With the summer break now over, CarStore Power Maxed Racing return to action in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Croft Circuit this weekend [29-30 July].

The Bidford-on-Avon team resume their push for both the Independent Teams and Jack Sears Trophy titles at the 2.1-mile Yorkshire venue after a six-week summer hiatus, having worked hard at their 2023 campaign thus far.

In just half a season, the team has already exceeded its total points haul for 2022, with the new trio of Aron Taylor-Smith, Mikey Doble and Andrew Watson pushing the Vauxhall Astra to the sharp end of the grid.

The synergy between the drivers and team has delivered a number of highlights, including Jack Sears Trophy victories at Donington, Thruxton and Oulton Park last time out, a steady haul of points finishes, plus some top-ten shootout appearances in qualifying.

As a result, the team enters Croft 35 points shy of the summit in the Independent Teams’ standings. Just ten points separates the top three among the Jack Sears runners, with Doble and Watson looking to go on the offensive from second and third place respectively.

Offering a blend of high and low-speed corners, technique is the key to achieving a lap time around Croft. The heavy breaking zone at Tower, the sweeping Jim Clark Esses and the final hairpin offer plenty of overtaking opportunities, and the annual trip to Yorkshire often delivers a typically action packed weekend of BTCC action.

Qualifying kicks off the competitive action at 15:25 (BST) on Saturday, after two free practice sessions to get dialled in. Sunday features the usual triple-header of ITV4-televised action, with lights out at 12:10, 14:35 and 17:00 respectively.

Andrew Watson (#11) said: “I’m feeling really good, in general, heading to Croft. We had a really positive tyre test during the break, and the gap gives the team a proper chance to strip the cars back to the components and then re-prep them.”

“I’m feeling refreshed and re-charged in myself. We had great pace during the first half of the season but didn’t always convert it. I’ve learnt a lot, and I’m looking forward to putting it into practice, starting at Croft.”

Aron Taylor-Smith (#40) said: “As a team, we can definitely go into the second half of the season with a lot of confidence. We’ve made a lot of progress on the chassis, especially at the Goodyear tyre test, and we can be really in contention going forwards.”

“Croft is the start of a sequence of tracks which are among my favourites, too, so that’s always nice. I truly believe we have one of the fastest packages underneath us.”

Mikey Doble (#88) said: “I’m absolutely chomping at the bit to get back on track in the BTCC this weekend at Croft. I’ve had a really strong first half of my rookie season, and I’m looking to continue that form and pick up more Jack Sears Trophy victories, and some overall points finishes over the remaining five race weekends.”

“Croft – much like Thruxton last time out – is in my ‘top 3’ circuits, as a driver. So, I’ll be aiming for a similarly strong qualifying result, and that should set us up for another string of good finishes.”

As we return to the 2023 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship after the summer break, we’ve collated the key timings to watch the action over the Croft race weekend (29/30 July).

We left the first half of the season at Oulton Park which was the fifth instalment on the BTCC calendar.

NAPA Racing UK’s Ash Sutton claimed second place finishes in races one and two, before a retirement in race three reduced his championship lead to just six points.

BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8’s Tom Ingram closed in with two podium finishes over the Oulton Park weekend in a bid to replicate the strong form the team had last season at the circuit.

CarStore Power Maxed Racing banked another Jack Sears Trophy win, which put them second in the Independent Teams’ standings behind One Motorsport with Starline Racing.

This weekend’s race day action will feature LIVE on ITV4 (1130-1830) on Sunday (30 July), while ITV Sport’s own YouTube channel will host qualifying on Saturday (29 July) from 1525.

Check out the full TV schedule below:

Qualifying LIVE: Saturday 29 July

ITV Sport YouTube from 1525

Raceday LIVE: Sunday 30 July

ITV4 & ITV4 HD 1130-1830

ITV4 +1 1230-1930

Let’s take a look back at the final race from Snetterton this season, Round 9, where 2022 Champion Tom Ingram fought his way from seventh to his first win of the season.

Check out the next BTCC round recap in the form of a race report below.

