Four-time BTCC champion takes pole position ahead of Cammish and Ingram

Team BMW's Colin Turkington produced yet another stellar lap around Croft Circuit today (27 July), as the four-time champ secured pole position for Round 16 of the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

Turkington's 14 victories at the North Yorkshire venue is the most of any driver at a single circuit and a place where the tin-top legend has enjoyed many fond memories.

Showing eagerness to reignite his 2024 title challenge, Turkington added to those memories by coming out on top of an exciting 'Quick Six' finale around the 2.13-mile layout, pipping NAPA Racing UK's Dan Cammish and Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS' Tom Ingram to pole.

There has been a spring in Cammish's step in recent months and he was further buoyed by signing a new multi-year agreement with NAPA Racing UK on the eve of the Croft weekend. His recent form, added to that positive news, clearly paid off as he ended up just shy of Turkington's benchmark.

Ingram performed brilliantly to claim third, despite having minimal hybrid deployment available due to being in second place in the overall Drivers' standings.

The excellent form of Árón Taylor-Smith and his Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing outfit continued with the Irishman claiming fourth, whilst TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK's Rob Huff made the 'Quick Six' segment for the first time to take fifth.

Reigning champion Ash Sutton made it six successive 'Quick Six' appearances – the only driver to do so all season – but the NAPA Racing UK star was unable to make inroads during the final session.

Restart Racing's Chris Smiley was a brilliant seventh, ahead of Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS' Tom Chilton, the latter also securing a new qualifying lap record during the opening segment.

Josh Cook (LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ) and Mikey Doble (Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing) rounded out the top ten.

Championship leader Jake Hill (Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport) had to settle for 11th following a track limit infringement, whilst Dan Rowbottom (NAPA Racing UK) also fell foul of the limitations on two occasions and eventually wound up 13th.

Rounds 16, 17 and 18 of the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 'Presented by LIQUI MOLY' take place at Croft Circuit tomorrow. The action will be broadcast LIVE throughout the day on ITV4 from 1115, whilst every race will be streamed LIVE globally via the ITV Sport TikTok channel.

Colin Turkington, Team BMW, said: “I need a good weekend, especially after Oulton Park where we lost a chunk of points. Croft has sort of been my patch, so if there was somewhere we would want to start the second half of the season it would be here. It was super difficult out there, it’s so hard to get the car perfect at every corner at Croft, particularly at the final sector. Team BMW gave me the car today, so I’m really pleased.”

Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK, said: “I’m really happy with that one. If you’d have told me we’d be second I’d have snapped your hand off. We got pole here last year and we were really strong, but you’re looking at the timesheets today, I had to trust that we had the pace for qualifying. I’ve just chipped away throughout the day. Over the last few rounds, we’ve had a good habit of peaking when it really matters, which I’m very proud of. We are able to build as a team towards the ultimate moment. It’s been a good day.”

Tom Ingram, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS’, said: “Very good result. I didn’t really expect to be fighting for pole so to be lining up in P3 is great. The Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS car is feeling absolutely phenomenal, really good, it’s just a joy to drive. I knew we’d be really strong here from a chassis perspective, but I was aware of the hybrid situation that we had. Honestly, I cannot be disappointed, I will sleep very well tonight knowing I’ve got a good car for tomorrow.”

Croft - Qualifying - Final Classification: