Restart Racing capped off a landmark Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season in style at Brands Hatch, securing both the Independent Teams’ and Independent Drivers’ Championships after a tense and hard-fought season-long battle. 

As covered last week, Dan Lloyd claimed the Indy Drivers’ crown while experienced teammate Chris Smiley was just five points behind in third place. 

Yorkshireman Lloyd claimed an outright triumph at Silverstone, whereas Smiley made most of his running earlier in the season – scoring a podium ahead of the mid-season break at Oulton Park.

In truth, whilst the Independent Drivers’ scrap proved to be dramatic, together both Lloyd and Smiley were simply too good for the opposition when it came to the Independent Teams’ title – with Restart Racing eventually pulling clear to win the trophy by more than 100 points.

The success underlined a year of major progress and resilience for the Norfolk-based team in only its second season in the BTCC.

Chris Smiley said: “The last four weekends have been really tough, with a few things that were out of my control letting us down. That’s racing, though. I’m really pleased for Dan, he’s had a great year, and to see him win the title is brilliant. It’s also fantastic for the team to have wrapped up the Independent Teams’ Championship. We’ve achieved a lot this season, and I’m proud of everyone involved. We gave it everything, and hopefully I’ll see you all again next year.”

Dan Lloyd said: “That’s the season all done and dusted, and we’re Independent Champions, which feels absolutely amazing. It’s been a real rollercoaster, the focus was just on collecting the points we needed, and we did exactly that. I’m over the moon. A massive thank you to the whole team. The boys have done a mega job all year. It’s such a special feeling to end the season like this.”

The 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship saw Daniel Lloyd claim a popular victory in the Independent Drivers' Championship in what proved to be a tight-fought battle throughout the season.

Taking the first triumph was none other than two-time Independent Drivers' Champion Josh Cook, who qualified seventh in his Honda Civic Type R, the furthest up the field.

The #66 did not end the weekend there, after a strong opening race day for Chris Smiley (Restart Racing) and Mikey Doble (Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing) saw Cook finish third in the standings. Despite Doble's double triumph, Smiley emerged with a one-point advantage.

Chris Smiley - 52	Mikey Doble - 51	Josh Cook - 41
Max Hall - 36	Stephen Jelley - 35	Dexter Patterson - 30

Doble proved the man to beat come Saturday at Brands Hatch Indy as the #88 placed his Vauxhall Astra in sixth place overall. The strong qualifying pace continued on Sunday as the 2024 Jack Sears Trophy Champion claimed the first victory of the day.

This marked the peak for Doble as Smiley reigned victorious in the final two races, allowing his Hyundai i30N to extend his lead at the top of the standings. The weekend also saw Stephen Jelley secure a double top-three finish in the Drivers' Standings as well as a second-place finish from Lloyd.

Chris Smiley - 107	Mikey Doble - 93	Josh Cook - 86
Stephen Jelley - 78	Dexter Patterson - 51	Nicolas Hamilton - 50

Despite being the highest qualifier among Independent Drivers' competitors, Doble did not secure victory until race three, and not only in the Independents' category, but the overall win as well. Holding off four-time champion Ash Sutton, Doble led from lights to flag to claim his maiden BTCC victory.

The opening two wins fell to Lloyd, who, after qualifying three places behind Doble, eventually finished the day's opener four places ahead of the Vauxhall Astra. Race two saw the Hyundai i30N battle for the overall lead with Daniel Rowbottom, but eventually finished fourth, enough to retain top spot ahead of Smiley and Doble on the road.

Mikey Doble - 143	Chris Smiley - 142	Josh Cook - 129
Daniel Lloyd - 99	Stephen Jelley - 89	Dexter Patterson - 86

Thruxton saw a true rollercoaster weekend for the Independents' competitors as Josh Cook struck the barrier with immense force in qualifying, resulting in a heavily damaged car and a trip to the hospital for precautionary checks. Despite this setback, the #66 turned up on race day and claimed the Independent Trophy in the opening race, before facing disqualification from the same position in race two, ahead of securing victory once again to close the day.

Behind lay a race day of attrition. Smiley scored in only two of the three races, including one victory, while Doble scored in just one race. This left Lloyd as the highest scorer of the weekend, despite not claiming an individual round triumph.

