After a weekend without any racing action, the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship returns to the track at Oulton Park, for rounds 7, 8 & 9.

Following an action-packed first two events, the second run of back-to-back race weekends is upon us as the championship heads north, first to the Cheshire circuit of Oulton Park, then Knockhill. Reigning champion Colin Turkington continues to lead the Drivers' Standings, with Ash Sutton hot on his heels and team-mate Tom Oliphant in third, as the contenders tally up the points.

This weekend marks the third event in the busy and revised 2020 calendar, with the BTCC working tirelessly to ensure the high-quality competitive tin-top action continues to 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 22 August
ITV.com/BTCC from 1510

Raceday LIVE: Sunday 23 August
ITV4 & ITV4 HD 1150-1830
ITV4+1 1250-1930
ITV.com/BTCC 1150-1830

Highlights: Wednesday 26 August
ITV & STV 2345-0100
ITV+1 & STV+1 0045-0200
ITV Hub Available anytime for the next 30 days

Highlights: Saturday 29 August
ITV4 & ITV4 HD 0800-0930
ITV 4 +1 0900-0930

Highlights: Sunday 30 August
ITV4 & ITV4 HD 0730-0900
ITV4 +1 0830-1000

Motorbase Performance is ready to turn promise into hard result in the latest rounds of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Oulton Park in Cheshire this weekend (22/23 August).
 
The Kent-based crew is setting off for two back-to-back meetings which will see the trucks roll on directly to Knockhill in Fife the following weekend for the fourth contest in the chase for this year’s crown.
 
Motorbase has already demonstrated it has one of the fastest cars in the line-up this year, despite driver Rory Butcher suffering heartbreak at the previous event at Brands Hatch. A comfortable lead was snatched away in the dying moments of the opening showdown with a puncture. He recovered in the second race of the weekend, securing a fourth-place finish, before another DNF followed in the finale.
 
Team-mate Ollie Jackson equalled his best-ever finish with third in the opener and backed that up with a strong fifth in race two. Jackson also had his share of misfortune with a non-finish in the final encounter.
 
Series returnee Andy Neate continued his reacquaintance with the BTCC with three battling drives, including notching his first points of the campaign in race two. He was comfortably running inside the top ten in race three before a small off.
 
Butcher, who is sixth in the standings heading into the third meeting of the season, says that the Brands problem was a kick in the teeth, but he is very positive about the rest of the season going forward.
 
“I would be lying to say I wasn’t gutted about Brands,” said Butcher. “But we can take some real optimism from the pace we have shown so far. You can do all the testing you like, but the race environment is where it counts and we have shown that we deserve our place at the front. We were on pole and easily able to run at the head of the pack.
 
“We are taking another step with the car in terms of set-up going to Oulton Park this weekend. Oulton is a really challenging track, and with the new avenues of set-up we are exploring, there is every chance the car will be even faster in Cheshire. The work hasn’t stopped and we are learning all the time. There is plenty to be upbeat about.”
 
Jackson laid down a marker with his career-best qualifying performance of third on the grid and was able to capitalise in the opener to turn that into his first rostrum finish of the campaign.
 
“Despite the problems we had, it was a hugely strong weekend,” reflected Jackson. “I scored more points in one meeting that I have done in some entire seasons before.
 
“We were on the front foot from the get-go. I have worked hard with my engineer and we have gone our own way on set-up, which is really working. But there is still so much more to learn about the car – there is a journey ahead of us and I really can’t wait to get back in it.
 
“We can make adjustments to overcome the problems we have had, and I am positive about that. Also, we are going to Oulton Park and then on to Knockhill – two of my favourite circuits of the line-up. I am just eager to get going.”
 
Team principal David Bartrum acknowledged that work done back at Motorbase’s HQ has ironed out any problems and he was relishing the challenge that the next two back-to-back weekends will present.
 
