Fledgling outfit Un-Limited Motorsport has today (4 July) announced it will be fielding a new driver in one of its cars for the remainder of the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

Un-Limited Motorsport owns a trio of Cupra Leons and the team will continue fulfilling its three entries following the mid-season break.

Both Dexter Patterson and Nic Hamilton will be continuing with the Kent-based squad, whilst teenager Max Hall has stepped down. An assessment of suitable candidates is currently ongoing with an announcement due to be made before the end of this month.

The BTCC resumes at Croft in North Yorkshire on 2/3 August.

Bob Sharpless, Un-Limited Motorsport, said: “We have made significant progress since joining the BTCC in 2024. We proved our professionalism and reliability in our first season – with the odd standout result – but the aim after just 15 BTCC race weekends was always to push further forward.

“So far this season, Dexter (Patterson) has taken a few Jack Sears Trophy wins and Independents’ podiums, whilst Nic (Hamilton) continues to make great progress behind the wheel. By his own admission, Max (Hall) and the team have worked extremely hard together, but we were unable to reach the goals that we wanted.

“We wish Max all the best for the future and look forward to making an exciting announcement on his replacement over the coming weeks, as we continue with Un-Limited Motorsport’s ongoing development.”

As the mid-season break continues, our celebration of 2025’s BTCC winners so far — the Perfect Ten — turns to one of the grid’s most experienced racers, Tom Chilton, who added another momentous victory to his long-standing career in the opening race weekend at Donington Park.

Donington Park National - Race 3

Taking full advantage of the reverse-grid draw, Chilton lined up on pole for the final race of the day and delivered a flawless drive from lights to flag. The Team VERTU driver launched cleanly off the line, holding firm into Redgate and immediately established a comfortable gap to those behind.

Running the soft tyre compound, Chilton managed his pace to perfection, expertly conserving his rubber while fending off pressure from title contenders Tom Ingram and Ash Sutton behind.

With the field compressed following a mid-race safety car, the #3 Hyundai remained composed, resisting all advances to seal an emphatic win —his first of the season and the 17th BTCC victory of his decorated career. The BTCC’s #3 also set the race’s fastest lap, underlining his total dominance that afternoon.

The win was also a landmark moment for the Team VERTU squad, celebrating its first triumph under the new name following the rebrand over the winter.

This win propelled him to third in the Drivers’ Standings while securing valuable points in both the Teams’ and Manufacturers’ championships. Team VERTU walked away level on points with NAPA Racing UK but ahead by virtue of highest single round score — Chilton’s race three victory — and EXCELR8 Motorsport one point clear at the top of the Manufacturers’ standings.

Championship Outlook

At the halfway point of the season, Chilton remains well within the top ten in the Drivers’ standings. His Donington Park win served as a reminder of his race-winning pedigree, with the experienced campaigner combining consistency and racecraft to stay in the mix.

With a strong foundation laid in the opening half of the year, Chilton will be looking to convert solid form into further podiums — and more silverware — to add to the three he has gained this season, when the 2025 campaign resumes at Croft (2–3 August).

As the mid-season break has begun we will take a look back through the momentous first half of this campaign. Over the first 15 races of the season we have seen ten different race winners with only three winning on more than one occasion. Kicking things off we go back to where the year all began at Donington Park with our first winner of the year, Ash Sutton.

Four-time BTCC champion Ash Sutton has once again proven his class in the first half of the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season, racking up four victories across three venues as he mounts another strong title challenge with NAPA Racing UK.

Here’s a look back at Sutton’s standout triumphs…

Donington Park National – Race 1

Sutton wasted no time getting back to winning ways in 2025, producing a commanding drive in the season’s opening race at Donington Park. After out-dragging pole-sitter and team-mate Dan Cammish into Redgate, Sutton set about controlling the race from the front. Despite late pressure from Tom Ingram – who had conserved his medium tyres well – Sutton managed the gap to perfection, taking the chequered flag with a composed and measured performance.

Donington Park National – Race 2

Sutton doubled up in emphatic fashion in race two, executing another lightning start to surge into, and retain the lead on the opening lap. This time, with the medium tyre compound bolted on, Sutton demonstrated rapid pace and consistency to stretch his advantage over the chasing pack. A brief safety car intervention did little to slow his momentum, and the #116 Ford Focus stormed home for back-to-back victories – marking the perfect start to his fight for five.

Stat: Sutton’s Donington double to open the season is still the only occasion in 2025 at the halfway mark in which one driver has won twice on the same weekend.

Thruxton – Race 2

Sutton returned to the top step at Thruxton, along with the first sighting of his black and gold NAPA centenary celebration livery, delivering a dominant drive around the high-speed Hampshire circuit.

Starting from fourth on the grid, he made an explosive getaway - one of the finest we’ve seen in recent years - and took the lead before heading into the complex.

Managing his tyres expertly over the course of the race – as is so often his trademark – Sutton never looked under threat, crossing the line unchallenged to secure his third win of the year. A win, at that point in time, that saw the #116 have three times as many as any other driver this season.

Oulton Park – Race 2

Arguably one of his finest drives of the campaign so far, Sutton claimed win number four with a strategic masterclass at Oulton Park. After slowing to finish fourth in the opening bout the championship leader would start the second race of the day on the soft tyres, Sutton carved his way past Chris Smiley and Cammish before chasing down Ingram, who all had to run the hard compound.

A smart move into Island Hairpin gave him the lead, and from there Sutton controlled proceedings to take a crucial victory – one that vaulted him back into the championship lead heading into the break.

Championship Outlook

At the halfway point in the season, Sutton leads the Drivers’ Standings by 11 points from long-time rival Ingram. With four wins and a string of top-five finishes to his name, the NAPA Racing UK driver remains in prime position to challenge for a record-breaking fifth BTCC title.

