Cars and stars head to Knockhill for next instalment of 2023 campaign
The UK’s premier motorsport series gears up for its seventh event, with Rounds 19, 20 and 21 of the 2023 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship set to take place at Knockhill circuit next weekend (12/13 August).
The notoriously tight and twisty 1.27-mile track is one of the most popular on the calendar. Action aplenty will keep fans on their feet, with the 2023 grid set to go bumper-to-bumper during three thrilling BTCC encounters.
Once again heading into the weekend with a six-point advantage, NAPA Racing UK’s Ash Sutton leads the Drivers’ title battle. The three-time champion secured his seventh win of the season during Round 17 at Croft (29/30 July), although a DNF during the final bout allowed rival Tom Ingram (BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8) to remain only a handful of points away from the lead.
Sutton was joined on the top of the podium by teammate Dan Cammish, who secured a lights-to-flag victory in race one. On top of this, Sutton, Cammish and Dan Rowbottom delivered a triple 1-2-3 finish for NAPA Racing UK, across both Qualifying and Rounds 16 and 17.
It was then Team BMW's Colin Turkington who rounded out the day with a victory in the final bout. The result ensured that BMW remain at the top of the Manufacturers' standings and moves Turkington into third in the Drivers' title fight.
Notably, despite missing the podium during the opening two races of the day, a second-place finish in the final race minimised Ingram's gap to Sutton in the Drivers' Championship. Which, with only four events left on the calendar, is picking up pace; only 34 points separate the Top 3 with 12 Rounds left to battle for position.
Similarly, the Jack Sears Trophy is also heating up, with Carstore Power Maxed Racing’s Mikey Doble leading the charge, and only 14 points separating first and fourth. Josh Cook and his One Motorsport with Starline Racing outfit continue to hold sway across the Independents' honours.
Now the BTCC heads to Knockhill, one of the shortest tracks on the current calendar. Amongst the Scottish circuit's defining features are the high kerbs that launch the BTCC cars onto two wheels as they try to find passing opportunities and faster lap times. This makes for some fantastic vantage points for keen photographers, as well as a tough challenge for the engineers, who have to set up the cars to deal with the undulations Knockhill presents.
Local Lights
The Scottish track is a home race for a quartet of the 2023 grid: Rory Butcher (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK), Ronan Pearson (BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8), Aiden Moffat (One Motorsport with Starline Racing) and Dexter Patterson (Re.Beverages and Bartercard with Team HARD). All of whom will be gunning for glory in front of their home support next weekend (12/13 August).
Both Moffat and Butcher have reached the rostrum so far this season, while Patterson and Pearson will be looking secure influential points in the tight-fought Jack Sears Trophy.
TV, Timetables and Tickets
Complimenting the tin-top racing will be a sensational line-up of support series, as The Legends Elite Cup, Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain, ROKiT F4 British Championship and The Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE completes the schedule of exciting races.
Saturday’s BTCC qualifying session will be streamed live via ITV Sport’s YouTube channel from 1500. On Sunday, the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will be LIVE on ITV4 from 1115-1815.
Tickets are available in advance or can be purchased on the gate throughout the weekend – visit here for more details.
