The Championship leader, Jake Hill, has risen to the top of the 2024 standings having taken the most wins of any driver this season with seven. This already betters his win tally of a year ago to which the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport driver has also bettered the amount of podiums he has achieved this season in comparison to last year. What has made Hill's 2024 evermore impressive is that his qualifying average is the lowest of the six drivers in contention for the title; confirmed by his sixth place in the Goodyear Wingfoot award. Showcasing that Hill's race pace this season has been second-to-none and the Brands Hatch local will be looking for one more impressive Sunday at home in the hope of his first BTCC title.

Stats
Races: 27
Wins: 7
Podiums: 13
Pole Positions: 1
Top Tens: 24
Fastest Laps: 3

Video
Hill’s most impressive moment of the 2024 season was arguably his performances at Snetterton with a dominating display of pace across the entire weekend. In race two of the event, the #24 would receive a 10-second penalty for a jump start. Despite this setback, with the penalty applied, Hill would still go on to win by 6.260 seconds in devastating fashion.

Gallery

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK duo Rob Huff and Andrew Watson have their sights solidly set on a strong finish to the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship this weekend (5-6 October), around one of the country’s most iconic circuits.
 
Brands Hatch’s 2.43-mile ‘GP’ layout played host to Formula 1’s British Grand Prix on no fewer than 12 occasions between 1964 and 1986, and in just a few days’ time, it will bring down the curtain on another compelling and utterly enthralling BTCC campaign.
 
Former FIA World Touring Car Champion Huff enters the event sitting eighth in the Drivers’ standings amongst the 22 high-calibre protagonists, only five points adrift of the top seven, which he will be looking to conquer behind the wheel of his British-built, Speedworks Motorsport-prepared Toyota Corolla GR Sport.
 
While the Cambridgeshire ace – coming to the end of his first full season in the UK’s premier motorsport series in two decades – has never previously competed around the ‘GP’ loop in the BTCC, he was three times a podium-finisher there in the WTCC between 2007 and 2010.
 
Team-mate Watson similarly boasts a strong previous record at the track, having triumphed at Brands ‘GP’ in both the Ginetta GT4 SuperCup – twice – and the Silver Cup category of the GT Series Sprint Cup. The Northern Irishman – the BTCC’s outgoing Jack Sears Trophy winner – also reached the rostrum there in Ginetta Juniors, and is targeting another champagne celebration this weekend after his promising pace this year has all too often been undone by ill-fortune.
 
Following Saturday afternoon’s qualifying session at 15:40 – streamed on ITV Sport’s YouTube channel – every moment of Sunday’s doorhandle-to-doorhandle action will be broadcast live and in high-definition on ITV4, beginning at 10:30. All three races will additionally be shown on the ITV Sport TikTok channel, in the UK and globally.
 
Christian Dick, Team Principal, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK, said: “The BTCC season finale is always an enjoyable weekend, whether you’re fighting for a title or simply aiming to sign off on a high. While we’re not in championship contention this year, that is very much our goal for 2025 so the focus is firmly set on a strong end to the campaign to send us into the winter break with momentum on our side.
 
“The Corolla has gone well around the ‘GP’ layout in the past, achieving a number of podium finishes there in recent years. It has also won at five very different circuits already this season, and there is no reason at all why Brands Hatch should not be the sixth.
 
“Despite being the third-longest lap on the calendar, we fully expect qualifying to be as close and competitive as ever, and we will need to make sure we are on-point and on-track at the right moment to get ourselves as far up the grid as we can. The weather clearly has the potential to throw a curveball into the mix too, so it will be vital to react swiftly and sensibly to changing scenarios, and then keep our noses as clean as possible as we navigate the inevitable chaos, twists and turns of BTCC finals day!”
 
Rob Huff, Driver, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK, said: “Where has the season gone?! It’s wild that we’re at the final weekend already, but what a season it’s been! I’m really looking forward to going back to Brands Hatch, especially on the legendary ‘GP’ loop, which is a hell of a track! It’s brilliant, and pretty much a combination of everything we’ve seen so far this year, which should make for a very exciting finale.
 