REIGNING CHAMP INGRAM TAKES HIS FIRST WIN OF 2023

BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8’s Tom Ingram fought his way from seventh on the grid to win Round 9 of the 2023 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Snetterton.

An all Team BMW front row of Stephen Jelley and Adam Morgan held sway at the start of the race, but with all the Bavarian machines running the Goodyear harder tyres they were soon subject to attack from behind.

NAPA Racing UK’s Dan Rowbottom carved his way into the lead on lap two and looked to have victory in his sights, but the Hyundai of Ingram, Toyota of Rory Butcher and Ford Focus of Dan Cammish were gradually making similar progress.

Ingram disposed of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK’s Butcher early on and then made a move stick for the lead by Rowbottom at Riches on lap five. Butcher got past Rowbottom on the same lap and the leading pair began pulling away.

NAPA Racing UK’s Cammish – starting 11th on the grid – had got by team-mate Ash Sutton and was then let through by Rowbottom, as he set about attacking for victory in the closing stages.

Butcher had to relinquish second to Cammish with just two laps to go and the latter immediately carved into Ingram’s advantage.

Ingram fended off Cammish until the finish by just 0.587s, but there was drama post-race when the latter’s car failed ride height checks and he was subsequently disqualified from the result.

“At the end of the day what will be will be, we all abide by the same rules, whether it’s track limits, whether it’s car discretions,” said Cammish. “I’m just a man in the seat and I can go away with my head held high that I did my bit.

“At the end of the day it is a team sport, I gave one away yesterday and no one looked at me for blame. We race as a team, win as a team and lose as a team. Proud of the guys today.”

Butcher inherited second, bringing some reward for his TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK squad, whilst the NAPA-backed duo of Rowbottom and Sutton completed the top four.

Josh Cook produced one of the drives of the day to carve his way from 26th on the grid to fifth at the finish, as he blasted by a quartet of BMWs late on.

The four BMWs of Jelley, Colin Turkington, Morgan and Jake Hill ended up inside the top ten, as did the One Motorsport with Starline Racing Honda of Aiden Moffat.

Tom Ingram said: “That was hard work – the whole day has been fairly hard work! I’m glad to have got that one done and got today done. Definitely very, very pleased to finish it off with a win. It’s really good.

“This place [Snetterton] has always been really good to us as a team over the years. We got out first win back in 2021, the first win for EXCELR8, and it’s a circuit I’ve always just really enjoyed and done well at. Really, really pleased. Good way to top it off, that’s for sure!”

Rory Butcher said: “We kind-of planned this all-day, we knew race 3 is what we were going for! Felt the pain of race 1 with the hards and then it was a bit better with the mediums, but those softs just switched on. The amount of people that were on hards around us, we were able to make hay while the sun shined!

“I think we are missing a little bit at the moment. We have a bit to find, but that podium is really nice for everyone as we have worked so hard these last three rounds.”

2023 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 3 – Snetterton (300)

1. Tom Ingram, BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 11 Laps
2.Rory Butcher, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK +5.594s
3. Daniel Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK +6.869s
4. Ashley Sutton, NAPA Racing UK +9.428s
5. Josh Cook, One Motorsport with Starline Racing +15.122s
6. Stephen Jelley, Team BMW +16.241s
7. Colin Turkington, Team BMW +16.349s
8. Aiden Moffat, One Motorsport with Starline Racing +16.993s
9. Adam Morgan, Team BMW +17.832s
10. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +18.096s
11. Tom Chilton, BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 +18.976s 
12. Bobby Thompson, Autobrite Direct with Millers Oils +19.364s
13. Dexter Patterson, Re.Beverages and Bartercard with Team HARD +19.665s 
14. Ricky Collard, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK +26.688s
15. Mikey Doble, CarStore Power Maxed Racing +29.578s
16. Jack Butel, Go-Fix with Autoaid Breakdown +30.287s
17. Daniel Lloyd, Autobrite Direct with Millers Oils +30.601s
18. Andrew Watson, CarStore Power Maxed Racing +32.242s
19. Will Powell, One Motorsport with Starline Racing +33.785s
20. Sam Osborne, NAPA Racing UK +44.431s
21. Nick Halstead, BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 +1:05.177s
22. Nic Hamilton, Go-Fix with Autoaid Breakdown +3 Laps
23. Ronan Pearson, BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 +8 Laps
24. Árón Taylor-Smith, CarStore Power Maxed Racing +9 Laps
25. George Gamble, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK DNF
26. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK DSQ

Second half of 2023 season to get underway at Croft

Rounds 16, 17 and 18 of the 2023 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship are set to take place at Croft circuit next weekend (29/30 July), marking the end of the annual mid-season break.

