TURKINGTON, COOK AND CHILTON TRIUMPH IN NORTH YORKSHIRE
The 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship returned to action at Croft this weekend (27/28 July) with a trio of different race winners entertaining a huge crowd in North Yorkshire.
The opening race was won by ‘King of Croft’ Colin Turkington – the Team BMW star’s 15 victories at the venue is the most by any driver at a single circuit.
Turkington’s win was also the 70th of his illustrious BTCC career, a number only bettered by fellow tin-top legend Jason Plato.
Speedworks Motorsport enjoyed had a one-two in the second encounter as Josh Cook led home his former World Touring Car champion stablemate Rob Huff.
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS’ Tom Chilton took a hugely popular triumph in the final race.
Tom Ingram (Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS) also had a fantastic day, his double podium and stellar points haul firing the 2022 champion to the top of the Drivers’ standings.
Ingram leads the pack by an impressive 21 points from Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport’s Jake Hill, with NAPA Racing UK’s Ash Sutton a further eight points in arrears.
Alliance Racing/Ford and NAPA Racing UK top the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ and Teams’ tables.
Árón Taylor-Smith and his Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing squad still hold sway in the Independents’ championships, whilst team-mate Mikey Doble is the Jack Sears Trophy leader.
The BTCC returns for its annual trip north of the border with the visit to Knockhill in two weeks’ time.
Turkington scores 70th BTCC career victory
Team BMW's Turkington scored his 70th career victory in the BTCC as the four-time champion led from start-to-finish in the opener at Croft.
Turkington's milestone was also an incredible 15th triumph for the 42-year-old at Croft, a venue where he has enjoyed many fond memories down the years.
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS' Ingram claimed second after nipping by NAPA Racing UK's Dan Cammish in the early exchanges, the latter having straight-lined the chicane.
Ingram's elevation on-track was enough for him to top the overall Drivers' standings, meaning the championship lead had changed hands in each of the last four races.
Cammish held off NAPA Racing UK team-mate Sutton to complete the podium – his sixth rostrum in the last ten races – whilst Taylor-Smith took an impressive yet lonely fifth place.
The biggest mover was Hill (Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport), as he picked off a number of challengers, rising from 11th on the grid to grab sixth.
Cook claims a classic Croft win
LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ's Cook produced a brilliant move in the latter stages of race two, disposing of stablemate Huff to take a 20th BTCC victory.
It was a dramatic race from the outset as pole-sitter Turkington (Team BMW) made a decent getaway, but he was immediately reeled in by second placed Ingram (Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS).
The #80 Hyundai fired around the outside of the #20 BMW at Tower Bend and was soon into the lead, but it was the gaggle of cars on Goodyear soft tyres busy making progress behind.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK's Huff was soon into second, bringing fellow soft-shod runners of Cook and NAPA Racing UK's Dan Rowbottom with him.
The trio calmly passed leader Ingram one-by-one at Tower on three successive laps, with the championship leader recognising the need to score solid points without fighting on the slower hard tyre.
Lap 13 of 15 proved to be the pivotal moment at the front, as Cook soared around the outside of Huff's #12 Toyota Corolla at the Jim Clark Esses. It was a move right on the edge, but both emerged unscathed with Cook romping to an impressive win.
Tom Chilton takes win in Croft finale
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS' Chilton took a hugely popular win in Round 18, claiming a lights-to-flag triumph in the reversed-grid finale.
Chilton had shown great speed throughout the weekend – setting a new qualifying lap record in the opening segment on Saturday before having to settle for eighth on the grid – and he continued to plug away during race day.
It all culminated in pole position for race three and the experienced Chilton duly delivered, putting in a sublime performance to take the 17th BTCC victory of his career.
NAPA Racing UK's Cammish was second, securing his second podium of the day, boosting his championship hopes in the process.
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS' Ingram wrestled his way to third but it wasn't without drama, the #80 Hyundai enduring mid-race contact with Turkington's #20 BMW, which saw the race one winner spin off into the barrier.