“For me, the circuits where you can really stretch the car’s legs are more enjoyable to drive and tend to generate better racing. It’s also very easy to make a mistake out the back of the lap through the high-speed sections with all the bumps and kerbs – you really need to show them some respect.
 
“Weather-wise, we’ve had a fair bit of rain recently, and being Brands Hatch in October, I don’t expect any different this weekend! We learnt a lot at Silverstone in the wet conditions, which should hopefully stand us in good stead and we seem to be strongest when it’s either fully wet or fully dry, so that’s what we want – Option A or Option B, and nothing in-between!
 
“I really want to go out and get a win in the final event, and while the top six positions in the championship are beyond reach, seventh is still up for grabs. That in itself might not be anything to write home about, but it would obviously be nice to move up a place to end my first full season back in the BTCC on a positive note and give ourselves something to really build upon in 2025.”
 
Andrew Watson, Driver, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK, said: “I’m really looking forward to the weekend. Brands Hatch ‘GP’ is a great track that I think everybody enjoys, and coming from such a short and compact circuit as Silverstone’s ‘National’ layout, it poses a completely different kind of challenge.
 
“It’s very tight and fast out the back, with blind apexes and exits and not much margin for error, and it can be a tricky place to get right. So much of it is about momentum, and you need to have a lot of confidence in the car to really extract the best out of the lap.
 
“Hybrid will make a bit of a difference in qualifying; we’ve seen that all year, so we have to make sure we really maximise our full allowance. As ever, it will be a case of using free practice to figure out where we can get the most bang for our buck, and then exploiting that in qualifying.
 
“It’s been a difficult season, but we’ve shown good pace at times; we’ve just struggled to translate it into solid results. We know we can qualify up towards the front – what we need is to convert that into good finishes, and there’s no reason why we can’t. We have nothing to lose, and one thing’s for sure – both myself and the team will be giving it our all to end on a high.”

The 2022 BTCC Champion Tom Ingram has taken a vastly different approach to the 2024 campaign to the 'pointsy' approach of 2023. Last year Ingram took home two victories but a combined 17 podiums in order to keep his title hopes alive. In this season, the #80 has already amassed three more victories and is four podiums shy of his efforts of 12 months ago with three races remaining. Heading into the finale tied on points, and therefore amount of hybrid, with Jake Hill could prove pivotal with Ingram having the better average qualifying position across the season so far. All is to play for in what has been a stunning year from the Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS driver.

Stats
Races: 27
Wins: 5
Podiums: 13
Pole Positions: 4
Top Tens: 23
Fastest Laps: 6

Video
Ingram’s most significant moment of the 2024 season was arguably not even one of his five victories but his fantastic charge through the field at Donington Park GP in race three. The 2022 Champion would start the race from 19th and make his way to second in testing conditions. The performance was stellar, similar to a drive at Silverstone a year prior which would also keep Ingram firmly in the title battle.

Gallery

Goodyear tyre choices will play a key role this weekend as Brands Hatch hosts the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship finale, where both the drivers’ championship and Goodyear Wingfoot Award will be decided.

Returning to the Kent circuit after racing on its shorter Indy layout in May, but moving to the twice-as-long GP circuit, the last round of the season promises exhilarating racing. Having shared the wins last time out at Silverstone, Jake Hill and Tom Ingram head to Brands Hatch tied at the top of the drivers’ championship. But, with a further four drivers also still in contention for championship glory, an exciting battle is promised across Sunday’s three races.

Three different slick Goodyear tyre compounds have allowed teams to take a wide variety of strategy options throughout the season, facilitating this year’s season-long close racing. This weekend, teams are allocated one set of soft and two sets of medium tyres for the race weekend, with the option to choose three sets of carryover tyres from previous rounds for practice and qualifying, just as they did at recent events at Donington Park and Silverstone.

