This weekend’s Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship three races on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit promise close and exciting racing after a thrilling season-opener at Donington Park. Tyre strategy will be as important as ever, with drivers using the hard compound Goodyear tyres for the first time this season, as well as having their first opportunity to use carryover tyres.
Ash Sutton of NAPA Racing UK made the most of the new regulations to win races one and two a fortnight ago at Donington Park. Later in the day, Tom Chilton used his experience to win race three by the biggest margin of the weekend. Tom Ingram, who finished second in all three races, will aim to go one better on the Brands Hatch Indy layout, where the Team Vertu driver won twice during last year’s season opener.
The Indy circuit’s constantly turning nature is demanding on the tyres as well as the driver, with even the start-finish Brabham Straight on a bend. This track results in more load on the tyres on the left side, demanding a strategic choice from the teams on how to use the three sets of ‘standard’ soft tyres and one set of the ‘option’ hard tyres that they will be allocated. This will be the first opportunity for drivers to use the hard Goodyear compound this season.
Track resurfacing ahead of the race weekend - from the last brake marker on the Cooper Straight through to the grid slots on the Brabham Straight - will add further challenge for teams to navigate this weekend.
Michael Butler, Goodyear’s BTCC Event Leader, explains: "Even though Brands Hatch Indy is one of the shortest laps on the calendar, it is relentless. The constantly turning layout puts significant strain on the left-hand tyres, even more now as the cars are lighter and more responsive. This weekend, Goodyear engineers will be drawing on their experience to help teams and drivers adapt quickly to the challenges posed by the resurfaced section leading onto the Brabham Straight.”
For the first time this season, further strategy choices come in the possibility of using carryover tyres from the previous round. Drivers are free to choose two sets of either the soft or medium compounds from Donington, but the medium compound - expected to be the more popular carryover choice for this event - can only be used during free practice sessions.
Butler adds: “The carryover tyre strategy challenge begins now, as from this round, drivers may wish to choose to carry over particular compounds for use towards the end of the season. It’s a long game!”
Dan Cammish wins Goodyear Wingfoot Award at Donington
Dan Cammish of NAPA Racing UK took the opening Goodyear Wingfoot Award at Donington Park and will want to repeat his performance to stay on top of the league table.
Talking to Goodyear, Cammish shared his hopes for securing the Wingfoot Award this season: “I’d like to think this could be my year. I really enjoy qualifying; it’s something I’ve always been strong at. I came so close [to winning the Wingfoot Award] in 2020 and missed out by just a point or two after losing a pole at a wet Croft.
“This season, turbo boost deployment will affect qualifying, but usually the top drivers in the championship are also the ones fighting for the Wingfoot Award. Hopefully I can top both this year."
The Goodyear Wingfoot Award rewards the fastest qualifying lap at each round. Drivers collect points from their qualifying results throughout the season, with the overall top scorer eventually being crowned the 2025 Goodyear Wingfoot Award winner.
For this round, the shorter lap of the Indy circuit will provide the perfect backdrop for a competitive qualifying session on Saturday afternoon, with drivers having more chances to deliver their best laps, and timings being close to each other.
Track action at Brands Hatch Indy kicks off on Saturday 10 May, ahead of the three races on Sunday 11 May.