The 2025 campaign resumes at Croft (2-3 August), where Sutton will be looking to continue his imperious form.

Restart Racing experienced a weekend of extremes at Oulton Park (21-22 June), delivering a team-best qualifying, a breakthrough podium, and a storming comeback drive — all ultimately cut short by mechanical issues and a dramatic crash. Despite the setbacks, the team battled through to maintain its position at the top of the Independent standings at the halfway stage of the season.

Saturday’s qualifying session got off to a flying start, with Chris Smiley producing a sensational lap to secure second on the grid. The result equalled his best-ever qualifying performance in the BTCC and marked Restart Racing’s highest starting position to date.

The car showed pace immediately, and the team delivered when it counted. Dan Lloyd also looked strong in Part 1, but a ride height infringement led to post-session exclusion — an unfortunate blow after one of his most promising starts to a race weekend this year.

Race one highlighted the team’s grit and determination. Smiley, after starting on the front row, dropped to fourth in the early stages but kept the pressure on and regained third position late in the race. The result secured Restart Racing’s first overall podium in the BTCC, along with another Independents’ class win — a major milestone in just the team’s second season.

Starting from the back of the grid, Lloyd delivered a remarkable comeback, gaining 12 places over 16 laps. Executing a series of brave and clinical overtakes, the #123 driver brought the car home in 12th.

With Smiley on the hard tyre in Race two, a difficult race was expected. Despite a good launch, the BTCC race winner quickly slipped down the order on the slow rubber. Lloyd once again made a rapid start and climbed into the top ten, but his race came to an abrupt end following a high-speed crash at Clay Hill. Fortunately, the car avoided major damage, allowing the team to repair it in time for Race three.

The final bout of the weekend began in unpredictable conditions following pre-race rain, prompting most teams to switch to wets. However, the track dried quickly and caught out several runners. 

Smiley retired on the opening lap with a mechanical issue while Lloyd once again charged through the field, reaching 11th before a lock-up at the hairpin dropped him to the back. 

Undeterred, he recovered to cross the line in 14th, which later became 13th following a post-race exclusion for another driver — rewarding him another Independents’ victory.

Despite the frustrations, Restart Racing came away from Oulton Park with a first overall podium, two Independents’ wins, and valuable points in the title fight. The team retains its position at the top of the Independent standings heading into the second half of the season, returning along with the rest of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship paddock at Croft (2/3 August) in under five weeks’ time.

Chris Smiley, #22 Restart Racing, said: “So, that’s Oulton Park done and dusted, it’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through the season, time’s flown by. Today started well. I finished third in race one, the team’s first overall podium, and my first in a little while, so that was a really positive way to kick things off.

“In race two, we had to run the hard tyre because of the podium finish in race one, and it was just really tough to make it work. Pretty much everyone who ran the hard tyre struggled, apart from (Tom) Ingram, so it was one of those races where we just had to get through it.

“I was really looking forward to race three, we were back on the soft tyre, and there were a lot of hard tyre runners ahead of us, so I genuinely think we had a shot at getting back into the top five. But unfortunately, it started to rain, and we had an alternator issue on the car that put us out on the first lap.

“I’m just relieved the car isn’t damaged and we can reset with a clear focus for the second half of the season. The goal now is to keep pushing for the Independents’ title and, hopefully, chase down an overall race win too.”

Dan Lloyd, #123 Restart Racing, said: “It’s just been a mental day. We had really strong pace. Race one was mega, coming through to 12th, that’s the first time I’ve really done that kind of drive in touring cars, and it was a great feeling.

“In race two, the pace was good again, but I got caught up in an incident and ended up in a huge crash into the barriers, which I was absolutely devastated about. The relief came later when we found out the car was okay and there wasn’t too much damage, that was a massive weight off my shoulders.

“Then in race three, we started on wets from the very back of the grid and came through to 11th. I made a mistake locking up over the bump into the hairpin, which dropped me back to last, but I fought back again and even took the Independents’ win.

“So yeah, just an absolutely crazy day. I don’t really know what to think. I’m happy we’re in one piece, but it definitely could’ve been a hell of a lot better.”

Team VERTU secured a third win of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season on another strong weekend of competition at Oulton Park.

The EXCELR8-run squad had secured a first win at Thruxton two weeks earlier and made the trip to the famous Cheshire circuit keen to try and maintain the impressive form displayed across the the four meetings of the year.

The first free practice session of the weekend would prove to be productive for the Hyundai squad, with Tom Chilton, Tom Ingram and Adam Morgan all lapping inside the top six, and Senna Proctor in P20 as he prepared for his second weekend back in the series.

That would prove to be the more productive of the two sessions after rain prior to FP2 limited the amount of dry running, although Ingram would end up third on the times with Morgan also lapping inside the top five.

All four drivers were able to make it through their respective groups in Part 1 when qualifying came around, although Chilton and Proctor would both be knocked out in the second part of the session - with Chilton ending up seventh on the grid and Proctor in tenth.

Ingram and Morgan progressed through to the Quick Six session where Ingram produced an astonishing lap to smash the lap record and secure pole by nearly half a second, with Morgan overcoming a spin to qualify in sixth.

An equally impressive performance from Ingram in the opening race saw him dominate from the front of the field to secure his second win of the year, taking the flag more than five seconds clear of anyone else.

In a strong race all round, Morgan, Chilton and Proctor spent much of the race running together, with Chilton eventually taking fifth having nipped ahead of Morgan at Hislops mid-way through the race. Morgan took sixth, with Proctor eventually crossing the line in eighth.

Ingram’s win forced him to run the hard compound tyre in race two, with Chilton, Morgan and Proctor all sticking with the softer option.

