The 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship returns after the mid-season break this weekend at Croft (26/27 July), here’s all the information you need to know to keep up with the action…
The 2024 grid headed to Oulton Park over a month ago for the fifth weekend of the season to cap off a rollercoaster start to the season. The strategy across all three races proved pivotal with a vast difference in grip across the soft and hard compound.
Tom Ingram made the most of the conditions on Saturday to take pole for the third time this season but it would be Jake Hill that would make the most of the Sunday. The Kent racer would win the final race of the day and on the final lap to add to the drama. Off the back of his career-best two-round points haul, Hill would head into the summer break as the championship leader.
As we head into the second half of the season, there have been some line-up changes for teams and drivers during the off-season and across race weekends, it’s all to play for in 2024. To see all of this year’s line-up, click here.
This weekend’s race day action will feature on the home of the BTCC, ITV4, from 11:15 on Sunday (27 July) while the ITV YouTube page will host qualifying on Saturday (26 July) from 14:55.
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; 12:05, 14:45 and 17:00.
Check out the full TV schedule below, which includes all the information you need to catch ITV’s highlights programmes from the opening rounds.
Manufacturers/Constructors Championship: The story so far
The 2023 Championship was won by Ford/Alliance Racing but it was not as easy as its other triumphs. Despite scoring 802 points the Northampton-based outfit only won by four points to BMW. The two outfits are back once again along with the strengthened competition from Hyundai/EXCELR8 Motorsport and Toyota to form a tense title charge.
Donington Park National - Rounds 1-2-3
It would be last year's runners-up that would leave the first weekend on top after recording the only 30+ point race of any outfit in the final race of the day. BMW went into the final race of the day tied on points with Ford/Alliance Racing before getting a seven-point buffer.
Hyundai/EXCELR8 Motorsport had started the day as well as it could as it lead both teams above in the standings after race one. Then a one-car score even with an outright win in race two saw the team drop to third in the standings. The full new driver line-up at Toyota embedded in to come away from the opening weekend ten points behind the outfit ahead of them.
Manufacturers/Constructors Championship - Event 1
1 - BMW - 87
2 - Ford/Alliance Racing - 80
3 - Hyundai/EXCELR8 Motorsport- 72
4 - Toyota - 62
Brands Hatch Indy - Rounds 4-5-6
The second weekend of the year saw all outfits raise the game to another level as BMW equalled its highest points haul in a race from Donington as all other competitors bettered their own. As the bar was raised, the gap at the top shrunk as Ford/Alliance Racing had closed the gap to two points by the end of the weekend.
Hyundai/EXCELR8 Motorsport had also closed the gap to the top with nine points to the Northampton-based outfit and 11 to BMW. Toyota did not match the level of the rest as it scored its highest points haul in a race in the opening race of the weekend before the points tally lowered race-on-race.
Manufacturers/Constructors Championship - Event 2
1 - BMW - 163
2 - Ford/Alliance Racing - 161
3 - Hyundai/EXCELR8 Motorsport - 154
4 - Toyota - 118
Snetterton - Rounds 7-8-9
Snetterton was a weekend of change as the Championship lead took a turn along with the weather being as unpredictable as ever. Ford/Alliance Racing climbed to the top of the standings as it outscored BMW in every race across the Norfolk event.
Toyota outscored all competitors with the best race of any team across the season in the final race of the weekend. This was after race two was also its best round of the season so far. Hyundai/EXCELR8 Motorsport had its worst event so far as the adverse weather left the team making some unsuccessful opportunistic strategy moves.
Manufacturers/Constructors Championship - Event 3
1 - Ford/Alliance Racing - 242
2 - BMW - 236
3 - Hyundai/EXCELR8 Motorsport - 223
4 - Toyota - 202
Thruxton - Rounds 10-11-12
The fastest circuit in the UK saw Ford/Alliance Racing make the first breakaway of the season as the team failed to register a sub 30-point race. Along with the consistently strong results they also achieved what Toyota had at the last event in getting a maximum score in a race.
All gaps began to grow as BMW found itself 23 points adrift from the top with Hyundai/EXCELR8 Motorsport a further 33 behind. After going from its best, Toyota had its worst weekend of the season so far as the Manufacturer sat 33 points behind third to sit in fourth and 89 from the top of the table.
Manufacturers/Constructors Championship - Event 4
1 - Ford/Alliance Racing - 341
2 - BMW - 318
3 - Hyundai/EXCELR8 Motorsport - 285
4 - Toyota - 252
Oulton Park - Rounds 13-14-15
As the summer-break approached there was one last event to navigate before the wait for on-track action would begin. Ford/Alliance Racing would hold onto its advantage despite bringing home its lowest scoring result in race three. BMW would close in to the top as every team had one race of 30+ points.
The gap between BMW and Hyundai/EXCELR8 Motorsport would grow by 12 points as the former would hold a 45 point advantage heading into the mid-season break. Toyota would close in on third place whilst still falling back from the lead.
Manufacturers/Constructors Championship - Event 5
1 - Ford/Alliance Racing - 419
2 - BMW - 395
3 - Hyundai/EXCELR8 Motorsport - 350
4 - Toyota - 325
The 2024 season so far: Oulton Park
As we approach the second half of the season we take a look back at the most recent round to see exactly how the championships stand after the weekend in Cheshire unfolded...
Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport's Jake Hill ended a sensational day of Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship racing by making a last lap move for victory at Oulton Park, as the BMW star moved to the summit of the standings.
