2025 Season Launch and Official Test Days confirmed
Croft and Donington Park to host pre-season BTCC action
It has been announced today (30 October) that the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship Season Launch will take place at Donington Park while Croft has also been chosen to host two official pre-season test days.
The North Yorkshire circuit will host its two test days on April 1 and 2, whilst the Season Launch and final official pre-season test day will take place at Donington Park on 15 April.
Drivers and teams will carry out official pre-season media-related activities and interviews with ITV Sport, BTCC Media Team, Kwik Fit and other official partners on the day prior to Season Launch.
Official television and photography will also make up the early morning activities at the Season Launch, before full focus is turned to the final official pre-season test that day with six hours of on-track action.
Both venues will be offering FREE ENTRY to spectators, with refreshments available, whilst fans will be able to get autographs and photos with their favourite driver during a pitlane walkabout at Donington Park.
Keep an eye across the BTCC, Croft and Donington Park social media channels for further information on each event nearer the time.
BTCC 2025 Pre-Season Test Dates
1/2 April - Croft 15 April - Donington Park (National)
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS transforms into Team VERTU for 2025 BTCC season
After three hugely successful seasons, the Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS name will evolve into Team VERTU on the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship grid for the 2025 season.
The team's name change comes after the Vertu Motors group, to which Bristol Street Motors is part of, announced that it is to consolidate its three main retail brands together to create a network of more than 190 outlets all operating under one name; Vertu.
The relationship between the Group and the team started in 2021, when the Bristol Street Motors name appeared on EXCELR8’s four Hyundai i30 Fastback N cars for the first time.
Three seasons as title partners followed which resulted in huge success on track, with the team recording 20 race wins and 52 podium finishes between 2022 and 2024.
Team VERTU will head into 2025 looking to maintain those levels of success, with the ultimate goal being to reclaim the title that was won by Tom Ingram back in 2022, with the 31-year-old having then finished as runner-up in the standings for the past two seasons.
Ingram will continue to spearhead the four-strong driver line-up in what will be his fifth season at the wheel of the Hyundai, and will once again be joined by one of the most experienced drivers in series history in the shape of Tom Chilton - who celebrated his 500th BTCC start during the final race weekend of the 2024 campaign.
Between them, Ingram and Chilton have secured 49 wins and 157 podiums during their respective BTCC careers. With that knowledge and experience – allied to the expertise of the EXCELR8 engineering team headed by Spencer Aldridge – the drivers have a crucial role to play during the new season.
The announcement of the new Team VERTU programme comes ahead of the start of winter testing, with Ingram and Chilton preparing to hit the track at the Trac Môn circuit on Anglesey to begin further development work on the Hyundai, which is already firmly established as one of the most successful BTCC cars of the modern era.
Further news on the driver line-up for the 2025 season will follow in due course, along with details on when the full Team VERTU race livery for next year will also be revealed.
“Our relationship with Bristol Street Motors over the past four seasons has been fantastic, and there is no doubting the fact that they have played a crucial role in the success we have enjoyed with our touring car programme,” EXCELR8 Team Owner Justina Williams said.
“We are excited that our relationship will continue into this new era, as Bristol Street Motors evolves into Vertu, and are proud to have the opportunity to build on everything that we have achieved together so far.
“With Tom and Tom continuing to lead our driver line-up, and discussions already underway with other drivers, we are excited about what the 2025 season holds under the Team VERTU name.
“We’re confident that not only will we be fighting for the championship title on track in 2025, but will also be able to do our bit to champion the Vertu brand to race fans across the country.”
Ingram ‘incredibly proud’ after going down fighting in 2024
There was no fairytale ending for Tom Ingram in the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship finale at Brands Hatch (5-6 October), but the former champion went down fighting with a heroic performance.
With a dead-heat at the summit of the standings, Ingram headed into the weekend – his eighth consecutive title tilt in the UK’s premier motor racing series – predicting a ‘bare-knuckle fist fight’ for honours.
After pulling a scintillating lap out of the bag in qualifying to line up on the front row of the grid amongst the 20 high-calibre contenders – a scant 0.036 seconds shy of pole position and four spots ahead of chief rival Jake Hill – his challenge suffered an early blow mere moments into the curtain-raising contest in Kent.
As the pack sped towards Druids for the first time, the talented Bucks-born ace found himself collateral damage when the pursuing Josh Cook came together with Ashley Sutton, with the latter in-turn collecting Ingram’s Hyundai i30N.
The 2022 title-winner was able to continue, albeit down in ninth place, from where he dug deep. Belying the equal-lowest hybrid allocation in the field – by dint of his championship position – he scythed back through to third, pulling off some ultra-committed passes in the process and posting fastest lap to secure an additional championship point.
Immediately going on the attack in race two, in front of the live ITV4 television cameras and a capacity trackside crowd, Ingram swept around the outside of Turkington through high-speed Hawthorns. Then exploiting the narrowest of gaps to fire his Hyundai down the inside of Hill into Paddock Hill Bend to seize the initiative at the beginning of lap two, thereafter never looking back.
His 33rd career triumph was inarguably one of his finest, and allied to another fastest lap – his tenth from 30 races this season – the EXCELR8 team leader’s maximum score reduced Hill’s advantage to a single point going into the day’s finale, in the tensest title duel in recent memory.
From seventh on the partially-reversed grid, Ingram initially went on the offensive, snatching sixth from Hill through Paddock Hill Bend for the first time and climbing to fourth on lap two – putting him in a championship-clinching position. He proceeded to zero in on the top three, only for his car’s pace to suddenly fade, and despite battling valiantly for every position, he was powerless to prevent a slide down the order to sixth as Hill overhauled him to seal the spoils.
Tom Ingram, Driver, Team Bristol Street Motors, said: “First of all, enormous credit and huge congratulations to Jake [Hill], MB Motorsport and West Surrey Racing – they’ve had a fabulous season and Jake thoroughly deserves the title. On our side, we’ve done the best job I think we’ve ever done. In the end, we came up just short, which is clearly tough to take, but sometimes it comes down to a bit of luck and fine margins.
“Naturally, we’re disappointed with the end result, but we can’t be disappointed in the slightest with the performance we’ve shown over the course of the season; every single weekend, we’ve rocked up with a car that has felt utterly phenomenal and such a pleasure to drive. We were staggeringly fast in the dry in the first two races at Brands Hatch, and had we not been wiped out at Druids at the start of the day, potentially we could have had two wins and a very different story.
“Everybody at Team Bristol Street Motors has worked so hard, and the car felt really alive and on-the-edge. I was so pumped after winning race two and the Hyundai felt great again on the way to the grid for race three, which gave me a lot of confidence, but for some reason, after the first few laps, we just had no front-end performance. Maybe we picked up some damage on the opening lap, I don’t know.
“We’d done everything we needed to do and were where we needed to be, and then all of a sudden, it was like somebody flicked the ‘off’ switch and that was that. I was three seconds off the pace over the last five laps and an absolute sitting duck, which was massively frustrating so we’ve clearly got some head-scratching to do as to why it went wrong and where we need to improve.
“I was always going to take it down to the wire and under no circumstances was I going to roll over, but ultimately, we simply couldn’t extract any more out of it. It’s really disappointing to lose right at the end, but to lose like that when you can’t even fight is doubly disappointing.
“Still, I can’t be anything but incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved here at Team Bristol Street Motors – we’ve had an amazing season. Sometimes, it doesn’t go your way, but we’ll just have to make sure we return even stronger in 2025 so we can take the title back...”
Zelos ‘feeling very positive’ about 2025 BTCC chances
Dan Zelos is ‘feeling very positive’ about 2025 after concluding his nine-race stint in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship this year with another trio of points-scoring finishes for Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS in the season finale at Brands Hatch GP (5/6 October).