Although Ingram led the opening lap, he was soon under pressure from quicker cars behind, with Morgan and Chilton amongst those to get ahead before an early safety car period.

After the restart, Morgan and Chilton ran together in second and third through to the finish, with Ingram able to hold on behind in fourth. Proctor meanwhile replicated his race one result with another eighth place finish and was then drawn on the front row of the reverse grid finale.

Heavy rain prior to the start resulted in all four drivers being forced on to wet tyres for race three, which would be a messy affair affected by two safety car periods.

Despite struggling with his car in the early stages and dropping down outside the top ten, Ingram recovered as conditions improved to take the flag in fourth place, with Proctor recovering from a poor start that dropped him down the order to take fifth.

It would be a more challenging race for Morgan and Chilton however, with the former ending up two laps down in 15th having forced to pit to have damage repaired after lap one and Chilton forced out after contact at Hislops with the Vauxhall of Mikey Doble caused heavy front end damage to his car.

Ingram goes into the summer break ten points off the championship lead in second spot, with Morgan and Chilton in sixth and seventh. Despite missing the first three meetings, Proctor lies 15th and within striking distance of the top ten ahead of round six at Croft.

Tom Chilton, #3 Team VERTU Hyundai i30 Fastback N, said: “The pace we showed in the first two races was really encouraging once again, and it’s great to have picked up another podium finish on what was a pretty strong weekend all round for Team VERTU.

“Sadly race three didn’t go my way, and rather than coming away with three top results, it’s two good results and a DNF which is a real shame. I’m sorry for Mikey as I just locked up in tricky conditions and hit him firmly up the backside, which ended the race for us both.

“Even with that, the results for others mean I’m still seventh in the standings and it’s crazy how close the points are, so it’s all to play for after the summer break.”

Senna Proctor, #18 Team VERTU Hyundai i30 Fastback N, said: “It’s been another solid weekend where I’ve been able to pick up more decent points, and it’s good to have these two meetings under my belt before heading to Croft and my home circuit after the summer break.

“On the other hand, I do feel mixed emotions a bit in the final race as starting from second place, I wanted to be higher up than fifth and feel I wasn’t able to reward everyone at Team VERTU for their efforts in giving me such a fantastic car.

“I know its just down to a bit of rustiness on my part having been out of a car for so long, but with some good track time now under my belt, I’m ready to come out fighting in the second half of the season.”

Adam Morgan, #33 Team VERTU Hyundai i30 Fastback N, said: “Overall I’d say it’s been a pretty good weekend and from opening practice through to the end of race two, it was all going well. The pace was there in the car and we scored strong points in the first two races, but then it went wrong at the start of race three.

“A bit of contact at the hairpin broke a rear toe link which is just one of those things that can happen in those conditions, and it was then a case of just going back out and circulating to see if we could manage to salvage a point, which is what we did.

“Considering this season is my return to front-wheel drive, I feel there have been a lot of positives so far and I’ve got up to speed quickly. Now the aim is to get onto the top step in the second half of the season.”

Tom Ingram, #80 Hyundai i30 Fastback N, said: “Yet again this weekend the car has been absolutely fantastic and I can’t be annoyed in any way with the pace we have shown. In qualifying, it was just outrageous to grab pole and we were able to build on that in race one to score a second win of the season. To then take fourth on the hard tyre in race two was a big bonus but we got unlucky with the conditions in race three.

“We went for a more intermediate set-up on the car but the circuit didn’t dry as quickly as we expected and it was hard going in the early stages. We were vulnerable and when I dropped down the order it looked like it could be a disastrous end to the weekend, but we came back strong late on to climb back up the order.

“It’s bizarre that we’ve had such a strong weekend but have lost a point to Ash in the standings, which once again shows how tight it is at the top. We’ll be ready to come out fighting when battle continues after the summer break.”

Daryl DeLeon increased his Jack Sears Trophy (JST) lead on what was an otherwise bruising Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship race day for WSR at Oulton Park.
 
The Anglo-Filipino driver scored a pair of overall points finishes at the Cheshire track and now holds a 25-point lead in the JST standings over his WSR BMW stablemate Charles Rainford with half the season gone.
 
DeLeon’s standout performance came in wet and slippery conditions in race three as he climbed from 15th on the grid to eighth within a handful of laps, only to have his progress thwarted when two cars collided ahead of him stunting his progress in the process.
 
A resultant puncture led to an unplanned pitstop along with a loss of a lap while damage was checked over and a switch to dry-weather tyres on a now drying circuit. With conditions not suited to these hard-compound rubber, his progress was restricted to a 15th-place finish in what became a race of attrition.
 
Team-mate Jake Hill was the team’s highest points-scorer over the weekend in his Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport BMW 330i M Sport.
 
The 2024 champion managed his wet rubber on a drying track in race three to climb from fifth to second early on, a minor braking error led to an off-track moment on the penultimate lap.
 
That dropped him to seventh spot, which equalled his race one result – a finish that was achieved from 13th on the grid. His best finish of the day was fifth in race two.
 
This was achieved without Hill’s Race Engineer Craig Porley – who was hospitalised on Friday night after suddenly falling ill – but who had recovered enough to return home by Sunday night.
 
LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR’s Charles Rainford was in the thick of it on the opening racing lap of the day and fell to 11th – where he finished – and was even more unfortunate in race two as another driver clashed with Rainford, causing him to spin into the tyre barrier at Old Hall.
 
The Brands Hatch race winner had to start the final race from the back of the grid, but made use of some clever set-up choices to climb to ninth by the finish; a result that kept him second in the JST points.
 