Chris Smiley - 178	Josh Cook - 169	Mikey Doble - 158
Daniel Lloyd - 148	Stephen Jelley - 128	Dexter Patterson - 123

The gap remained unchanged across the top four after the Oulton Park event closed out the first half of the 2025 season. Smiley initially shone, placing his Hyundai i30N on the front row for the opening race, in which he claimed top spot in class.

Despite the initial strong start to race day, it all fell short in the final exchange with Smiley not scoring. In fact, not only did the standings leader fail to score, but neither did anyone in the Independents’ standings altogether apart from Lloyd. After a devastating crash in the second race that would then see Cook take the spoils, everything turned around for the Yorkshireman as he recouped all that was lost earlier in the day.

Chris Smiley - 213	Josh Cook - 206	Mikey Doble - 188
Daniel Lloyd - 183	Stephen Jelley - 138	Dexter Patterson - 134

The start of the second half of the year brought unwelcome news: One Motorsport announced it would miss the next two race weekends of the 2025 season at Croft and Knockhill. This initial announcement later extended to the full season, eliminating Cook and Jelley's championship hopes.

Doble seized the opportunity to shine and assumed control of the championship. The #88 claimed victory in the final race day of the weekend and remained the only driver in the top four to finish all three races. Dexter Patterson enjoyed his best weekend to date, securing a victory and two second-place finishes in the class.

Mikey Doble - 238	Chris Smiley - 230	Daniel Lloyd - 216
Josh Cook - 206	Dexter Patterson - 188	Stephen Jelley - 162

Heading to Knockhill brought more unwelcome news when Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing discovered a fire had burnt through its premises. Through sheer determination, the team arrived at Knockhill with two Cupra Leons ready to compete for the remainder of the year.

Getting up to speed in his new chassis, Doble pressed on in damage limitation mode, as Smiley went on to claim all three triumphs—the first time a driver had done so all season. Lloyd nearly followed suit as only Patterson split the pair in the opening race before a pair of 1-2 finishes closed out the day.

Chris Smiley - 290	Mikey Doble - 277	Daniel Lloyd - 265
Dexter Patterson - 235	Josh Cook - 206	Stephen Jelley - 162

The #22, and standings leader, started the weekend in the best shape possible, placing plenty of cars between himself and his nearest competitor and securing third place overall in qualifying. This pace immediately translated into 20 points in the opening bout before the Hyundai i30N encountered trouble.

Unable to finish race two, Lloyd and Doble capitalised with the former claiming the top spot for the remainder of the races at Donington Park with the latter tucked in close behind. The turn in fortune sent the leading trio into the penultimate event separated by three points.

Mikey Doble - 324	Daniel Lloyd - 322	Chris Smiley - 321
Dexter Patterson - 280	Josh Cook - 206	Nic Hamilton - 186

Everything changed in the penultimate event at Silverstone, as Lloyd rose to the top of the standings after not doing so all season long, while teammate Smiley slipped from first into third.

The opening race saw the #123 claim the top spot overall in his first win since his return to the BTCC and the team's first outright victory in the series. Lloyd carried on to take the honours in race two, securing four triumphs in a row. Doble returned to the top spot, nine races after taking to his Cupra, stretching what had been a one-point gap to Smiley before the final race of the day.

Daniel Lloyd - 377	Mikey Doble - 372	Chris Smiley - 364
Dexter Patterson - 323	Josh Cook - 206	Nic Hamilton - 186

Qualifying for the finale saw all four still in mathematical contention line up in order, sitting from 14th through to 17th with Smiley and Lloyd leading Patterson and Doble. The two winners from Silverstone made the most of the opening exchange, with Lloyd claiming the honours in the opening race.

The same form did not strike in the day's middle race as Smiley fought back with Doble once again tucked in close behind. Coming into the day’s last race, Lloyd held an eight-point margin over Doble and an 11-point gap to teammate Smiley. The final round saw Patterson claim the honours with the top three in the standings separated by five points. Leaving #123 to remain victorious despite not finishing higher than fourth in the first half of the campaign, making Daniel Lloyd the 2025 Independents’ Drivers’ Champion.

Daniel Lloyd - 423	Mikey Doble - 419	Chris Smiley - 418
Dexter Patterson - 369	Nic Hamilton - 220	Josh Cook - 206

The 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship saw Daryl DeLeon take a popular victory in the Jack Sears Trophy (JST) as he and WSR-stablemate Charles Rainford battled right until the last to reign victorious.