Basked in glorious sunshine throughout the weekend (22/23 June), the relentless pace kicked off on Saturday as Tom Ingram obliterated the existing qualifying lap record to take pole position.
The Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS’ racer duly backed that up with victory in the opener, before Josh Cook supremely surged through the order to win the second contest – his first triumph since the 2022 campaign.
Ash Sutton initially relinquished the standings advantage to Ingram after race two, as the reigning champion endured a disastrous day in Cheshire, before Hill became the third championship leader on the same day with his heroics in the reverse grid race.
Hill tops the order by four points from Ingram, with Sutton dropping a further 20 points back. Dan Cammish, Josh Cook and Colin Turkington are next in the order with the latter also enduring a challenging outing at a circuit that has often been so kind to him.
Alliance Racing/Ford and its NAPA Racing UK outfit hold sway in both the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ and Teams’ championships.
Mikey Doble and Árón Taylor-Smith scored the first ever overall double podium for Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing with its drivers and team also dominating the Independents’ and Jack Sears Trophy honours.
The BTCC returns with the action resuming at Croft in North Yorkshire on 27/28 July.
Ingram holds off Sutton to secure 30th BTCC win
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS' Ingram held off title rival Sutton in the Oulton Park opener to secure a fantastic 30th career victory in the BTCC.
The fans had been waiting for an on-track battle between Ingram and Sutton during the 2024 season and the packed banks of spectators got their wish around the picturesque 2.23-mile circuit.
The pair touched slightly on a couple of occasions with the pivotal moment coming when Ingram's #80 straight-lined a chicane after receiving a nudge from the #1 NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus of Sutton.
They resumed battle but in truth Sutton's chance was over as the Hyundai i30N pulled away for the remainder of the contest.
NAPA Racing UK's Cammish claimed a hard-earned fourth successive podium as he came under attack from the BMW duo of Adam Morgan and Hill.
Cook storms from eighth to first in the blink of an eye
LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ’s Cook produced one of the finest laps in recent memory as he blitzed from eighth on the grid to the front on the opening tour of race two.
Running the Goodyear soft tyre, Cook avoided a melee at turn one that left Morgan’s Team BMW machine stranded in the middle of the track, and he was soon running around the outside of the leading quartet at the hairpin.
Now up to second, race one winner Ingram simply had no answer as Cook's #66 Toyota sliced down the inside on the Hyundai before the gaggle of cars had even reached the start/finish line for the first time.
Cook gradually edged clear of the pack to take his first win in Toyota machinery, ahead of Ingram, whilst the scrap for the final place on the podium turned one way and then the other.
NAPA Racing UK's problems with flailing bodywork reared its head again, this time hitting Sutton's #1 machine, forcing the reigning champ to pit and drop from third to the rear of the order.
The issue looked to have handed team-mate Cammish a fifth successive podium, but Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport's Hill had other ideas as he fired his BMW around the outside of the #27 car on the final lap of the race.
The headlines belonged to Cook, however, with his first win since Thruxton in 2022 and the 19th victory of his BTCC career so far.
Last lap heroics from Hill to claim Oulton Park triumph
Kent driver Hill is in the form of his life, having taken a double-double at Snetterton and Thruxton respectively during the previous two race weekends, but he had to remain patient at Oulton Park this weekend.
He narrowly missed out on the 'Quick Six' qualifying yesterday and had to settle for seventh on the grid, but Hill worked his way forward during race day to take fifth, third and a victory from the three races.
You had to feel for pole-sitter Doble, who led the finale almost from start to finish, but the pressure eventually told as Hill went side-by-side with the Vauxhall on the final tour. The pair ran through the chicane together, touched slightly, but it was the #24 BMW that emerged ahead with a brilliant move.
Taylor-Smith made it a double celebration for Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing by completing the podium, ahead of Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS' Ingram.
Tom Ingram, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS, said: “We would have loved some air conditioning in the car, it gets very spicy in there. We are about 25 degrees above ambient temperature so it’s pretty warm to say the least. Ash (Sutton) is obviously quick, so is Dan (Cammish), plus I could see Jake (Hill) coming too. There was a lot to try and manage but it’s good to get the win and the first one of the day under our belts.”
Josh Cook, LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ, said: “It’s nice to be back winning races. It makes it a lot easier when you’re on the soft tyres and those around you are on the hards. I got off to a really good start on lap one and the doors just opened up around me, and I ended up in a good position. I got my head down and just focused on banging in some quick laps. It probably wasn’t overly interesting to watch, but I’ll take that any day and congratulations to everyone in the team.”
Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, said: “That was tough. A fantastic race with Árón (Taylor-Smith) and Mikey (Doble) at the end there. Credit to them because they did a great job, and it was just a really enjoyable touring car race from my point of view – just hard-fought battling and it was absolutely awesome. As much as I feel sorry Mikey, I’ve got a championship to try and win and I had to get the move done. Credit to him for leaving me a bit of space, but, what a move!”
