As the teams prepare for rounds 4, 5 and 6 of the 2020 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, listen to what the top three qualifiers, Rory Butcher, Dan Cammish and Ollie Jackson, had to say about yesterday's action ahead of today's opening encounter...

Butcher drove his Motorbase Performance-run Ford Focus ST to pole, setting a solid time early in the session and holding on to the top spot at the conclusion of qualifying:
 

Just 0.031s behind the Scot, Honda man Cammish will kick off the racing action on the Brands Hatch GP circuit from second on the grid:
 

Finding himself with a new best qualifying position, Jackson made it a 1-3 for Motorbase on the grid for the first BTCC race on the Kent circuit in 301 days:

 

Kent-based Motorbase Performance score home 1-3 in qualifying

 

 

Motorbase Performance scored a home pole position at Brands Hatch earlier today (8 August) as Rory Butcher produced a stunning lap during qualifying for Round 4 of the 2020 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

Wrotham-based Motorbase built and prepared three Ford Focus STs during the off-season and Butcher continues to show the speed and potential of the all-new machines. Having set the fastest lap time during a recent pre-season test at Snetterton, the Scotsman duly followed that up with a double podium at the Donington Park curtain raiser last weekend.

Buoyed by that recent form – amidst sweltering temperatures at the legendary Brands Hatch GP circuit – Butcher banked his benchmark 1:31.111s lap early in the session and it wouldn’t be beaten for the remainder of the running.

It soon became a double celebration for the Kent squad as Ollie Jackson secured a sensational third place on the grid for tomorrow’s opening race – his best ever qualifying position by some distance having previously held a career-high of eighth.

Halfords Yuasa Racing’s Dan Cammish was completing his first competitive laps of the fantastic 2.43-mile GP circuit since his now infamous title challenge ended in the barrier with just over a lap of the 2019 season remaining. The super-talented Honda racer immediately buried those memories, however, by squeezing his Civic Type R in-between the two Fords and onto the front row of the grid – impressive considering the success ballast being carried onboard his #27 machine.

Jake Hill topped both Free Practice sessions earlier in the day and the MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square driver was a constant threat during qualifying. Such was his pace throughout Saturday, that the local driver was left slightly frustrated to only take fourth in the order. It has been an extremely encouraging day for Hill and his team, however, as they look to bounce back from a challenging opening weekend at Donington Park.

The top four cars on the grid were separated by just 0.055s, highlighting the competitiveness at the head of the field.

The Team BMW duo of Colin Turkington and Tom Oliphant had to make do with fifth and sixth respectively, albeit also with significant success ballast on board the two 3 Series’, but the pairing will surely be contenders come race day. Incredibly, the two BMWs set exactly the same lap times during the 30-minute session.

Senna Proctor (EXCELR8 Motorsport) and Tom Ingram (Toyota Gazoo Racing UK with Ginsters) produced solid laps to end up seventh and eighth in the classification, but both were unable to display top-level one lap pace. Both the Hyundai and Toyota outfits have been towards the sharp end of proceedings so far, but are falling short of a front row challenge at this very early stage of the season.

BTC Racing’s Josh Cook and Tom Chilton completed the top ten positions as they focus on collecting points while the team continue to develop its stealth grey Hondas over the coming weeks.

Notable absentees from the front-running order included Matt Neal (Halfords Yuasa Racing), Adam Morgan (Carlube TripleR Racing with Mac Tools) and Ash Sutton (Laser Tools Racing) in 11th, 13th and 14th respectively, with the latter still struggling having lost time with a problem in Free Practice.

Rounds 4, 5 and 6 of the 2020 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship take place on the Brands Hatch GP circuit tomorrow (9 August) with all the action being screened live and exclusively on ITV4 from 1020.

 

Rory Butcher said: “I was so focused. I believed going into that session I could fight for pole, I really fired myself up and I think I gave everything on that one lap. I don’t think I had anything else in the tank for the second run; you saw everything there.

“The car from the moment we drove it in our first test in March, it was giving me the feedback that it was a competitive package and we didn’t get the most out of it during qualifying at Donington, but I’ve put things right here. First pole position in the new car feels fantastic and I think it just shows what a fantastic job everyone in the team has done designing and building this new Ford Focus ST.

“It’s going to be very difficult in the heat, laying down 2/3 laps like that isn’t easy and, in the race, when you’ve got pressure from the guys behind in your mirrors, it’s only going to make it worse. But I think the key is to stay cool, keep hydrated and try to last the whole day.”

Dan Cammish said: “I’m not going to lie, the first lap out of the pit lane this morning, I had a lump in my throat driving past Hawthorne. I had a good look at the gravel trap and a big deep breath and that was it, we’ve moved on and off we go now. It’s behind me, that was then and this is now. I’ve got a great car under me – a fast car, a great team who’s really supportive and we’re out there giving it our all. There’s no time to dwell on the past in this game, not when you’re up against these guys!

“I’m slightly disappointed. I’m really happy to be second, but can somebody tell me how many times I’ve missed pole by the smallest of margins? I seem to start second quite often by very little. It was a great lap from Rory, I gave it everything. I’ve got to be happy; when you’re dragging 54kg round, you’re going to feel it. So I’m really happy to be starting at the front end and it sets us up well for a positive day.

“Two years ago we won the second race with 75kg, and I think I’m better than then, as is the team, as is the car, so we’ll give it our all tomorrow.”

Ollie Jackson said: “I think my best up until now was eighth last year. It’s been a bit of a funny old day, I struggled a little bit in the free practice sessions, struggling to find the balance and wasn’t that happy with the car. We’ve just come into qualifying, put a fresh set of slicks on it and it’s just been mega, the team’s done a fantastic job. It’s a great result for the team.

“There’s always pressure in the BTCC, it doesn’t matter where you start, and it’s always close. But to have such a great qualifying, it’s a great start to the weekend, it puts us in a safe position to have a really good day out tomorrow.

“I always drive my own races and go for the results I think I can achieve, so it’s great to start in P3. Ultimately we’ve got the pace to be up there so we’ll see what happens.Tomorrow is a different day but we’re in a strong place.”

2020 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Qualifying - Brands Hatch GP

1        Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Motorbase Performance +1:31.111s
2        Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.031s
3        Ollie JACKSON (GBR) Motorbase Performance +0.038s
4        Jake HILL (GBR) MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square +0.055s
5        Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.342s
6        Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Team BMW +0.342s
7        Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +0.416s
8        Tom INGRAM (GBR) Toyota Gazoo Racing UK with Ginsters +0.461s
9        Josh COOK (GBR) BTC Racing +0.550s
10      Tom CHILTON (GBR) BTC Racing +0.573s
11      Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.579s
12      Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +0.618s
13      Adam MORGAN (GBR) Carlube TripleR Racing with Mac Tools +0.647s
14      Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +0.758s
15      Chris SMILEY (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +0.773s
16      Sam OSBORNE (GBR) MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square +0.820s
17      Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) GKR TradePriceCars.com +0.926s
18      Michael CREES (GBR) The Clever Baggers with BTC Racing +0.946s 
19      Jack GOFF (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +0.996s
20      James GORNALL (GBR) GKR TradePriceCars.com +1.082s
21      Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +1.268s
22      Carl BOARDLEY (GBR) HUB Financial Solutions with Team HARD +1.290s
23      Andy NEATE (GBR) Motorbase Performance +1.380s
24      Ollie BROWN (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport Team HARD +2.022s
25      Nicolas HAMILTON (GBR) ROKiT Racing with Team HARD +2.137s
26      Jack BUTEL (GBR) Carlube TripleR Racing with Mac Tools +3.329s

The Honda Civic Type R of Jake Hill seems to be back on form as the Kent driver topped both Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship Free Practice sessions at Brands Hatch.

MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square's young talent endured a tough opening weekend at Donington Park – through a series of unfortunate mechanical issues – but the #24 has been back on song around the 2.43-mile famous Grand Prix circuit.

Halfords Yuasa Racing's Dan Cammish was leading the way until late on, but Hill lowered the benchmark by a significant margin – ending up some 0.463s quicker than the chasing pack.

The pace is still more than half a second shy of the 2018 qualifying lap record, however, suggesting there is still room for improvement when the important stuff gets underway later this afternoon.

EXCELR8 Motorsport continues to impress with its all-new Hyundai i30 N, but this time around it's Senna Proctor on the charge. The Yorkshireman was third at the end of practice.

Rory Butcher experienced the highs and lows of a BTCC session as his Motorbase Performance Ford Focus showed encouraging pace before a front-left tyre issue curtailed his running. The Scotsman was still quick enough for fifth on the timesheets.

"As I apexed at Clearways the car went straight off into the gravel," said Butcher. "I was extremely fortunate to keep it out of the wall!

"The car handles really well. The guys had that in mind when they designed it and it’s competitive with weight onboard too.