"We worked incredibly hard to be at Brands Hatch," Zelos stated. “It was very touch-and-go and very stressful, but we managed to get the deal over the line eventually and it was amazing to be part of the BTCC season finale. I felt very proud to be there."
The performance at the famous Kent venue brought to fruition the culmination of nine races that closed out the 2024 season. Of those, Zelos scored in every single bout, accruing an average of points that would have seen the Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS driver finish 13th in the standings over the 30-race season despite his lack of experience in BTCC machinery.
“Brands Hatch GP is a completely different kettle of fish compared to Silverstone and Donington Park, and probably one of the hardest circuits on the calendar,” continued Zelos. “Not just that, but pretty much everybody else in the field had previously been around there in a touring car whereas I hadn’t, so it was always going to be a challenge.
“I went into Sunday with a positive mindset and I knew we would be quicker in the races. In the first of them, we unfortunately had to battle against a lack of balance and a power steering problem, which was a bit intermittent through right-handers and got progressively worse, so to finish 11th was a solid result in the circumstances.
“In race two, we were much more competitive, and in the fight for seventh and what turned out to be the reversed grid pole position. I felt I had more pace than the cars in front of me, but I just got a little bit impatient and tried to pull off a hero move around the outside of Paddock and ended up in the gravel. That was frustrating, because it was the first significant error I feel I’ve made since jumping in a touring car and I was gutted for the team, who deserved a front row start for race three, but it’s all a learning experience.
“I then went out for the last one simply aiming to enjoy myself. The conditions were really tough, and I don’t think the wet particularly suited our car. I had a slow start but began building up some confidence and was able to fight back to finish 13th and second-highest Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS driver, so while it wasn’t the race day that we wanted overall, there were certainly plenty of positives to take away.
Being a newcomer to the championship, Zelos saw himself competing in the last nine rounds of the Jack Sears Trophy, a competition for drivers without an overall victory. In these rounds, the #45 would score two victories and would finish off the podium only once at his debut event. Even more impressive, the number of points Zelos averaged in the JST over the full season would have seen him tied on points with 2024 Champion, Mikey Doble.
With the 2024 campaign now in the rearview mirror, Zelos is already turning his attentions to next year, as he promises to pull out all the stops to secure his spot on the grid on a full-time basis.
“I’m still absolutely over-the-moon that we’ve made it this far,” concluded Dan. “Up against drivers that have been competing in the BTCC for years, I’ve been able to do a consistently good job for the team and bring the Macklin Motors Hyundai back in one piece every time, which is hopefully a solid stepping-stone for what the future might hold. I think I’ve shown I can be sensible and quick, and that with more time in the car, I can do some great things.
“Since Donington, we’ve been trying to get partners on-board within just a two or three-week turnaround; we now have three-to-four months to work towards next season, and I’m feeling very positive. Winning the MINI CHALLENGE again and getting to race three weekends in the BTCC has been a dream come true, and I’ve loved every second. We’ll never forget what we’ve achieved this year – but now we want to make sure 2025 is even better!”
Goodyear Wingfoot Award: Turkington's hat-trick
Inspired by the INDYCAR qualifying format, the BTCC's new 'Quick Six' system was introduced ahead of the 2024 season.
The format consists of splitting the finishing order of Free Practice Two into odd and even positions. Once split, one group goes out for a ten-minute session in which the top six progress. The other group then does the same. All drivers not through are set on the grid for the opening race from 13th backwards in order of their lap time.
Both sets of six advancing from Part One come together and form one group of 12 in Part Two. They then head out on track once more for another ten-minute session in which positions seven to 12 are set in order of lap time and the top six advance to the 'Quick Six'.
The fastest six drivers make their way out on circuit for one final ten-minute session in which the result sets the positions for the top six places.
Listen to 2024 winner Colin Turkington here.
Below is a rundown on how the 2024 qualifying campaign played out.
Donington Park National - Qualifying for Round 1
The first qualifying session of the season could not have been more typically British as the 45-minute sessions was both wet and dry. Not only did the drivers and teams have the weather to deal with but also a new qualifying format for 2024.
Rob Huff did not have a welcome return to a competitive session in the BTCC after not being allowed on circuit for his session due to his car not being parked in the pit lane as qualifying began. This left the WTC Champion starting his first full-time race back from last.
NAPA Racing UK also had a shock session after winning the Teams' championship in 2023 to having two cars exit qualifying in the first part with Dan Rowbottom qualifying 14th and Dan Cammish 17th.
In the ever-drying session it would be 2022 champion Tom Ingram that would hold the first bragging rights of the year. The Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS driver took pole ahead of Ashley Sutton, Turkington and Jake Hill, the top four in the standings from last season.
2024 Goodyear Wingfoot Award Standings - Event 1
1 - Tom Ingram - 20
6 - Andrew Watson - 10
11 - Sam Osborne - 5
2 - Ashley Sutton - 17
7 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 9
12 - Chris Smiley - 4
3 - Colin Turkington - 15
8 - Josh Cook - 8
13 - Tom Chilton - 3
4 - Jake Hill - 13
9 - Daryl DeLeon - 7
14 - Dan Rowbottom - 2
5 - Ronan Pearson - 11
10 - Mikey Doble - 6
15 - Scott Sumpton - 1
Brands Hatch Indy - Qualifying for Round 4
Qualifying for the second event of the year could not have been more different than the first as the BTCC paddock took to the sun-soaked Kent circuit. As with being at the shortest circuit on the calendar, the gaps could not be tighter.
From first to 18th across both groups in Part One the gap was 0.724 seconds. A session that was topped by eventual front-row starter Adam Morgan. Part Two of qualifying was where the shocks came to light.
New for 2024, hybrid deployment in both qualifying and in the race has been doubled, with those at the top end of the championship receiving minimal deployment when compared to those further down the order.
This took its toll on championship leader Ingram and Hill as they qualified eighth and 12th respectively. It was not an issue for Turkington as he took pole, solidifying a Team BMW front row lock out.
2024 Goodyear Wingfoot Award Standings - Event 2
1 - Colin Turkington - 35
6 - Ronan Pearson - 18
11 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 11
16 - Rob Huff - 5
2 - Ashley Sutton - 30
7 - Jake Hill - 17
12 - Tom Chilton - 9
17 - Chris Smiley - 4
3 - Tom Ingram - 28
8 - Adam Morgan - 17
13 - Mikey Doble - 9
18 - Scott Sumpton - 1
4 - Josh Cook - 19
9 - Dan Cammish - 15
14 - Daryl DeLeon - 7
19 - Aiden Moffat - 1
5 - Andrew Watson - 19
10 - Dan Rowbottom - 12
15 - Sam Osborne - 5
Snetterton 300 - Qualifying for Round 7
After two contrasting weekends of weather, it was a return to the first as the Norfolk-based circuit saw torrential rain throughout. Ingram was the biggest hitter out first for the second weekend running after an exit in Part One. From pole at Donington, to out in Part Two at Brands Hatch to out in Part One at Snetterton.
Other early fallers were Árón Taylor-Smith and Tom Chilton who sit inside the top 12 in the Wingfoot standings yet did not make it to Part Two. Bobby Thompson would advance in what would be his only qualifying session of the season to date.
Part Two saw Turkington stumble after getting pole last time out, exactly how Ingram did after his pole at the first event. The Wingfoot leader, starting from ninth, would see him lose his lead one round after gaining it.
The second BMW to take pole of 2024 fell to Hill with an impressive lap at the longest circuit on the calendar. Sutton made it three from three in terms of 'Quick Six' appearances. putting his Ford on the front row alongside Hill.