Fellow title contenders – Sutton (NAPA Racing UK) and Hill (Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport) – were fourth and fifth respectively, the latter driving brilliantly through the field from 16th on the grid.
Another result of note in race three was that of the Independents’ race winner, which saw Restart Racing’s Chris Smiley triumph for the first time this season, ending Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing’s 17-race winning streak.
Colin Turkington, Team BMW, said: “I need all the points I can get. Faultless race from mine and the car’s side. We obviously have the pace this weekend – we showed that yesterday – the car is feeling really good, and the balance was nice.
“Tom [Ingram] was quick on that opening stint, but I always felt like we had just enough to get the win.”
Josh Cook, LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ, said: “It was nerve-racking. It was a bit of a handful but yeah, I’m really pleased. Yesterday didn’t go to plan because I think we had a car that could have been on the front row during qualifying.
“The car was mega, really, really good. We definitely found some pace during the summer break, but we need to see if we stay there and keep developing in the right direction.”
Tom Chilton, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS, said: “A watery eye moment. This championship is the hardest championship in the world. When you do well it just feels like the best feeling. These are the greatest drivers and teams in the world, and it means so much.
“We got the car back to where it needed to be for race three and I’ve just gone and proved the pace and potential.”
2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 1 – Croft
1. Colin Turkington, Team BMW 15 Laps
2. Tom Ingram, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS +1.746s
3. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +3.562s
4. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK +4.114s
5. Árón Taylor-Smith, Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing +10.231s
6. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +15.744s
7. Rob Huff, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK +19.755s
8. Josh Cook, LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ +28.886s
9. Tom Chilton, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS +31.080s
10. Daniel Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK +32.165s
2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 2 – Croft
1. Josh Cook, LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ 15 Laps
2. Rob Huff, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK +0.742s
3. Daniel Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK +0.954s
4. Tom Ingram, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS +6.257s
5. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK +8.115s
6. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +8.770s
7. Árón Taylor-Smith, Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing +16.772s
8. Tom Chilton, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS +17.248s
9. Colin Turkington, Team BMW +17.967s
10. Aiden Moffat, LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ +18.358s
2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 3 – Croft
1. Tom Chilton, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS 15 Laps
2. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +1.504s
3. Tom Ingram, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS +2.141s
4. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK +8.291s
5. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +8.760s
6. Rob Huff, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK +11.151s
7. Josh Cook, LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ +12.550s
8. Daniel Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK +12.791s
9. Adam Morgan, Team BMW +17.591s
10. Ronan Pearson, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS +24.337s
Penalties:
The following had Championship penalties applied to them after incidents:
Qualifying:
Ashley Sutton, Andrew Watson, Rob Huff, Jake Hill, Dan Cammish, Scott Sumpton, Daniel Rowbottom, Adam Morgan, Josh Cook, Sam Osborne, Mikey Doble, Chris Smiley
Round 16:
Andrew Watson – One second added to Race Time
Daryl DeLeon – 10 second Time Penalty
Round 18:
Daryl DeLeon – 10 second Time Penalty
Following an incident in Round 17 involving Ashley Sutton and Colin Turkington, the BTCC Clerk and Driving Standards Advisor interviewed both drivers, reviewed the video evidence and decided to take no further action. Team BMW appealed that decision to the BTCC Stewards. Following a hearing, the BTCC Stewards upheld the BTCC Clerk’s decision and the appeal failed. The Appeal Fee was forfeit.
Following an incident in Round 17 involving Tom Chilton and Jake Hill, the BTCC Clerk and Driving Standards Advisor interviewed both drivers, reviewed the video evidence and decided to take no further action. Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport appealed that decision to the BTCC Stewards. Following a hearing, the BTCC Stewards upheld the BTCC Clerk’s decision and the appeal failed. The Appeal Fee was forfeit.
Following an incident in Round 18 involving Colin Turkington and Tom Ingram, the BTCC Clerk and Driving Standards Advisor interviewed both drivers, reviewed the video evidence and decided to take no further action.
An incident involving Andrew Watson and Daryl DeLeon in Round 17 will be investigated by the BTCC Clerk at the Knockhill Championship Meeting.