2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 1 – Oulton Park
1. Tom Ingram, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS 15 Laps
2. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK +1.913s
3. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +4.557s
4. Adam Morgan, Team BMW +10.230s
5. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +14.700s
6. Tom Chilton, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS +16.238s
7. Árón Taylor-Smith, Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing +26.078s
8. Josh Cook, LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ +26.646s
9. Aiden Moffat, LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ +30.817s
10. Rob Huff, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK +31.366s
2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 2 – Oulton Park
1. Josh Cook, LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ 15 Laps
2. Tom Ingram, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS +8.016s
3. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +9.879s
4. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +10.430s
5. Árón Taylor-Smith, Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing +10.856s
6. Mikey Doble, Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing +11.452s
7. Colin Turkington, Team BMW +12.197s
8. Chris Smiley, Restart Racing +13.420s
9. Daniel Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK +14.705s
10. Andrew Watson, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK +18.972s
2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 3 – Oulton Park
1. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport 15 Laps
2. Mikey Doble, Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing +0.749s
3. Árón Taylor-Smith, Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing +2.410s
4. Tom Ingram, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS +2.856s
5. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +3.714s
6. Daniel Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK +4.150s
7. Adam Morgan, Team BMW +6.758s
8. Josh Cook, LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ +7.474s
9. Chris Smiley, Restart Racing +9.744s
10. Aiden Moffat, LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ +12.474s
Penalties:
Race One
Dan Rowbottom received a 30-second time penalty during Round 13 of the championship and three penalty points, for failing to observe the black/orange signal
Race Two
Daryl DeLeon received a two-second time penalty during Round 14 of the championship, for gaining an unfair advantage in an incident involving Rob Huff
TOCA Junior Championship announces official launch dates
Organisers of the TOCA Junior Championship have today (Monday 22nd July) announced the venue and date for its official launch, as well as where fans will be able to get a first look at the car that will be competing in the new 2025 one-make category.
With the build process of the car approaching its conclusion and an extensive testing programme scheduled to begin in the coming weeks, a strictly invite-only event will be held at the Mercure Daventry Court Hotel on the evening of Tuesday 13th August.
Prospective teams and drivers, as well as media and partners, will be invited to attend as the covers come off the machine - which bares the Chevron name - that drivers aged 14 to 17 will compete against each other in next year.
Information on the championship will also be provided to those in attendance before the registration process formerly opens two days later on Thursday 15th August, with teams and drivers that have legitimate interest to join the series can secure their spot on the entry list.
For the inaugural season of the TOCA Junior Championship, the size of the grid will be capped to a maximum of 26 cars. Spaces will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.
A little over a week on from the invite-only launch, spectators will have the opportunity to get up close with the official TOCA Junior car at Donington Park on the 24-25 August as one will be on display in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship paddock.
Dave Beecroft, TOCA Junior Championship Director: “It feels great to finally be able to announce that we will be officially launching the TOCA Junior Championship in less than a months’ time.
“Since the concept of the Championship was first announced we have been inundated with teams and drivers expressing their interest to be on the grid; which has been truly fantastic to see and a testament to the appetite that there is for junior racing in the UK.
“Behind the scenes our team has been working tirelessly to put the finishing touches on the car. Taking the covers off the car to prospective teams and drivers first is something that is important to us and we’re looking forward to welcoming everyone to the Mercure in Daventry.
“To then head to Donington Park afterwards and display the car in the British Touring Car Championship paddock - whereby we will become a fixture on the support bill next year - is just as exciting as the public will be able to give us their reactions.
“Obviously these launches officially mark the countdown to our inaugural race however there is a lot more to look forward to, especially as we have plenty more announcements to make over the coming weeks and months.”
TOCA Junior Championship - Key Upcoming Dates
13 August - VIP launch at the Mercure Daventry Court Hotel
15 August - Team and driver registration process opens
24-25 August - Public debut of car at Donington Park
BTCC team up with world renowned LIQUI MOLY
German brand becomes Official Oil and Lubricants Partner
The British Touring Car Championship is delighted to announce today (19 July) that it is welcoming German motor oil and additive manufacturer, LIQUI MOLY, as its ‘Official Oil and Lubricants Partner’.
This long term three-and-a-half-year deal commences immediately, taking in the remainder of the 2024 campaign and the following three BTCC seasons.
The relationship officially kicks off at Croft on 27/28 July with the event being officially ‘Presented by LIQUI MOLY’. The brand will then lend its name to the race weekend at Croft for the subsequent events in 2025, 2026 and 2027.
LIQUI MOLY branding will be present at all BTCC race venues, with circuit signage and podium backdrops among the areas in which its logo will be presented. Furthermore, the blue-red-white company branding will be present on the official BTCC website and other media channels.
Thanks to this partnership with the BTCC, the lubricant specialist aims to further develop and strengthen its position in the United Kingdom market in particular, which has been under the responsibility of the subsidiary LIQUI MOLY UK since 2022.
“The BTCC is not only a firm fixture in motorsport throughout the United Kingdom, but also attracts fans worldwide,” says Debbie Barnes, Managing Director of LIQUI MOLY UK.
“Speed, adrenaline rush, emotions – the BTCC has been thrilling motorsport enthusiasts for decades. Placing LIQUI MOLY in this dynamic environment is the perfect opportunity for us to increase the fascination for our quality brand – and our partners and customers will hugely benefit from this partnership.”
“We are delighted to welcome LIQUI MOLY into the BTCC family,” said Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive. “We have always cherished our loyal and long-term relationships with our very specific and carefully chosen partners, and we look forward to LIQUI MOLY joining that illustrious group.
“LIQUI MOLY is a much admired and trusted motor oil and additive manufacturer throughout the world, not just in motorsport, and we are looking forward to what will be a hugely successful partnership.”