2024 Goodyear Wingfoot Award Standings - Event 3
1 - Ashley Sutton - 47
6 - Josh Cook - 29
11 - Rob Huff - 13
16 - Mikey Doble - 9
2 - Colin Turkington - 42
7 - Andrew Watson - 28
12 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 12
17 - Daryl DeLeon - 7
3 - Jake Hill - 37
8 - Dan Cammish - 28
13 - Tom Chilton - 11
18 - Sam Osborne - 5
4 - Adam Morgan - 32
9 - Ronan Pearson - 22
14 - Bobby Thompson - 11
19 - Scott Sumpton - 1
5 - Tom Ingram - 31
10 - Dan Rowbottom - 18
15 - Chris Smiley - 9
20 - Aiden Moffat - 1
Thruxton - Qualifying for Round 10
A problem for Ronan Pearson from the off at Thruxton as a throttle issue meant the Scotsman, who was in the top ten in the Wingfoot standings, would qualify last. An unfortunate turn of events also meant that the fast charging Taylor-Smith crashed at Goodwood, giving his Vauxhall Astra significant damage despite holding on to 12th place.
The fastest circuit in the UK saw the fastest drivers battle it out in the 'Quick Six' as Ingram rose to the top once more. This gave the Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS driver pole 100% of the time he featured in the 'Quick Six' session.
Sutton once again championed consistency over raw pace as the round saw him feature in all four 'Quick Six' sessions this season, qualifying fifth. Team-mate Cammish parked his Ford alongside Ingram on the front row whilst the third of the three NAPA Racing UK cars in the session, Dan Rowbottom, qualified fourth.
Hill was the highest performing BMW, placing the #24 in third place whilst Turkington could only qualify in tenth.
2024 Goodyear Wingfoot Award Standings - Event 4
1 - Ashley Sutton - 58
6 - Adam Morgan - 41
11 - Tom Chilton - 21
16 - Chris Smiley - 9
2 - Jake Hill - 53
7 - Josh Cook - 37
12 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 16
17 - Daryl DeLeon - 7
3 - Tom Ingram - 51
8 - Andrew Watson - 35
13 - Rob Huff - 16
18 - Sam Osborne - 6
4 - Colin Turkington - 48
9 - Dan Rowbottom - 31
14 - Mikey Doble - 14
19 - Aiden Moffat - 3
5 - Dan Cammish - 45
10 - Ronan Pearson - 22
15 - Bobby Thompson - 11
20 - Scott Sumpton - 1
Oulton Park - Qualifying for Round 13
Reigning champion Sutton would once again remain at the top of the Wingfoot standings despite having zero pole positions as the three behind him would share all five poles.
One of those being the #80 of Ingram who made Oulton Park his third pole of the year, yet sits second in the standings due to Sutton appearing in all 'Quick Six' sessions.
The BMW pair of Turkington and Hill once again faltered in the Part Two of qualifying, ending up in ninth and seventh. Despite this the third WSR-run BMW driven by Morgan managed to reach the 'Quick Six' qualifying in sixth.
NAPA Racing UK kept their speed from Thruxton getting three Fords to the summit of qualifying. The #1 of Sutton partnered 2023 rival Ingram on the front row, with Cammish slotting behind in third.
2024 Goodyear Wingfoot Award Standings - Event 5
1 - Ashley Sutton - 75
6 - Adam Morgan - 51
11 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 24
16 - Chris Smiley - 9
2 - Tom Ingram - 71
7 - Josh Cook - 43
12 - Ronan Pearson - 23
17 - Daryl DeLeon - 7
3 - Jake Hill - 62
8 - Dan Rowbottom - 42
13 - Rob Huff - 21
18 - Aiden Moffat - 7
4 - Dan Cammish - 60
9 - Andrew Watson - 37
14 - Mikey Doble - 17
19 - Sam Osborne - 6
5 - Colin Turkington - 55
10 - Tom Chilton - 34
15 - Bobby Thompson - 11
20 - Scott Sumpton - 1
Croft - Qualifying for Round 16
Sutton led the way heading into the second half of the year after not missing a single ‘Quick Six’ session through the first five events, a sequence that continued at Croft. Despite continuing the feat, Ingram would take the lead of the championship with a third place come the end of qualifying at the North Yorkshire circuit.
Turkington was the pole-man of the weekend ahead of Sutton’s team-mate Cammish, as the pair closed the gap on the leading two in front of them. With Hill qualifying 11th, the front-row pair jumped the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport driver in the standings.
2024 Goodyear Wingfoot Award Standings - Event 6
1 - Tom Ingram - 86
8 - Daniel Rowbottom - 45
15 - Chris Smiley - 18
2 - Ashley Sutton - 85
9 - Tom Chilton - 42
16 - Bobby Thompson - 11
3 - Dan Cammish - 77
10 - Andrew Watson - 41
17 - Daryl DeLeon - 9
4 - Colin Turkington - 75
11 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 37
18 - Aiden Moffat - 8
5 - Jake Hill - 66
12 - Rob Huff - 33
19 - Sam Osborne - 6
6 - Adam Morgan - 51
13 - Ronan Pearson - 23
20 - Scott Sumpton - 1
7 - Josh Cook - 50
14 - Mikey Doble - 23
21 - Nick Halstead - 0
Knockhill - Qualifying for Round 19
Taking two pole positions in a row, Turkington would rise from fourth to top the standings after the championship’s trip to the Fife-based circuit. Taylor-Smith would sit alongside the Team BMW driver on the front row, with the Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing driver rising from 11th to ninth in the Goodyear Wingfoot standings.
As Ingram qualified 15th, having the minimum hybrid available heading into the weekend, and Sutton missing out on the ‘Quick Six’ for the first time this year, the championship order was given a shake-up. Despite the reshuffle, the gap from first to fifth remained the same 20 point spread as it did entering the weekend.
Goodyear Wingfoot Award Standings - Event 7
1 - Colin Turkington - 95
8 - Daniel Rowbottom - 58
15 - Chris Smiley - 18
2 - Ashley Sutton - 89
9 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 54
16 - Daryl DeLeon - 14
3 - Tom Ingram - 87
10 - Andrew Watson - 51
17 - Bobby Thompson - 11
4 - Dan Cammish - 85
11 - Tom Chilton - 49
18 - Aiden Moffat - 10
5 - Jake Hill - 75
12 - Rob Huff - 36
19 - Sam Osborne - 6
6 - Adam Morgan - 66
13 - Mikey Doble - 29
20 - Scott Sumpton - 1
7 - Josh Cook - 61
14 - Ronan Pearson - 23
21 - Nick Halstead - 0
Donington Park GP - Qualifying for Round 22
Cook would tighten the pack after qualifying at Donington Park GP, taking the fourth pole position of his BTCC career. The Bath-born driver would rise to sixth in the standings with his efforts. Turkington would once again sit on the front row, retaining top spot in the standings. The Team BMW driver made it three events in a row where he shared the look into turn one with no rear-bumper in sight.
Sutton, after holding the top spot heading into the second half of the year, would sit second after his return to the ‘Quick Six’ finale. Ingram and Cammish sit in third and fourth respectively, as the pair remain within ten points of top spot.
Taylor-Smith made it three ‘Quick Six’ appearances in a row, this time with team-mate Mikey Doble joining him, as the Vauxhall Astra drivers both gained positions in the standings to sit eighth and 12th after impressive speed was found over the mid-season break.