It was Ronan Pearson who started the season better than the rest with a Quick Six appearance at the off, setting the Scotsman in great stead. Another Scot, in the form of Dexter Patterson, emerged to seize the opportunity to be the highest finisher after the opening race of the year.

The #17 claimed the second race as well before a non-finish in the day’s final bout hampered his weekend. Pearson retook his top spot in Round 3 to secure a one-point lead ahead of DeLeon.

Ronan Pearson - 48	Daryl DeLeon - 47	Max Hall - 41
Dexter Patterson - 40	Nic Hamilton - 28	Charles Rainford - 25

Brands Hatch Indy saw the charge of the BMWs as only James Dorlin could interrupt the top two-finishing positions within the category at the Kent venue. After taking his maiden front-row start, Rainford secured top spot after race one, with only a second-place finish in the day's middle race preventing a perfect weekend.

DeLeon took control as Rainford fell back to claim outright victory—the first of his career and the first Filipino driver to stand victorious in the BTCC during his 50th career start. His WSR-stablemate returned the favour in the final race of the day, securing his maiden outright victory in only his sixth BTCC race as BMW won all three races.

Daryl DeLeon - 99	Ronan Pearson - 89	Charles Rainford - 82
Sam Osborne - 63	James Dorlin - 62	Dexter Patterson - 60

Snetterton saw the continued rise of Sam Osborne as the NAPA Racing UK pilot became the fifth driver to take maximum points in a round. Standing as the highest scoring driver at the Norfolk venue, the #77 accumulated 20 points in both Rounds 5 & 6.

DeLeon claimed the opening race to extend his advantage from the off. This quickly became the highlight of the weekend as the #2 fell down the order in races two and three, leaving stablemate Rainford to finish second in all three races.

Daryl DeLeon - 140	Charles Rainford - 133	Ronan Pearson - 129
Sam Osborne - 118	Dexter Patterson - 90	James Dorlin - 88

The fourth event saw a TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA car take the fore, but this time with rookie Dorlin. Making his first Quick Six appearance, the #132 immediately capitalised to secure full points in the opening two races at the UK's fastest circuit.

Unable to finish the final race, it was a once again resurgent Osborne at the front after a non-score for himself in the opening race of the day. On this occasion it was DeLeon who stood in second position in all three races to remain the man to beat in the standings.

Daryl DeLeon - 191	Charles Rainford - 172	Ronan Pearson - 157
Sam Osborne - 147	James Dorlin - 128	Dexter Patterson - 127

Dorlin again shone in the JST as he had done at Thruxton, making a Quick Six appearance for the second time in his first five events. The #132 claimed two victories at Oulton Park, as he had in Hampshire, with Osborne being the only driver to take maximum points away from the rookie.

The rest of the field experienced a weekend of attrition, as DeLeon and series debutant Finn Leslie were the only other two drivers to complete all three races. Leaving the man out in front to extend his championship lead.

Daryl DeLeon - 232	Charles Rainford - 206	Sam Osborne - 193
James Dorlin - 185	Ronan Pearson - 157	Dexter Patterson - 137

Rainford and DeLeon proved to be inseparable during qualifying as the BTCC resumed after its traditional summer break at Croft. The duo, split by 0.008 seconds, battled throughout the opening two races, with the standings leader securing top spot on both occasions.

The #2 failed to finish the final race, leaving the #99 as the highest scorer for the round despite not taking a triumph. Osborne once again swept up the spoils to slowly cut into DeLeon's advantage.

Daryl DeLeon - 272	Charles Rainford - 253	Sam Osborne - 239
James Dorlin - 206	Dexter Patterson - 184	Ronan Pearson - 157

The BMW duo delivered another impressive display as the championship navigated the Fife circuit of Knockhill. Rainford claimed his maiden outright BTCC pole position, with DeLeon partnering the #99 on the front row.

The polesitter secured full points in the opening race, before DeLeon fought back to do so in the second exchange, before failing to finish the final bout in Scotland. This left the championship chaser free to claim a full score in race three, leaving the two separated by a single point.

Daryl DeLeon - 309	Charles Rainford - 308	Sam Osborne - 277
James Dorlin - 247	Dexter Patterson - 227	Ronan Pearson - 157

Heading back to the opening scene of the season, DeLeon achieved a feat never repeated in 2025 and secured maximum points across all three races. With Rainford and Osborne tied on points throughout the weekend, the Filipino driver made a clear leap ahead heading to the penultimate event.

