The Vauxhall Astra of Jason Plato has topped the timesheets in both free practice sessions ahead of qualifying for Round 25 of the 2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Silverstone.

The Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing star is yet to take a pole position or victory this season, but this weekend suggests this could be his best chance yet.

"I've had a good season so far and made a couple of errors," said Plato. "I firmly believe I should have had two or three wins this season and we've currently got zero. I want to win this weekend, so does Matt (Neal) and so do any number of other lunatics so it's going to be a great race weekend."

As per the opening session, it was Halfords Yuasa Racing's Dan Cammish in second place with his Honda team-mate Matt Neal following him home in third.

Manufacturer-backed Toyota driver Tom Ingram was fourth with BTC Racing's Chris Smiley in a solid fifth – making it three Honda Civic Type Rs inside the top five.

The BMW duo of Tom Oliphant and Andrew Jordan were next in the order, with Knockhill race-winner Jake Hill seventh in the striking Trade Price Cars Audi S3.

Adam Morgan (Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport) and Ash Sutton (Adrian Flux Subaru Racing) completed the top ten positions.

Qualifying for Round 25 of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship takes place at 15:15 and will be streamed live from 15:10 via www.itv.com/btcc.

2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Free Practice 2 – Silverstone

1 Jason PLATO (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing 57.413s
2 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.130s
3 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.162s
4 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Team Toyota GB with Ginsters +0.226s
5 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Racing +0.237s
6 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Team BMW +0.266s
7 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +0.278s
8 Jake HILL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +0.350s
9 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +0.356s
10 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.366s
11 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +0.366s
12 Mike BUSHELL (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +0.380s
13 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +0.434s
14 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.436s
15 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +0.505s
16 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +0.510s
17 Daniel ROWBOTTOM (GBR) Cataclean Racing with Ciceley Motorsport +0.515s
18 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.526s
19 Josh COOK (GBR) BTC Racing +0.534s
20 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +0.570s
21 Jack GOFF (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +0.618s
22 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +0.677s
23 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +0.733s
24 Mark BLUNDELL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +0.746s
25 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +0.926s
26 Michael CREES (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +0.958s
27 Michael CAINE (GBR) Motorbase Performance +0.976s
28 Carl BOARDLEY (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +1.005s
29 Rob SMITH (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +1.352s
30 Sam OSBORNE (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +1.500s

Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing's Jason Plato hit the top during the opening Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship Free Practice session at Silverstone as he edged out title contender Dan Cammish.

Times tumbled as the session progressed with a slightly damp morning eventually giving way to Northamptonshire sunshine, so it was little surprise that Plato left it late to push his Vauxhall Astra to the head of the field.

Cammish's Honda Civic Type R was pipped by just 0.046s, but the Halfords Yuasa Racing man was happy when looking at the bigger picture.

"It's nice to be somewhere near the top," he said. "Everyone is doing their own thing of course and today is all about getting yourself into position. Tomorrow is the important one but we believe the Honda will go well here and at Brands Hatch, so it's all to play for.

"The circuit has been resurfaced and it's got some grip. It's making the car feel really good. It's very nice to drive around here and it gives you a great feeling in the car. It's a matter of just doing a lot of housekeeping, bedding in the tyres then working towards a time and qualifying. We'll see where we get to and it's nice to start somewhere near the front.

"If I go to Brands in this position then there will be a little more pressure. Sleeping the night before might not then be the easiest thing as you're playing through every situaton in your mind. If you don't get the nerves then you're not invested enough - it's natural. We've got this weekend to get through and put us in that position first.

"Changeable conditions make it a lottery for everyone so I'm hoping for one or the other. Variables are great for fans but as a driver you just want consistent conditions. Fingers crossed it's dry!"

2017 champion Ash Sutton went third fastest in the final few seconds as the Adrian Flux Subaru Racing driver relegated Matt Neal's Honda down to fourth. Neal looked particularly racy, however, and the BTCC veteran clearly backed-up Cammish's belief that the Civic Type R will be a potent weapon around the Silverstone National Circuit.

Andrew Jordan (BMW Pirtek Racing), Tom Ingram (Team Toyota GB with Ginsters) and Rob Collard (Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing) were next in the order – the experienced trio with 52 BTCC wins between them suggests they could be contenders come tomorrow.