"It’s been really cool seeing the car turn from a bare shell to the test in March. As soon as I left the pit lane I knew I had something special."

The manufacturer-backed Toyota of Tom Ingram was sixth, ahead of Team BMW duo Tom Oliphant and Colin Turkington.

The BTC Racing pairing of Josh Cook and Tom Chilton completed the top ten.

Qualifying for Round 4 of the 2020 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship from Brands Hatch will take place at 1520, with all the action being broadcast live from 1510 via www.itv.com/btcc.

2020 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Free Practice 2 – Brands Hatch GP 

1        Jake HILL (GBR) MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square 1:31.255s
2        Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.493s
3        Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +0.472
4        Adam MORGAN (GBR) Carlube TripleR Racing with Mac Tools +0.555s
5        Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Motorbase Performance +0.716s
6        Tom INGRAM (GBR) Toyota Gazoo Racing UK with Ginsters +0.750s
7        Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Team BMW +0.853s
8        Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.879s
9        Josh COOK (GBR) BTC Racing +0.969s
10      Tom CHILTON (GBR) BTC Racing +0.978s
11      James GORNALL (GBR) GKR TradePriceCars.com +0.988s
12      Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +1.086s
13      Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +1.130s
14      Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) GKR TradePriceCars.com +1.156s
15      Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +1.161s
16      Jack GOFF (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +1.200s
17      Ollie JACKSON (GBR) Motorbase Performance +1.293s
18      Michael CREES (GBR) The Clever Baggers with BTC Racing +1.404s 
19      Sam OSBORNE (GBR) MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square +1.442s
20      Chris SMILEY (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +1.569s
21      Carl BOARDLEY (GBR) HUB Financial Solutions with Team HARD +1.605s
22      Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +1.842s
23      Andy NEATE (GBR) Motorbase Performance +2.284s
24      Nicolas HAMILTON (GBR) ROKiT Racing with Team HARD +4.203s
25      Jack BUTEL (GBR) Carlube TripleR Racing with Mac Tools +3.626s
26      Ollie Brown (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +4.203s

The Official BTCC website caught up with Tom Chilton following his P2 finish in Free Practice 1 at Brands Hatch.

The second-best lap time set off the weekend in a hugely positive way for the BTC Racing man, following a challenging season opener at Donington Park, as Chilton will be looking to build on this successful start in FP2 at 1205 and Qualifying at 1520.

Listen below for the full interview...

MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square driver Jake Hill has kicked off his home BTCC weekend in the best way possible by topping the opening practice session at Brands Hatch.

Hill endured a challenging opening event at Donington Park last time out where a couple of engine changes scuppered his chances of scoring well in the season curtain raiser, but the Kent man is aiming to immediately bounce back.

"Last weekend wasn’t the best way to start the campaign," said Hill. "But we know the car is good, everyone knows the car is good and the team was obviously Independents’ Champions last year. They’ve done a great job and so have Swindon to turn it all around and make it all better.

"I’m here to win points this weekend and hopefully, if the engine allows, we’ll do just that."

The Honda Civic Type R driver topped a very different looking top four in FP1 as Tom Chilton (BTC Racing), Rory Butcher (Motorbase Performance) and Senna Proctor (EXCELR8 Motorsport) followed him in the timesheets.

Title protagonists – Dan Cammish and Colin Turkington – were next in the order with the Honda and BMW men evoking memories of their championship battle around the Grand Prix circuit in 2019.

Three-time BTCC champion Matt Neal continued his solid start to the new campaign with seventh overall in the opening run. Neal finish fifth, seventh and eighth in the three Donington Park races last weekend, and whilst not being able to show the ultimate race-winning pace thus far, it is the sort of consistent points scoring that is required to mount another championship challenge. 

The Carlube-backed Mercedes of Adam Morgan was next up in eighth – fresh from his podium in the finale at Donington – as the Lancashire-based squad continue to move back towards the front.

Josh Cook (BTC Racing) and Tom Ingram (Toyota Gazoo Racing UK with Ginsters) completed the top ten.

There was just one incident of note in the 40-minute session when the Audi S3 of Bobby Thompson needed to be recovered after a minor stoppage on the exit of Druids.

Free Practice 2 of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship from Brands Hatch GP takes place at 1205, before qualifying commences at 1520. You can watch the vital qualifying session via www.itv.com/btcc and keep up to date with all the information via the BTCC's social media channels.