Daryl DeLeon - 369	Charles Rainford - 355	Sam Osborne - 324
Dexter Patterson - 268	James Dorlin - 247	Nicolas Hamilton - 174

Silverstone saw DeLeon start the weekend in the best shape possible with the #2 securing his first outright BTCC pole position. Taking the newfound momentum into Sunday, the WSR driver claimed a full haul of points, but for the only time that weekend.

Rainford and Osborne shared the top spots over the following two races, with the former being the only driver to close the gap to DeLeon. The standings leader circulated laps down in the final round after his driveshaft broke on the way to the grid, taking with him 11 crucial points into the final weekend.

Daryl DeLeon - 417	Charles Rainford - 409	Sam Osborne - 369
Dexter Patterson - 306	James Dorlin - 247	Nicolas Hamilton - 174

The final event saw nothing but twists and turns for the crown of JST Champion of 2025. DeLeon claimed his second pole position in as many weeks to kickstart his title campaign on the front foot. Yet, an engine issue then saw the #2 pull into the pits on the formation lap for the opening race, forcing a non-score and handing Rainford the lead.

Fortunes reversed in the second race after contact sent the #99 sideways and beached into the gravel at Paddock Hill Bend. Despite both misfortunes, the gap had closed to five points heading into the final round of the year.

Rainford beat DeLeon, yet the #99 could not get past the two cars in front of Osborne and Patterson, meaning the standings leader held onto a three-point margin as the chequered flag fell. As agonising as the battle was for the second-place rookie, Rainford finished 0.604 seconds away from the position he needed to secure the crown. Instead, DeLeon reigned victorious after a season of nine top-score finishes to join the coveted list of Jack Sears Trophy Champions.

Daryl DeLeon - 447	Charles Rainford - 444	Sam Osborne - 426
Dexter Patterson - 353	James Dorlin - 247	Nicolas Hamilton - 205

EXCELR8 Motorsport has today confirmed that Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship veteran Tom Chilton will once again form part of its driver line-up for the 2026 season.

Chilton will continue to do battle in Britain’s premier racing series at the wheel of a Hyundai i30 Fastback N backed by award-winning automotive retailer Vertu, with the fourth largest dealer network in the UK having already extended its deal to act as title sponsor of the Droitwich-based team.

The new agreement between Chilton and EXCELR8 marks the first time in his career that the former Independents’ Trophy winner has remained with the same team for five successive seasons and means the defending champions will continue to benefit from the knowledge of one of the most experienced drivers in BTCC history.

Having debuted in the series back in 2002 at the age of just 17, the now 40-year-old has since gone on to make more than 500 BTCC starts, which leaves him fourth on the all-time appearance list.

The 2026 campaign will be Chilton’s 20th season of BTCC competition, with his only time away from the series coming from 2012 through to 2016 when he took up the challenge of racing in the World Touring Car Championship.

The Surrey racer first joined forces with EXCELR8 back in 2022 and has since gone on to make no fewer than 118 starts at the wheel of the Hyundai, scoring four wins and picking up ten podium finishes.

Six of those podiums came during a 2025 programme that proved to be one of his most successful in the series so far, with wins at both Donington Park meetings helping Chilton to end the year seventh in the championship standings.

Having picked up his second-highest seasonal score in the process, Chilton now heads into 2026 with confidence at an all-time high and with his focus firmly on challenging for the overall championship crown.

Tom Chilton said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have extended my stay with EXCELR8 and Team VERTU as there is nowhere else in the paddock I would rather be. 

“Considering how long it is since I first joined the BTCC grid, I can honestly say that I’ve never had as much fun as I did this year and that is a reflection of how strong the team is. From top to bottom, every single person was focused on pushing for the very best results, which was reflected in the fact that we came away from 2025 with two of the three titles to our name.

“Having signed up for another season, my goal is clear and that is to challenge for the overall title as winning the BTCC title is why everyone on the grid goes racing. Considering how strong our package was this season, I’m hugely excited to see what 2026 holds when we have further refinements to make to the car and it’s going to seem like a long winter waiting to get down to business for round one!”

Justina Williams, Team Owner, said: “It’s fantastic that Tom will once again be part of our driver line-up for the 2026 season as he has become a hugely important part of the team in recent years.

“The knowledge and experience he brings cannot be underestimated, and his results on track were a key part in us securing championship honours again this year.

“We look forward to plenty more success together next year and have no doubt that Tom will be a contender at the front of the field from the start.”

