Shot across two busy days at the North Yorkshire circuit, the latest video on the BTCC YouTube Channel drops viewers straight into the cockpit with some of the championship’s contenders, capturing the speed, precision and commitment required to master one of the UK’s most technical layouts.

Setting the early benchmark was Tom Ingram, who topped the times on the opening morning. The two-time champion delivered a lap 0.067 seconds quicker than the Croft qualifying record he set in 2025, an immediate statement of intent as teams worked through their initial programmes.

The pace continued into the afternoon, where Gordon Shedden moved to the top of the order. The three-time champion showed his experience and racecraft to clock the fastest time of the session through the less-than-favourable conditions, underlining his continued competitiveness in the field.

Day two saw Ash Sutton raise the bar once again. The four-time champion produced the quickest lap of the morning, going 0.246 seconds faster than his 2025 qualifying benchmark on the Ford Focus Titanium’s debut.

Among the standout performers across the test was James Dorlin. The rising talent set the first time below Ingram’s day one benchmark and completed an impressive 113 laps over the course of the test, combining consistency with strong outright pace to finish second overall across the two days.

With multiple drivers already dipping below previous reference points, the stage is set for another fiercely competitive season, and if these early signs are anything to go by, the battle at the front will be as close as ever.

Fans can attend the 2026 BTCC Season Launch at Brands Hatch (8 April) before the championship’s first round, less than three weeks later at Donington Park (19 April).

Watch the full video here.