Goodyear Wingfoot Award to be decided on Saturday 

Before the 2024 BTCC champion is crowned on Sunday, attention will be on the Goodyear Wingfoot Award during Saturday’s qualifying session. Drivers have been accumulating points towards the trophy all season based on their qualifying positions, and two-time winner Colin Turkington currently leads the standings with an 11-point lead over Ingram. With 20 points on offer for pole, either could bring home the 2024 trophy.

Team BMW’s Turkington won the Goodyear Wingfoot Award in 2020 and 2021, before Hill took home the 2022 trophy. Last year, Ashley Sutton became the first non-BMW driver to win it. 

Michael Butler, Goodyear’s BTCC Event Leader, highlights the added strategic variable posed by the free tyre allocation: “This weekend’s finale will be a test of strategy and execution. Teams have been playing a season-long game of chess in their approach to tyre allocations to best prepare for this round as having the right carryover tyres on Saturday will help secure a good grid position and points towards the Goodyear Wingfoot Award.

“With trophies on the line at a demanding circuit like Brands Hatch, each decision could make a huge difference for drivers. We’re looking forward to some close racing to round out another thrilling season.”

Ashley Sutton praises Goodyear tyres while looking ahead to his “best” circuit 

One driver who is particularly looking forward to this weekend’s races is defending champion Sutton. The NAPA Racing UK Ford driver rates the longer Brands Hatch layout as his favourite track and he won two of the three races there 12 months ago.

“Brands Hatch GP has always been, and probably will always remain, my best circuit,” he says. “That’s not just based on the result, but the sensation of being around the back of the circuit when you are really at the limit of the car. When racing on such an intense track you are putting a massive amount of trust through whatever tyre compound you are on.”

Praising the Goodyear tyres he adds: “Whether it’s a soft, a medium, or even the hard, it’s such a thrill to be out there. But then when you have a championship on the line and you are living life on the edge, it’s really exciting.”

Goodyear Wingfoot Award current top five:

Position	Driver	Points
1	Colin Turkington	129
2	Tom Ingram	118
3	Dan Cammish	105
4	Ashley Sutton	104
5	Josh Cook	96

Dan Zelos will hope to maintain his impressive run of results since joining the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship grid after being confirmed in the Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS line-up for the Brands Hatch season finale.

Zelos stepped up into a race seat with the EXCELR8 Motorsport-run squad at the eleventh hour for the event at Donington Park, and was then able to secure the backing needed for a further outing at Silverstone last month.

The latter weekend saw the three-time Vertu MINI CHALLENGE champion power his Hyundai i30 Fastback N to three top ten finishes, which was enough to see him secure weekend honours in the Jack Sears Trophy against rivals who have been out on track competing all season.

Silverstone had been set to mark the final outing for Zelos in the series this season, with his expectation being that he would return to his MINI CHALLENGE role with EXCELR8 for then Brands Hatch weekend.

However, hard work in recent weeks has not only allowed Zelos to retain his place on the BTCC grid for a third successive weekend, but has also ensured that his MINI JCW will also be out on track in the hands of a substitute driver.

Dan Zelos said: “I honestly didn’t think Brands Hatch in the BTCC car is something that I would be talking about, but here we go again!” he said. “I walked away from Silverstone with my head held high after the weekend we had, and I felt proud to have put on such a strong performance on track and to have secured a trophy in only my second weekend.

“As I’ve said all along, getting onto the BTCC grid for me has been the realisation of a dream and I’m delighted that the dream now goes on to a third weekend.

“I really hope I can finish off what has been amazing year in style, and a huge thank you has to go to EXCELR8, Bristol Street Motors, Vansdirect, Hansford Sensors and all other sponsors for helping to make this possible. Let’s go out there and do it!”

Team Owner Justina Williams was delighted to confirm that Zelos will retain the seat for the season finale.

“After the performances he has put in over the last two weekends, there was no-one we wanted in the car more than Dan for Brands Hatch,” she said. “Stepping into a series like the BTCC in the middle of a season is a big ask, but he has done an amazing job and has really shown his talent on the biggest stage.

