Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS' Tom Ingram kicked off his 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship campaign in fantastic fashion, as he grabbed pole position for tomorrow's season opener at Donington Park.

Ingram topped both free practice sessions earlier in the day and he duly confirmed his potential by grabbing pole position in the BTCC's first ever 'Quick Six' qualifying.

The new 'Quick Six' format proved hugely entertaining, with the field initially split into two groups for a pair of ten-minute qualifying sessions, with the fastest six from each group progressing to the second segment.

With a combination of wet and dry tyre choices being made due to a light shower descending on the Leicestershire circuit, a number of leading lights were caught out by the conditions. NAPA Racing UK's Dan Cammish and Team BMW's Adam Morgan were among those exiting from the opening session, giving the opportunity for drivers like Daryl DeLeon (Duckhams Racing with Bartercard) and Chris Smiley (Restart Racing) a chance to shine in their all-new BTCC teams.

The top 12 battle proved equally as exciting as the BTCC's big guns made it through to the final 'Quick Six' with Ash Sutton (NAPA Racing UK), Colin Turkington (Team BMW) and Jake Hill (Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport) all joining Ingram, whilst young talents Andrew Watson (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK) and Ronan Pearson (Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS) also progressed.

The 'Quick Six' belonged to Ingram and he pipped 2023 nemesis Sutton by just 0.051s, with the BMW duo of Turkington and Hill in third and fourth respectively – the latter scuppering one of his flying laps with a huge lock-up at the final chicane. Pearson was fifth, ahead of Watson.

Rounds 1, 2 and 3 of the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship take place at Donington Park tomorrow. Action gets underway on ITV4 at 1040 with every race also being streamed LIVE globally via ITV Sport's TikTok channel with the first contest getting underway at 1130.

Tom Ingram (Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS) said: "It's really great. It has been a winter of hard work to try and improve the car and everyone in the team has done an incredible job. We've left no stone unturned to make sure we can be as fast as we possibly can, we've come out fighting and started as we mean to go on. I've felt good about this weekend, excited and confident, the winter has gone extremely well and everything has gone to plan so far."

Ash Sutton (NAPA Racing UK) said: "It was mega. It was awesome for the spectators too and it's ('Quick Six' qualifying) exactly what we need. I am really happy with where we are. It's a new year and we have to forget last season – everyone has upped their game – but it's a good result and we can race from there. I'm over the moon with that and I'm delighted for NAPA Racing UK and everyone else involved."

Colin Turkington (Team BMW) said: "It feels like a day's work just doing qualifying. I really enjoyed the new qualifying format, it was exciting but we've got the usual suspects in front of me. The weather conditions really threw a curve ball. I did a banker on wets initially, and then we quickly had to change to the dry tyre, so it brought an extra element to it. As I say, I really enjoyed it and I hope everybody at home did too."

Donington Park – Qualifying – Results