The 2.13-mile circuit brings the BTCC to the North East of England and thousands of passionate race fans. Renowned for its challenging, technical nature, Croft is set to provide three thrilling BTCC encounters.

Heading into the weekend with a six-point advantage, NAPA Racing UK’s Ash Sutton will lead the way into the second half of the campaign. With six wins under his belt, the three-time champion will be looking to extend the gap to his challengers – especially after a DNF at Oulton Park (17/18 June) left room for rival Tom Ingram (BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8) to close in on the top spot. 

Despite only claiming one win during the season so far, reigning champ Ingram has seemingly maximised the potential of his race package with consistent podiums keeping him well and truly in the title fight; which, with only five events left on the calendar, is certainly starting to heat-up.

Yet, it was Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport’s Jake Hill who almost completed a perfect day at Oulton Park, after taking two wins, a second place and three fastest laps. His BMW stablemate Colin Turkington (Team BMW) then rounded out the day with a victory in the final bout. The results catapulted BMW to the top of the Manufacturers' standings, and Hill to third in the Drivers’ Standings (192 points) while Turkington is just a further nine points in arrears. 

A consistent haul of Jack Sears Trophy points for Dexter Patterson across the first 15 rounds has given the Re. Beverages with Bartercard and Team HARD racer the lead in that particular category, whilst Josh Cook and his One Motorsport with Starline Racing outfit hold sway across the Independents' honours. 

Now, the BTCC turns to Croft to kickstart the second instalment of the 2023 season. Some new and some familiar faces are entering the fold, with Michael Crees joining Autobrite Direct with Millers Oils, and Daryl DeLeon signing for Re.Beverages and Bartercard with Team HARD, whilst Jade Edwards has made a mid-season switch to the One Motorsport with Starline Racing squad.

Local Lights 

Sitting fifth in the Drivers’ Standings and looking to mount his own championship charge, Leeds racer Dan Cammish (NAPA Racing UK) heads to his local event aiming to build further on his solid season-opening.

Dan Lloyd (Autobrite Direct with Millers Oils) is also set to perform in front of a home crowd in North Yorkshire, with Croft also being the scene of his maiden BTCC victory. 

TV, Timetables and Tickets 

Complimenting the tin-top racing will be a sensational line-up of support series, as The Legends Elite Cup, Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain, ROKiT F4 British Championship and The Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE completes the schedule of exciting races. 
  
Saturday’s qualifying session will be streamed live via ITV Sport’s YouTube channel from 1515. On Sunday, the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will be LIVE on ITV4 from 1130-1830. 

Tickets are available in advance or can be purchased on the gate throughout the weekend – visit here for more details.

There is just over a week to go until the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship returns from its annual mid-season break, at Croft Circuit (29/30 July). Until then, the official BTCC recap series can catch you up with all the action so far...

Up next in is the second bout at Snetterton.

Check out ITV Sport’s Race in 160 seconds highlights clip below or watch the whole 12-lap contest here.

Alternatively, click here to catch-up with the full race report.

Next up in the official BTCC round recap series is the third event of the 2023 Championship, Snetterton. During the opening bout at the Norfolk circuit, Ash Sutton held off Jake Hill to take the victory.

Check out the next BTCC round recap in the form of a race report below.

SUTTON KEEPS HILL AT BAY TO WIN SNETTERTON OPENER

NAPA Racing UK’s Ash Sutton took his 30th career BTCC victory in the opening contest at Snetterton, as the three-time champ held off a late charge from Jake Hill’s Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport BMW.

Sutton made a sensational start, immediately pulling away from the chasing pack, which included a sluggish getaway from Tom Ingram (BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8) from second on the grid.

WSR stablemates Colin Turkington and Jake Hill slipped into second and third respectively, whilst Ingram’s frustrating first lap went from bad to worse.

The reigning champ’s #1 machine was squeezed out wide at least twice on the opening tour and he eventually found himself towards the lower end of the top ten.

Sutton had pulled out a three second gap after just three laps with Ingram’s fightback providing the entertainment to the packed banks of fans.

The i30N was the quickest car on-track by mid-distance as Ingram set the fastest lap of the race, and he was soon back into fourth, with Ricky Collard (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK) also dropping out with a water pump problem.

Dan Cammish (NAPA Racing UK) – running the hard Goodyear compound – was busy making extraordinary progress from the back of the grid and he found himself in tenth late on.

Ingram and Cammish’s pace – for differing reasons – began to settle with the former unable to attack the BMWs ahead and the latter eventually losing a top ten spot to Aron Taylor-Smith, but both had made their mark on the contest.

A fight for the lead eventually materialised when Hill made an opportunistic move by Turkington for second, with the place being secured through the Bomb Hole.

Hill’s pace was blistering in the closing laps as he hauled in Sutton’s #116 Ford Focus at a rapid rate. Unfortunately for the Kent driver, he simply ran out of time with the pair separated by just 0.270s as the chequered flag waved.

Turkington claimed a podium ahead of Ingram and a lonely Team BMW duo of Adam Morgan and Stephen Jelley.

Dan Rowbottom (NAPA Racing UK) was the highest finisher on the harder rubber, ahead of Josh Cook (One Motorsport with Starline Racing), Rory Butcher (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK) and Taylor-Smith (CarStore Power Maxed Racing).

Ash Sutton said: “We had to pounce at the start, we know how long it takes for the rear-wheel drive cars to get the tyres up to temperature. Especially on the soft there, we had to be cautious. I just treated the first three laps like a qualifying session. That is where the gap came from and ultimately that gap won us the race. 

“You saw the rate that these guys come at us. I think we had a bit of a helping hand when they were all squabbling as well. One more lap and it may of been a different story – old Jakey boy may have got me! We hung in there and that is the main thing. We’ve got the softs still to come, and we all have the hards to play. It’s going to be an interesting day.”

Jake Hill said: “You can’t think about what could have been and only on what there was – and what happened was a great ending! P2 and lots of points on the board again. Especially after my puncture during Race 3 at Brands Hatch, it’s nice to come to Snetterton and have a good start.

“When we were catching Colin [Turkington] we had a really good couple of sectors there onto the back straight, and used all the hybrid. Colin saw me late I think, and it put me on the grass which wasn’t ideal, but we hung on in there, got the move done and went after Ash [Sutton]. It was a nice chase at the end there, I’m hopeful it made good viewing for everyone!”

Colin Turkington said: “We had good pace early on. The first few laps my car was quite pointy, so that means that the front was really strong. Unfortunately that means the rears struggled to keep up a bit, so by midway through the race I was using the rear tyres pretty hard and dropping and dropping. That quite often happens on the softs.

“I could see Jake was quite quick in the middle part of the lap and obviously he got the tow and the hybrid to get up behind me, so I could see he had more pace and there was no point being too feisty. We both want to get home on the podium. 

“It was a solid start to the day. We started P3 and finished P3. We’ll just try nudge the car in the right direction for the next.”

2023 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 1 – Snetterton (300)

1. Ashley Sutton, NAPA Racing UK 12 Laps
2. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +0.270s
3. Colin Turkington, Team BMW +3.553s
4. Tom Ingram, BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 +4.541s
5. Adam Morgan, Team BMW +12.961s
6. Stephen Jelley, Team BMW +13.177s 
7. Daniel Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK +24.648s
8. Josh Cook, One Motorsport with Starline Racing +29.285s
9. Rory Butcher, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK +32.283s
10. Árón Taylor-Smith, CarStore Power Maxed Racing +32.562s
11. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +33.619s
12. Ronan Pearson, BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 +34.895s
13. Sam Osborne, NAPA Racing UK +34.897s
14. George Gamble, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK +40.414s
15. Daniel Lloyd, Autobrite Direct with Millers Oils +42.828s
16. Bobby Thompson, Autobrite Direct with Millers Oils +42.950s
17. Mikey Doble, CarStore Power Maxed Racing +43.591s
18. Andrew Watson, CarStore Power Maxed Racing +43.899s
19. Aiden Moffat, One Motorsport with Starline Racing +48.238s
20. Dexter Patterson, Re.Beverages and Bartercard with Team HARD +48.429s 
21. Jack Butel, Go-Fix with Autoaid Breakdown +49.702s
22. Will Powell, One Motorsport with Starline Racing +57.327s
23. Nic Hamilton, Go-Fix with Autoaid Breakdown +57.986s
24. Tom Chilton, BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 +1:02.401s 
25. Jade Edwards, Re.Beverages and Bartercard with Team HARD +1:03.750s
26. Nick Halstead, BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 +1:12.115s
27. Ricky Collard, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK +8 Laps

Today (19 July), Team HARD Racing has announced the return of Michael Crees to the team for the remainder of the 2023 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

Crees, who previously raced with the squad in 2019, is set to make a comeback following his stint with the Power Maxed Racing outfit in 2022.

Crees made his BTCC debut with Team HARD back in 2019 and quickly established himself as a talented and competitive driver within the series; including his crowning as the Jack Sears Trophy champion in 2020.

The 39-year-old will be taking over the wheel from Bobby Thompson, who has unfortunately had to step down.

"I’m so excited to be returning to Team HARD," said Crees. “I have missed the family feel and even though I’ve been at other teams, they have always made me and my family feel welcome.

“The team has come on leaps and bounds over the last few years. I’m super excited to jump in the Cupra, dust off some cobwebs and give it my best shot!”

Team HARD Racing Team Principal, Tony Gilham, commented: “We are delighted to have Michael back on board. He is a talented driver with a proven track record and shares our passion for the BTCC.

“We believe that this reunion will be a fruitful one, and we look forward to a successful second half of the season."

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship action will resume at Croft on 29/30 July.

The sixth race of the 2023 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch, left Ash Sutton (NAPA Racing UK) inheriting victory due to a penalty for on-the-road winner Ricky Collard (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK).

The final reverse grid race saw Collard’s Toyota slip into the lead on the opening lap as he passed pole-sitter Bobby Thompson (Autobrite Direct with Millers Oils), whilst Sutton was surging through the order from 11th on the grid.

The three-time champion made pass after pass before he eventually hauled in Collard’s machine by mid-distance.

Collard defended valiantly and also used his additional hybrid well to keep Sutton at bay, but multiple track limit infringements began to be incurred as he fended off the #116 Ford Focus.

Unfortunately for Collard a ten second time penalty was eventually issued by the race stewards to the #37 Toyota, which ultimately gave the win to Sutton.

Check out the BTCC round recap through the pictures below!

COLLARD PENALTY PROMOTES SUTTON TO VICTORY

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See the full race standings below...

2023 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 3 – Brands Hatch Indy

1. Ashley Sutton, NAPA Racing UK 24 Laps
2. Bobby Thompson, Autobrite Direct with Millers Oils  +0.948s
3. Tom Ingram , BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 +5.901s
4. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +7.623s
5. Colin Turkington, Team BMW +8.457s
6. Adam Morgan, Team BMW +9.507s
7. Tom Chilton, BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 +9.682s 
8. Ricky Collard, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK +9.800s
9. Daniel Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK +10.680s
10.Josh Cook, One Motorsport with Starline Racing +11.677s
11. Daniel Lloyd, Autobrite Direct with Millers Oils +11.953s
12. Aiden Moffat, One Motorsport with Starline Racing +15.352s
13. Ronan Pearson, BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 +20.399s
14. Sam Osborne, NAPA Racing UK +21.909s
15. Dexter Patterson, Re.Beverages and Bartercard with Team HARD +24.073s 
16. Mikey Doble, CarStore Power Maxed Racing +24.648s
17. Jack Butel, Go-Fix with Autoaid Breakdown +25.225s
18. Will Powell, One Motorsport with Starline Racing +33.652s
19. Nic Hamilton, Go-Fix with Autoaid Breakdown +37.944s
20. Nick Halstead, BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 +38.319s
21. George Gamble, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK +1 Lap 
22. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +2 Laps 
23. Andrew Watson, CarStore Power Maxed Racing +2 Laps
24. Stephen Jelley, Team BMW +2 Laps 
25.Rory Butcher, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK DNF
26. Jade Edwards, Re.Beverages and Bartercard with Team HARD +DNF
27. Árón Taylor-Smith, CarStore Power Maxed Racing DNS

The fifth race of the 2023 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship was the second race of the day at the Brands Hatch Indy Circuit in Kent.

Check out the BTCC round recap in the form of the race report below!

RACE TWO WINNER SUTTON… “IT’S GOOD TO BE BACK”

NAPA Racing UK’s Ash Sutton kept reigning champion Tom Ingram at bay to win his first Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship race of the season.

The 1.21-mile Brands Hatch Indy circuit – notoriously tight and challenging for all drivers – provided battles throughout the order, but it was Sutton who commanded proceedings from the outset.

Sutton snatched the lead from pole-sitter Colin Turkington on the opening tour, but it was the fast starting Ingram that was making waves behind.

The BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 driver was soon into third – from fifth on the grid – and he diced by Team BMW’s Turkington on the run through Surtees for the first time.

The top three positions remained unchanged until the finish, albeit with Ingram keeping Sutton honest throughout, but there was a late change for fourth between Jake Hill (Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport) and Dan Cammish (NAPA Racing UK).

Hill – with more Hybrid deployment still available – squeezed his BMW 330e Sport past Cammish’s Ford on the run to Druids on lap 15, as the Kent man secured valuable points in an otherwise quiet contest.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK’s Rory Butcher grabbed sixth ahead of a monumental battle for seventh that went to the wire.

Sam Osborne has been rapidly growing in speed during the weekend but the NAPA Racing UK Ford made contact with Ricky Collard’s Toyota Corolla at the final corner enabling a scramble for position.

When the dust settled it was One Motorsport with Starline Racing’s Josh Cook taking the spot from Osborne, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK’s George Gamble and a relegated Collard that completed the top ten positions.

Ash Sutton said: “It’s good to be back! The car was nice in Race 1 but that was mega. We made a handful of changes between Race 1 and 2 and the car was just leaps and bounds, miles better. We were just managing the tyre, managing the gap. Tom [Ingram] got close at one point and a few little sweats came out but it was a case of just knuckling down. We knew we had the tyre at the end and had to use that. I’m just over the moon – the car was mega!

“I knew I had to pounce early to get Colin [Turkington], over the curve at Turn 1 – what better place to do it. So I got under him and from that point onwards had my eye on the checkered flag.”

Tom Ingram said: “From the first lap I realised, oh wow we are in the mix here! I couldn’t have asked for it to go any better really. Once I got into the race I could kind of see where I was quicker than Ash [Sutton] and where Ash was quicker than me, so we sort of just played the game. Ash had a little bit in the bank, I had a little bit also, and neither of us wanted to give it all too soon. It was a bit of cat and mouse I think really. 

“I started to use some of my hybrid to try and just close the gap a little bit and then being honest, once we got into those last five lap window where I knew ash was going to be deploying every lap, I was more focused on just bringing it home. Credit to these guys they did a great job. For us as BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 it was a great job. It was a pointsy race, I said I wanted a pointsy race and that’s exactly what it was!”

Colin Turkington said: “I don’t think I’m going to catch Jason [Plato] on wins! But it was still a good finish, big difference for me going back on the medium tyre compared to the soft. Lap 1 it was day and night difference, the two guys had done me by the time we got halfway round the lap. So the same story, just waiting on the front axel to warm up – even when it did I couldn’t live up with the pace of Tom [Ingram] and Ash [Sutton], they were almost in their own race. But I seemed to be in my own race too as nobody was behind!