“It was hugely disappointing at Brands Hatch because we want to get our first win and learn more about the car,” added Bartrum. “It wasn’t as simple as a camber change [to fix the problem]: it was the tyre loading problems. The engineers have been working flat out and we have been through the data since Brands Hatch.
 
“In simple terms, it is like a relationship that is fresh and young. We have been testing – the equivalent of dating in our world – then we got to Brands on a really hot day and the car turned around and said to us ‘I have been good to you and faultless out of the box and I have treated you well, but I think now you need to learn a little bit more about me.’
 
“We have done that learning, we have taken the car’s advice, and we have gone away as a group and learned and have got to the bottom of the problem.
 
“We are going to two great venues now in Oulton Park and Knockhill and they will be perfect to get the winning momentum rolling for us.”
 
ITV4’s live coverage of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Oulton Park will start on Sunday at 1150, with the opening race kicking off at 1220.

GKR TradePriceCars.com will hope to build on the solid performance it put in last time out at Brands Hatch, when the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship heads to Oulton Park this weekend for the third event of the year.

The squad produced a strong showing at its home circuit two weeks ago, with series rookie James Gornall picking up points in all three races - including a pair of top ten finishes - and team-mate Bobby Thompson scoring twice himself in the sister Audi S3.

Having secured silverware for the first time this year thanks to Gornall lifting the Jack Sears Trophy at Brands Hatch, the team now makes the trip north optimistic about its chances at a circuit where the Audi has gone well in the past.

That was particularly evident twelve months ago, when Jake Hill secured victory on the road in the final race of the weekend before a post-race penalty dropped him down the order.

Although yet to open his BTCC account at Oulton Park, Thompson has enjoyed success at the Cheshire venue previously, securing podium finishes during his time in the Volkswagen Racing Cup.

Having scored points in four of the six races run so far this season, the 24-year-old is already well on course for the best season of his BTCC career to date and will seek to add to his tally to not only strengthen his Jack Sears Trophy position, but also to move up towards the top ten in the Independents' championship.

While he will be racing the Audi for the first time at Oulton Park, Gornall kicked off what would prove to be a title-winning campaign in the MINI Challenge with victory in the opening round at the Cheshire circuit.

The former British GT title winner was one of the star performers on track at Brands Hatch as he bounced back from a difficult start to his BTCC career, and will look to build on the results he secured two weeks ago to also make strides up the championship order.

Qualifying for the pair will take place at 15:25 on Saturday, with all three races being shown live on ITV4 on Sunday at 12:20, 14:50 and 17:05.

"I’m feeling positive about the weekend and hopefully the weather might be cooler, as those conditions seem to suit our car a bit more,” said Thompson. “I’ve spent some time in the sim since Brands Hatch and that is something that is proving to be really helpful as the model of the car is pretty much bang on. It’s allowing us to trial a few things that we can then try on the car when the weekend comes around, and helps me to get my eye in for a circuit I've not been to for a while.

"Oulton Park is a great track and one I enjoy, although it's a challenge in a touring car as it is so busy and there is always something going on; you can't relax. We know the car is strong at Oulton after Jake's performance last year, but the new cars this year are quick and we have to raise our game compared to last season.

"I’ve started the season well with double scores in both meetings so far and the target this weekend is to get points in all three races and push for the Jack Sears Trophy - that's the end goal. We’ve been consistently in the points, and now we have to push to break into that top ten.”

“Brands Hatch was a great weekend and we were able to build on Donington Park, where we didn’t get chance to show our true potential,” reflected Gornall. “The aim now is to go to Oulton Park and improve again to build on our results last time out.

“I’ve won at Oulton Park previously in the MINI Challenge and also in the BMW Compact Cup so it’s a circuit where I have a good record and one that I really enjoy - although I know that doesn't always mean a good weekend lies ahead.