“There is no doubting the fact that this is a huge weekend for us as a team with a championship title on the line, and we know that Dan can be relied on to do his part to help us achieve the success we are aiming for.”

It was a trip to the races for five lucky Kwik Fit apprentices and their managers at Silverstone recently as they were selected to head to Silverstone for a day of BTCC action. This exclusive event was curated to showcase how exciting a career in the automotive industry can be.  

The apprentices took a tour around the paddock of Britain’s most famous motor racing circuit – home of the Formula 1 British Grand Prix – which included garage talks, medical demonstrations, sim racing and media training.

Kwik Fit is the leading provider of automotive apprenticeships in the UK, with its programme ranked as Outstanding by Ofsted. Over 4,000 people have started their automotive careers on a Kwik Fit apprenticeship, with many progressing to a wide range of senior roles, both within Kwik Fit and with other companies in the sector.

The first stop was Goodyear, the BTCC’s official race tyre supplier, where the apprentices got a truly immersive experience preparing a tyre from scratch. They were walked through each step of the assembly by the technicians to create a tyre fit for race day.

TOCA medical were next on the agenda with a module packed full of life saving activities for both on and off the track. This included fire extinguisher training, CPR and defibrillator use and wound dressing. 

It was then over to Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport where the apprentices got a fully comprehensive tour of Jake Hill’s title-chasing BMW 330e M Sport prepared by West Surrey Racing. The championship leading car was met with excitement as key elements of the car were explained including the engine, hybrid system and bodywork. 

After a bite to eat and going head-to-head on the racing simulators, it was time to take a trip to the pitlane for two more garage talks. The first was provided by NAPA Racing UK where they hosted a road car vs BTCC race car comparison and explained the key differences that go into a championship contender. 

This was swiftly followed by a tyre changing challenge with Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing where, alongside driver Aron Taylor-Smith, they competed against each other for the fastest pit stop time.  

The final elements of the day included modules run by senior figures in the BTCC paddock, including Technical Director Sam Riches, who explained the responsibilities of TOCA Technical. BTCC presenter Alan Hyde also gave an insight in approaching the media as it’s not only drivers who are asked for comments over a race weekend.

Despite the jam-packed schedule, there was still time at the end of the day to enjoy the BTCC support package action including the ROKiT F4 British Championship, Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain and The Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE Trophy.  

Chris Littlewood, Kwik Fit Apprentice Coach, added: “This opportunity is really exciting for them all, these apprentices won our internal competition based off their performance, so they represent some of our best talent.

“Kwik Fit are really big on internal promotion and building from within – even myself started as a tyre fitter when I was 18 years old – so the scheme and days like this provide them with the best opportunity to build their career within Kwik Fit and the automotive industry.”

Michael Butler, Goodyear BTCC Event Leader, said: “The apprentices took to the challenge very well and what’s impressed me the most is how enthusiastic they are. It’s great that the next generation of fitters are engaged and eager to learn.

“I did an apprenticeship as well, so I think it’s the best way to start your career. It’s a brilliant way to teach skilled trades to the workforce and I’m proud that Kwik Fit are offering schemes that support this.” 

Kwik Fit apprenticeships are available across the country, with programmes starting throughout the year. Those interested in applying for an apprenticeship at Kwik Fit should visit www.kwik-fit.com

Over the past month, Un-Limited Motorsport has worked closely with Motorsport UK and Girls on Track to deliver proposals that encourage females to explore careers in motorsport. The collaboration began with an event at Motorsport UK's headquarters, where over 50 young women arrived to discover opportunities in the sport. Members of the Un-Limited team along with Hugh Chambers, Motorsport UK CEO, spoke at the event on the upcoming initiatives.

Following on from the event, six members from Girls on Track took part in a hands-on work experience programme with Un-Limited Motorsport at the BTCC event that took place at Silverstone. To which valuable experience was gained with insights into race operations, team dynamics, and the overall motorsport experience. Due to their impressive performance, two participants will continue with Un-Limited Motorsport for the remainder of the season, further honing their skills.