Goodyear Wingfoot Award Standings - Event 8
1 - Colin Turkington - 112
9 - Daniel Rowbottom - 59
17 - Bobby Thompson - 11
2 - Ashley Sutton - 102
10 - Tom Chilton - 55
18 - Aiden Moffat - 10
3 - Tom Ingram - 98
11 - Andrew Watson - 51
19 - Sam Osborne - 10
4 - Dan Cammish - 92
12 - Mikey Doble - 44
20 - Scott Sumpton - 1
5 - Jake Hill - 84
13 - Rob Huff - 41
21 - Dan Zelos - 0
6 - Josh Cook - 81
14 - Ronan Pearson - 23
22 - Nick Halstead - 0
7 - Adam Morgan - 74
15 - Chris Smiley - 20
8 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 64
16 - Daryl DeLeon - 17
Silverstone - Qualifying for Round 25
It would be third-place driver Ingram who would eventually take the full 20 points at Silverstone despite not being the provisional pole sitter come the end of the session. Taylor-Smith would put his Vauxhall Astra at the top of the time sheets but would fail the post-session ride height checks disqualifying himself from the session.
Not only Taylor-Smith, but teammate Doble would also fall foul to the post-session checks along with first time Quick Six driver Dan Zelos. It would mean that current standings leader Turkington would share the front row with the #80.
The next row featured Cook and Cammish as the trio behind the pole sitter were all looking to keep their Drivers' Championship hopes alive as Sutton was knocked out in Part 1.
Goodyear Wingfoot Award Standings - Event 9
1 - Colin Turkington - 129
9 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 64
17 - Sam Osborne - 15
2 - Tom Ingram - 118
10 - Andrew Watson - 62
18 - Bobby Thompson - 11
3 - Dan Cammish - 105
11 - Tom Chilton - 61
19 - Aiden Moffat - 10
4 - Ashley Sutton - 104
12 - Rob Huff - 48
20 - Scott Sumpton - 2
5 - Josh Cook - 96
13 - Mikey Doble - 44
21 - Dan Zelos - 0
6 - Jake Hill - 94
14 - Chris Smiley - 24
22 - Nick Halstead - 0
7 - Adam Morgan - 83
15 - Ronan Pearson - 23
8 - Daniel Rowbottom - 67
16 - Daryl DeLeon - 20
Brands Hatch GP - Qualifying for Round 28
Turkington would take pole around the GP circuit as he did around the Indy circuit at the same venue earlier in 2024. The fastest lap in the final Quick Six session of the season would mean that the #20 won the Goodyear Wingfoot Award for the third time whilst taking four pole positions in the process.
Behind would be Ingram and Sutton who also finished in second and third in the standings. Cook would sit behind in fourth as Taylor-Smith continued his run of Quick Six appearances to take fifth. Hill would round out the group as Cammish qualified 10th, the only driver to finish in the top six of the standings and not be in the final session of the year.
Goodyear Wingfoot Award Standings - Event 10
1 - Colin Turkington - 149
9 - Dan Rowbottom - 71
17 - Sam Osborne - 15
2 - Tom Ingram - 135
10 - Andrew Watson - 64
18 - Aiden Moffat - 15
3 - Ashley Sutton - 119
11 - Tom Chilton - 62
19 - Bobby Thompson - 11
4 - Dan Cammish - 111
12 - Mikey Doble - 53
20 - Scott Sumpton - 2
5 - Josh Cook - 109
13 - Rob Huff - 51
21 - Dan Zelos - 0
6 - Jake Hill - 104
14 - Daryl DeLeon - 28
22 - Nick Halstead - 0
7 - Adam Morgan - 90
15 - Chris Smiley - 24
8 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 75
16 - Ronan Pearson - 23
Jack Sears' Trophy: Doble takes top spot in 2024
In 2023, Mikey Doble came home in second-place in the Jack Sears' Trophy to then-teammate Andrew Watson. In 2024, he took another step forward to win half of all races in this campaign en route to his first championship silverware in the paddock. Read below for the full season rundown on how Doble became victorious.
Donington Park National - Rounds 1-2-3
It was Ronan Pearson who made the first move of the year, managing to qualify his Hyundai i30N in fifth place at the opening round. Race one would continue this form for the Scotsman as he would hold his fifth place with his nearest competitor being Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing's Doble coming home in 12th.
Unfortunately for Pearson, a power-steering issue would hinder the rest of his weekend meaning Doble would take the victory in race two of the weekend. Daryl DeLeon would make it two podiums from two moving up a step from the first race. Nick Halstead would make his first trip to the Jack Sears Trophy rostrum in 2024.
Doble would make it three races from three on the podium repeating his race two success in the final race of the day. Sam Osborne would bring his NAPA Racing UK Ford onto the second step of the podium after a crash in race one took him out of contention for race two. Alongside Osborne, Scott Sumpton would also make his first appearance on the podium in his first ever BTCC weekend.
2024 Jack Sears Trophy Standings - Event 1
1 - Mikey Doble - 57
2 - Nick Halstead - 41
3 - Ronan Pearson - 33
4 - Daryl DeLeon - 32
5 - Scott Sumpton - 26
6 - Sam Osborne - 17
Brands Hatch Indy - Rounds 4-5-6
Pearson, in the #14 Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS Hyundai, showed fine form once again, placing furthest forward on the grid in ninth. Another hindrance came for the young Scot who, after a coming together with Adam Morgan on the run up to Druids, would fall down to the back of the field.
Osborne would fight forward five positions from 17th overall to 12th overall to take home his first Jack Sears Trophy victory of 2024. As the #77 marched to the front of the class, he only finished 0.836 seconds ahead of second-place Doble. Sumpton would round out the podium making it two in two for the Restart Racing driver.
Doble continued only having one race off the top step as he sped back into action in race two. The #88, finishing in ninth overall, bringing home with the second Jack Sears Trophy win of the year. Pearson would not let bad luck get the best of him as he charged back through the field in race two to take second, finishing 11th overall. Osborne would remain in the place he finished race one overall but would fall to third in class for race two.
The reverse-grid race at Brands Hatch Indy would see another big swing. The draw for race three would mean Pearson would start the race from overall pole position. This was an opportunity the Scotsman did not pass up on and drove superbly to take home his maiden overall win in the BTCC. Sumpton would drive forward gaining six overall positions to take the second step on the podium, with Doble falling 12 overall positions to take home third place for the final race of the day.
2024 Jack Sears Trophy Standings - Event 2
1 - Mikey Doble - 109
2 - Ronan Pearson - 81
3 - Nick Halstead - 78
4 - Sam Osborne - 65
5 - Scott Sumpton - 58
6 - Daryl DeLeon - 53
Snetterton 300 - Rounds 7-8-9
Pearson would not let his speed from Brands Hatch waver as the Saturday star once again was the fastest of the Jack Sears Trophy competitors in qualifying. Around the 2.97 mile circuit, the longest of the season, the #14 would go on to win in the JST once more, still jubilant after his overall victory last time out. In what would be the only dry race of the day, Doble would continue to be right on Pearson's heels along with Osborne completing the podium for race one.
It would be Doble to take a step up in race two whilst not taking the formation lap gamble to dry tyres. Snetterton felt the sun as the circuit began to dry with the slick tyres becoming faster at the halfway stage of the race. Osborne and DeLeon rounded out the top ten as for the first time this season the Jack Sears Trophy podium would sit inside the top half of the overall results.
The #77 of Osborne would be drawn to start on reverse-grid pole before a spin at turn one would see him fall to 14th by the chequered flag. Despite the fall in positions it would still warrant third place in the Jack Sears Trophy race. The Caterham-born Doble would go on to make it two class wins from three as DeLeon would once again complete the rostrum.
2024 Jack Sears Trophy Standings - Event 3
1 - Mikey Doble - 166
2 - Ronan Pearson - 123
3 - Sam Osborne - 112
4 - Daryl DeLeon - 98
5 - Scott Sumpton - 95
6 - Nick Halstead - 88
Thruxton - Rounds 10-11-12
For the first time this season Pearson would not be the fastest in this championship on a Saturday after a throttle issue ruled the Scotsman out of qualifying. The #88 of Doble would continue off his double-win to take top spot on the Saturday.