LIQUI MOLY’s commitment to the British Touring Car Championship fits perfectly into the existing motorsports sponsorship of the lubricant specialist. Among other things, LIQUI MOLY is an ‘Official Partner’ of Formula 1, a sponsor of MotoGP and the Exclusive Lubricant for Moto2 and Moto3, as well as in the DTM, and is the Exclusive Lubricant partner of the Motocross World Championship.
The deal struck between the two parties was also largely thanks to the BTCC’s new Commercial Partner, Global Media Properties (GMP).
“As passionate motorsport enthusiasts, we partner major racing series worldwide. This new partnership is a logical and consistent step in further expanding our international brand awareness,” says Peter Baumann, Marketing Director at LIQUI MOLY.
“With its popularity and enormous reach, the BTCC offers us the perfect opportunities for this.”
The 2024 season so far: Thruxton
Ash Sutton remained at the top of the standings heading into Thruxton despite not having won a race at the opening three weekends. The fast charging Jake Hill would be looking to take top spot after an incredible Sunday last time out at Snetterton...
Jake Hill has enjoyed one of the best fortnights of his BTCC career, having followed up his Snetterton double victory last time out with another here at Thruxton today (9 June).
Rounds 10, 11 and 12 of the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship were not without drama as Hill inherited one victory after title rival Tom Ingram was handed a post-race penalty.
A huge crowd descended on the hugely popular Hampshire venue as the fastest track in the country provided the highly anticipated thrills and spills.
The final reverse grid race was won by NAPA Racing UK’s Ash Sutton – his first of the season and the 40th of his BTCC career so far – as the Essex driver moved back to the summit of the standings, five points ahead of Hill.
Ingram is third with Colin Turkington fourth, whilst Dan Cammish hauled himself back into championship contention with an impressive trio of second place finishes at Thruxton.
Alliance Racing/Ford and its NAPA Racing UK outfit tops both the Manufacturers’ and Teams’ tables.
Árón Taylor-Smith and his Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing team continue to dominate the Independents’ order, whilst team-mate Mikey Doble still holds sway in the Jack Sears Trophy.
Hill climbs the summit with race one win
Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport's Hill became the first treble winner of the season with victory in the opener.
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS' Ingram bogged down from pole position, as Hill blasted his #24 BMW 330e M Sport off the line. He immediately nipped between second placed Cammish and ahead of Ingram, as the latter got swamped by a trio of NAPA Racing UK cars.
There was contact further down the order early on as a clash between Team BMW's Adam Morgan and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK's Andrew Watson dislodged the tyre stack at the final chicane, resulting in a brief safety car period.
Things settled down among the top positions following the restart, albeit at a ferocious pace, as Hill led home the NAPA Racing UK duo of Cammish and championship leader Sutton.
Jake Hill inherits victory after Ingram penalty
Hill made it a double-double in race two as he inherited the victory following a post-race penalty for on-the-road winner Ingram.
Kent driver Hill came into the Snetterton weekend last time out languishing behind in the standings, but an incredible four victories from five races propelled him up to the top of the order.
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS' Ingram initially fired his Hyundai i30N to the chequered flag first but was later demoted to third after gaining an unfair advantage in an incident involving Cammish.
Having relinquished pole position in race one – eventually having to settle for fourth – Ingram was keen to put things right in the second contest.
Pole man Hill made a stellar getaway in his Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport BMW, as the NAPA Racing UK duo of Sutton and Cammish tried to keep Ingram behind.
Ingram got by Cammish as the duo ran side-by-side towards the final corner, the former being adjudged to have gained an unfair advantage as he straight-lined the chicane.
Sutton and Ingram hounded Hill for the win, but the #1 Ford Focus suffered damage to the front splitter around mid-distance.
Struggling for traction at the ultra-high-speed Hampshire circuit, Sutton was soon relegated to third by Ingram, who then blasted by Hill a few laps later before romping away.
Sutton was further demoted by his NAPA Racing UK team-mates – Cammish and Dan Rowbottom – and eventually had to settle for fifth, but the headlines belonged to Hill after Ingram’s post-race penalty.
Sutton returns to standings lead after 40th BTCC career victory
The BTCC saved the best until last with an exciting reverse grid race at Thruxton, as Sutton returned to the top of the standings with his first win of the season and the 40th of his impressive career so far.
Starting from fourth on the grid Sutton initially dropped back and was embroiled in a scrap with some of his rivals, but he soon set about rising through the order.
He saw off NAPA Racing UK team-mate Cammish and he eventually got the better of long-time leader Adam Morgan.
Team BMW’s Morgan was then tangled in another incident, as on-the-track race two winner Ingram experienced a case of Déjà vu when approaching the final chicane late on in a fight for fourth.
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS' Ingram looked to have got past Morgan before being hit in the side, forcing him to straight-line the chicane for the second successive race, but this time through no fault of his own.
Ingram rejoined in third to complete the podium behind race-winner Sutton and Cammish – the latter having taken an impressive podium hat-trick during the day.
Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, said: “What a day! I didn’t think we could possibly do any better than Snetterton, but amazingly we have. Thruxton; you’ve been a diamond; two wins and a fifth place. I’m over the moon. The Laser Beemer has been unbelievable and I’m over the moon. We’re only a couple of points off the lead, which has been a mega comeback since Brands. We’ll go to Oulton ready to get some more.”
Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK, said: “I massively fancied my chances. I knew we had a quick race car, we saw glimpses of that in race two. To go out there and utilise that was mega and to reward the guys was awesome. It’s been a bit harder this season, everyone else around us has upped their game. We just chose to go about it a bit differently this year with the new hybrid rules and option tyres, but when the opportunity comes and the car is beneath me, I will go out there and deliver!”