Looking ahead, Un-Limited Motorsport plans to build on the success of these initiatives, with more opportunities for young women in motorsport currently in development. Through this partnership, Un-Limited Motorsport aims to create lasting change within the TOCA paddock and beyond.

Hugh Chambers, Motorsport UK CEO, said: "Experience like this is essential because it allows you to see which pathway you truly want to pursue. Motorsport is a highly competitive field, and succeeding is about getting the work in now, then being able to enjoy the work-life balance in the future. Sport, in its purest form, is a competition about who’s willing to work the hardest.

"We look for a high level of engagement when recruiting, not just the words on a CV or the qualifications someone has. It's often a tricky decision whether to take an applicant with a degree from a Russell Group University or someone with three years of paddock experience.

"It’s the people skills that get people the furthest. Being able to polish interpersonal skills to captivate potential employers is critical. Exhibit your qualities; make your best skills shine. If you think you're the best in the world at something, show it. Bring that idea alive. Just get out there, go to events. You never know who you’ll meet or what opportunities will arise."

Tom Grainger, Team Principal of Un-Limited Motorsport, notes: "Our collaboration with Motorsport UK through the Girls on Track initiative is about more than just racing. It’s about creating a supportive environment where everyone has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background. This initiative is a step toward breaking down barriers and demonstrating that there’s a place for everyone in motorsport. The potential we’ve seen from these young women is truly inspiring.

"Commitment to diversity must go beyond words and promises; it’s about taking action now to build a future where talent, not gender or background, defines success."

The four-time BTCC Champion Ashley Sutton has taken a vastly different approach to the 2024 campaign to the record-breaking title year of 2023. After going from 12 victories a year ago, Sutton heads to Brands Hatch having two to his name. Consistency has been the key to the current #1's campaign having only missed out on scoring on three occasions. Despite the downturn in wins this season, the NAPA Racing UK driver is only 33 points behind with 67 on offer.

Stats
Races: 27
Wins: 2
Podiums: 13
Pole Positions: 0
Top Tens: 22
Fastest Laps: 5

Video
Sutton’s most significant moment of the 2024 season was arguably his fantastic charge through the field at Thruxton in race three. The first of the #1's two wins in 2024 saw the Ford Focus ST start from fourth before falling to eighth after the first corner. The reigning champion would go on to fly through the field to take home the first victory of his season.

Gallery

The 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship concludes at Brands Hatch (5/6 October) with a tense title battle looming, here’s all the information you need to know to keep up with the action…

A thrilling yet soaked weekend at Silverstone last time out left the six stars in the championship battle continuing to keep themselves in contention while navigating the testing conditions.

Tom Ingram would take his fourth BTCC pole on the Saturday after Árón Taylor-Smith was disqualified for failing to pass the post-session ride-height checks. Colin Turkington, Dan Cammish and Josh Cook would fill the three spaces behind Ingram looking to take advantage as the furthest from contention in the championship.

Ingram would go on to win the opening contest from lights to flag but not without pressure as the top three were separated by 0.771 seconds across the line. Race two saw conditions that benefited the BMW's as Jake Hill would win ahead of Turkington by 0.822 seconds as the duo held a gap of 4.562 seconds to Cook in third.

The final bout would see the red flag fly as the rain became torrential at the Northamptonshire-based circuit. Before the stoppage Turkington fell foul to the conditions and found himself out of the race at Becketts. Ingram would lead Ashley Sutton and Cook over the line as all six drivers remain in contention heading into the final weekend...

This weekend’s race day action will feature on the home of the BTCC, ITV4, from 10:30 on Sunday (6 October) while the ITV Sport YouTube page is scheduled to host qualifying AND SUPPORT RACES on Saturday (5 October) from 13:45-17:15.

Worldwide, this weekend's races will feature live on the ITV Sport TikTok account, going live on the green flag lap before each race begins. Each race start time is currently as follows; 11:25, 14:40 and 17:30.