It would be a lights-to-flag class victory for the Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing driver who would make it three on the bounce in the opening race at Thruxton. A recovering Pearson would continue to show his speed, despite bad luck, to fight through to second place on the podium finishing one second ahead of Osborne in third.
Race two saw the Scotsman's pace come to the forefront once more as he continued to move forward through the field. After starting race one from last he would go on to finish 12th overall by race two, taking a class win and a second place in the process. A familiar duo would complete the podium as it is the same three who did so in race one. This time with the #88 of Doble in second and the #77 of Osborne in third.
Pearson's pace was second-to-none in the Jack Sears Trophy across the Thruxton weekend taking home two victories despite his qualifying misfortune. On this occasion it was not without a fight as Doble finished race three less than 0.4 seconds behind the Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS Hyundai. The top three making themselves known, on a weekend where none of them would miss a visit to the rostrum.
2024 Jack Sears Trophy Standings - Event 4
1 - Mikey Doble - 220
2 - Ronan Pearson - 180
3 - Sam Osborne - 157
4 - Daryl DeLeon - 124
5 - Scott Sumpton - 119
6 - Nick Halstead - 109
Oulton Park - Rounds 13-14-15
An electric lap from Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing's #88 made it two successive qualifying sessions running atop the class timesheet. This pace translated across the weekend in what would start to separate Doble from the field heading into the summer break.
The usual suspects returned in race one to finish in championship order on the podium. The gap between Doble and Pearson would again be close, as they finished only 1.501 seconds apart.
After a first corner collision in race two, the majority of the field behind the incident got either lucky or unlucky. Doble took another Jack Sears Trophy victory, finishing in sixth place overall whereas his nearest competitor, DeLeon, sat in 12th. Pearson was once again fighting an uphill battle after not being on the lucky side of the turn one incident whilst on the hard tyre, taking home another podium one position behind DeLeon.
It was heartbreak for Doble in race three who was half a lap away from outright victory after starting the reverse-grid race from pole position. Instead, his first ever BTCC podium with a second place finish along with wins in both the Independents class and the Jack Sears Trophy would fall his way. The podium for race three would consist of the same drivers from race two with both Pearson and DeLeon swapping positions.
Despite the agonisingly close finish, it would mean all three races were won by Doble in the class. Along with cementing his place at the top of the standings heading into the summer break, taking home nine wins from a possible 15. DeLeon would also have a strong finish to the first half of the year closing the gap to third place Osborne. A strong 2024 class with the leading duo already performing to a standard that means both will be unable to compete in next year's competition.
2024 Jack Sears Trophy Standings - Event 5
1 - Mikey Doble - 280
2 - Ronan Pearson - 229
3 - Sam Osborne - 183
4 - Daryl DeLeon - 167
5 - Scott Sumpton - 155
6 - Nick Halstead - 143
Croft - Rounds 16-17-18
Doble, #88, headed into the second half of the season with nine victories from the first fifteen races. The Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing driver continued his fine form as the BTCC returned from the mid-season break by extending his championship leap with a further two wins and a third place.
Pearson, #14, also carried over his form from the first half of the campaign to retain second-place in the standings. Unfortunately for the Scot, despite a win and a second-place finish, a non-score in race two would hinder his chance of chasing down Doble in the championship.
Doble’s lead had grown to the point that the gap from himself to Pearson in second is only one point fewer than the gap from Pearson to Sumpton in fifth place. As Pearson failed to score in race two, Osborne - #77, closed the gap with two second-place finishes.
2024 Jack Sears Trophy Standings - Event 6
1 - Mikey Doble - 335
2 - Ronan Pearson - 266
3 - Sam Osborne - 228
4 - Daryl DeLeon - 206
5 - Scott Sumpton - 196
6 - Nick Halstead - 163
Knockhill - Rounds 19-20-21
A trip to the Fife-based circuit was a weekend of attrition for the Jack Sears Trophy competitors. Both Doble and Pearson scored a victory apiece, a fourth-place finish and a non-score, cancelling each other out to remain 69 points apart.
Osborne in third capitalised on the championship leading duo’s shortcomings, closing in on the pair by the 17 points across a day that also included a victory for the NAPA Racing UK man.
Fourth place in the standings continued to be held by DeLeon, #18, who is tied for the most non-scoring rounds in the championship along with Halstead, a big deciding factor in how the Jack Sears Trophy unfolds.
The championship battle would go on to take a big swing entering the next event…
2024 Jack Sears Trophy Standings - Event 7
1 - Mikey Doble - 368
2 - Ronan Pearson - 299
3 - Sam Osborne - 278
4 - Daryl DeLeon - 238
5 - Scott Sumpton - 235
6 - Nick Halstead - 203
Donington Park GP - Rounds 22-23-24
The news came at the beginning of the eighth event week that by mutual consent, Pearson and EXCELR8 would bring an early end to his programme in the 2024 season effective from the weekend’s meeting at Donington Park.
For Doble at the top of the standings, the events would mean that his 69-point lead heading into the weekend would become a 93-point lead by the time racing was done on the Leicestershire circuit.
Osborne would go on to take second place in the standings after finishing on the podium in all three races with one a victory. Despite the NAPA Racing UK driver’s great form and finishing in tenth in all three races overall, the gap from himself to Doble had increased by three points.
Replacing Pearson in the Hyundai i30N was Dan Zelos, the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Champion, who impressed on debut taking home two class podium finishes.
The gap at the top of the championship now stands at 93 points with 120 on offer at the final two events of the season. Doble and Osborne will continue the battle for Jack Sears Trophy glory at Silverstone.
2024 Jack Sears Trophy Standings - Event 8
1 - Mikey Doble - 423
2 - Sam Osborne - 330
3 - Ronan Pearson - 299
4 - Daryl DeLeon - 279
5 - Scott Sumpton - 270
6 - Nick Halstead - 233
7 - Dan Zelos - 45
Silverstone - Rounds 25-26-27
The weekend did not get off to a good start for the Vauxhall Astra of Doble and the Hyundai i30N of Zelos as both cars were disqualified from qualifying for failing ride height checks. Needing 27 points to solidify his #1 status, Doble's race one would not get any better as the #88 returned a non-scoring race.
Osborne produced the result that he needed, taking a full score, but Doble would still complete his task – getting 30 points across the final two races to move into an unassailable lead.
The battle for third between DeLeon and Sumpton would draw ever closer as the gap dwindled from nine points to four across the penultimate weekend. At the same time, second-time entrant Zelos would continue to make his mark as the Hyundai i30N driver would still take an impressive two victories and a second-place finish despite his disqualification from qualifying.
2024 Jack Sears Trophy Standings - Event 9
1 - Mikey Doble - 453
2 - Sam Osborne - 384
3 - Daryl DeLeon - 313
4 - Scott Sumpton - 309
5 - Ronan Pearson - 299
6 - Nick Halstead - 267
7 - Dan Zelos - 102
Brands Hatch GP - Rounds 28-29-30
The final event would see Doble start as he had done so for half of the races in 2024, with a win. The latest champion would not score in race two before closing out his campaign with a second-place finish. Nearest rival Osborne continued his late charge in the season, taking the other two victories across the final event to close the points gap at the top to 56.
DeLeon would not only hold on in his battle with Sumpton for third but would go on to extend his advantage to take third spot in his first full-time season in the championship. Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS' Halstead would end the season tied on points with previous team-mate Pearson in fifth and sixth.
Zelos would bring home a podium in all three races to make sure that the #45 only missed the podium once in the nine races he competed in. The nine-time racer in the BTCC would score 147 points across this period, averaging over 30 races to 490 points, the same number as Doble, the 2024 Champion.