“The Audi is a proven package around Oulton but the competition is moving on all the time with the new cars on the grid and we have to push hard to take the fight to them. I’ll be working with my engineer on a few things to try and find more one lap pace as we know we have a good race car - we just need to make sure we are starting Sunday higher up the grid.”

Team Parker Racing enjoyed a return to the Kwik British Touring Car Championship podium under hot, sunny skies on the challenging Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit last time out, and now the squad heads to the scene of its last BTCC win – Oulton Park.

Stephen Jelley – who scored a maiden BTCC podium finish for the team at Brands Hatch last year – repeated the feat with a well-earned third place in race three at the Kent circuit earlier this month, after taking two ninth place results in his BMW 125i M Sport in the opening races.

Lining up fourth on the grid for the final contest of the afternoon, the Leicester driver flew off the line into second place and was challenging for the lead before the rapid Rory Butcher and Ash Sutton sneaked past. However, with a problem for the former, Jelley was able to settle into a comfortable third place, recording a great podium finish for the squad.

Hopes are now high for a continuation of form and good results as the team returns to BTCC action at Oulton Park this weekend. Last year was a memorable visit to Cheshire, as Jelley recorded a maiden series victory for the team, and he is aiming to challenge for further podium finishes this time out too.

“It’s been really good,” said Jelley. “I thought we should have done a little bit better in qualifying at Brands Hatch – the car felt great and we did a solid job, but it’s very competitive and some of the front wheel drive guys can take a bit more of a risk and use the scenery to get the lap time.

“In race trim, two ninth places were good and then we built on that with the reverse grid race three. If you can make a nice start and make it stick, then it’s all good. The front wheel drive cars tend to make a worse start, but their tyres switch on faster, so there is a three or four corner window where our front just doesn’t hook up as well.

“I’m really happy that we were able to hang on because Brands GP is not a natural circuit for our car, and we got another podium for Team Parker Racing and another pot for the shelf!

“We won at Oulton Park last year and I think we’re in a better place this time with what we’ve done to the car. Our general level of performance is better so I would hope we would qualify higher up the grid too.

“It is a circuit that is big on brakes and tyres and that’s something we are good at, so we will look to qualify in the top ten. Come the races, it is a real overtaking circuit which suits our car and one where we can really attack to get that podium finish.”

As ever, fans can watch live coverage of all the action on Sunday (23 August) on ITV4 and online at ITV Hub from 1150, with qualifying being shown on Saturday afternoon at www.itv.com/btcc.

Hot on the heels of his first top three finish of the 2020 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship campaign at Brands Hatch, Tom Ingram is aiming to keep the momentum going at Oulton Park this weekend (22/23 August), as the Toyota Gazoo Racing UK with Ginsters star continues his pursuit of the most coveted prize in UK motorsport.
 
The undulating Cheshire circuit is home soil for Northwich-based Speedworks Motorsport – the team that operates Ingram’s #80 Toyota Corolla – and it is somewhere that the 26-year-old Bucks-born ace has always performed well, even claiming his first car racing pole position on his maiden visit to the track in the Ginetta Junior Championship in 2009.
 
From 18 BTCC starts at Oulton to-date, Ingram has achieved no fewer than 13 points finishes and a brace of fastest laps. Moreover, he ran in a podium-challenging position there in 2014 and again last year, only for ill-fortune to intervene on both occasions, in the shape of fuel pressure failure and an accident not of his own making – so there is certainly a record to be set straight.
 
The two-time BTCC Independents’ Champion will return sitting fourth in the Drivers’ standings following a superb performance at Brands Hatch, where he fought his way from eighth on the grid to fourth at the chequered flag in race one before improving to second place in race two.
 
Whilst his race three ambitions were halted on the opening lap, Ingram nonetheless proved the pace and potential of Speedworks’ Corolla – which he intends to exploit to the maximum this coming weekend.
 
All of the high-octane, doorhandle-to-doorhandle action from the country’s premier motor racing series will be broadcast live and in high-definition on ITV4 on Sunday, beginning at 1150.

