Donington Park GP sets the stage for crucial weekend in 2026 campaign

Now or never for the chasing pack as Sutton looks to tighten title grip

The 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship heads to Donington Park this weekend (22/23 August), returning to the scene of the action-packed season opener, but this time around it’s on the iconic GP layout.

It was Adam Morgan, Ash Sutton and Tom Chilton who shared the victories last time out, with the middle man extending his championship advantage over Tom Ingram and Dan Cammish.

Now, the full Donington Park Grand Prix circuit awaits as the season begins its run towards the finale.

Familiar Ground, Different Stakes

Donington Park provides a familiar setting this weekend, but the 2.49-mile Grand Prix configuration offers a very different test to the National circuit which opened the campaign back in April.

The longer configuration returned to the BTCC calendar in 2023 after more than two decades away, adding the Melbourne section and its heavy braking zones to the familiar rush through Redgate, the Craner Curves and the Old Hairpin. Three years on, the GP circuit once again arrives at a crucial stage of the season, with just four events remaining in the 2026 title fight.

Ash Sutton (NAPA Racing UK - Ford) heads back to a layout where he won the opening race on its championship return three years ago and still holds the quickest Qualifying lap there of 1m33.154s. This time, however, the four-time champion arrives with an 81-point advantage and the opportunity to take another significant step towards a record fifth Drivers’ crown.

Tom Ingram (Team VERTU - Hyundai) is the driver with the clearest task of stopping him. The reigning champion sits second on 246 points and won around the Grand Prix circuit last season, while his 1m33.621s effort from the same weekend is the current race lap record. With opportunities to close Sutton down beginning to run out, Donington offers an important chance to turn proven pace at the venue into a championship gain.

Dan Cammish (NAPA Racing UK - Ford) has his own recent Donington success to draw upon, having taken victory on the GP layout in 2024. Just 13 points now separate the #27 from Ingram, meaning another strong weekend could move the Yorkshireman into second while simultaneously strengthening NAPA Racing UK’s hand at the top of the Teams’ standings. The trio at the top of the standings have each taken two triumphs around the GP layout, the joint-most of any driver on the 2026 grid.

The battle immediately behind the leading trio is even tighter. Ricky Collard (Team VERTU – Hyundai) arrives fourth on 180 points, with Charles Rainford (WSR – BMW) on 169 and Mikey Doble (LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing – Audi) on 167. Doble also returns to Donington having taken victory on the National circuit at the opening event of 2026, although the extended GP configuration presents a very different challenge this weekend.

That fight extends further down the order too, with just 30 points covering fourth to tenth in the Drivers’ Championship. Doble also arrives at Donington at the head of the Independent Drivers’ standings, while Dexter Patterson (Steel Seal with Power Maxed Racing – Audi) leads the way in the Jack Sears Trophy.

Saturday’s ‘Race to Pole’ means points are available before Sunday’s three contests even begin, adding another layer of importance to a weekend where recent Donington history, current form and an increasingly urgent title fight are set to collide.

TV, Timetables and Tickets

Complementing the tin top racing will be a sensational line-up of support series, as the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain, F4 British Championship certified by FIA MINI CHALLENGE Trophy and the Caterham Seven Championship UK complete the schedule of exciting races.

BTCC will be wowing the crowds both trackside and at home, with Saturday's 'Race to Pole' and the earlier qualifying session being streamed live via  ITV Sport's YouTube Channel from 1400, before ITV4's seven-and-a-half-hour race day broadcast gets underway at 1100 on Sunday.

Remember, continuing what started for the first time in the championship's history in 2025, the BTCC is being broadcast globally with every race being streamed live in 2026 via the BTCC YouTube Channel, whilst fans in North America can watch the action on the Racer Network. Look out for the races on Sunday starting at 1145, 1445 and 1730 (BST).

There's no place like being there, of course, and fans can purchase tickets in advance or on the gate throughout the weekend – visit here for more details.