“We’ve got some good information for Race 3 now – I’ll be on the medium again. But I only had half the hybrid allocation as I has in Race 1 and that’s making a difference, which it’s supposed to do. Still a really good finish on the podium.”

2023 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 2 – Brands Hatch Indy

1. Ashley Sutton, NAPA Racing UK 24 Laps
2. Tom Ingram , BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 +0.933s
3. Colin Turkington, Team BMW +3.405s
4. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +6.859s 
5. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +10.598s
6. Rory Butcher, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK +12.383s
7. Josh Cook, One Motorsport with Starline Racing +13.912s
8. George Gamble, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK +14.238s 
9. Ricky Collard, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK +14.350s
10. Sam Osborne, NAPA Racing UK +14.668s
11. Bobby Thompson, Autobrite Direct with Millers Oils  +15.087s
12. Tom Chilton, BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 +16.152s 
13. Ronan Pearson, BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 +16.659s
14. Daniel Lloyd, Autobrite Direct with Millers Oils +22.151s
15. Daniel Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK +22.994s
16. Adam Morgan, Team BMW +23.277s
17. Dexter Patterson, Re.Beverages and Bartercard with Team HARD +27.380s 
18. Mikey Doble, CarStore Power Maxed Racing +28.468s
19. Aiden Moffat, One Motorsport with Starline Racing +30.295s
20. Andrew Watson, CarStore Power Maxed Racing +34.698s
21. Will Powell, One Motorsport with Starline Racing +35.675s
22. Jade Edwards, Re.Beverages and Bartercard with Team HARD +36.648s
23. Nick Halstead, BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8 +50.101s
24. Jack Butel, Go-Fix with Autoaid Breakdown +2 Laps
25. Nic Hamilton, Go-Fix with Autoaid Breakdown +2 Laps
26. Árón Taylor-Smith, CarStore Power Maxed Racing +7 Laps
27. Stephen Jelley, Team BMW DNS 

Today (14 July), Team HARD has announced that Daryl DeLeon will be stepping in as the replacement driver for the team, following the departure of Jade Edwards. DeLeon, who emerged as the winner of the team's highly competitive 2023 scholarship program, has showcased remarkable talent and has been turning heads with his performances this year. 

DeLeon's entry into the series marks the first for a competitor from the Philippines, and he joins after obtaining a commanding lead in this season's Radical UK championship. Team HARD recognised his potential and is thrilled to provide him with the opportunity to showcase his talents on the largest stage in the UK. 

DeLeon's recent participation in the Official Goodyear Tyre Test (4 July) displayed his speed right from the outset. The team is confident that his addition will bring a fresh perspective and enhance the team's competitiveness for the remainder of the season. 

“I'm absolutely thrilled to have the chance to drive a touring car in the BTCC championship," DeLeon commented, "I'm very grateful to Tony Gilham and Dave Tyson at Team HARD. for extending this opportunity and for having faith in me.  

“I’m still only 17 and the Team HARD. scholarship has definitely opened doors, it’s put me in contact with the right people and given me the opportunity to race in the UK’s premier motorsport series.  

“I'm looking forward to getting on track. The racing is fantastic but so is everything about the series. The engineers, mechanics and everyone that forms the team plus I've experienced racing in front of crowds but touring car spectators are just on another level, they are the best! 

“I’ve been racing with Team HARD. in the British Endurance Championship which has definitely helped me prepare for this step in my career. A Porsche GT3 is not exactly the same as a touring car but the approach to racing is the same. Working with engineers, data analysts, car set-up and race strategy is all part of it so the more racing and seat time I can have, the better.” 

Tony Gilham, Managing Director of the team added, “I am delighted to welcome Daryl into our touring car operation. He has impressed us with his exceptional speed and performance, and we believe he has a bright future ahead.  

“Daryl's addition will bring a fresh dynamic to the team, and we are excited to see him in action for the remainder of the season."