BRITAIN’S PREMIER MOTORSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP HEADS TO KENT
Rounds 4, 5 and 6 of the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship takes place at Brands Hatch this weekend (11/12 May) with sun expecting to shine on the cars, stars and thousands of fans in attendance.
The latest weather forecast is a far cry from the conditions that welcomed in the new BTCC season, when heavy and persistent rain delayed proceedings at Donington Park last month.
When the action eventually got underway it was Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS’ Tom Ingram who laid down an early season marker with a commanding double, as the 2022 champion aims to take back the title from reigning supremo Ash Sutton.
NAPA Racing UK’s Sutton scored a strong rostrum treble, whilst podium places for Team BMW’s Colin Turkington and Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport’s Jake Hill ensured that last year’s top four picked up from where they left off.
The most entertaining contest came in the final race at Donington, as LKQ Euro Car Parts with Synetiq's Aiden Moffat held off a quartet of high-level challengers to take one of the best victories of his career so far.
Now, the BTCC heads to the shortest track on the calendar – the action-packed Brands Hatch Indy circuit.
The much-loved Brands Hatch venue is a mainstay on the BTCC calendar, having held more races than any other circuit and at least one event every season since the championship’s inception back in 1958.
Read on for more details on the local lights, tv times, circuit timetable and the all-important ticket information…
Local Lights
Jake Hill has fast become a BTCC fan favourite across the country, but that support is even further enhanced at his local circuit – Brands Hatch.
The Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport man has been a regular title contender in recent seasons and is hoping that his undoubted promise can finally result in winning the most coveted prize in British motorsport in 2024.
Hill led a race at Donington Park last time out, before going on to secure a double podium and a positive start to his title challenge. Now, with his newly improved BMW, the Kent driver will be gunning for a first victory of the season at Brands.
West Surrey Racing, which famously run the BMWs on the BTCC grid – including Hill’s – also regard Brands Hatch as its local circuit, as does new entry Duckhams Racing with Bartercard.
Essex driver Ash Sutton is now a record-equalling four-time BTCC champ and is another that receives huge support at the circuit closest to his home. He already has many fond memories of the venue of course, having lifted the championship trophy there in 2017, 2020, 2021 and 2023.
Surrey’s Tom Chilton is another that views Brands Hatch as home, with the hugely experienced BTCC racer hoping for better fortunes this weekend. Chilton has shown good pace in pre-season and at times during the season opener, before mechanical woes hampered his progress.
TV, Timetables and Tickets
Complimenting the tin top racing will be a sensational line-up of support series, as the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain, F4 British Championship, MINI CHALLENGE and Legends Elite Cup completes the schedule of exciting races.
BTCC will be wowing the crowds both trackside and at home, with Saturday’s new ‘Quick Six’ qualifying session being streamed live via ITV Sport’s YouTube channel from 1525, before ITV4’s seven-and-a-half-hour race day broadcast gets underway at 1100 on Sunday.
Remember, for the first time in the championship’s history the BTCC is being broadcast globally with every race being streamed live in 2024 via ITV Sport’s TikTok channel. Look out for the races on Sunday starting at 1150, 1430 and 1715.
There’s no place like being there of course and fans can purchase tickets in advance or on the gate throughout the weekend – visit here for more details.