2020 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Free Practice 1 – Brands Hatch GP

1        Jake HILL (GBR) MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square 1:31.729s
2        Tom CHILTON (GBR) BTC Racing +0.139s
3        Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Motorbase Performance +0.221s
4        Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +0.246s
5        Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.290s
6        Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.370s
7        Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.396s
8        Adam MORGAN (GBR) Carlube TripleR Racing with Mac Tools +0.489s
9        Josh COOK (GBR) BTC Racing +0.622s
10      Tom INGRAM (GBR) Toyota Gazoo Racing UK with Ginsters +0.629s
11      Ollie JACKSON (GBR) Motorbase Performance +0.797s
12      Chris SMILEY (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +0.857s
13      Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +0.866s
14      Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Team BMW +0.977s 
15      Michael CREES (GBR) The Clever Baggers with BTC Racing +0.992s 
16      Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) GKR TradePriceCars.com +1.075s
17      Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +1.096s
18      Jack GOFF (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +1.216s
19      James GORNALL (GBR) GKR TradePriceCars.com +1.405s
20      Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +1.457s 
21      Carl BOARDLEY (GBR) HUB Financial Solutions with Team HARD +1.843s
22      Sam OSBORNE (GBR) MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square +1.860s
23      Andy NEATE (GBR) Motorbase Performance +1.992s
24      Nicolas HAMILTON (GBR) ROKiT Racing with Team HARD +3.551s
25      Ollie BROWN (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport Team HARD +4.937s
26      Jack BUTEL (GBR) Carlube TripleR Racing with Mac Tools +5.163s

 

Just one week after kicking off the 2020 season, the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship returns to the track this weekend at Brands Hatch's legendary Grand Prix circuit, for rounds 4, 5 & 6.

Following an action-packed weekend at Donington Park, reigning champion Colin Turkington heads to the Kent circuit leading the Drivers' Standings, with Honda man Dan Cammish hot on his heels and Ash Sutton and Rory Butcher proving the Infiniti and Ford Focus ST are definite contenders during this year's campaign.

This weekend marks the second event in the packed and revised 2020 calendar, with the whole BTCC working tirelessly to ensure the high-quality competitive tin-top action can be delivered to fans as they enjoy the entertainment from home at this time.

ITV has a full schedule so that you don't miss any of the action...

Qualifying LIVE: Saturday 8 August
ITV.com/BTCC from 1510

Raceday LIVE: Sunday 9 August
ITV4 & ITV4 HD 1020-1815
ITV4+1 1120-1915
ITV.com/BTCC 1020-1815

Highlights: Saturday 15 August
ITV4 & ITV4 HD 1130-1300
ITV4 +1 1230-1400
ITV Hub Available anytime for the next 30 days

Highlights: Sunday 16 August
ITV4 & ITV4 HD 0845-1015
ITV4 +1 0945-1115

Highlights: Wednesday 19 August
ITV4 & ITV4 HD 2350-0110
ITV4 +1 0050-0210

Motorbase Performance has positioned itself as a title threat after three stunning races for its new fourth-generation Ford Focus during the opening rounds of the 2020 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Donington Park last weekend, and the crew is on the front foot for this weekend’s second encounter at its home track of Brands Hatch.
 
Drivers Rory Butcher, Ollie Jackson and Andy Neate took to the Donington circuit for the opening three rounds in the 27-race contest. Two superb podium finishes from reigning Independents’ Trophy holder Butcher means he is in the heart of the points chase and he is equal third in the overall standings.
 
Jackson, meanwhile, was the first man to lead a race in the brand new car with a superb performance in the third race of the day, collecting two significant points hauls, while BTCC returnee Neate continued his learning in the two-litre turbocharged hatchback and saw the chequered flag in all three showdowns.
 
“There was a lot of pressure on myself and the team, but it is pressure we put on ourselves,” said Butcher. “We wanted to hit the ground running. We had to work away at the set-up after qualifying, but we got the car strong for the races and that reaped rewards.
 
“The pace of the car, particularly in the opening stages of the races, was very encouraging and when we were saddled with success ballast in races two and three, I think we proved that we have a superb car. Being able to pass the factory Honda of Dan Cammish in race two was a real high point.
 
“I hope we can hit the ground running again on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix track this weekend. It is one of my favourite circuits and I want to exploit every chance I get. I am not thinking about points yet, just getting the maximum I can from every session. If I do that, I will be in in the mix at the end of the year.”
 
Fifth place in the final race of the weekend – after a strong run from the front row – also delighted Jackson. He had worked hard with his engineers across the qualifying session and the opening race to unlock some of the handling secrets of the front-wheel-drive car and is keen to put those into practice at Brands Hatch this weekend.
 