The top ten was completed by Senna Proctor, as the Adrian Flux Subaru Racing driver looks to continue his good form from Knockhill last time out, and Team BMW's Tom Oliphant.

There was one short stoppage during the session when former Formula 1 driver Mark Blundell's Audi had to be retrieved.

2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Free Practice 1 – Silverstone

1 Jason PLATO (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing 57.731s
2 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.046s
3 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.119s
4 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.136s
5 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +0.152s
6 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Team Toyota GB with Ginsters +0.315s
7 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +0.318s
8 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +0.321s
9 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.345s
10 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Team BMW +0.409s
11 Jack GOFF (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +0.416s
12 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.462s
13 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +0.492s
14 Josh COOK (GBR) BTC Racing +0.535s
15 Mike BUSHELL (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +0.585s
16 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Racing +0.608s
17 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +0.634s
18 Jake HILL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +0.651s
19 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +0.653s
20 Michael CREES (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +0.686s
21 Daniel ROWBOTTOM (GBR) Cataclean Racing with Ciceley Motorsport +0.711s
22 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +0.761s
23 Carl BOARDLEY (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +0.800s
24 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +0.814s
25 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +0.914s
26 Michael CAINE (GBR) Motorbase Performance +0.955s
27 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +0.972s
28 Rob SMITH (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +1.418s
29 Mark BLUNDELL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +1.437s
30 Sam OSBORNE (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +1.468s

Michael Caine will contest the final two race meetings of the 2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season after penning an eleventh-hour deal to re-join the Motorbase Performance squad.

The Newmarket-based racer has been a regular pilot for the Wrotham-based team over the past decade, donning Motorbase overalls numerous times over the years for campaigns in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, British GT, and Blancpain Endurance Series.

Caine also made his BTCC debut in a Motorbase-run Ford Focus ST at Croft circuit back in 2013 and most recently competed in the tin-top series last season.

The former British GT Champion has replaced Nicolas Hamilton, who announced his early departure from the series earlier this week. Caine will race under his customary #44, in a Pro Alloy-backed Ford Focus RS.

The last-minute deal to participate in the final six rounds of the season came courtesy of additional backing from long-term Motorbase partners, Pro Alloy Motorsport, and Caine’s personal backers, Stace, and Sustain Services.

As per championship regulations, the #44 Focus RS will carry 45kg of ballast into qualifying and round 25 at Silverstone this coming weekend.

“It’s well known that Michael Caine is Motorbase through and through;” said Team Principal David Bartrum. “We have an obligation to run the third car for the rest of the season or risk losing our TBL. He’s a safe pair of hands and knows the team inside out so was the obvious choice to jump in at the final hour.

“I’m incredibly grateful to Pro Alloy and Michael’s sponsors for stepping up with support to make this happen.”

“Pro Alloy and Stace have saved the day;” added Caine. “When there was a seat come up with Motorbase to drive a touring car I was always going to be throwing my name in the hat. I didn’t get to finish the season last year, so it’s good to have this chance to come back and finish the job with Motorbase.

“I don’t have any expectations heading into this weekend. I’ll just take everything as it comes.”

“Pro Alloy and Motorbase have had a long-standing relationship for many years and we’re pleased to have been able to escalate our support of the team for the last two rounds of the BTCC season;” commented Managing Director Alex Osborn. “It’ll be a proud moment for us all to see our logo adorned across the side of Michael’s car this weekend.”

Trade Price Cars Racing will seek to build on the success it enjoyed at Knockhill when the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship heads for Silverstone this weekend for the penultimate event of the season.
 
The team secured a first win in the series last time out in Scotland, with rising star Jake Hill taking the chequered flag first in the final race of the weekend.
 
Fellow Trade Price Cars Racing driver Mark Blundell meanwhile secured three solid finishes as he continues his touring car education.
 
Off the back of his maiden win in the series, Hill heads to Silverstone looking to maintain the form that has seen him surpass his previous best points score for the season and break the 100-point barrier for the first time.
 
Hill has enjoyed success around the Northamptonshire circuit in the past in a range of different formula, with victories on the short National Circuit – which will be used this weekend – as he worked his way up the motorsport ladder, and also on the full Grand Prix layout in historics.
 