His team-mate Aiden Moffat recovered from being spun in race one to take a points finish in 15th. Choosing to use the hard-option Goodyear tyre – which must be used in one of the three races – he found his grip limited and finished 16th: instead opting to save his remaining soft rubber for the finale. The Scotsman drove well to 11th in the wet race three.
 
Daryl DeLeon, WSR: “Today was really hectic. There were a lot of incidents and a lot of drivers just trying to make an impression ahead of the summer break – including myself. I was really quick in the last race on the wet tyres, but then there was an incident at the chicane where two cars got into each other and left me with nowhere to go as they rejoined, so I ended up with damage and a puncture and had to pit. I gambled on taking slicks because it was drying, but because I had to use the hard tyre, it took too long to get the temperatures and it didn’t really come off. I extended my Jack Sears Trophy points lead, but there’s some work to do pace-wise to make sure we’re at the front in the second half of the year.
 
Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport: “It’s been a mixed bag today. Overall, two sevenths and a fifth isn’t too bad from 13th place in qualifying, but it shows that our qualifying pace wasn’t representative of the speed we had over the weekend. I’m proud of the team and what we’ve achieved without my Race Engineer Craig being here. We’ve banded together with me, Craig doing what he can from his hospital bed and Dick [Bennetts, Team Principal] all playing a role. It’s gutting to be second and then dropping it in Race Three, but I have to push so hard just to be close to fighting for a win… It just is what it is.”
 
Charles Rainford, LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR: “I’ve had a decent day today, but got hit a little bit in the first two races. I actually ended up in the wall a little bit in the second race down to contact from a Toyota. In the last one I went from last up to ninth, which was good and made it a solid weekend with good points. We have the summer break now so that’s a good chance to work on the BMW before Croft and come out swinging in the second half of the year.”
 
Aiden Moffat, LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR: “In Race One the BMW felt great and I got as high as 12th^. We used the hard tyre in Race Two and struggled to 16th, which actually we weren’t too unhappy about as we had it out of the way for the last race. Then in Race Three it rained so we never got the benefit, which meant it was a bit for nothing, but we still felt it was a gamble worth taking. We tried to leave a dry set-up on the car, hoping it was going to dry out quickly – which it didn’t – so I slipped back to 19th before climbing back to 11th and the car’s the most damaged it’s looked for a while.”
 
Dick Bennetts, Team Principal, said: “It’s been a challenging weekend and the cars have been through it a bit, but there are some positives to take. The pace of the BMWs in the damp conditions in Race Three was strong, which shows how much progress we’ve made in setting the car up for greasy conditions, Jake was looking good for a podium until the end and Daryl’s increased his Jack Sears Trophy lead too. We need to use the summer break to do what we can to find more speed and aim for a stronger second half of the year.”

One Motorsport tallied a third Independent win of the season on what was an otherwise challenging weekend in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Oulton Park.

Closing out the first half of the 2025 campaign at the Cheshire venue, Josh Cook snared silverware however both he and team-mate Stephen Jelley were left wanting more after battling the elements and mechanical issues.

Having endured a challenging pair of practice sessions in the morning, qualifying on Saturday afternoon saw Cook hustle his Honda Civic Type R into Part Two and ultimately into eighth on the grid for the first of Sunday’s three races.

Engine issues in practice meant that Jelley went into the session with just a handful of laps under his belt but despite being on the back foot he produced a competitive lap to line up towards the rear of the midfield.

Race day would prove to be one of attrition for Cook and it started with a feisty wheel-to-wheel battle with the Toyota of James Dorlin that would play out over a number of laps, halting his chance of making further progress. Cook ultimately came out on top to finish ninth.

The 34-year-old then bagged more points and a third Independent win of the season in race two as he moved up the order - all while nursing an ongoing electrical gear selection issue.

Starting from third for a damp reverse grid finale, hopes were high that Cook could contend for outright honours however the car soon developed an ever-worsening throttle fly by wire problem, which left him at times just on tick over, and ultimately forced him into retirement at mid-distance.

Things were sadly no better for Jelley on the other side of the garage as persistent engine issues and being on the receiving end of unnecessary contact scuppered his chances of points.

With the team working tirelessly to get on top of a problem throughout Saturday, the Leicestershire racer continued to encounter difficulties on Sunday which resulted in the team carrying out an incredible engine change in less than one hour between races one and two.

The second contest quickly became a glorified test session to ensure everything was rectified, and come race three Jelley was ready to make his mark - and he was on course to do so as he battled up to the fringes of the top ten and had a his first Independent win of the season in his sights before contact was made causing him to go off the circuit.

The 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season continues at Croft on August 2-3.

Stephen Jelley, #12 One Motorsport driver said: "There really are no good words to say whatsoever. It has been a truly horrendous weekend and one that I’d like to forget about pretty quickly. From the moment we hit the track we were battling issues with the engine and it came down to the team producing an incredible full engine change in less than an hour to get the car working well. Then when it did we just got needlessly crashed into. Despite how bad it was I’ve got to say a massive thank you to the entire One Motorsport team because they never gave up and put in some long hours to give us the best chance in every single session. They’ve been brilliant and all deserve a well-earned rest."

Josh Cook, #66 One Motorsport driver said: "What a day! In race one we had to contend with some over defending and a few hard battles but we managed to bring it home in ninth. Then in race two we had an ongoing electrical gremlin that we had to nurse so it was a great effort that we were able to bring the car home in seventh. In that last one we had a slowly degrading throttle which ultimately failed - and that’s a shame as I felt we could have been on for a good result. Everyone at One Motorsport - on both sides of the garage - deserve a lot of credit as they’ve had to dig deep this weekend. I’m hugely proud to be a part of this team and we go into the summer break looking to reset and continue developing the car."

Gordon Shedden rolled back the years at Oulton Park last weekend (21-22 June) as he produced a vintage performance to put TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA in the British Touring Car Championship winners’ circle for the first time in 2025 – having started race day plum last on the grid.
 
The Toyota Corolla GR Sport was in the mix from the outset around the undulating Cheshire circuit – home soil for Northwich-based Speedworks Motorsport, the team that prepares and runs the British-built Japanese ‘hot hatch’ in the country’s premier motor racing series.
 
Three-time BTCC champion Shedden was a top ten contender throughout free practice amongst the 25 high-calibre protagonists, while team-mate Árón Taylor-Smith underscored the Corolla’s potential by going a superb second-quickest in FP2 – a mere 0.134s shy of the top spot – with fellow Toyota driver James Dorlin close behind in fourth.
 
Shedden’s momentum was abruptly halted in qualifying as he lost all of his representative lap times to track limits penalties, leaving him at the very back of the grid for Sunday’s curtain-raising contest. Characteristically unbowed, the Scot battled through to take the chequered flag 17^th – the second-best finisher on the slower hard-compound tyres – before scything further forward on soft Goodyear rubber in race two to wind up ninth.
 
That secured him pole position for the day’s partially reversed-grid finale – and he did not waste it. Following a textbook getaway on a now wet track surface, by the end of the opening tour, Shedden – affectionately known in the paddock as ‘Flash’ – was already a second-and-a-half up the road, and while a couple of mid-race safety car interventions brought his pursuers right onto his tail, he didn’t put so much as a wheel-out-of-place.
 
Artfully soaking up the pressure of two fellow title-winners breathing down his neck, he called upon all of his experience, racecraft and guile to keep Jake Hill and Ash Sutton at bay. An error by the former on the penultimate lap then gave the series returnee some welcome breathing space, and he duly went on to seal TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA’s first victory of the season and his own first in three years. It was a champion’s drive by any yardstick, and the emotion when he climbed out of the cockpit was palpable.
 
Dorlin similarly enjoyed a strong weekend. Buoyed by a breakthrough performance at Thruxton a fortnight earlier, the 26-year-old BTCC rookie was once more up at the sharp end, and after progressing to the ‘Quick Six’ shootout in qualifying for the second consecutive event, he proceeded to line up an impressive fifth on the grid for the opener, a scant 0.048s adrift of championship leader and four-time champion Sutton and barely a tenth-of-a-second shy of a spot on the front row.
 
A lively race-long duel with Josh Cook yielded a third top ten finish of his maiden campaign in the championship, before contact in the heat of battle dropped him to 13^th in race two. The Yorkshireman – a former McLaren Young Driver Programme member and British GT champion in-class – capped his day with an excellent run to eighth in race three, marking his first triple points score in the series and earning him the Jack Sears Trophy from Oulton Park for good measure.
 
Taylor-Smith endured a more frustrating time. After qualifying 12^th, the BTCC’s reigning Independents’ Trophy winner immediately leapt up into the top ten in race one in front of the live ITV4 television cameras and capacity trackside crowd, but a tag from behind at the hairpin on lap 11 sent him ricocheting into another car, and while able to continue, the resultant damage caused him to slip back to 13^th at the flag.
 
The 35-year-old Irishman climbed to ninth in race two, but with less than three laps remaining, he was obliged to pull off the circuit due to engine failure, and despite the Speedworks crew’s best efforts to replace it, with the short turnaround before race three, he was unfortunately unable to take part in the finale.
 
In the fourth Corolla, series debutant Finn Leslie – at just 17, the youngest driver in the field – settled into his new surroundings during free practice, getting closer to the outright pace throughout and going on to qualify a very respectable 21^st. A driveshaft issue on the formation lap ahead of race one subsequently saw him pushed off the grid, but a swift repair job by the team enabled him to join the fray two laps down and get some more mileage under his belt.
 
The Wakefield-born teenager then gained six spots to wind up 17^th in race two, before maturely keeping his head in the tricky mixed conditions in race three to sign off in style with a points-paying finish in 12^th, scarcely three seconds shy of the top ten.
 
Following its annual summer break, the BTCC will resume at Croft in North Yorkshire on 2-3 August.
 
Christian Dick, Team Principal, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA, said:
 
“What a way to conclude the first half of the season! To take our first win of 2025 was a fantastic achievement, and to do so on home soil in front of family, friends and sponsors made it even more special. It’s no secret that we’ve had a tough time of things in the BTCC so far this year, but our performance and results at Oulton Park have given everybody a much-needed lift and plenty of motivation to continue pushing hard over the summer break.
 
“For Gordon to come from 25^th on the grid at the start of the day to take the chequered flag first in the finale marked an incredible turnaround, and is testament to every single member of this team’s never-say-die spirit and commitment. Under significant pressure from two fellow champions, it was a faultless, expertly-driven race in which his class truly shone through and you could clearly see how much it meant to him.
 
“Gordon deservedly took the plaudits, but all four drivers excelled. James was again a standout star in qualifying and fought hard for points in all three races, while Árón was similarly in the mix but on the receiving end of more than his fair share of bad luck. As for Finn, for a young lad of such limited experience to come in, score points on his debut and hold his own against some of the very best drivers in the country was genuinely remarkable. He has a very bright future ahead of him, of that I have no doubt.”
 
Gordon Shedden, Driver, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA, said:
 
“What a weekend of two halves! From starting at the back in race one, to coming through to win race three was just epic – you never tire of that winning feeling! I thought we had played a good strategy in using the hard tyres early on so as to save a set of softs for the end, but the rain coming down meant we never got chance to use them and I feared maybe our chance was gone.
 
“That said, the balance in the car felt good in the wet and ultimately, we won on the same tyre as everybody else, which was really satisfying. The conditions were quite tricky and I had to use all my years of experience to get the job done – there were parts of the lap where our car was strong and parts of the lap where the other cars were strong, so I had to stay super-defensive in some places to not leave myself exposed while allowing the Toyota to stretch its legs elsewhere.
 
“I was so thankful to get it over the line, and to see the whole team from TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA hanging over the pit wall when I came past the chequered flag was just incredible! We’ve clearly had our trials and tribulations since the start of the season, so I was delighted for them all and it was nice to give everybody a little boost going into the summer break. There’s so much effort going on back at base, and this was a real step in the right direction.”
 
Árón Taylor-Smith, Driver, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA, said:
 
“Oulton is one of my favourite tracks. You’re always on the ragged edge and I love racing there, so I was looking forward to getting my elbows out and the Corolla showed great pace throughout Saturday. While things didn’t quite align for us in qualifying – in hindsight, maybe we would have considered a slightly different strategy in Q2 – we will learn from that and we knew we could fight from 12^th on the grid.
 
“We were in the thick of the action in race one, but a few battle scars prevented any further progression, which was a shame because I felt we could have finished inside the top ten quite comfortably. Race two started off very well and we looked to be in a really strong position for a shot at the reversed grid draw, but an engine failure with just a few laps to go put paid to our chances. The team was massively up against it to try to get it replaced ahead of race three, and unfortunately time ran out.
 
“On a positive note, it was great to see Gordon get the result that he and the whole team deserved after everybody’s tireless efforts to give us a car that can win. While the cards didn’t fall my way on this occasion, the weekend once again proved that we are continuing to make significant progress, which gives us a lot of confidence going into the mid-season break.”
 
James Dorlin, Driver, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA, said:
 
“We entered the weekend looking to carry forward our momentum from Thruxton, and the car felt nicely-balanced from the word ‘go’. I think Oulton Park’s tight-and-twisty nature suited the Corolla well, and it was good to show our pace in the dry after qualifying fifth in the wet at Thruxton.
 
“We definitely maximised everything on Saturday, and I was really happy to reach the ‘Quick Six’ again. To end up just over a tenth-of-a-second off the front row was brilliant – that was credit to all the guys and girls at TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA for doing such a great job.
 
“I struggled for pace a bit in race one and had a hard-but-fair battle with Josh [Cook] that included a couple of heart-in-mouth moments; although we weren’t able to capitalise upon our strong starting position, we did manage to hold onto a top ten finish at least.
 
“We made a few changes to the car for race two and it felt better, but contact in the pack dropped me to 18^th and with the long safety car interruption, I was only able to fight back through to 13^th. The rain then probably helped us in race three, enabling us to sign off with another top ten and the Jack Sears Trophy. Perhaps without the laps lost due to the safety cars we might have made up a bit more ground still, but I was quite happy anyway. That was a good way to end the weekend and the first half of the season.”
 
Finn Leslie, Driver, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA, said:
 
“That was a really good weekend – I couldn’t have asked for much more! I knew it would be my toughest challenge to-date, but I was hugely excited to grab the bull by the horns.
 
“I’d not driven the Corolla in anger around a track until Saturday, so it was all about getting used to the car and finding its limits; it’s a bit different to the TCR car I normally drive, but I settled in quite well and felt fairly comfortable straightaway. I was under a much bigger spotlight than I’d ever been before, and there’s so much more responsibility that comes with racing in the BTCC, both on-track and off, but I took everything step-by-step and felt like I made big improvements with every session.
 
“What happened at the start of race one was obviously unfortunate, but big thanks to the team for getting me out so I could get a race distance in pretty much – and my lap times were encouragingly competitive. The Toyota then felt really good in race two and I got stuck in and pulled off a few overtakes, and I enjoyed the mixed conditions in race three – lap-by-lap, the circuit was constantly evolving, and you never knew what the grip would be like from one corner to the next.
 
“As the track dried out, it seemed to come to us more and more and whilst others began to struggle towards the end, I was able to keep pushing on. We had set ourselves a pre-weekend goal of getting into the points, but I thought it might be a bit out-of-reach on my debut or that we could maybe scrape a 15^th place at best. To finish 12^th up against drivers who have been doing this for several years and to be battling on the fringes of the top ten was honestly amazing!”

A commanding 35^th BTCC career victory lifted Tom Ingram into the series’ all-time top ten winners’ list, after a stellar performance at Oulton Park last weekend (21/22 June).
 
Ingram arrived at Oulton boasting a stellar recent résumé around the undulating and challenging Cheshire circuit, counting three triumphs, three further podiums and only one finish lower than fourth from his previous nine races there. Right from the outset, he made it very clear he was intent on continuing that trend.
 
In qualifying, the Team VERTU star advanced comfortably through the opening two phases of the knockout session to book his slot in the ‘Quick Six’ showdown for the fifth time from five attempts in 2025
 
Ingram proceeded to string together three ‘purple’ sectors on his first effort in Q3 to secure an 11^th pole position in the UK’s premier motor racing series by the margin of almost half-a-second – the fastest a BTCC car has ever been driven around Oulton.
 
In front of the live ITV4 television cameras and a capacity trackside crowd the next day, the 2022 champion made a textbook launch when the starting lights went out in the curtain-raising contest to establish a lead of almost two seconds by the time the safety car was summoned on the second lap to deal with a clash lower down the order.
 
While that neutralisation erased his advantage, when the action resumed, he immediately set about rebuilding it, going on to cross the line some 5.490 seconds clear of his closest pursuer following a peerless performance for which his 24 high-calibre adversaries had no answer.
 
A real statement drive – accompanied by a blistering new lap record – Ingram’s lights-to-flag victory elevated him to equal-tenth on the BTCC race-winners’ roll of honour, while simultaneously vaulting him past Ash Sutton to the summit of the championship standings.
 
After holding sway throughout the first lap – to earn a potentially crucial extra championship point – Ingram inevitably conceded some ground to softer-shod rivals before settling into fourth in race two.
 
With his set-up initially proving ill-suited to the conditions, from sixth on the partially-reversed grid, by mid-distance, Ingram had slipped to 12^th, but a couple of safety car interventions to clear up accidents offered the opportunity for a reset and as the track surface increasingly dried, so the #80 Hyundai i30N came increasingly on-song.
 
Having recovered to ninth, the EXCELR8 Motorsport racer opportunistically took advantage of two drivers ahead squabbling at the chicane to neatly undercut them both on the exit and climb to seventh. He snatched two more positions on lap 16 before a mistake by Hill promoted him to fourth. After catching the leading trio hand-over-fist, he ultimately fell short of sneaking a spot on the podium by a scant 0.120 seconds, taking the flag less than 1.6 seconds behind the winner.
 
His impressive turn-of-speed in the closing stages also secured Ingram his second fastest lap of the day, sending him into the BTCC’s annual summer break still sitting second in the overall classification, just ten points adrift of the top of the table with 15 races remaining.
 
Tom Ingram, Driver, Team VERTU, said:
 
“Oulton Park is a circuit I love, and I felt in a really good place going into the weekend. The Hyundai was absolutely amazing in qualifying, and I was over-the-moon to take pole – it was simply the most hooked-up car I’ve ever driven, around a circuit where it really isn’t easy to link the whole lap together. The corner speed and momentum we were able to carry, its braking performance and the grip we could generate were something else and when we put new soft tyres on, it was just outrageous.
 
“Race one was similarly fantastic. You always want a bit of a buffer, and I knew once we had that and had settled into a rhythm, we were in the pound seats because then you can just control the gap as you see fit. My engineer Spencer told me over the radio that Dan [Cammish] had taken fastest lap, so I used some boost to take it back and there didn’t seem to be much drop-off in tyre performance over the duration either.
 
“I knew Ash [Sutton] was going to come through on the softs in race two – that was inevitable. My aim on the hard tyres was to try to stay somewhere inside the top ten, and fourth far exceeded my expectations – although Jake [Hill] didn’t make my life easy and I was conscious I couldn’t afford to make so much as a single mistake or he would have been past.
 
“Race three was then very much a story of two halves, and it was a shame the weather played its part. We went very intermediate on the set-up, but it turned out that wasn’t the way to go. The track didn’t dry as quickly as we’d been anticipating, which left us vulnerable early on; when it did begin drying we came back through, but we narrowly ran out of laps to challenge for another podium.
 
“That was a bit frustrating, but ultimately, the biggest takeaway from the weekend is that this car is honestly unreal – such a joy to drive – and that is full credit to Team VERTU for doing such a cracking job. We’re in a really nice window with the Hyundai at the moment, which is a lovely place to be. Now, we will use the summer break wisely to continue honing and refining it, to ensure we come out all guns blazing and ready to fight tooth-and-nail for the title over the season’s second half!”

BTCC boasts ten different race winners at midway stage of season

Rounds 13, 14 and 15 of the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship took place at Oulton Park earlier today (22 June) as the cars and stars of the country's most popular motorsport series reached its midway point of the season.

A typically huge crowd descended on the picturesque Cheshire venue and the BTCC's loyal fanbase also experienced a typically British summer weekend in terms of weather, as scorching conditions were combined with on and off showers, which spiced up the action even further on-track.

The two main title protagonists – Tom Ingram and Ash Sutton – won a race apiece as their titanic tussle continues to take shape, but it was Gordon Shedden that wowed the crowd with a brilliant triumph in the finale.

Not only was it Shedden's first BTCC victory since 2022, but he also became the tenth different race winner from just the 15 races so far this season – again underlining the incredible competitiveness and unparalleled drama of the BTCC.

If the sporting spectacle wasn't enough then the emotional theatre off-track almost proved too much as broadcasting legend Steve Rider brought the curtain down on an incredible career spanning nearly 50 years.

Best known for his work with ITV and BBC, Steve became an iconic figure across the likes of football, Formula 1, golf and many many more sports.

And of course, Steve has been the face of the British Touring Car Championship coverage across some four decades and leaves his role as one of the most popular and important figures in the championship’s illustrious history.

Steve’s phenomenal career was celebrated throughout this emotional weekend as everyone involved in the BTCC honoured Steve for his unwavering support, service, professionalism and brilliance.

Once the jam packed action had concluded it was Sutton still leading the overall Drivers' standings by ten points from Ingram, whilst Alliance Racing/Ford and its NAPA Racing UK outfit hold sway in the Manufacturers'/Constructors' and Teams' tables.

Chris Smiley and his Restart Racing Hyundai squad top the Independents' titles, whilst WSR BMW's Daryl DeLeon leads the Jack Sears Trophy.

The BTCC will resume after its traditional mid-season break at Croft Circuit on 2/3 August.

Ingram briefly tops standings after race one win

Team VERTU's Ingram commanded proceedings in Round 13 of the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship as the Hyundai star led from start to finish in the opening race at Oulton Park.

An early safety car spell following contact between Stephen Jelley (One Motorsport - Honda) and Sam Osborne (NAPA Racing UK - Ford) coming out of Island Bend could not deter Ingram's drive, as he eventually romped home more than five seconds clear of the chasing pack.

NAPA Racing UK's Dan Cammish finished second after he got by Smiley's front row starting Hyundai on the opening lap, whilst Ford Focus teammate Sutton looked to have scored the final place on the podium with his own stellar move around the outside of Smiley at Cascades.