Check out the full TV schedule below, which includes all the information you need to catch ITV’s highlights programmes from the opening rounds.

Qualifying LIVE: Saturday 5 October

ITV Sport YouTube from 13:45-17:15

Race Day LIVE: Sunday 22 September

ITV4 & ITV4 HD 10:30-18:45

ITV4 +1 10:30-19:45

ITVX 10:30-18:45

TikTok (UK times listed) Race 1: 11:25 - Race 2: 14:40 - Race 3: 17:30

Highlights:

ITVX 24/7

Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing are aiming to close out the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season in style at Brands Hatch this weekend (5-6 October).

Bringing the curtain down on a memorable year of racing in the UK’s premier motorsport series, the Worcestershire-based team go into the final three races of the campaign having secured an unassailable lead in three different championships.

Árón Taylor-Smith tops the Independent Drivers’ Championship last time out at Silverstone while teammate Mikey Doble did the same in the coveted Jack Sears Trophy. And between them, their season-long efforts have also left them primed to take the honours in the Independent Teams’ Championship.

With a career-first BTCC title ready and waiting, Irishman Taylor-Smith heads into the season finale eager to make one last appearance on the outright podium; with his sights firmly set on a long-overdue return to the top step.

Doble meanwhile has been one of the breakout stars of the season with a maiden overall podium at Oulton Park being bolstered by multiple Independent wins and domination of the Jack Sears Trophy.

Having already secured the latter, the 25-year-old will be eager to close out his sophomore season around the 2.433-mile circuit with a trio of solid results and potentially another visit to the rostrum.

Qualifying at Brands Hatch will be broadcast on the ITV Sport YouTube channel on Saturday from 15:40 before all three races are aired LIVE on ITV4 on Sunday. Race one is scheduled to begin at 11:30 ahead of race two at 14:45 and race three at 17:35.

Árón Taylor-Smith: “Going into the final race meeting of the season is always special but this time around it feels even more significant - especially given what we as a team have achieved winning three championship titles.

“The Grand Prix circuit is a real favourite of mine and it holds fond memories as it was there, more than a decade ago, that I won my first BTCC race. Since then I’ve always gone well and have had podiums and other top results.

“I feel like we’ve taken a real step forward with the car from last year so I’m excited to see what we can achieve. It would be great to sign off the season with a proper result in front of what is going to be a huge crowd!”

Mikey Doble: “To be going to Brands Hatch knowing that I’ve got the Jack Sears Trophy wrapped up is a great feeling; it almost feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders as it’s been my sole focus all year.

“It’s very rare that you have the opportunity to go out and compete at this level for the pure enjoyment of driving but all of our hard work throughout the season means that we can do just that this weekend.

“The car should be strong, especially around the Grand Prix section, so I’m confident that we can qualify on the first few rows and then hopefully be in the mix for some podiums. It’s going to be a weekend to remember that’s for sure.”

Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager: “This season has been fantastic and we head into the final three races with both momentum on our side and in the knowledge that we have wrapped up the three titles that we were chasing.

“Over the course of the year we’ve really progressed the car and I’d go as far as saying the Vauxhall is as good as it has ever been. That bodes well going to Brands Hatch as its a circuit that has always been well-suited to the Astra.

“Everyone is determined to end the year on an even bigger high and it’ll be great to watch Árón and Mikey be able to race without any pressure. If we can get back on that podium - before the prize-giving presentation - that would be brilliant.”

Adam Weaver, Team Principal: “It’s been a brilliant year for the whole team and the focus is very much on finishing it off at Brands Hatch with the only thing that has alluded us so far - a race win.

“Whilst we don’t need it to celebrate what has been a great season, we want it badly and it would be the cherry on the cake. The pressure is off Árón and Mikey so we’ll be giving it everything across the final three races of the season.

“I know that there are drivers that will be going for the Drivers’ Championship but they can still achieve that by finishing second to us. We’re highly motivated and feel more than ready for one last big push.”