2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 1 – Thruxton
1. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport 18 Laps
2. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +1.216s
3. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK +1.955s
4. Tom Ingram, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS +2.518s
5. Josh Cook, LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ +13.147s
6. Tom Chilton, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS +15.696s
7. Daniel Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK
8. Adam Morgan, Team BMW +18.765s
9. Colin Turkington, Team BMW +19.151s
10. Árón Taylor-Smith, Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing +19.752s
2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 2 – Thruxton
1. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport 16 Laps
2. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +1.262s
3. Tom Ingram, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS
4. Daniel Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK +2.745
5. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK +5.582s
6. Josh Cook, LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ +7.002s
7. Colin Turkington, Team BMW +7.402s
8. Adam Morgan, Team BMW +9.809s
9. Árón Taylor-Smith, Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing +12.512s
10. Rob Huff, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK +15.073s
2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 3 – Thruxton
1. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK 19 Laps
2. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +4.449s
3. Tom Ingram, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS +7.962s
4. Adam Morgan, Team BMW +8.039s
5. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +8.198s
6. Josh Cook, LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ +8.376s
7. Colin Turkington, Team BMW +9.464s
8. Árón Taylor-Smith, Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing +10.002s
9. Rob Huff, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK +10.275s
10. Ronan Pearson, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS +10.990s
Penalties:
Qualifying
Árón Taylor-Smith was formally reprimanded during qualifying for Round 10 of the championship, for driving in a manner deemed to be potentially dangerous to others
Race One
Dan Rowbottom received a two place penalty during Round 10 of the championship, for gaining an unfair advantage during a restart on Tom Chilton
Race Two
Tom Ingram received a two place penalty during Round 11 of the championship, for gaining an advantage after leaving the track on Dan Cammish
Ronan Pearson received a one place penalty during Round 11 of the championship, for gaining an unfair advantage after leaving the track on Aiden Moffat
Teams' Championship: The story so far
The standings in which all teams compete in has some of the tightest fights during a campaign... NAPA Racing UK won the last Teams' championship and headed into the new season with expectations to repeat the success.
Donington Park National - Rounds 1-2-3
NAPA Racing UK started 2024 as it ended 2023, at the very top. In fact across the opening three races the Alliance Racing-run outfit were only outscored by one team in the final race of the weekend. That team was the Toyotas of LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ who, after Aiden Moffat's win in race three, came away from the weekend second in the standings.
Despite having won two of the three races overall, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS came away from Donington Park third in the Teams' standings. Team BMW were narrowly behind as the top four were split by 13 points leaving the first weekend of the season.
Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport left the first round as the highest team to field one car with Jake Hill. Not only doing that but finishing above three teams of two-car entries behind. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK would finish ahead of Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing by two points with the two new teams to the championship closing out the order.
Teams' Championship Standings - Event 1
1 - NAPA Racing UK - 75
6 - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK - 34
2 - LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ - 68
7 - Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing - 32
3 - Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS - 65
8 - Restart Racing - 8
4 - Team BMW - 62
9 - Duckhams Racing with Bartercard - 6
5 - Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport - 41
Brands Hatch Indy - Rounds 4-5-6
Another weekend with no wins did not hurt NAPA Racing UK in the slightest as it continued to top the standings by ten points. Team BMW jumped from fourth to second after two wins for Colin Turkington, but still tied on points with Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS, who remained in third place after another win of its own.
Despite outscoring all of the teams above them in race one, LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ's remaining races were not as successful dropping the team to fourth. In fifth place we saw a jump in form from Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing, climbing up two places with increasingly better results across all three races.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK held its sixth place from the first event, leapfrogging Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport after Hill had a non-scoring race two. Restart Racing remained ahead of Duckhams Racing with Bartercard, with the latter also feeling the effect of a non-scoring round with running one car.
Teams' Championship Standings - Event 2
1 - NAPA Racing UK - 146
6 - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK - 74
2 - Team BMW - 136
7 - Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport - 60
3 - Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS - 136
8 - Restart Racing - 26
4 - LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ - 113
9 - Duckhams Racing with Bartercard - 13
5 - Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing - 77
Snetterton - Rounds 7-8-9
The changeable conditions of Snetterton proved to be a shake up again, but not at the top. NAPA Racing UK continued to top the standings despite still not winning a single race overall at the opening three events. The team even grew its advantage over Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS, which jumped into second.
LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ outscored all teams in races two and three to rise up the standings, but neither gained nor lost points to the top spot. Team BMW fell two places to fourth as the positions behind the leaders continued to change after every round.
The fight for fifth changed for the third round running with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK getting the better of Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing in Norfolk. Even after winning races one and two, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport did not climb any places, but continue to be the top-placed one-car outfit.
Teams' Championship Standings - Event 3
1 - NAPA Racing UK - 205
6 - Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing - 114
2 - Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS - 184
7 - Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport - 107
3 - LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ - 172
8 - Restart Racing - 37
4 - Team BMW - 169
9 - Zeus Cloud Racing with WSR - 34
5 - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK - 126
10 - Duckhams Racing with Bartercard - 26
Thruxton - Rounds 10-11-12
The fastest circuit in the country is the event where NAPA Racing UK really stretched its legs. Not only getting a first overall win of the year, the team also walked away with a 99-point weekend having the highest scoring event of any team so far this season.