Buoyed by his victory in Scotland, the 25-year-old will hope to add to his run of points finishes at a circuit that should suit his Audi S3, with his eyes on what would be a fifth top six finish of the campaign.
 
Blundell has plenty of experience of racing at Silverstone during his long and successful career, but will be making his first appearance on the short National layout.
 
The former F1 racer enjoyed a solid weekend in Scotland, which included a fourth top-20 finish of the season in the opening race.
 
Taking plenty of confidence away from the Knockhill weekend after a tough run of form, Blundell will hope to build on his results from north of the border as he continues his quest to push into the points scoring positions for the second time this season.
 
 “I’m still buzzing from the win at Knockhill and am now really looking forward to Silverstone this weekend,” said Hill. “I love the circuit and have had some good results in the past, and I’m really geed up for it.
 
“I think the car should go well around Silverstone and it certainly won’t be one of our bogey circuits. There are a few things that we learned at Knockhill that we plan to try in practice, and it’ll be interesting to see how they go.
 
“I feel a weight has been lifted from my shoulders having taken my first win and I’m carrying a lot more confidence as a result. Hopefully we can push for more strong performances this weekend and I’d like to think we can fight for a top five finish.”
 
“Silverstone is an event that I have been looking forward to all season as it’s such a special circuit to race at,” said Blundell. “The support is always brilliant and the racing is good, and hopefully it’ll be the same during the weekend ahead.
 
“After a good weekend at Knockhill, I’m hoping to keep some momentum rolling into Silverstone and I’d like to think we can get up into the midfield and try to push for some points.
 
“I made up places from the back of the grid at Knockhill and if I can have a better result on Saturday, then hopefully we can race inside the top 20 on Sunday.”

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship enters its penultimate event as it moves to Northamptonshire’s Silverstone National Circuit this weekend (28/29 September) for Rounds 25, 26 and 27 of the 2019 season.

Following an exciting weekend at Knockhill, there are still more than 130 points on the table, meaning Silverstone could present some interesting developments in the Drivers’ Championship.

BMW’s reigning champion Colin Turkington currently heads the pack as we approach the ‘Home of British Motor Racing’, but with only 11 points blanketing the Northern Irishman, West Surrey Racing stablemate Andrew Jordan and Honda’s Dan Cammish, the pressure is on to maintain his lead.

Silverstone has been on the British Touring Car Championship calendar for 60 years, first appearing in the series’ second season – then still the British Saloon Car Championship – back in 1959.

The circuit has played host to countless memorable touring car battles, and is sure to produce another stellar weekend of wheel-to-wheel action. For those not watching trackside, ITV4 will have all of the action covered, live and free-to-air over an eight-hour race day, with qualifying also streamed live.

Silverstone: 28/29 September

Qualifying LIVE: Saturday 28 September
ITV.com/BTCC from 1510

Raceday LIVE: Sunday 29 September
ITV4 & ITV4 HD 1020-1815
ITV4+1 1120-1915
ITV Hub 1020-1815
ITV.com/BTCC 1020-1815

Highlights: Saturday 05 October
ITV4 & ITV4 HD 1030-1200
ITV4 +1 1130-1300
ITV Hub Available anytime for the next 30 days

Highlights: Sunday 06 October
ITV4 & ITV4 HD 0700-0820
ITV4 +1 0800-0920

Highlights: Thursday 10 October
ITV & ITV HD 2345-0100

Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher heads to the home of British Motorsport this weekend for the penultimate race meeting of the 2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season on Silverstone’s National circuit.

The iconic track has been a happy hunting ground for the squad’s Ford Focus which has clocked up an impressive five victories on the 1.64-mile layout. Last season marked the team’s most successful performance to date with an impressive Motorbase 1-2 in the weekend opener.

Tom Chilton leads the Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher duo’s charge once more. Following a strong weekend of results at Knockhill just two weeks ago, where he secured three top-seven finishes on the Fife circuit, 34-year-old Chilton is eager for another solid haul of points as the BTCC nears its climax.

Ollie Jackson endured a rough start to proceedings in Scotland and is hopeful of a more fruitful weekend of results at the Northamptonshire track. Having enjoyed his most successful BTCC weekend to date at Snetterton, the Reigate racer has a rostrum return on his radar.

Team Manager Oly Collins commented; “Silverstone has been a very happy hunting ground for us in the past. Especially last year with our one-two with the Focus RS so we’re hoping for more of the same.

“We had really good pace at Knockhill last time out, and we have very little ballast going into qualifying so we’re positive. But this is the BTCC and like Knockhill, it will be super close over the short lap. We’re running the soft tyre as the option at Silverstone this time around. That could well upset the order a little, but looking at the weather forecast we might not get to see the softs.”

“We were the car to have at Silverstone last year,” said Chilton. “We took a fantastic 1-2 in the first race. The field has moved forward so much this year. If I can get three top-six finishes this weekend, I will be really happy.

“We’re running the soft tyre this weekend which is great news for us. We’re quick on the soft. I think the lap times will be a lot closer between the soft and prime tyre, compared to the hard option. So the racing will be much harder.

“The weather is looking quite unpredictable at the moment, but I think we’ll do better if it rains. I still want to try and get into the top six of the main championship and top three in the Indy standings. I’m confident heading into Silverstone. I do think it will be one of our better weekends.”

“I think the team are looking good for a strong result,” said Jackson. “The Focus goes well at Silverstone and I’m looking forward to the weekend.

“The car has had strong pace all year, so on paper, we have everything in place to get results. Nailing qualifying is an absolute must. If it all goes to plan then I think I’d be disappointed if we’re outside of the top ten. Really we should be aiming for the top five here.”

Rounds 25, 26 and 27 of the 2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship take place on Silverstone’s National Circuit on September 28/29. Live coverage of Sunday’s (September 29) events will be shown on ITV4, ITV4HD and via the ITVhub from 10.20 – 18:15; with itv.com/btcc featuring live timing and streaming of Saturday’s (September 28) qualifying session from 15.15.

BMW’s title-chasing duo Colin Turkington and Andrew Jordan have both promised maximum attack when the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship speeds into Silverstone this weekend, as the nail-biting chase for the most coveted crown in national motorsport intensifies.
 
Team BMW’s Turkington and BMW Pirtek Racing’s Jordan have set the BTCC pace since Oulton Park back in June. Last time out at Knockhill, the pendulum swung one way and then back again on a dramatic day of action in Scotland, with both drivers encountering the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune after blamelessly finding themselves pitched off-track.
 
A victory – an unrivalled sixth of the season – and second-place finish for Jordan ultimately narrowed the gap at the summit of the Drivers’ standings to only ten points to long-time championship leader Turkington. That has set the scene for a battle royale over the final two race weekends, with the top three protagonists blanketed by just 11 points.
 
Turkington remains in charge heading to the ‘Home of British Motor Racing’, and the defending champion has 11 career BTCC podiums to his name at Silverstone. Both he and Jordan are former winners around the Northants circuit and have more silverware in their sights this weekend.
 
Tom Oliphant (Team BMW), meanwhile, twice took the chequered flag inside the points at Silverstone in his rookie BTCC campaign last year, and boasts multiple wins and rostrum finishes there in TOCA support series. The 29-year-old warmed up for the weekend by partnering Sebastian Söderberg to fourth place out of 18 teams in a Pro-Am tournament ahead of golf’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth; with the podium on his radar, he is looking to go at least one place better on the track.
 
All of the race day action will be broadcast live and in high-definition on ITV4 on Sunday, 29 September, beginning at 10:20am.

“Knockhill was a real rollercoaster ride," said Turkington. "Through no fault of our own, we sacrificed a lot of points but we live to fight another day and I firmly believe that out of a setback arises the opportunity for a comeback. With that in mind, I’m very much looking forward to Silverstone. I had a really positive weekend there last year and we’ve been strong and able to hunt out good results everywhere we’ve been so far this year, so I’m feeling confident. The final couple of race weekends of the season are always a little bit different – the formbook tends to go out of the window and it’s a question of grinding out results, and that’s exactly what I intend to do. I’m not focussing on protecting my lead anymore – I’m going out there to properly attack and really enjoy the weekend, and in many respects, that is a simpler approach than keeping a constant eye in your mirrors. Every point will be crucial now and I’ve just got to go for it, which has always been the way I prefer to race. Even with the reduced ballast in the BTCC this year, I still expect qualifying to be tough because the whole grid has tightened up. The extra weight will certainly hurt and shuffle the pack, but my job is to deliver the best lap time I can and then move forward in all three races.”