2024 Jack Sears Trophy Standings - Event 10
1 - Mikey Doble - 490
2 - Sam Osborne - 437
3 - Daryl DeLeon - 360
4 - Scott Sumpton - 343
5 - Scott Sumpton - 299
6 - Nick Halstead - 299
7 - Dan Zelos - 147
‘Heads held high’ as Cook capped campaign with ninth podium finish
Josh Cook rounded out the 2024 British Touring Car Championship campaign claiming his ninth podium finish for LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ at Brands Hatch, enabling the team to head off into the winter break with ‘heads held high’.
Unfortunately for Cook, the curtain-raising contest would not last long, as a puncture sent him squirreling into the side of Ashley Sutton at Druids on the opening tour, with Sutton in-turn collecting Tom Ingram. The damage to the British-built, Speedworks Motorsport-prepared Toyota Corolla GR Sport was too great to continue. Moffat would similarly be forced out by a puncture just past mid-distance after climbing as high as sixth.
From the tail-end of the grid, the LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ duo worked in unison in race two, with Cook briefly holding fastest lap as they scythed their way through the field in front of the live ITV4 television cameras and capacity trackside audience.
They overtook Tom Chilton on lap nine in a crowd-pleasing, three-wide tussle that lasted several corners before the Toyota pair definitively made the move stick, going on to pass Árón Taylor-Smith before the chequered flag in seventh and eighth places, with Cook marginally ahead.
The reverse grid draw favoured one but not the other, putting the West Country star on pole position for the weekend’s finale. Cook determinedly kept hard-charging four-time champion Sutton at bay until lap six, subsequently conceding second to eventual 2024 champion Jake Hill following a slide, holding firm to deservedly reach the rostrum in third, as he concluded the campaign sixth in the Drivers’ classification.
Moffat wound up ninth courtesy of a solid display, leaving the 28-year-old Dalkeith native 13th in the end-of-season standings, as LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ secured fourth in the Teams’ table.
Christian Dick, Team Principal, LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ, said: “It’s always satisfying to finish the final race of the season on the podium, as it gives everybody a real spring in their step and some momentum to carry into the winter – and Josh set the result up with another excellent qualifying performance at Brands Hatch to advance to the ‘Quick Six’ and line up on the second row of the grid.
“The incident at the start of Sunday threatened to derail our plan somewhat – and for both drivers to be afflicted by punctures in race one was particularly unfortunate. Josh was merely a passenger after his car snapped out of control and there was nothing he could do to avoid the contact, but all the guys and girls in the team worked super-hard to get the boys out again for race two, and Josh and Aiden rewarded them with a fantastic fight through the field.
“That earned Josh pole for the reversed grid finale, and while we didn’t quite have enough to hold on for the win, he drove a superb race to bring home a trophy for third, with Aiden similarly putting in a strong performance to seal a second consecutive top ten finish and end the season on a high. An enormous ‘thank you’ to every single member of the team for all of their stellar efforts this year.”
Josh Cook, Driver, LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ, said: “We felt in a decent place from the outset at Brands, and from fourth on the grid, I went into Sunday aiming to have some fun, but the puncture in race one pitched the car out of control and there was nothing I could do to catch it; as soon as I hit the brakes, the rears just locked and sent me round and it was unfortunate that we caught Ash [Sutton] and Tom [Ingram].
“We had a really good second race from the back; that was a strong drive from Aiden and myself as we worked together to fight our way through. We wanted to give ourselves the best possible opportunity for the reversed grid draw, which we obviously got, and I gave it a good go again in race three. We didn’t quite have enough in the end, but I didn’t go down without a fight.
“We know our car isn’t the outright quickest in the wet, but I love conditions like that and I just hustled it as hard as I could. I tried to make it really difficult for Ash, but it was clear he was much faster and I was pleased to finish third considering how the day had begun.
“I think overall, we can be proud of the job we’ve done and particularly the progress we’ve made. Since Oulton Park, we’ve been very, very strong and in the mix every single weekend – if the season had started there, the championship table would have looked very different!
“Ultimately, we didn’t produce enough earlier in the year, and the BTCC is so fiercely competitive that it’s difficult to claw back lost ground, but I’m proud of the consistent performance we’ve shown every weekend from Oulton onwards and how we’ve worked as a team. When the chips have been down, we’ve always dug deep, and I think we can walk away from this season with our heads held high.”
Aiden Moffat, Driver, LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ, said: “We had some good pace over the weekend at Brands. In hindsight, we should have put four new tyres on in the second part of qualifying; we tried sticking with the same rears as they were already up to temperature, but it just upset the balance. Still, 11th on the grid was a decent position and we knew we could race from there.
“We were sitting eighth on the medium tyre in race one and coming back at the guys ahead when we picked up the puncture, which was disappointing. Josh and I then had fun working together in race two, while race three was the closest we’ve had the car in the wet all year.
“Looking back overall, the season began with so much promise, from the speed we showed in winter testing to the win first time out at Donington Park, and we were in the top five in the championship for a little while, but then everything seemed to fall apart. We had issues that kept us off the podium at Brands Indy and Oulton Park, and at Donington GP, we twice came charging from the back of the grid up into the top ten only to be taken out on both occasions!
“I’m never one to give up and I always try my best – every time I jump in a car, I give it my all, which is the least I owe to my sponsors and everybody in the team who works so hard – but given the pace we started out with back in the spring, the way the season has subsequently played out has obviously been very frustrating. That’s just how it goes sometimes – that’s racing – and it was good to at least sign off with a couple of solid top ten results. Now, we’ll go away to enjoy the winter break and regroup.”
Independent Teams' Championship: PMR secure maiden teams' title
In the same fashion as the Independent Drivers' title, Power Maxed Racing finished second in 2023 before going in to take all the spoils in 2024. As the only returning team to the championship, many expected the team to walk away victorious in 2024. They did, in a dominating way that has never been seen before.
Out of a possible 600 points on offer in 2024, Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing scored 591 while kicking off the season with a 17-race winning streak was unlike anything previously seen. Read on for all on its twists and turns through the 2024 campaign.
Donington Park - Rounds 1-2-3
As the new season got underway, two new teams entered the battle with Restart Racing and Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport adding to Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing. Experience would shine through the damp opening weekend as Árón Taylor-Smith took home a double victory with team-mate Mikey Doble completing the clean sweep.
The third place on the podium was shared between the two new teams across the three races as Daryl DeLeon would complete the rostrum in the opening race. The pairing of Chris Smiley and Scott Sumpton would bring home a double podium for Restart Racing at their first race.
Independent Teams' Championship - Event 1
1 - Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing - 60
2 - Restart Racing - 49
3 - Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport - 32
Brands Hatch Indy - Rounds 4-5-6
Taylor-Smith would bring home another double victory for Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing along with Doble completing all three victories for the Evesham-based team. DeLeon would not finishing the opening race of the weekend scoring no points for Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport for the second race in a row.
Despite taking home second place for the team in race two, the no-point scores let Restart Racing build a gap in the battle of the new teams after the second race weekend of the year.
Independent Teams' Championship - Event 2
1 - Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing - 120
2 - Restart Racing - 98
3 - Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport - 64
Snetterton 300 - Rounds 7-8-9
At another wet and wild weekend, Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing would once again make their experience show in the ever-changing conditions. It was a clean sweep of victories once again with Doble doing the double.
After Restart Racing edged further clear of third-place Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport, the latter would not let that gap grow further with their best weekend to date. Not only being the second place team on one occasion but in all three races after a fantastic display from DeLeon.
Independent Teams' Championship - Event 3
1 - Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing - 180
2 - Restart Racing - 143
3 - Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport - 115
Thruxton - Rounds 10-11-12
Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing continued to show its pace at the fastest circuit in the United Kingdom. Taylor-Smith had an impressive weekend despite a crash in qualifying hindering his weekend. The #40 would bring home a victory for the team in all three races.