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS continued to hold on to second place as Team BMW and LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ once again traded places for third and fourth. The gap between second to fourth was less than half the gap from first to second.
Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport climbed back up to fifth, with Hill winning races one and two. The midfield left Thruxton in a tight battle as the fifth-placed team led TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK by four points, with Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing a further point behind.
Teams' Championship Standings - Event 4
1 - NAPA Racing UK - 304
6 - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK - 154
2 - Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS - 243
7 - Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing - 153
3 - Team BMW - 227
8 - Restart Racing - 49
4 - LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ - 215
9 - Zeus Cloud Racing with WSR - 34
5 - Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport - 154
10 - Duckhams Racing with Bartercard - 29
Oulton Park - Rounds 13-14-15
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS could not put a dent into NAPA Racing UK's lead heading into the halfway mark of the season, as the gap remained the same as it did after Thruxton. The championship leaders outscored the EXCELR8-run outfit by two points in race one before the latter gained a point back in each subsequent race.
Josh Cook helped LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ in retaking third place with a race win in race two, whilst Team BMW fell back behind the Toyota Corollas by two points.
Despite a win for Hill and Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, the double podium for Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing in the same race would see the team jump two places to fifth, with the former now in sixth. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK would be outscored by both teams ahead of them in every race to hit the mid-season mark in seventh.
Restart Racing along with NAPA Racing UK are the only two teams to remain in the same position at every round as the BTCC newcomers would stay in eighth. In ninth would once again be Duckhams Racing with Bartercard, placing them as the second-placed team running one car.
Teams' Championship Standings - Event 5
1 - NAPA Racing UK - 364
6 - Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport - 204
2 - Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS - 303
7 - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK - 186
3 - LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ - 266
8 - Restart Racing - 76
4 - Team BMW - 264
9 - Duckhams Racing with Bartercard - 41
5 - Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing - 220
10 - Zeus Cloud Racing with WSR - 34
BTCC officially opens invitations for two new teams in 2025
SERIES ORGANISER TOCA TO CONSIDER EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
TOCA – Series Organiser of the British Touring Car Championship – has today (16 July) opened applications from interested teams looking to join the UK’s premier motorsport series from the 2025 season onwards.
Having reached its ‘quality over quantity’ targets for the 2024 campaign, BTCC Chief Executive Alan Gow will consider applications from ‘fresh, high-quality’ outfits as part of the championship’s forward development plans.
Gow said: “For the last six years I’ve said many times that, ideally, I’d like to cap our numbers to around 24 cars for several different reasons – not least of which is to support our teams by utilising the sound commercial principle of maintaining ‘supply’ just below ‘demand’ in order to underpin their entries and investment.
“Whilst reviewing these plans I also appreciate that some interested new teams (i.e. non-current TBL holders) have, until now, been unable to join the championship due to the tightly controlled restrictions of the TBL allocation system.
“With that in mind, I’ve opened the door for expressions of interest from up to two, two-car teams who are looking to join the championship from 2025. With high and consistent levels of quality and competitiveness throughout the current grid, the final number could then be capped at 24 cars/TBLs.”
The TBL, (TOCA BTCC Licence), is a required licence issued by TOCA to run a car in the championship and was first introduced in 2014. The TBL system has proved highly popular with the teams by providing a tangible instrument to help secure their resources.
“Stable technical regulations are, of course, one of the most cost-effective ways of controlling costs and equalising competition. So, whilst new technical regulations are due to be introduced from 2027, these will be an evolution of the current hugely successful and stable NGTC regs. Therefore, cars purchased or built by current or new teams will also be valid to use during that next phase of the regulations, with only relatively minor updates that are specifically aimed at reducing costs, whilst continuing to provide the proven equality of performance that exists.”
Confidential expressions of interest should be directed to; alan.gow@btcc-toca.com
Independent Drivers' Championship: The story so far
The Independent Teams' championship has seen Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing win every round so far this season. Despite this being the case, the inter-team fight along with the battles behind have been nothing short of fascinating for the Independent Drivers' title...
Donington Park National - Rounds 1-2-3
The opening rounds of the 2024 season could not have seen much worse weather to kick off a campaign. Throughout the testing conditions, it would be Árón Taylor-Smith who would take the first win of the championship and would repeat the feat in race two with seventh and 11th place overall finishes.
Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing team-mate Mikey Doble would slot in behind the Irishman in the opening two races before taking home a triumph in race three. The duo would finish the opening weekend split by only three points.
The fight for third place between Restart Racing and Duckhams Racing with Bartercard was split evenly across all remaining drivers. Not only splitting the podium but also all three drivers having a non-score finish. Daryl DeLeon would take to the rostrum in the drenched race one before Chris Smiley would do the same in race two, and then Scott Sumpton would take the place for the final race of the day.
Independent Drivers' Championship - Event 1
1 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 57
2 - Mikey Doble - 54
3 - Daryl DeLeon - 28
4 - Chris Smiley - 28
5 - Scott Sumpton - 26
Brands Hatch Indy - Rounds 4-5-6
Taylor-Smith took momentum and continued to extend his championship lead at the second event of the season. It would be another class victory in the opening race of the weekend for the #40 before switching places with Doble as they alternated the top two steps on the rostrum in races one and two.
The championship leader would go on to win race three with an overall fourth place finish doing the double-double at the first two events. Doble would falter in race three after dropping through the order on the wrong tyres to take home fourth. In doing so it meant at both events so far that every driver would stand on the rostrum.