The 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship saw Tom Ingram take not only the Drivers’ crown, but also the Goodyear Wingfoot Award in what was a dominant display on both Saturdays and Sundays throughout the season. We take a look at the two-time champion’s impressive qualifying quality.

Getting the year underway back in April at Donington Park, it was not the Team VERTU star that took the first trophy of the season. That fell to NAPA Racing UK’s Dan Cammish, who would be the #80’s closest rival in this series through the entirety of the campaign.

It would be a Ford Focus front-row lockout as Ingram’s nearest rival in the Driver’s championship, Ash Sutton, missed out on pole position by an agonising 0.011 seconds. The opening Quick Six session of the year did see an interruption as Ingram’s teammate, Tom Chilton, ground to a halt with an electrical problem. Action resumed swiftly after the stoppage, with the leading Hyundai i30N driver slotting into third as the top trio were separated by just 0.031 seconds

Dan Cammish - 20	Ash Sutton - 17	Tom Ingram - 15
Daniel Rowbottom - 13	Ronan Pearson - 11	Tom Chilton - 10

Brands Hatch Indy was the second destination on the 2025 calendar, and one that saw a complete shake-up from what was seen at Donington Park. The WSR-run BMWs struggled at the opening event, with the highest qualifier being Jake Hill in eighth.

This would not be the case as the Kent-driver returned home to take pole position in another team front-row lockout with rookie Charles Rainford alongside. The #99 going from 12th on debut to second a fortnight later brought an optimism back to the Surrey-based squad. The #1 set the current qualifying lap record en route to pole position as Ingram and Cammish were the only drivers to return to the Quick Six.

Dan Cammish - 31	Jake Hill - 28	Tom Ingram - 28
Charles Rainford - 21	Ash Sutton - 20	Mikey Doble - 16

It would be the standings leader who would rise to the top once more as Cammish set the early benchmark for Saturday supremacy. Seeing two out of three qualifying lap records being set, with our first double polesitter of the season, Cammish quickly became an early favourite.

Despite this, Ingram would not let the NAPA Racing UK driver out of his sight as the #80 would once again be right on his heels, 0.030 seconds away from pole position. The duo taking the front row continued to be the only two competitors to make the Quick Six at all events so far. The weekend would also see Adam Morgan, Mikey Doble, Sutton and Rowbottom be the only drivers to make the Quick Six on two occasions to set sights on the leading pair.

Dan Cammish - 51	Tom Ingram - 45	Daniel Rowbottom - 30
Ash Sutton - 30	Mikey Doble - 29	Jake Hill - 28

Heading to the UK’s fastest circuit, Thruxton, all drivers get excited to lay down their most on-edge times of the season. This was then heightened as the rain fell down, heavily. Josh Cook would be the one to succumb to the elements, as the #66 would find the barrier exiting Goodwood and sliding off through Village.

After the lengthy stoppage, it would be none other than four-time champion Sutton who would find the perfect way around the 2.37-mile venue. Taking his first pole position of the season, the #116 would launch back into contention once again, even with Cammish and Ingram maintaining their 100% record to start third and second, respectively.

Dan Cammish - 66	Tom Ingram - 62	Ash Sutton - 50
Mikey Doble - 42	Daniel Rowbottom - 36	Jake Hill - 36

As the opening half of the season came to a close, it was Ingram’s turn to take his maiden pole position of the year and in very dominant fashion. At Oulton Park, the #80 would place another Hyundai i30N in the form of Restart Racing’s Chris Smiley between himself and Cammish as the pole sitter would stand 0.473 seconds clear of the field, the biggest pole margin of the season.

The event would see a change in momentum as the Team VERTU car would stand as the standout of the pack as the second half of the campaign loomed. Also, just as impressively as Smiley’s first final session was rookie James Dorlin, who made it two Quick Six sessions in a row.

Tom Ingram - 82	Dan Cammish - 81	Ash Sutton - 63
Mikey Doble - 47	Jake Hill - 39	Charles Rainford - 38

A trip to North Yorkshire would see the return of the series after its traditional mid-season break, and none other than standings leader Tom Ingram would take to the fore as the #80 became the second two-time polesitter of the campaign.

It would be a familiar front row with Cammish alongside and Doble picking up his best qualifying result of the season in third. Daniel Lloyd would also make his first appearance in the Quick Six at his home event to take a season-best sixth place.