“Going to Oulton Park, we know we have a fast car in the Corolla – that much was evident at both Donington Park and Brands Hatch – and having shed a little bit of weight due to what happened in race three at Brands is probably no bad thing,” said Team Principal Christian Dick. “When we’ve been in a competitive championship position before going to Oulton, we’ve normally arrived carrying either maximum or near-maximum ballast and we’ve paid the price for that, so to be slightly lighter this year could play to our advantage.
 
“Oulton is obviously Speedworks’ home track, so it’s always a special one for all the boys and girls in the team and whilst the atmosphere will be very different this year without spectators – of all the circuits in the BTCC, this is probably the one where you feel the fans’ support the most – it’s still going to be an incredibly important weekend.
 
“Yes, traditionally Oulton has favoured rear wheel-drive cars, but I’m confident that the work we’ve done with the Corolla both over the off-season and since Donington Park will stand us in really good stead. We’re heading home with a positive mindset – and gunning for glory!”
 
“Eighteen BTCC races at Oulton Park and still no podiums – I clearly need to pull my finger out this year!” added Ingram. “Being serious, though, in recent seasons we’ve generally gone there with a decent chunk of weight inside the car, and if there’s anywhere on the calendar that you don’t want to be carrying much ballast, it’s Oulton.
 
“Not only does the extra weight hurt your qualifying form due to the nature of the lap, but it’s also extremely difficult to overtake there and work your way through the field, so it can condition your whole weekend – as we know from painful experience. Three years ago, we turned up at Oulton leading the championship and scored just a single point, so in a roundabout sort of way, losing a bit of ground in race three at Brands Hatch might have been a blessing in disguise.
 
“It’s a unique circuit – really full-on and incredibly technical – and with every corner feeding into the next you can’t afford to make even one mistake, because it will cost you the whole way round the lap. That’s a challenge I’ve always enjoyed.
 
“Overall, I think we go there in good shape. We made a lot of changes over the weekend at Brands Hatch that resulted in a big step forward, and whilst we missed out on another decent points haul in the final race through no fault of our own, hopefully we’ll be able to recover some lost ground on Speedworks’ home soil.”

Overtaking them on a circuit may not be an option but here is your chance to out-drive the BTCC stars on the fairways instead!

Once again, thanks to series title sponsor Kwik Fit, you and a friend could be teeing-off with a duo of BTCC speedsters – due to be revealed next week – in 9-hole golf challenge ahead of rounds 10, 11 & 12 of the 2020 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Knockhill.

Following the hugely successful ‘Kwik Fit Majors’ challenge prior to the opening rounds at Donington Park, the BTCC and Kwik Fit are excited to continue the feature throughout 2020, with further golfing events scheduled at Silverstone and Brands Hatch. BTCC drivers are already fired up to take part with the likes of Adam Morgan, Tom Oliphant, Senna Proctor and Michael Crees signed up throughout the year.

If you love golf and motorsport then this is the perfect money-can’t-buy experience for you, so if you want to tee-off ahead of a bank holiday weekend bursting with BTCC action then follow the details below…

Date: 27 August
Time: 1pm
Venue: Within 15 miles of Knockhill

To win this exclusive chance to leave the BTCC boys in the bunker AND RECEIVE A KWIK FIT GOODIE BAG all you need to do is like and comment on the BTCC Facebook or Twitter post and to make sure you follow Kwik Fit on Facebook or Instagram.

Terms & Conditions

By agreeing to take part, you are committing to being at the venue stated and time agreed.

1 like/comment on BTCC post plus 1 like/follow of Kwik Fit Instagram or Facebook = one entry. Winners picked at random. The competition will close at 4pm on Friday 21 August.

The winner will be announced via BTCC social media channels the following morning and will receive a separate email that will require a response within 24 hours.  If this does not happen, another winner will be selected. The prize is non-transferrable.

