Ingram, Sutton and Rowbottom all win at Thruxton
The race for the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship continues to take shape with the top three drivers in the overall standings all winning at Thruxton today (8 June).
A first victory of the season for Tom Ingram and two second places produced one of the largest points hauls of the season so far, as he drew to within nine points of four-time champion Ash Sutton.
NAPA Racing UK's Sutton claimed his third triumph of the campaign before team-mate Dan Rowbottom won for the second successive event – following his race two success at Snetterton – as he climbed up to third in the Drivers' standings.
It wasn't just the points battle that intensified as Sutton and Ingram clashed twice during the day, before reigning champion Jake Hill also had his own contact with Sutton's #116 Ford Focus.
It seems the gloves are off as we move towards the midway stage of the 2025 season, which has already included an incredible nine different races winners from the 12 races so far.
Aside from the main title tussle, there are similar scraps in both the Manufacturers'/Constructors' and Teams' championships, with the Alliance Racing/Ford and its NAPA Racing UK outfit holding a slender advantage in each.
Chris Smiley and Restart Racing top the Independents' tables, whilst WSR's Daryl DeLeon extended his lead in the Jack Sears Trophy.
Oulton Park closes out the first half of the 30-race season with another triple header on the 21/22 June.
Ingram makes it nine different winners in nine races
Team VERTU's Ingram became the ninth different winner in as many races, after the former champion got by pole-sitter Sutton in the opener at Thruxton.
Sutton faded from second with an air intake issue as NAPA Racing UK team-mate Dan Cammish secured the place, whilst One Motorsport's Josh Cook claimed a hugely popular podium following his high-speed accident in qualifying yesterday.
There was an early dispute between Ingram and Sutton with the former believing he had passed the #116 machine prior to the safety car boards being shown, which was due to an incident involving ROKiT Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport's Max Hall and NAPA Racing UK's Sam Osborne.
Forced to give the place back, the two were at it again shortly after as Sutton's car slid into Ingram's machine at the final chicane, forcing both cars off-track.
Ingram returned in the lead, as Sutton began to slip back into the clutches of Cammish, who had since recaptured third after Mikey Doble's Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall ran deep into the complex following the restart.
Worse was to follow for Doble as he pulled off with an engine issue, whilst a now down-on-power Sutton dropped into fourth behind Cammish and Cook.
Cook's charge was phenomenal, particularly when you consider he was in hospital yesterday following his sizeable shunt in qualifying. Heavy bruising to his foot was not enough to keep the Thruxton specialist at bay, and the #66 made the most of the opportunity by storming from 14th on the grid to third.
Fast-starting Sutton secures stunning race two win
NAPA Racing UK star Sutton produced one of the finest opening laps in recent memory as he immediately blasted his Ford Focus from fourth on the grid into a commanding lead, from which the four-time champ romped on to take his third victory of the season.
Pole-sitter Ingram seemed to make a solid start but no sooner had the Team VERTU racer reached turn one that Sutton had surged in-between team-mate Cammish and One Motorsport's Cook, before he weaved inside his title rival on the run through Allard.
Sutton never looked back, immediately pulling a gap as he maintained station back to Ingram and Cook until the finish – the latter two also comfortably taking second and third respectively.
There was post-race drama, however, when Cook's Honda Civic Type R was excluded from the final result for failing ride height checks.
Retrospectively, it was the fight for the final podium position that produced the most entertainment as NAPA Racing UK's Rowbottom and Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport's Hill swapped positions on a number of occasions.
Both endured a wild moment when fluid was dropped on the circuit from Doble's Vauxhall, as Rowbottom took a trip across the grass on the exit of Allard, but the score was settled late on as the the #32 Ford secured the position.
Hill unfortunately slipped back another place as the BMW faded slightly late on, with NAPA Racing UK's Cammish fighting back to claim fourth.
Another win for rejuvenated Rowbottom
NAPA Racing UK's Rowbottom became a 2025 double race winner after triumphing in the final encounter at Thruxton.
Pole-sitter James Dorlin made a steady start but he was immediately passed by Hill in the charging Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport BMW, and the young TOYOTA GAZOO Racing with IAA rookie then dropped to third as Rowbottom lined him up through the complex on the first lap.
Rowbottom had been a regular mover at Segrave corner throughout the weekend and he repeated the trick to snatch the lead in the reverse-grid race around the fastest circuit in the country.
Hill kept a tight line exiting the inside of the complex, which immediately became the outside for Segrave, as Rowbottom launched his #32 Ford Focus down the inside of the BMW 330i M Sport.
Cammish made it a NAPA Racing UK one-two shortly after as Hill dropped to third, and further frustration followed for the reigning champion after contact with old adversary Sutton.
The Hill-Sutton incident was the notable moment in the final half of the race as the #1 BMW wriggled through Noble, making contact with Sutton's Ford Focus. Hill's car ran across the grass, whilst Sutton expertly recovered from a full 360 degree spin.
Hill pitted with grass having filled the radiator, whilst Sutton made a charging drive back to finish fifth.
With more boost remaining in the closing laps, Team VERTU's Tom Ingram hauled in Cammish's Ford ahead of him, before making a routine move into the final chicane. Ingram's collection of 55 points was the largest haul of the day, whilst Cammish claimed his second podium from the three races.
Senna Proctor completed a good return to action with a brilliant fight back to fourth place. The Team VERTU star was shuffled down to seventh on the opening tour, but the Yorkshireman scrapped well to grab his highest result of the day ahead of four-time champ Sutton.
Tom Ingram, Team VERTU, said: "A win and two second places, you can’t ask for much more than that. It has been a really good haul of points, but amazingly after such a good day we’ve only clawed back six points on Ash (Sutton), which seems bonkers. Fairly action packed to be honest, I’ve not been that fussed about it but it’s good to get the first win of the year."
Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK, said: "I would love to be able to talk you through that start in race two, but I don’t know how I did it myself. Mega to get that done and bring the car home. I was shocked myself, but then it was about ticking the boxes… lead a lap, get fastest lap and win the race. If I didn’t have the issue in the first race then we may be could have won that too, but we’ve definitely turned a corner since Brands."
Dan Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK, said: "It was a great way to end the day. We’ve had a good points haul this weekend, I’m really pleased and we’ve just got to try and keep eeking the points out of Ash (Sutton), he’s got a bit of a head start but we’ll do our best. We’ve got a long way to go, we’re trying to show that we are here and that we mean business. I don’t care if I win this championship with one win or no wins, ultimately that’s the goal and we’ll keep pushing for it."
2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 1 – Thruxton
1. Tom Ingram, Team VERTU 19 Laps
2. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +1.214s
3. Josh Cook, One Motorsport +5.189s
4. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK +6.007s
5. Daniel Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK +6.563s
6. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +7.447s
7. James Dorlin, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA +7.921s
8. Adam Morgan, Team VERTU +8.264s
9. Senna Proctor, Team VERTU +9.790s
10. Daryl DeLeon, WSR +14.306s
2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 2 – Thruxton
1. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK 16 Laps
2. Tom Ingram, Team VERTU +3.875s
3. Daniel Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK +11.754s
4. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +13.281s
5. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +13.752s
6. Senna Proctor, Team VERTU +15.627s
7. James Dorlin, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA +18.334s
8. Chris Smiley, Restart Racing +20.718s
9. Daryl DeLeon, WSR +21.659s
10. Daniel Lloyd, Restart Racing +21.699s
2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 3 – Thruxton
1. Daniel Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK 18 Laps
2. Tom Ingram, Team VERTU +2.260s
3. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +3.278s
4. Senna Proctor, Team VERTU +3.771s
5. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK +6.991s
6. Árón Taylor-Smith, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA +10.341s
7. Josh Cook, One Motorsport +12.083s
8. Tom Chilton, Team VERTU +13.483s
9. Daniel Lloyd, Restart Racing +13.996s
10. Gordon Shedden, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA +18.971s
Penalties:
Race One
Senna Proctor received an official reprimand and two penalty points on his license in Round 10 of the championship, for causing a collision with Gordon Shedden.
Race Two
Josh Cook was disqualified from Round 11 of the championship, for failing the ride height check at the end of the race.
Jake Hill received a verbal warning in Round 11 of the championship, for causing a collision with Adam Morgan.
Race Three
Chris Smiley was disqualified from Round 12 of the championship, for failing the weight check at the end of the race.
Jake Hill received an official reprimand and two penalty points on his license in Round 12 of the championship, for causing a collision with Ash Sutton.
Daryl DeLeon received an official reprimand and two penalty points on his license in Round 12 of the championship, for causing a collision with Ronan Pearson.