Tom Ingram - 102	Dan Cammish - 98	Ash Sutton - 68
Mikey Doble - 62	Tom Chliton - 49	Daniel Rowbottom - 48

A shake-up was once again in store in the championships' annual pilgrimage to Knockhill as the BMWs would rise once again to the fore. This time, Rainford took his maiden BTCC pole position with WSR-stablemate Daryl DeLeon taking his first ever front row start. In third was Hill, who completed the BMW 1-2-3.

The standings looked to be a two-horse race after the Croft event, and that remained the case in Scotland as both Ingram and Cammish once again found themselves in the Quick Six, qualifying fourth and sixth to keep the 100% record intact.

Tom Ingram - 115	Dan Cammish - 108	Ash Sutton - 74
Charles Rainford - 65	Mikey Doble - 63	Jake Hill - 54

The return to the opening venue of the season would see another first pole position of the campaign. Chilton would stand atop the grid order as the Team VERTU man heading a team 1-2 with Ingram alongside.

Smiley and DeLeon would once again return to the Quick Six alongside Senna Proctor, who made it two weekends from two in the final session of the day. Cammish would qualify sixth, only as Doble failed ride height, and this left Ingram as the only driver to keep the 100% record after the eighth event of the year.

Tom Ingram - 132	Dan Cammish - 118	Ash Sutton - 80
Tom Chilton - 69	Charles Rainford - 66	Mikey Doble - 63

Heading to Silverstone, Ingram could leave the event with an unassailable lead if he outscored Cammish by eight points. Disaster struck for both as Cammish failed ride height in the opening session to lose all of his lap times and qualify in 21st. Then, the standings leader could not capitalise as the #80 only qualified 14th, leaving both out of the Quick Six for the first time all year.

It would be DeLeon who would take his maiden BTCC pole position and the first Filipino driver to take a pole position in the championship. Gordon Shedden found himself alongside the polesitter as the three-time champion made the Quick Six session for the first time in his return to the series. Josh Cook would also make the session for the first time this year after his mid-season departure and return to the championship.

Tom Ingram - 134	Dan Cammish - 118	Ash Sutton - 84
Jake Hill - 74	Charles Rainford - 73	Tom Chilton - 69

The final session of the year would need to see Cammish outscore Ingram by 16 points to take the crown, meaning anything lower than second on the grid, regardless of where the Team VERTU man qualified. 

Cammish would indeed get where he needed to be, placing his NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus on the front row alongside DeLeon, who would take his second BTCC pole position in as many weeks.

With two pole positions and eight Quick Six appearances, Ingram qualified seventh to seal the 2025 Goodyear Wingfoot Award — edging out Cammish by just eight points after one of the most competitive qualifying seasons in recent memory.

Tom Ingram - 143	Dan Cammish - 135	Daryl DeLeon - 89
Ash Sutton - 89	Jake Hill - 84	Tom Chilton - 82

Saturday qualifying race to set grid for Sunday opener

Following discussions at the annual end-of-season meeting between TOCA – organiser of the British Touring Car Championship – and its competing teams, it has today (24 October) been announced that there will be a Qualifying race for all cars on the Saturday afternoon at each race weekend.

The final classification of this race, the culmination of the separate free practice and qualifying sessions on Saturday, will determine the grid positions for Sunday’s opening contest. It will be streamed LIVE in the UK and across the globe via the ITV YouTube channel. 

The precise format is currently being finalised and will be announced in due course. Sunday will maintain the three full rounds of racing, as has been the case for many years.

Further minor unrelated tweaks to the regulations were also ratified during the Teams’ meeting and will be confirmed over the coming weeks.

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “A qualifying race on Saturday is another exciting introduction to the BTCC ahead of the 2026 season, and promises to be a hit among drivers, teams, fans and stakeholders.

“The addition of some short, sharp racing action on Saturday will certainly spice things up ahead of our hugely popular three-race Sunday format and will provide a further great spectacle to the weekend show for everyone.”

The 2025 Fans' Choice Award, celebrating this year's 'New Winners', closes at 11 pm today (21 October) – so there's still time to make your vote count for Daryl DeLeon, Charles Rainford, Mikey Doble, or Sam Osborne.

Cast your vote here before it's too late.

But this achievement – four drivers claiming their maiden BTCC victories in a single season – got us thinking back to 2018, when an incredible six drivers tasted overall victory for the first time. 