Precautions in relation to COVID-19 are in place but please do observe social distancing and wear a mask when appropriate. Any communal equipment (buggies/trollies etc) will be sanitised by the golf course prior to use. You will need to supply your own clubs.  Face coverings/masks are not mandatory on the course, but we would recommend wearing one if you are in close proximity to others.

Power Maxed Racing has today (19 August) announced their intention to complete the rest of the 2020 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, albeit with one car rather than the usual two.

The Warwickshire-based team will field one of its race winning Vauxhall Astras for the remaining seven events of the season, giving a number of up and coming drivers the opportunity to get to grips with the successful front-wheel-drive machinery.

Mike Bushell will be first up, piloting the Astra at Oulton Park and Knockhill, as part of a development programme the team have put together with the 2x Clio Cup UK Champion.

Bushell is no stranger to the BTCC grid, having scored numerous top ten finishes over the last few years, as well as stepping in for Sam Tordoff during the 2019 campaign.

As an accomplished motorsport engineer, having previously run Tordoff’s Honda Civic, Bushell will be engineering the Astra for the remainder of the 2020 season, also doubling up as driver coach, as PMR look to field a number of highly accomplished British drivers throughout the year.

With Jason Plato confirmed for the 2021 season, as well as all existing team partners, the team is keen to use this year as an opportunity to recognise the talents of a number of drivers from the upper echelons of British motorsport, as well as support the championship through these unprecedented times.

Adam Weaver, PMR Team Principal, said: “Our announcement at the start of the season to temporarily withdraw from the BTCC was, as we said at the time, only intended to be for a few rounds. After just two rounds away from the paddock, and with the grid seemingly stronger than ever this year, we simply couldn’t wait to step back into the mix. We’d like to thank all our fans for their support, and we’re excited to get back out on track and give you what you want to see!”

Mike Bushell said: “PMR have proved themselves as a force to be reckoned with since they started racing in 2015, and I’m excited to be working with them this season. Martin (Broadhurst) and his team have put together a great car, as proven by multiple race wins, and I’m looking forward to both driving and engineering the car, as well as working with the great driver line up they are putting together. I’ve had my eye on some of the names for a while, and I think this programme gives them a unique opportunity to peddle a front running car in the world’s best racing series.”

Halfords Yuasa Racing will be looking to turn its front-running speed into more race wins as the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship heads to Oulton Park in Cheshire for the third meeting of the 2020 season.

Dan Cammish has already secured two front-row starting positions and two victories in his Honda Civic Type R during the opening six rounds.

After two events and six races on successive weekends, in a BTCC season delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Halfords Yuasa Racing team has had a welcome weekend off. This brief break has given them time to fully address the rare mechanical issues suffered by the cars in sweltering hot temperatures during the most recent rounds at Brands Hatch. They will be determined to again head the pack around the challenging 2.23-mile parkland circuit.

At the 2019 Oulton Park meeting Cammish secured two podium finishes, while in the final race team-mate Matt Neal was spun out of a potentially winning position. Both Halfords Yuasa Racing drivers know they can add to the seven victories the Honda works team has previously scored at Oulton Park, and close the gap to BTCC points leader Colin Turkington.

Rounds seven, eight and nine of the BTCC take place at Oulton Park on 23 August and will be shown live on ITV4 from 1150, while Saturday’s (22 August) qualifying session will be live on itv.com/btcc.

“Brands was frustrating for me after such a good start to the day taking the race one win,” said Cammish. “A minor technical gremlin in the second saw me having to limp round after a strong showing and in the third I got a radiator full of grass and dirt taking avoiding action on the opening lap, causing further technical issues.

“I was on the podium at Oulton twice last year, so that will be my target again, but there are some quick guys in some quick cars this year, so I’ll have my work cut out!  My goal is to take as many points off Colin (Turkington) as I can and try and bring home some more silverware.”