“I’m definitely fired-up for Silverstone," said Oliphant. "The car felt mega at Knockhill, and I set fastest lap in two of the three races which proved our pace but Lady Luck just wasn’t on our side. Moving forward, I think Silverstone will be a good track for us, and the 3 Series’ dynamics should suit it a bit more than the 1 Series did. It’s a completely different challenge to Knockhill; that was all about throwing the car about, whereas you need to be very precise around Silverstone’s National circuit and can’t really afford to make mistakes. Qualifying well will be important; that’s something I’ve learnt in the BTCC this year, that with everybody so closely-matched, if you want to race at the front you need to start towards the front. With no weight in my car, I really need to make the most of that. I’ve always gone well there and scored a couple of good results last year, and I think we stand a good chance of featuring right up at the front this weekend. I really want to challenge for my first win. I feel like I’ve shown glimpses of what I can do, but it’s not all come together yet. With just Silverstone and Brands GP now left on the schedule in 2019, I’m looking forward to signing off the season on a high.”

“We’re in a proper fight now – it’s game on!" said Jordan. "Up to this stage, I’ve been playing catch-up. I’ve had six non-scores this year compared to just two for Colin – without that, we would be leading the championship but that’s the way it goes sometimes in racing. Knockhill was the first time since before Donington Park that I thought, ‘I can win this, I can 100 per cent win this’. To take 20 points out of Colin’s championship lead was great. The momentum is firmly on our side, and hopefully we can build upon that at Silverstone. When you look at how well we went there last year with weight on-board, I think we have reason to feel confident. It’s obviously very serious because there’s a championship at stake, but I’ve been in this position before and am feeling very chilled about it all. I’ve got a lot of respect for both my main rivals, and it’s certainly going to be an exciting battle for the fans and for us as drivers. I can’t wait! I go to Silverstone aiming to win races. Second or third in the championship simply doesn’t interest me – my sole focus is the title.”

With just six races left in the 2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, Honda driver Dan Cammish is now on a title charge.

Heading into the penultimate meeting at Silverstone this weekend, Cammish and his Halfords Yuasa Racing Honda Civic Type R sit in third in the Drivers' title race, only 11 points down on championship leader Colin Turkington and a single point behind Turkington's team-mate Andrew Jordan. And with more than 20 points available from each of the six remaining rounds, the Honda team is a firm title contender.

Silverstone and Brands Hatch, the latter of which set to host the final three rounds on 13th October, both suit the front-wheel-drive Hondas, whereas the most recent venue of Knockhill favoured the rear-wheel-drive cars of Cammish's two title rivals. Despite this, the Honda man came away from Scotland with his 10th and 11th podium finishes of the year, more than any other driver.

Knockhill produced more of the bad luck that has afflicted Cammish's Halfords Yuasa Racing team-mate Matt Neal this season, contact from another car in the first race effectively ruining his weekend. But Neal will be fired up heading to Silverstone, both to support Cammish's and Honda's title bids and, if possible, add to his record of 61 BTCC race wins, the second highest in the history of the championship. 

“Knockhill was another mega weekend for me,” said Cammish. “Starting second set me in great stead for the rest of the day. The rear-wheel drive cars get more traction off the start, so I lost out to Jordan early on, but managed to keep Turkington behind me and finish third. The second race, I was particularly chuffed with second place and then the third race was a tough one, I wanted to just keep the gap to Turkington and not take any risks that would compromise my championship push.

“That’s 11 visits to the podium in 17 races now, and I'm more determined than ever, coming out of this weekend, to fight for that championship title.”

“Knockhill was an up and down weekend for me,” said Neal. “In qualifying my fastest lap would have put me up the sharp end of the grid but a red flag came out and then I couldn't get clear track time – I was just 0.4 seconds off pole in 10th! Race 1 finished prematurely after contact and that put me on the back foot for the weekend, but the car felt really strong on the soft tyre and helped me to progress to 15th in race 2 and 11th in race 3 to gain valuable points for the Teams' and Manufacturers' championships.