Restart Racing would respond after they were outscored by Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport at the previous event. Taking home second place in every race was a great response. An added bonus for the team came as DeLeon failed to score for the third place team in the opening race at Thruxton, allowing the gap to grow once more.
Independents Teams' Championship - Event 4
1 - Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing - 240
2 - Restart Racing - 194
3 - Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport - 145
Oulton Park - Rounds 13-14-15
It would be a full house for Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing across the first half of the season with another great display at the Cheshire circuit. The team would split the wins once more with Taylor-Smith taking home the first two before Doble pulled off his first overall podium of his BTCC career to bring home the final win. The overall second-place finish would be the best of any Independent team all season.
Smiley would do the honours for Restart Racing giving the team a lockout of second-place finishes for the second weekend running. The new team also had its best weekend to date in the BTCC with the Evesham-based team ahead of them also having its best event of the season.
Independent Teams' Championship - Event 5
1 - Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing - 300
2 - Restart Racing - 245
3 - Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport - 190
Croft - Rounds 16-17-18
The return after the mid-season break appeared to be more of the same as racing got underway at the North Yorkshire circuit.
Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing had won every race in the championship during the first half of the campaign and continued that feat in the opening two races of race day.
Restart Racing had been the closest competitors to the Vauxhall Astra-driven outfit, taking home a second-place finish in the opening bout. Despite the form book, Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport equalled the feat in the second race of the day to keep the teams level heading into race three.
In an action-packed race, the Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing streak of 17 straight victories in 2024 was stunted. Smiley in the #222 Cupra would finish in 11th overall and would take the first non-Astra win of the season in the independents’ class, fuelling the fire for a close knit second half of the year.
Independent Teams' Championship - Event 6
1 - Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing - 357
2 - Restart Racing - 297
3 - Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport - 237
Knockhill - Rounds 19-20-21
After the first silverware for the BTCC’s newest two-car team was collected at Croft, the championship leaders returned to the track in style as they had at every race beforehand. The Taylor-Smith and Doble driven team went on to win the first and second races of the day continuing their season long form.
The trip across the border confirmed one thing to the competitors of the Independent Teams’ championship, Restart Racing had taken a step up. The Smiley and Scott Sumpton-pairing took back-to-back second place finishes in the opening two bouts before once again taking top spot in the final race of the day.
It was a mixed weekend for Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport as the team took two trips to the podium in the form of a double third place. A non-score in race three held the team back on making progress on the teams ahead.
Independent Teams' Championship - Event 7
1 - Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing - 414
2 - Restart Racing - 351
3 - Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport - 267
Donington Park GP - Rounds 22-23-24
The second trip in 21 years to the Donington Park GP circuit saw order restored to how most of 2024 had proceeded, with Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing taking home three victories from three races.
Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport bounced back and continued to improve; finishing the trip to the Leicestershire circuit with its best result of the weekend. The other Cupra-driven outfit would take home two second place results, as its bid to equal the Worcestershire-based team continued.
As the season arrives at the sharp end, the Astras of Taylor-Smith and Doble find themselves with a sizeable lead to Restart Racing in second. Despite the gap, the Essex-based team are closer to the team above than they are to the one-car Cupra outfit, driven by Daryl DeLeon, in third.
Independent Teams' Championship - Event 8
1 - Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing - 474
2 - Restart Racing - 400
3 - Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport - 314
Silverstone - Rounds 25-26-27
Following its clean sweep at Donington Park, Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing’s fine form looked set to continue after securing an overall pole position and a third place start on the grid at Silverstone. That joy was short lived, however, after both Astras failed the post-qualifying ride height checks meaning the PMR duo would have to start race one from the back of the grid.
Despite this, the pairing of Taylor-Smith and Doble clearly had good pace at Silverstone after the latter's 2023 pole position at the same venue – the only non-Ford pole of the season. The #40 of Taylor-Smith would go on to take two victories for the team, including the weather-affected, red-flag-interrupted, race three.
Smiley would go on to take the third and final victory for Restart Racing in 2024 in the second bout of the day. Unable to keep a streak of top two finishes for the Cupra-driven outfit, as DeLeon and Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport would take the second-place finish in the final race of the day.
1 - Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing - 531
2 - Restart Racing - 452
3 - Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport - 361
Brands Hatch GP - Rounds 28-29-30
At the final weekend Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing completed a feat at which they had done on six previous events throughout 2024, win all three races. Concluding a season in which it had consistently been at the forefront, having won 27 of the 30 rounds, scoring an incredible 591 out of a possible 600 points.
Despite this, the action throughout the order was still thick and fast as DeLeon and Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport would secure its best result of the season with seventh overall in the opening bout, good enough for second in the Independents’ category.
Restart Racing would close out 2024 in the same way as it started the year, a third place-finish in the opening round before two second place finishes to close out the event. After a maiden campaign in which the team finished as the highest debut entrant, Restart Racing will be targeting an even stronger sophomore season in 2025.
Independent Teams' Championship - Event 10
1 - Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing - 591
2 - Restart Racing - 501
3 - Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport - 408
BTCC 2025 tickets on sale now
You can now purchase tickets for seven of the ten scheduled 2025 British Touring Car Championship events after the likes of Brands Hatch, Donington Park, Knockhill and more have opened up their respective early bird ticket offers.
Motorsport Vision (MSV) – circuit owners at Donington Park, Brands Hatch, Oulton Park and Snetterton – were typically quick out of the blocks as it launched availability for all of its events.
Tickets for the six rounds at MSV venues will initially be frozen at this year’s prices until the end of December, with main race day admission just £35, with further reductions for 13-15-year-olds and free entry for under-13s. Tickets are available as either digital e-tickets or as physical printed copies for your convenience.
Next year’s events will feature three headline BTCC races, plus a full support race programme, including the all-new TOCA Junior Championship, which joins the package for all of next year’s rounds.
Knockhill has now added its name to the list of venues selling its tin-top tickets for next season with Thruxton, Croft and Silverstone soon to follow... watch this space for further information.
In the meantime, here’s the full list of ticket options with links to purchase for each:
Independent Drivers' Championship: Taylor-Smith stars to take home Independent crown
Josh Cook was the winner of the 2023 BTCC Independent Drivers' title ahead of Árón Taylor-Smith in second. As the former had moved to Manufacturer-backed TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK for the 2024 season, all eyes turned to the Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing driver as the man to beat. Little did anyone know quite how dominant he could be...
Donington Park National - Rounds 1-2-3
The opening rounds of the 2024 season could not have seen much worse weather to kick off a campaign. Throughout the testing conditions, it would be Taylor-Smith who would take the first win of the championship and would repeat the feat in race two with seventh and 11th place overall finishes.
Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing team-mate Mikey Doble would slot in behind the Irishman in the opening two races before taking home a triumph in race three. The duo would finish the opening weekend split by only three points.
The fight for third place between Restart Racing and Un-Limited Motorsport was split evenly across all remaining drivers. Not only splitting the podium but also all three drivers having a non-score finish. Daryl DeLeon would take to the rostrum in the drenched race one before Chris Smiley would do the same in race two, and then Scott Sumpton would take the place for the final race of the day.
Independent Drivers' Championship - Event 1
1 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 57
2 - Mikey Doble - 54
3 - Daryl DeLeon - 28
4 - Chris Smiley - 28
5 - Scott Sumpton - 26
Brands Hatch Indy - Rounds 4-5-6
Taylor-Smith took momentum and continued to extend his championship lead at the second event of the season. It would be another class victory in the opening race of the weekend for the #40 before switching places with Doble as they alternated the top two steps on the rostrum in races one and two.
The championship leader would go on to win race three with an overall fourth place finish doing the double-double at the first two events. Doble would falter in race three after dropping through the order on the wrong tyres to take home fourth. In doing so it meant at both events so far that every driver would stand on the rostrum.