“Brands was one to forget for me,” said Neal. “The car was strong, but lady luck wasn’t on my side; that final race of the day though just showed what pace we had when I drove from 25th to sixth. 

“But onwards and upwards to Oulton, which is a circuit I really like, it’s an old-school track and you don’t get a lot of time on a lap to catch your breath. I was obviously on for the win there last year until my now infamous clash with Jake Hill took me out of the race in pretty spectacular fashion.”

Cheshire circuit marks 60 years since its first BTCC race

The whirlwind ride of the 2020 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship roars into Oulton Park this weekend (22/23 August) for its third event in the opening four weeks of the rescheduled campaign.

The visit to Cheshire commences another back-to-back run of events as the UK’s premier motorsport series then travels north to Scotland for its annual visit to Knockhill (29/30 August).  

Delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the action has been thick and fast since with four different race winners from the opening six races, and no fewer than ten drivers stepping onto the podium. 

Reigning champion Colin Turkington leads the standings following a win at both Donington Park and Brands Hatch, complemented by a string of other points-scoring finishes for the Team BMW star.

Halfords Yuasa Racing’s Dan Cammish has also claimed two victories, but the Yorkshireman has been hampered by mechanical issues in a number of other encounters – something that the Honda squad will need to resolve in order to maintain its championship challenge.

Ash Sutton has arguably been the most eye-catching BTCC competitor so far as the 2017 champion launched his switch to Laser Tools Racing with a reverse grid success at the Donington Park curtain-raiser.

Sutton is taking the Infiniti Q50 to places it has never been before, having already scored a first, second and third from the sextet of contests so far, but there is little doubting that the team has worked wonders with the rear-wheel drive machine during the off-season.

Tom Oliphant took a maiden win last time out as he bravely fended off Sutton’s advances for almost the entire race duration at Brands Hatch, and the Tarporley racer will be looking for more of the same at his home race this weekend.

Toyota Gazoo Racing UK with Ginsters’ driver Tom Ingram has been one of the most consistent drivers in the pack – and remains within touching distance of the championship summit – but an unfortunate collision in the final contest in Kent sees him playing catch up. 

Speedworks Motorsport – which runs the Toyota Corolla of Ingram – is based in nearby Northwich and will be chasing its first home podium this weekend. 

“Eighteen BTCC races at Oulton Park and still no podiums – I clearly need to pull my finger out this year!” quipped Ingram. 

“It’s a unique circuit – really full-on and incredibly technical – and with every corner feeding into the next you can’t afford to make even one mistake, because it will cost you the whole way round the lap. That’s a challenge I’ve always enjoyed.”

There have been a host of other standout podium performances from Rory Butcher (Motorbase Performance), Stephen Jelley (Team Parker Racing), Ollie Jackson (Motorbase Performance), Josh Cook (BTC Racing) and Chris Smiley (EXCELR8 Motorsport) during the first two race weekends.

Notable absentees from the rostrum so far include three-time champion Matt Neal and Carlube TripleR Racing with Mac Tools’ Adam Morgan, with the latter also looking to end a barren run at his local Oulton Park circuit.

There will be three thrilling BTCC races taking place on the picturesque Oulton Park Island circuit this coming Sunday, plus a host of support races from Ginetta, Porsche, Mini and Formula 4.

The 12 corner, 2.23-mile circuit will also be marking 60 years since its first British Touring Car Championship event, but will unfortunately be doing so behind closed doors due to the ongoing situation.

The ITV Network will have fans covered, however, with the entire race day being broadcast live and exclusively on ITV4 and the ITV Hub from 11:50.

As the first race-free weekend approaches since the 2020 season began, you can still catch Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship action through the highlights from rounds four, five and six at Brands Hatch’s legendary GP circuit on ITV4 this Saturday (15 August).

Tune in from 1130 tomorrow to catch all the best bits from the second BTCC event of the campaign.

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