Seven years ago, the championship witnessed another special year for breakthrough winners, including some now very familiar names and regular frontrunners in the BTCC.

Here's how it unfolded:

Senna Proctor – Brands Hatch, 8 April 2018 (Race 2)

The season's first new winner came early, with Proctor producing a masterclass in wet-weather strategy at Brands Hatch. Gambling on slick tyres in mixed conditions, the young driver emerged victorious in a sensational second race after starting from 27th on the grid, announcing himself as a future star of the championship.

Josh Cook – Donington Park, 29 April 2018 (Race 1)

Just three weeks later, Cook converted pole position into his maiden BTCC triumph at Donington Park. The victory was made even more remarkable as the action behind the then 27-year-old never wavered as the Vauxhall Astra driver cleared off into the distance.

Matt Simpson – Oulton Park, 10 June 2018 (Race 1)

Arguably the most surprising winner of the season was Simpson as he secured an impressive pole position, which he converted into a lights-to-flag triumph in the Oulton Park opener. Driving the privately run, yet potent Honda Civic Type R, Simpson produced a career-high moment at the beautiful undulating Cheshire circuit.

Dan Lloyd – Croft, 24 June 2018 (Race 3)

Similarly, Lloyd’s moment saw the Honda Civic Type R beneath him soar off into the distance with a triumph in the reverse-grid finale at Croft, where he delivered a composed drive to claim his first BTCC victory. It was a popular win for the local Yorkshireman, proving that perseverance pays off in touring car racing.

Chris Smiley – Rockingham, 12 August 2018 (Race 3)

The fifth new winner of 2018 came in remarkable fashion as Smiley capitalised on chaotic conditions at Rockingham. Light rain before the start caught out several frontrunners at the opening hairpin, allowing the BTC Norlin Racing driver to surge through from fourth on the grid to take control. He then delivered a composed drive to claim a popular maiden BTCC victory.

Dan Cammish – Brands Hatch GP, 13 October 2018 (Race 1)

The sixth and final new winner of 2018 had to wait until the season’s finale, but Cammish made it count with victory at Brands Hatch's Grand Prix circuit. Not only did he take his first career victory, but he also took his second in the very next race as the only one of the four drivers to replicate the initial winning feeling. It proved to be the perfect launchpad for what would become a highly successful BTCC career.

Throughout today, we'll be sharing the Rin60s from each of these memorable maiden victories. But first – don't forget to cast your vote in the 2025 Fans' Choice Award before 11 pm today (21 October)!

Vote now at btcc.net/fans-choice-award

The 2025 TOCA Night of Champions at Silverstone in November will celebrate the best moments from this season, and the Fans' Choice Award gives you the power to decide which achievement deserves recognition. This year's theme focuses on 'New Winners' – and what a year it's been, with four drivers claiming their first-ever BTCC victories, the most since 2018.

Your vote will determine who takes home this prestigious award. Will it be the performance itself, or the journey that led to that unforgettable moment? The choice is yours, and today we're highlighting another breakthrough victory: Sam Osborne's hugely popular maiden win at Silverstone.

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NAPA Racing UK's Sam Osborne has taken a hugely popular victory in the final reverse grid Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship race at Silverstone.

Starting from pole position – having recently completed his 200th BTCC race at Donington Park – Osborne had to contend with race-long pressure from behind as a gaggle of experienced winners filled his wing mirrors.

The main contender was the #66 Toyota Corolla of Josh Cook as he searched left and right to find a way past. In the end, it was Cook's TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA car dramatically locking up at almost every turn as Osborne's Ford Focus covered off every attempt.

As Osborne exited the complex for the final time there were emotional scenes in the car and on the pitwall as the Yorkshireman blasted his machine past the chequered flag amidst jubilant cheers around the famous circuit.

Cook held a comfortable second ahead of title contender Ash Sutton, as the NAPA Racing UK man clawed back some points on standings leader Tom Ingram.

Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport's Jake Hill was fourth, ahead of Team VERTU's Ingram, who relegated LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR's Aiden Moffat down to sixth on the final lap.

The Team VERTU duo of Adam Morgan and Tom Chilton were seventh and eighth respectively, whilst Dan Cammish (NAPA Racing UK) and Mikey Doble (Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing) completed the top ten positions.

Click here to vote for the 2025 Fan's Choice Award

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Come back throughout today for video and photos from the new winner's fantastic victory!