“The car’s pace was clear, and we have done a huge amount of learning already,” said Jackson. “We made some changes after the first race and it really clicked. After that, we were making tiny alterations and it felt really strong.
 
“Seeing what Rory did with the car and knowing that I now have a good direction to go in, I can’t wait for Brands Hatch this weekend. It is a fast track with lots of technical sections and it is one of my favourites of the year.”
 
Team principal David Bartrum was delighted that all three of the machines ran trouble-free across the weekend and is looking forward to building on the learning that the team has already done as the field reassembles at Brands Hatch.
 
“First, it was very strange to go to a race with no fans, no gridwalk, no spectators – it really affected the atmosphere and it showed just how important it is to have enthusiasts enjoying the racing with us,” said Bartrum. “Having said that, the BTCC organising team did a great job in keeping us all safe and getting the ball rolling again.

“There were so many positives to take from our on-track performance. There were no issues with the cars at all. When you go to round one, it is like the first day of school: you are catching up with your friends and you are eager to see where you are in the pecking order.
 
“We knew from testing that the car was strong, but it was great to see where we stack up compared to everyone else. Rory was a star and showed that we have race-winning potential almost straight away, and Ollie was knocking hard on the door of a major result. Andy too did a great job, got rid of some of the cobwebs and really increased his understanding of the new Focus.
 
“It is our home race at Brands Hatch this weekend on the full Grand Prix track, which I am delighted that we are doing in August rather than at the end of the year. If we can maintain our momentum, we will look forward to strong results from all three drivers again.”
 
The second Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship of 2020 takes place at Brands Hatch this coming weekend, with ITV4 live from the Kent circuit from 1020 on Sunday. Race 1 kicks off at 1050hrs, with races 2 and 3 at 1330 and 1730, respectively.

Team BMW drivers Colin Turkington and Tom Oliphant made a great start to the 2020 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship campaign, as the squad tops the Teams’ Standings heading into the second event of the season.

After the longest off season on record, the pair of BMW 330i M Sports kicked off the year with numerous accolades during the opening event, including a pole position, race two win and podium finish.

Here’s what the pair had to say ahead of this weekend’s event two action…

"Donington was a really good weekend,” said Oliphant. “To qualify inside the top five, score a podium, have three top-ten finishes and come away with 32 points is a big success - it's the level of consistency I'm striving for all season.

“To qualify inside the top five really set up my Sunday and from there we were in the mix. I had some good battles in race one and it was a confidence boost to secure sixth. Then, to go on to grab a podium in race two and limit the damage in race three is the cherry on top.

“Credit has to go to everyone at West Surrey Racing and BMW because they didn’t miss a beat all weekend. The car has been amazing to drive and I’m feeling really confident moving forward in the coming weeks.

“Obviously it was great to get back racing but it was odd not doing so in front of the thousands of fantastic BTCC fans - hopefully we can welcome them trackside soon. We’ve got a quick turnaround, so the focus immediately switched to Brands Hatch.”

“Nothing surprises me in BTCC!” said Turkington. “Donington Park proved that it's going to be a super-competitive season and the usual big players are all going to be a big threat. In the BTCC you can take nothing for granted and you have to work as hard for 20th position as you do for second.

“You have to just get on with on ballast and approach your weekend with the same pursuit of performance and lap time. It won't be easy, but we're well used to adjusting our expectations for qualifying and race 1 when arriving heavy. It's not so bad if you can get some clear track space and clean air, and in the end, it's all about scoring points at this stage.

“We're not used to such tight turnarounds in the series, but like most things, with a bit of extra planning and the desire to make it happen, anything is possible. For me it has been busy, completing my reports and understanding everything from Donington Park before commencing the Brands preparation, but I'm being careful to fully recover as well. We will carry out our shakedown around the Indy circuit on Friday evening so that will give the team back some time.

“The heat will make things more laboured for everyone, and it’s important to ensure we are prepared to stay cool and hydrated. For the cars, the temperatures can have a significant impact on tyre wear. The rear wheel drive cars love the heat and hot temperatures and normally we can manage our tyres better than the front wheel drive cars. This will become a factor on race day.”

As quickly as we had finished the last Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship weekend, it's already time for a second, as EXCELR8 Motorsport gear up for the next event, at Brands Hatch this weekend (8/9 August).

Riding high off the back of their Donington Park success, the Suffolk-based team had a breakthrough weekend, in which they recorded a maiden independents podium, reverse-grid pole in race three and, most memorably, an overall podium to conclude the spectacle.

Preparing for yet another weekend of excitement, the EXCELR8 squad will be looking to establish themselves at a circuit where they made their debut last year. A top twenty result on their first weekend was a strong start to 2019 and driver Rob Smith would only improve on it during the team's second outing. Chris Smiley and Senna Proctor will be looking to do similar with the Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance, striving to go one better than the second place Smiley achieved at Donington.

At 2.43 miles in length, Brands Hatch GP circuit is one of the UK’s fastest and longest circuits, with the GP loop having a rich history of hosting DTM, the World Sportscar Championship and most famously, the Formula 1 British Grand Prix sporadically from 1964 to 1986. The undulating nature of the circuit ensures it remains a competitors' and fans' favourite and a prestige to win for any BTCC driver.

Nestled in the Kent countryside on a natural bowl of land, the BTCC will be using the longer Grand Prix loop usually reserved for the season finale. Changes to the calendar have meant the shorter Indy circuit will instead conclude the season, resulting in a new challenge for many of the field, racing through the forest during the hot summers noon.

Brands was the site of Proctor's incredible maiden victory in 2018, in which the now 21-year-old mastered the wet conditions in a drive from 27th to first. Weather is set to be slightly drier, but overnight showers could yet see Proctor repeat the success he has been known to produce.

It was a tough first weekend at EXCELR8 for the Yorkshireman, twice running in positions that could have gifted him points, if not for bad luck. His pace though was been very much proven, where he gained the most places of any driver in race three, only falling short in the closing laps. It was a drive that proved that the #18 machine meant business and could be a threat for top tens.

Another driver equally looking to move forward is Smiley. By virtue of the reverse grid draw, the Northern Irishman secured his second pole position at Donington and carried the team’s momentum. Sitting seventh in the championship, Smiley sits a mere 16 points behind points leader and defending champion Colin Turkington, as everything is open in the battle for top spots.

Thanks to Smiley’s points, the new-for-2020 Hyundai recorded over seven-times the amount of points the team scored all last year. Smiley, who also sits third in the Independents Drivers’ Championship will be gunning for further success as the team looks to improve on its third place in the Independent Teams' Standings.

“We were over the moon after last weekend’s result," said Team Owner Justina Williams. "A podium was a fantastic conclusion to all the efforts our team have put in over the winter and in recent months. We now want to carry that momentum forward to this weekend and we’re hoping the back-to-back events help that.”

“It was great to get back racing after so long. Donington repaid the faith we put into Chris Smiley to help bring this team forward and between him and Senna Proctor, I am confident we’ll be standing on the top step soon enough. Brands will provide a different type of challenge for us, but I am confident in our team to prove it wasn’t a one-off.”

Sunday’s racing action can be caught live on ITV4 from 1020, broadcasting to viewers across the nation, with Qualifying available online at itv.com/btcc for fans to tune in to on Saturday from 1510. First Practice at Brands Hatch begins at 0930 on Saturday 8 August.

A number of new features are now live on the official Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship App, providing fans with the opportunity to gain further insight into the series over the course of the 2020 season.

Having introduced fresh video content onto the app during the off-season as part of the 'Race Day with a Difference' series, the Donington Park season opener saw the launch of a new addition to the BTCC’s weekend coverage with a series of short driver interviews exclusive to app users.

The likes of Colin Turkington, Ash Sutton, Dan Cammish and Rory Butcher all featured across the weekend, providing additional insight into their race weekends exclusively for app users.

These driver interviews will now form a key part of race weekends across the remainder of the campaign, particularly on Saturdays, and provide users with additional content while the COVID-19 restrictions are preventing fans from attending race events to catch the action first hand.

Alongside the new video coverage, Donington Park also saw a successful trial of a new live blog facility within the app, featuring text updates from the paddock across the weekend.

The blog facility will return this weekend at Brands Hatch GP and will remain in place for the whole 2020 season; providing further opportunity to grab snippets of information that aren’t available across our other channels, whilst you can also listen to the LIVE audio commentary of every session throughout the weekend.

Finally, the 2020 'FanCam' is also now live to provide you with the chance to share images of how you are following the racing action with your fellow fans – see link for some examples from Donington Park last weekend.

We’ll be sharing some of the best FanCam images on our social media channels across the season, so keep an eye out to see if you are chosen to appear.

The FanCam is available across the season from the Raceday section of the official BTCC app, which is where you’ll also find video content across each of the remaining eight race weekends.