Smiley would be the driver to stand on the podium in race one as DeLeon would have his second non-score of the season. The Filipino driver would return to take the third spot in race two as it would be Sumpton who would fail to score in this race. Race three would see Smiley jump up to take the first non-Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing second-place finish, with Sumpton completing the Restart Racing double-podium.
Independent Drivers' Championship - Event 2
1 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 114
2 - Mikey Doble - 104
3 - Chris Smiley - 73
4 - Daryl DeLeon - 54
5 - Scott Sumpton - 54
Snetterton - Rounds 7-8-9
The changeable conditions returned for the third event of the season, this time favouring Doble more than any other independent driver. Sunday did not start that way though as Taylor-Smith would take the win in the only all-wet race of the day, as Doble would finish second, with DeLeon bringing in his third podium of the year.
Risks began to get taken in race two as Taylor-Smith would pit after the green flag lap to get off the wet tyres and onto the softs. This would prove to be the wrong choice after initially setting fastest laps, the rain would return to hinder the end of the race. Doble would go on to take victory along with an overall fourth-place finish, sharing the podium with both DeLeon and Sumpton. This would be the fourth time in eight races to have all in-class-competitors finish.
Doble would stay on top in race three, cutting the gap to one point to his team-mate as DeLeon would also hold his position from race two. Behind, Taylor-Smith rose up the order to close out the weekend with a podium, as this time it would be Smiley who would not finish.
Independent Drivers' Championship - Event 3
1 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 162
2 - Mikey Doble - 161
3 - Daryl DeLeon - 103
4 - Chris Smiley - 97
5 - Scott Sumpton - 93
Thruxton - Rounds 10-11-12
After a challenging Snetterton, Taylor-Smith could not have bounced back any better. The #40 would take home all three victories across the weekend despite a crash in qualifying that limited his starting position to 12th.
Doble would not have the pace of his team-mate across the weekend, unable to get close at any point. The #88 Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra would do the best with what was left on offer, coming home in second in all three races.
In fact, it would be the same podium across all three races as Smiley would return to the rostrum since the opening race at Snetterton. Placing Restart Racing on the podium at every race across a weekend for the first time in the teams' BTCC career.
Independent Drivers' Championship - Event 4
1 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 222
2 - Mikey Doble - 212
3 - Chris Smiley - 142
4 - Daryl DeLeon - 129
5 - Scott Sumpton - 117
Oulton Park - Rounds 13-14-15
Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing ended the opening half of the campaign with its best weekend of the season to date. The opening two races would go the way of Taylor-Smith, who would hit the midway stage of the campaign having taken ten out of a possible 15 victories.
Doble would once again take home the second-place finishes behind his team-mate, as both drivers would have a total of 14 podiums from the 15 races. Continuing on from a triple-podium from Thruxton, Smiley would do the same once more to cement himself in third place halfway through the season.
Race three of the weekend is where the interest piqued as the duo of Doble and Taylor-Smith would lockout the front row of the overall grid. The #40 would defend behind the #88 early on before Jake Hill would break through. Doble would put up a superb defence but would lose out on the last lap of the race. Despite the heartbreak it was the Caterham-born drivers' first overall podium and a double-trip to the rostrum for the team to close out the first five events.
Independent Drivers' Championship - Event 5
1 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 279
2 - Mikey Doble - 266
3 - Chris Smiley - 187
4 - Daryl DeLeon - 168
5 - Scott Sumpton - 150
Croft - Rounds 16-17-18
After taking three quarters of all victories in the opening half of the season, Taylor-Smith came break from the mid-season break as he left before it. The Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing driver took two independent victories in the opening two races of the day at Croft to extend his championship lead.
Doble, Taylor-Smith’s teammate, would see the rear bumper of his Vauxhall Astra counterpart for all of the trip to the North-Yorkshire venue. The #88 would finish in second in the Independent Drivers’ class as his team-mate won and would finish third in the final bout of the day.
In fact, the Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing pair had won all of the races before said final bout, until Smiley broke the 100% record in Round 18. The Restart Racing driver would stand on the top step of the podium despite a non-score in the race before as a Cupra Leon would top a category for the first time this season.
Independent Drivers' Standings - Event 6
1 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 336
2 - Mikey Doble - 315
3 - Chris Smiley - 222
4 - Daryl DeLeon - 205
5 - Scott Sumpton - 189
Knockhill - Rounds 19-20-21
As Taylor-Smith continued his first-half season form, the Irishman then repeated his points output from Croft again at Knockhill with two wins and a second-place finish. The battle behind would become tighter as Restart Racing continued to take steps forward.
Doble would initially start the day well, backing up his team-mate’s victory with a second-place finish. Form and fortune would not go the #88’s way, however, as a fourth-place finish and a non-score would round out his weekend north of the border.
Smiley would stand upon the podium in all three races with a second-place finish being the highlight of the day in the second contest. It would be his team-mate Sumpton who would dent the Vauxhall Astra’s win percentage with a victory in the final race of the day to close in on fourth-placed DeLeon (Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport) to only two points.
Independent Drivers' Standings - Event 7
1 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 393
2 - Mikey Doble - 345
3 - Chris Smiley - 269
4 - Daryl DeLeon - 233
5 - Scott Sumpton - 231
Donington Park GP - Rounds 22-23-24
After taking two victories at each event since the summer break, Taylor-Smith would not complete the same feat at Donington Park but instead winning all three races on the GP layout. The gap between the two Astras out in front would grow to 59 points before the final two events.
Smiley would outpace Doble to take home the second-place trophy in the opening bout of the day before luck would reverse for the pair from the previous event. The #88 would return to the second-place spot on the podium for the rest of the weekend as the Restart Racing driver would fall to third in race two before a non-score in race three.
DeLeon and Sumpton would equal each other after the opening two contests on the GP circuit remaining two points apart. Until Smiley’s misfortune in the final race would allow the pair to fight over a podium place in which the Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport driver would take advantage to grow the points margin from two to four.
Independent Drivers' Standings - Event 8
1 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 453
2 - Mikey Doble - 394
3 - Chris Smiley - 301
4 - Daryl DeLeon - 272
5 - Scott Sumpton - 268
Silverstone - Rounds 25-26-27
After a win in the opening exchange of race day, Taylor-Smith had secured four independent wins in a row, one away from his best streak of five in 2024 across Thruxton and Oulton Park. That feat would not be equalled as Smiley would take the top spot in the second race of the day.
The Restart Racing driver scored well at the penultimate weekend of the season only being outscored by the championship leader Taylor-Smith. On his way to doing so, the #222 had his best weekend of the season to date amassing 50 points in this class.
Doble had fallen further behind his #40-driving teammate, so much so that the Irishman had a lead that could be not be beaten come the last weekend of the year at Brands Hatch. The battle between Sumpton and DeLeon continued as the pair arrived and left Silverstone with the same points gap, four, heading into the final event.
Independent Drivers' Standings - Event 9
1 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 510
2 - Mikey Doble - 426
3 - Chris Smiley - 351
4 - Daryl DeLeon - 311
5 - Scott Sumpton - 307
Brands Hatch GP - Rounds 28-29-30
The finale saw the Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Duo take all the spoils as the team accumulated 27 out of a possible 30 victories across the season. Taylor-Smith took the top spot having won two thirds of all races in 2024, only winning race two at Brands Hatch.
Doble was all or nothing. The #88 won both race one and three but did not score in the second bout. This kept Smiley more than at bay as the Restart Racing driver sat on the podium for two out of the three races, cementing his position as best of the rest.
DeLeon would triple the size of the gap between himself and Sumpton as the Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport driver would seal his best overall result of the campaign in the opening exchange. Securing two podiums at the final weekend, it was the #18's second-best weekend in the independents championship in 2024.