The 2025 TOCA Night of Champions at Silverstone in November will celebrate the best moments from this season, and the Fans' Choice Award gives you the power to decide which achievement deserves recognition. This year's theme focuses on 'New Winners' – and what a year it's been, with four drivers claiming their first-ever BTCC victories, the most since 2018.

Your vote will determine who takes home this prestigious award. Will it be the performance itself, or the journey that led to that unforgettable moment? The choice is yours, and today we're highlighting another breakthrough victory: Mikey Doble's commanding lights-to-flag maiden win at Snetterton.

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Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing's Mikey Doble has taken a memorable maiden victory with a lights to flag triumph in Round 9 of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Snetterton.

It's 1001 days since an Independent team has taken an overall race win in the BTCC and it's the first for the Power Maxed Racing squad since Jason Plato at Brands Hatch in 2019... 156 races ago.

Doble – starting from pole position – never put a wheel wrong, even when he had four-time BTCC champion Ash Sutton and multiple race winner Josh Cook closing him down.

Sutton made an outrageous start, coming from tenth on the grid through to fourth on the opening lap, with Cook's Honda immediately ahead of him.

The Goodyear soft-shod duo of Cook and Sutton were soon into second and third respectively as the old friends swapped positions on a couple of occasions.

Sutton eventually made the move for second stick and he attacked Doble's Vauxhall Astra in the closing laps, but the #116 ran wide at the Wilson hairpin on the penultimate lap and the fight was over.

The podium was completed by Sutton and Cook, but there was an even bigger headline behind as Team VERTU's Tom Ingram stormed from 24th on the grid to an incredible fourth at the finish.

NAPA Racing UK's Sam Osborne was a fantastic fifth, ahead of team-mate Dan Cammish.

There was another intra-team battle for seventh as LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR's Charles Rainford continued to attack his championship winning team-mate Jake Hill. The pair crossed the line separated by just 0.085s as the young rookie got the better of the #1 Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport man.

Ronan Pearson (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA) and Aiden Moffat (LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR) finalised the top ten positions.

Vote for the 2025 BTCC Fans' Choice Award here.

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Come back throughout today for video and photos from the new winner's fantastic victory!

The 2025 TOCA Night of Champions at Silverstone in November will celebrate the best moments from this season, and the Fans' Choice Award gives you the power to decide which achievement deserves recognition. This year's theme focuses on 'New Winners' – and what a year it's been, with four drivers claiming their first-ever BTCC victories, the most since 2018.

Your vote will determine who takes home this prestigious award. Will it be the performance itself, or the journey that led to that unforgettable moment? The choice is yours, and today we're highlighting another breakthrough victory: Charles Rainford's sensational first win in just his sixth BTCC start.

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LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR's Charles Rainford joined the BTCC winners ranks to provide BMW with a cleansweep of victories at Brands Hatch today.

WSR earlier became the most successful team in BTCC history – now with 135 wins, including two new race winners and victories in all three races, but that doesn't tell the full story of an incredible day of racing and indeed this final contest.

NAPA Racing UK's Dan Rowbottom held the lead initially from pole position while Rainford was immediately disposing of stablemate Jake Hill on the run through Surtees. The young rookie then wasted no time in turning second into first as he fired his BMW 330e M Sport up the inside of Rowbottom's #32 Ford Focus through Paddock Hill Bend on lap two.

Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport's Hill relegated the fading Rowbottom and he then set about attacking his younger team-mate. The gap fluctuated back and forth – often through the use of the TOCA Turbo Boost – but the battle was finally decided due to a heart-in-mouth moment later in the contest.

Back-marker Max Hall (ROKiT Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport) ran through the gravel on the approach to Clarke Curve and immediately returned to the track right in front of the oncoming Hill. The reigning champion escaped but the delay left him in the clutches of the charging Tom Ingram – the Team VERTU star having surged from 11th on the grid into the podium positions.

The pair touched at Druids on the penultimate lap but Hill again held on to grab second as Ingram rounded out the rostrum.

Ash Sutton's #100 NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus came alive in the second half of the contest as he impressively grabbed fourth from Restart Racing's Chris Smiley, whilst One Motorsport's Josh Cook was sixth.

A cracking late move from Team VERTU's Tom Chilton helped him to take seventh from LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR's Aiden Moffat, whilst Rowbottom and three-time champion Gordon Shedden completed the top ten.

Vote for the 2025 BTCC Fans' Choice Award here.

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Come back throughout today for video and photos from the new winner's fantastic victory!