other names to look out for include the newest additions to the BTCC winners’ club – Mikey Doble, Daryl Deleon and Charles Rainford – as well as three-time champion Gordon Shedden, who is back in the series with Speedworks Motorsport.

Of course, one driver that can never be discounted from being in the mix towards the sharp end of the grid is the undisputed ‘King of Thruxton’ Josh Cook. The One Motorsport driver has a record 10 wins around his home circuit and he’ll be hungry for more in his Honda Civic Type R.

As always, it won’t just be the BTCC that takes centre stage though this weekend as a bumper supporting cast of categories is also revved up to put on a show for the expected bumper trackside crowd.

Expect full-throttle thrills from the Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA, Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain and Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy – all of whom make up the support bill.

Away from the on-track entertainment there will be plenty to see and do around the venue with a bustling trade village, supercar display, food stalls, mini karts, bouncy castle, bungee trampolining and face painting.

There will also be live entertainment on Friday 6th June and Saturday 7th June in the paddock, while the Crazy Cart Championship, which features a mix of drivers and special guests, is always a must-watch attraction.

The Thruxton Centre will be open all weekend to visitors, with food and drink being served across both days. Programmes will also be available to purchase from locations around the venue from £7.00.

Tickets for the weekend can be purchased via https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc.