BTCC’s trio of all-new cars all claim wins at Donington Park
The 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship blasted into action at Donington Park this weekend (18/19 April) as four-time champion Ash Sutton hauled his car from the gravel on Saturday to a double race win on Sunday.
Mikey Doble triumphed in the other encounter following Dan Rowbottom’s win in Saturday’s Qualifying Race – meaning that the BTCC’s trio of all-new cars for 2026 – Mercedes A35 Saloon, Audi A3 Saloon and Ford Focus Titanium – took all the competitive victories in the season curtain raiser.
As the sun set over the legendary Leicestershire venue, it is Sutton who holds the early lead of the Drivers’ standings with his Alliance Racing/Ford and NAPA Racing UK outfit also topping both the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ and Teams’ tables.
Aiden Moffat and the LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing squad top the Independents’, whilst Dexter Patterson enjoyed his best ever day in the BTCC to grab the early advantage in the Jack Sears Trophy.
Overall, it proved to be an extremely successful and popular weekend as a huge crowd basked in bright spring sunshine while many more watched the action LIVE on ITV4 in the UK and across the world via YouTube.
The second event of the BTCC season takes place at Brands Hatch on the 9/10 May.
Mikey Doble inherits win in Donington Park opener
LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing’s Doble claimed victory in the season opener at Donington Park, after on-track victor Tom Ingram was disqualified when his car was found to have registered a significant overboost infringement.
Polesitter Rowbottom fell to fourth on the opening lap and would later receive a ten-second time penalty for repeated track limit offences, dropping the Cataclean Plato Racing driver down the order.
Speedworks Corolla Racing’s Josh Cook was in solid contention for second place before a puncture going into the final chicane fired his Toyota into the barrier on lap six.
Rowbottom inherited the place originally before he was passed by the charging Audi S3 Saloon of Doble, as he scooped the Independents’ win as well as his overall triumph.
Sutton's performance was typically staggering as he hauled his #116 Ford Focus Titanium through the field from the back of the grid.
The four-time champion had endured a tough start to the season during the Qualifying Race when contact with title rival Ingram fired his machine into the gravel. As is often the case with Sutton, however, the 32-year-old bounced back in fine fashion in Sunday's opener.
Move-after-move was made with a mid-race scrap with WSR’s Charles Rainford being particularly eye catching, before making his way to a fantastic second place ahead of the BMW man.
Sutton storms through the pack
NAPA Racing UK's Sutton then romped to victory in race two, having started the prior bout from last on the grid.
The Ford Focus Titanium started the race from second, before taking the lead by the exit of Redgate on the opening tour and never looked back to claim his 48th career BTCC triumph.
Joining the four-time champion on the podium was NAPA Racing UK teammate Dan Cammish and Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport's Gordon Shedden.
Both Cammish and Shedden had scrapped their way forwards over the course of the day and the experienced racers got their just rewards in the second race.
Moffat's impressive weekend continued as the LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing driver claimed fourth ahead of WSR duo Daryl De Leon and Rainford.
Ash Sutton triumphant in 300th race start
Sutton made it two wins in two to complete the opening weekend of the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, marking his 300th race in style.
Starting from eighth on the grid thanks to drawing the No.8 ball himself for the reverse grid, Sutton had it all to do from the fourth row.
Aided by the Goodyear soft tyre and his undoubted racecraft, the four-time champion made light work of the competition before slipping past long-time leader Ricky Collard to take the victory.
Team VERTU's Collard led away from pole position of the finale and was soon followed by the WSR duo of Rainford and De Leon, as the Steel Seal with Power Maxed Racing Audi A3 Saloon of Patterson initially dropped back.
Sutton was on the rear bumper of Collard's Hyundai before mid-distance and grabbed the lead on the run through Redgate, whilst NAPA Racing UK's Cammish and Team VERTU's Ingram were also soon in the fight.
Reigning champion Ingram provided some respite from a challenging day by scything his way from the back of the grid to second in his #80 Hyundai i30 N Fastback as team-mate Collard completed an impressive podium, whilst Cammish received a time penalty for several track limit infringements.
The Power Maxed Racing stable enjoyed another fantastic race with Moffat in fourth and Patterson in sixth – both completing one of the most successful weekends of their respective careers with Patterson's race three result the best he's ever achieved in the BTCC.
Mikey Doble, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing, said: “It’s unbelievable really. There’s pure elation in the team for the first race in this new car – you’ll never get to have that first race again so to win it is amazing. I said I wanted to win two races this season and to have already won one on the opening day is unbelievable. The guys have worked so hard, I don’t think they’ve had a day off since Christmas to get these cars out for this round. There’s more to come from this car too.”
Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK, said: “What a day! 24 hours ago, we were sat in the gravel trap so to turn this around is awesome. The car has been on fire, we also got a first one-two of the season for NAPA Racing UK, so it’s just been an incredible day. The Audis have looked good and so have the BMWs but of course the Hyundais will also be there. It’s early days of course. The new format will really take hold at Brands Hatch, which will spice things up, I’m sure.”
Results
2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 1 – Donington Park (National)
1. Mikey Doble, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing 21 Laps
2. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK +1.749s
3. Charles Rainford, WSR +5.392s
4. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +6.276s
5. Gordon Shedden, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +7.401s
6. Aiden Moffat, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing +7.693s
7. Dexter Patterson, Steel Seal with Power Maxed Racing +8.102s
8. Árón Taylor-Smith, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +8.180s
9. Tom Chilton, Team VERTU +8.417s
10. Adam Morgan, Cataclean Plato Racing +8.775s
2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 2 – Donington Park (National)
1. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK 21 Laps
2. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +2.634s
3. Gordon Shedden, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +3.038s
4. Aiden Moffat, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing +4.505s
5. Daryl De Leon, WSR +5.740s
6. Charles Rainford, WSR +6.126s
7. Dexter Patterson, Steel Seal with Power Maxed Racing +10.971s
8. Ricky Collard, Team VERTU +12.796s
9. Adam Morgan, Cataclean Plato Racing +14.309s
10. Josh Cook, Speedworks Corolla Racing +15.201s
2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 3 – Donington Park (National)
1. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK 18 Laps
2. Tom Ingram, Team VERTU +2.188s
3. Ricky Collard, Team VERTU +7.218s
4. Aiden Moffat, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing +9.041s
5. Charles Rainford, WSR +9.884s
6. Dexter Patterson, Steel Seal with Power Maxed Racing +13.018s
7. Chris Smiley, Restart Racing +14.176s
8. Adam Morgan, Cataclean Plato Racing +14.777s
9. Sam Osborne, NAPA Racing UK +14.947s
10. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +16.895s
Penalties:
Qualifying Race
Daryl De Leon received a five-second time penalty for an overboost infringement
Race 1
Adam Morgan received a five-second time penalty in Round 1 of the championship, for an overboost infringement
Tom Ingram was disqualified from Round 1 of the championship, for a significant overboost infringement
Race 3
Gordon Shedden received a 1.1 second time penalty and three penalty points on his licence in Round 3 of the championship, for causing a collision and gaining an advantage in an incident involving Daryl De Leon