Smiley would be the driver to stand on the podium in race one as DeLeon would have his second non-score of the season. The Filipino driver would return to take the third spot in race two as it would be Sumpton who would fail to score in this race. Race three would see Smiley jump up to take the first non-Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing second-place finish, with Sumpton completing the Restart Racing double-podium.
Independent Drivers' Championship - Event 2
1 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 114
2 - Mikey Doble - 104
3 - Chris Smiley - 73
4 - Daryl DeLeon - 54
5 - Scott Sumpton - 54
Snetterton - Rounds 7-8-9
The changeable conditions returned for the third event of the season, this time favouring Doble more than any other independent driver. Sunday did not start that way though as Taylor-Smith would take the win in the only all-wet race of the day, as Doble would finish second, with DeLeon bringing in his third podium of the year.
Risks began to get taken in race two as Taylor-Smith would pit after the green flag lap to get off the wet tyres and onto the softs. This would prove to be the wrong choice after initially setting fastest laps, the rain would return to hinder the end of the race. Doble would go on to take victory along with an overall fourth-place finish, sharing the podium with both DeLeon and Sumpton. This would be the fourth time in eight races to have all in-class-competitors finish.
Doble would stay on top in race three, cutting the gap to one point to his team-mate as DeLeon would also hold his position from race two. Behind, Taylor-Smith rose up the order to close out the weekend with a podium, as this time it would be Smiley who would not finish.
Independent Drivers' Championship - Event 3
1 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 162
2 - Mikey Doble - 161
3 - Daryl DeLeon - 103
4 - Chris Smiley - 97
5 - Scott Sumpton - 93
Thruxton - Rounds 10-11-12
After a challenging Snetterton, Taylor-Smith could not have bounced back any better. The #40 would take home all three victories across the weekend despite a crash in qualifying that limited his starting position to 12th.
Doble would not have the pace of his team-mate across the weekend, unable to get close at any point. The #88 Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra would do the best with what was left on offer, coming home in second in all three races.
In fact, it would be the same podium across all three races as Smiley would return to the rostrum since the opening race at Snetterton. Placing Restart Racing on the podium at every race across a weekend for the first time in the teams' BTCC career.
Independent Drivers' Championship - Event 4
1 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 222
2 - Mikey Doble - 212
3 - Chris Smiley - 142
4 - Daryl DeLeon - 129
5 - Scott Sumpton - 117
Oulton Park - Rounds 13-14-15
Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing ended the opening half of the campaign with its best weekend of the season to date. The opening two races would go the way of Taylor-Smith, who would hit the midway stage of the campaign having taken ten out of a possible 15 victories.
Doble would once again take home the second-place finishes behind his team-mate, as both drivers would have a total of 14 podiums from the 15 races. Continuing on from a triple-podium from Thruxton, Smiley would do the same once more to cement himself in third place halfway through the season.
Race three of the weekend is where the interest piqued as the duo of Doble and Taylor-Smith would lockout the front row of the overall grid. The #40 would defend behind the #88 early on before Jake Hill would break through. Doble would put up a superb defence but would lose out on the last lap of the race. Despite the heartbreak it was the Caterham-born drivers' first overall podium and a double-trip to the rostrum for the team to close out the first five events.
Independent Drivers' Championship - Event 5
1 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 279
2 - Mikey Doble - 266
3 - Chris Smiley - 187
4 - Daryl DeLeon - 168
5 - Scott Sumpton - 150
The 2024 season so far: Snetterton
Despite two victories last time out it was not Colin Turkington but Ash Sutton leading the way into Snetterton. Even in fine form it would be another BMW taking the headlines after a wet and windy weekend...
Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport’s Jake Hill enjoyed a dream Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship weekend at Snetterton as he backed up Saturday’s pole position with a dominant double on Sunday (25/26 May).
The BMW talent took two lights-to-flag victories, but that doesn’t tell the full story, as the Kent driver had to win each contest in very different circumstances.
Championship leader Ash Sutton scored a seventh successive podium before than run eventually came to an end in race two, when the NAPA Racing UK star crashed out late on.
Podiums for Bobby Thompson, Dan Cammish, Josh Cook and Aiden Moffat also shook-up proceedings as the title race continues to take shape.
The final word went to home hero Rob Huff as he headed an incredible Toyota 1-2-3 in the final encounter, securing his first BTCC triumph in 20 years.
When the rain eventually cleared in Norfolk it was Sutton leaving the circuit with a ten-point advantage over Team BMW’s Colin Turkington in the overall Drivers’ standings, with Hill and Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS’ Tom Ingram only a further point in arrears – the top four blanketed by just 11 points with Cook also closing in.
The Alliance Racing/Ford outfit jumped BMW in the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ order, whilst NAPA Racing UK also tops the Teams’ table.
Árón Taylor-Smith and his Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing squad still hold sway in the Independents’ championships, whilst team-mate Mikey Doble is the Jack Sears Trophy leader.
Lucky 13 for Jake Hill
The list of 2024 BTCC race winners continued to grow after Hill scored his 13th career success, becoming the fifth different race winner of the season so far.
Hill bounced back from a challenging Brands Hatch last time out to take pole position in Norfolk yesterday, and he duly backed that up with a dominant display in the opener around the 2.97-mile circuit.
The battle for the other places on the podium kicked off almost immediately as NAPA Racing UK's Sutton slotted into second, whilst Zeus Cloud Racing with WSR's Thompson blasted into fourth behind Team BMW stablemate Adam Morgan.