“My title push is over, but we head to one of our 'home' circuits next at Silverstone and I'll be going all guns blazing to help Dan secure as many points at he can for the Drivers' Championship and equally keep adding to the Teams' and Manufacturers' points.”

Tom Ingram is confident of being in the hunt at Silverstone this weekend for the penultimate event of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, as the Team Toyota GB with Ginsters star bids to extend his stellar recent record at the celebrated ‘Home of British Motor Racing’.
 
Ingram has won at Silverstone in each of the past three seasons behind the wheel of the Avensis, with three further podium finishes making him the championship’s highest average scorer around the Northants circuit since 2016.
 
The 26-year-old Bucks-born ace has also twice qualified on the front row of the grid there – on both occasions missing out on pole position by less than three thousandths-of-a-second – and similarly shone in the support series, with multiple victories in the Ginetta GT Supercup and Ginetta Junior Championship.
 
Ingram is now set to give Team Toyota GB with Ginsters’ new Corolla its Silverstone debut – the car already twice a winner in 2019, at Donington Park and Snetterton. The BTCC’s reigning two-time Independents’ Champion has high hopes of adding to his silverware collection this weekend, as he bids to continue climbing the Drivers’ standings from the sixth spot he currently occupies amongst the 31 high-calibre contenders in the UK’s premier motor racing series.
  
“We’ve obviously been very successful at Silverstone in recent years – I think our record speaks for itself – so we know what we need from the car round there,” said Team Principal, Christian Dick. “I have every confidence that we will be quick again this weekend and that the Corolla will be a really strong proposition from the get-go.
 
“After the nuances of Thruxton and Knockhill, it will be good to get back to a more conventional, Snetterton-esque circuit. Qualifying is increasingly important in the BTCC, and around such a short lap as Silverstone, you need to be absolutely inch-perfect if you want to secure a strong grid position – there’s no margin for error at all. That goes for the set-up and engineering side as much as the driver – it’s very easy to find yourself down the order if you don’t get everything together.
 
“Traffic will likely be a factor in qualifying, too, but conversely, there is time to be gained from slipstreaming and being in the tow – track position is a fine art there, and both tactics and Lady Luck often play a part. We will carry some weight into the weekend, but less than half what we had on-board at the same stage last year so that should play in our favour, and I would like to think we can come away again having extended our Silverstone podium run – at the very least.”

 
“I’m feeling excited,” said Ingram. “Looking at all the data, I think we should be pretty competitive at Silverstone. We’ve been fast there in previous seasons with the Avensis – a couple of years ago, we came close to scoring a podium in all three races, which is no mean feat when you consider the current level of competition in the BTCC – and I see no reason why we shouldn’t replicate that strong form with the Corolla.
 
“Silverstone’s National layout is a much bigger challenge than people sometimes give it credit for. You’re literally looking for thousandths-of-a-second, which is something I really enjoy – the pursuit of perfection. For that, you need to have a strong package underneath you, and we’ve always worked very hard to get the car hooked up well there, which has clearly paid off.
 
“The Corolla’s general balance should suit the track, and I think we will be in good shape this weekend. We’re understanding the car more all the time, and it seems to work well at more conventional circuits so we should be in the hunt. A good points haul would put us in the mix to fight for a top five championship finish at Brands Hatch, and that would be a fantastic result to cap the Corolla’s first season.”

Georgie and I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for the messages of support that we have received since announcing the passing of our son Arlo George.

The outpouring of love has been truly humbling, and it’s comforting to know that people are thinking of us, and remembering Arlo George, particularly within the motorsport fraternity.

Our time is now focused on coming to terms with losing Arlo as a family, and a return to the BTCC is not something that I can consider at this point in time.

Shaun and the whole AmD squad have been hugely supportive of our situation, and it was really lovely to see the team celebrate Rory’s first home win at Knockhill last weekend. We know how much that means to them all.

We’d like to extend our thanks to Mike Bushell who stepped up last weekend in very difficult circumstances and to wish him and the whole team the very best of luck with the remainder of the season.

We’re also grateful for the offers of donations in Arlo’s honour, and will confirm fundraising details in due course.