The positions were swapped in the closing laps, however, as Sutton chose to settle for fourth and take advantage of being able to run the Goodyear soft tyre in the second race. He did, however, briefly relinquish the standings lead to Ingram by one point.

Sutton back on top

NAPA Racing UK's Sutton then swept to his fourth Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship victory of the season as the #116 surged through from fourth on the grid to win the second contest.

Being the first of the Goodyear soft tyre runners played perfectly into the four-time champion's hands, as he made light work of Restart Racing's Smiley while teammate Cammish let him by.

Team VERTU's Ingram was a much harder task with the #80 defending valiantly before Sutton took his opportunity at Island Hairpin. The Hyundai duo of Adam Morgan and Tom Chilton relegated stablemate Ingram down to fourth, but the latter then hung on brilliantly to claim fourth on the Goodyear hard tyre.

Reigning champion Jake Hill did everything he could to get by old rival Ingram, but the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport BMW man had to settle for a solid fifth.

Shedden shows his class with stunning win

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA's Shedden claimed victory in the final race, closing out a brilliant first half to the BTCC season overall as he became the tenth different race winner in the process.

Shedden led from lights to flag but that doesn't tell the true story of an incredible initial attack, followed by a fantastic defensive drive, as the tin top legend grabbed his first BTCC win since 2022.

The Scotsman fought off the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport BMW of Hill for much of the race, closely followed by the NAPA Racing UK Ford pair of Dan Rowbottom and Sutton, but the pressure on Shedden eased slightly in the closing moments.

With Hill making a last ditch effort to make a move on the penultimate lap, his #1 BMW 330i M Sport squirmed and slid wide on the wet surface at Cascades and he eventually returned to the track down in seventh.

Sutton had only recently disposed of Ford Focus teammate Rowbottom, and he was further rewarded with second after Hill's moment.

Rowbottom rounded out a topsy-turvy weekend with a well deserved podium, whilst Team VERTU's Ingram fought his way up to fourth, having been down in 12th at one stage.

Tom Ingram, Team VERTU – Hyundai, said: "The car is unbelievable at the moment – such a joy to drive. You always want a bit of a buffer, and I knew once we had that and had settled into a rhythm in race one, we were in the pound seats because then you can just control the gap as you see fit. Spencer told me over the radio that Dan [Cammish] had fastest lap, so I used some boost to take it back, and there didn’t seem to be much drop-off in tyre performance over the course of the race either. This car is unreal!"

Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK – Ford, said: "It has been phenomenal if you look at the results and points. Race one we played the joker card strategically and that worked for the win in race two. Luckily the heavens opened for the final race, which meant we stayed away from the hard tyre. The racing was certainly frantic but we were happy to end up on the podium again and bag those points. Croft is a place I love, it's always been good to me, so I'll be looking forward to going there after the break."

Gordon Shedden, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA, said: "It’s an incredible feeling – you never tire of that feeling. I had to use all my years of experience to get the job done, and to come out of the last corner on the final lap and see all the team from TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA hanging over the pit wall when I came past the chequered flag was just amazing. We’ve had our trials and tribulations since the start of the season and they’ve been living the pain and dramas that we all have, so I was delighted for them and it was nice to give everybody a little boost going into the summer break."

2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 1 – Oulton Park

1. Tom Ingram, Team VERTU 16 Laps
2. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +5.490s
3. Chris Smiley, Restart Racing +6.355s
4. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK +6.721s
5. Tom Chilton, Team VERTU +7.016s
6. Adam Morgan, Team VERTU +7.775s
7. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +7.789s
8. Senna Proctor, Team VERTU +9.749s
9. Josh Cook, One Motorsport +13.083s
10. James Dorlin, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA +14.060s

2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 2 – Oulton Park

1. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK 18 Laps
2. Adam Morgan, Team VERTU +1.715s
3. Tom Chilton, Team VERTU +3.612s
4. Tom Ingram, Team VERTU +8.830s
5. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +9.263s
6. Daniel Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK +10.812s
7. Josh Cook, One Motorsport +13.814s
8. Senna Proctor, Team VERTU +15.284s
9. Gordon Shedden, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA +15.447s
10. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +15.874s

2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 3 – Oulton Park

1. Gordon Shedden, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA 18 Laps
2. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing +0.741s
3. Daniel Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK +1.472s
4. Tom Ingram, Team VERTU +1.592s
5. Senna Proctor, Team VERTU +5.386s
6. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +5.804s
7. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +6.391s
8. James Dorlin, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA +9.685s
9. Charles Rainford, LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR +10.696s
10. Sam Osborne, NAPA Racing UK +11.525s

Penalties:

Race One

Daryl DeLeon received an official reprimand and two penalty points on his license in Round 13 of the championship, for causing a collision with Árón Taylor-Smith and Aiden Moffat.

Daryl DeLeon received a ten second time penalty in Round 13 of the championship, for causing a collision with Mikey Doble.

Árón Taylor-Smith received an official reprimand and two penalty points on his license in Round 13 of the championship, for causing a collision with Daryl DeLeon.

Race Two

Charles Rainford was disqualified from Round 14 of the championship, for over boosting.

Finn Leslie received a verbal warning in Round 14 of the championship, for gaining a position as a result of contact with Nic Hamilton.

Race Three

Dexter Patterson was disqualified from Round 15 of the championship, for failing the ride height check at the end of the race.

Tom Chilton received an official reprimand and two penalty points on his license in Round 15 of the championship, for causing a collision with Mikey Doble.

Aiden Moffat received an official reprimand and two penalty points on his license in Round 15 of the championship, for causing a collision with Max Hall.

Max Hall received a three place grid penalty for his next race and three penalty points on his license in Round 15 of the championship, for causing contact and subsequently gaining a position on Aiden Moffat.