Morgan's pace seemed to fade by mid-distance as Thompson cruised by, before the latter focused on hunting down Sutton's #1 Ford Focus.
The moment eventually came as the new striking purple BMW blasted by Sutton on the start/finish straight to secure second.
Third still represented an impressive result for championship leader Sutton, as it confirmed his seventh successive podium to kick off his title defence.
Hill climbs the standings with stunning race two win
BMW star Hill then claimed a stunning victory in a frenetic race two.
A huge storm descended onto Norfolk just minutes prior to the original start time, which caused a delay while water was removed from the track surface.
Incredibly, the circuit was basked in glorious sunshine shortly after as a mixture of wet and dry tyre options began to take shape during the race.
The drama had already started on-track too with pole-sitter Hill and his Zeus Cloud Racing with WSR stablemate Thompson receiving a ten second penalty for jumping the start.
The race win almost looked impossible for Hill, but he immediately set about stretching the gap at the head of the field, and when rain began to fall again later in the contest the race started to swing back the way of the Kent driver.
Hill was truly sublime in the wet conditions, pulling away from the chasing pack by more than 15 seconds to score a superlative second victory of the day.
NAPA Racing UK's Dan Cammish took second ahead of LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ's Cook, with the latter impressively rising from 14th on the grid.
Home hero Huff heads Toyota 1-2-3
It has been a weekend of incredible stories with Huff's first BTCC win in 20 years headlining the final encounter in Norfolk.
There had been much talk about Huff's most recent BTCC win – at Snetterton way back in 2004 – so for a man that lives around half an hour from the circuit it was arguably written in the stars that he would repeat the trick here today.
An incredible race began with Hill looking like he would score an historic hat-trick as the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport star gambled on the Goodyear wet tyres from ninth on the grid.
Hill blasted by the entire field on the opening lap and began pulling away from the slick-shod runners, bringing the only other car on wets – Andrew Watson's Toyota – with him.
A masterclass from Hill was on the cards and with it the opportunity to join the very short shortlist of just Dan Eaves and Jason Plato to win three BTCC races in the same day.
The crossover happened around mid-distance, however, as the dry Goodyear tyres were soon quicker than the wets.
The chasing pack reeled them in, and after TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK's Huff had fought off LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ stablemate Cook and dodged a half-slide from Aiden Moffat, he was soon past Hill and into the lead.
Hill began to fade as Speedworks romped on to an incredible result, with Huff leading home Moffat and Cook for a memorable 1-2-3 for Toyota – the first podium lockout for the Japanese marque in the history of the BTCC.
Not only was that an incredible stat for Toyota, but Huff’s first BTCC victory in nearly 20 years also represented the longest gap between wins for a single driver.
Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, said: “The car was just absolutely beautiful to drive. I can't thank Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport enough; they've given me a car that is just absolutely awesome. The car has been through a lot of development over the winter and this is just the best it's felt by such a long way
“That (race two) means absolutely everything, probably the best and most professional race of my life. The car was absolutely awesome, it was like I was driving a car in the dry. The car is great and I'd like to think I'm doing a pretty good job too. I am so proud of everyone and I'm proud of myself, which is nice. The Laser Beemer strikes again!”
Rob Huff, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK, said: “Race 3 here at Snetterton does it again for me at my home track. I genuinely didn't know I was leading, I knew I was coming through, I was just picking them off one-by-one but I didn't quite know where we were.
“The car was fantastic, it's safe to say we were dialled into that today and to win here at my home track is just mega! The car was exactly what I've been searching for so far this year, what a race!”
2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 1 – Snetterton 300
1. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport 12 Laps
2. Bobby Thompson, Zeus Cloud Racing with WSR +1.922s
3. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK +4.009s
4. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +5.130s
5. Andrew Watson, TOYOTA Gazoo Racing UK +8.021s
6. Tom Ingram, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS +8.770s
7. Adam Morgan, Team BMW +12.041s
8. Colin Turkington, Team BMW +19.824s
9. Rob Huff, TOYOTA Gazoo racing UK +22.219s
10. Daniel Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK +22.426s
2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 2 – Snetterton 300
1. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport 12 Laps
2. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +6.260s
3. Josh Cook, LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ +9.974s
4. Mikey Doble, Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing +14.794s
5. Tom Chilton, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS +15.696s
6. Andrew Watson, TOYOTA Gazoo Racing UK +16.626s
7. Bobby Thompson, Zeus Cloud Racing with WSR +16.643s
8. Aiden Moffat, LKQ Euro Parts with SYNETIQ +23.431s
9. Sam Osborne, NAPA Racing UK +26.823s
10. Daryl DeLeon, Duckhams Racing with Bartercard +29.165s
2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 3 – Snetterton 300
1. Rob Huff, TOYOTA Gazoo Racing UK 12 Laps
2. Aiden Moffat, LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ +2.338s
3. Josh Cook, LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ +3.297s
4. Tom Ingram, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS +3.501
5. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK +12.830s
6. Tom Chilton, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS +14.169s
7. Colin Turkington, Team BMW +16.470s
8. Bobby Thompson, Zeus Cloud Racing with WSR +19.425s
9. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +20.025s
10. Mikey Doble, Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing +21.864s
Penalties:
Race Two Tom Chilton received a five second time penalty during Round 8 of the championship, for completing an overtake after leaving the track on Mikey Doble
