Over the next few weeks we'll be reviewing the season so far, including a rundown of each of the respective championships... from the overall Drivers' standings to the Jack Sears Trophy and everything in between. We'll be starting by taking a look at the Goodyear Wingfoot Award, where points are awarded based on a drivers' qualifying position...
Inspired by the INDYCAR qualifying format, the BTCC's new 'Quick Six' system was introduced ahead of the 2024 season.
The format consists of splitting the finishing order of Free Practice Two into odd and even positions. Once split, one group goes out for a ten-minute session in which the top six progress. The other group then does the same. All drivers not through are set on the grid for the opening race from 13th backwards in order of their lap time.
Both sets of six advancing from Part One come together and form one group of 12 in Part Two. They then head out on track once more for another ten-minute session in which positions seven to 12 are set in order of lap time and the top six advance to the 'Quick Six'.
The fastest six drivers make their way out on circuit for one final ten-minute session in which the result sets the positions for the top six places.
Donington Park National - Qualifying for Round 1
The first qualifying session of the season could not have been more typically British as the 45-minute sessions was both wet and dry. Not only did the drivers and teams have the weather to deal with but also a new qualifying format for 2024.
Rob Huff did not have a welcome return to a competitive session in the BTCC after not being allowed on circuit for his session due to his car not being parked in the pit lane as qualifying began. This left the WTC Champion starting his first full-time race back from last.
NAPA Racing UK also had a shock session after winning the Teams' championship in 2023 to having two cars exit qualifying in the first part with Dan Rowbottom qualifying 14th and Dan Cammish 17th.
In the ever-drying session it would be 2022 champion Tom Ingram that would hold the first bragging rights of the year. The Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS driver took pole ahead of Ash Sutton, Colin Turkington and Jake Hill, the top four in the standings from last season.
2024 Goodyear Wingfoot Award Standings - Event 1
1 - Tom Ingram - 20 | 6 - Andrew Watson - 10 | 11 - Sam Osborne - 5 |
2 - Ash Sutton - 17 | 7 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 9 | 12 - Chris Smiley - 4 |
3 - Colin Turkington - 15 | 8 - Josh Cook - 8 | 13 - Tom Chilton - 3 |
4 - Jake Hill - 13 | 9 - Daryl DeLeon - 7 | 14 - Dan Rowbottom - 2 |
5 - Ronan Pearson - 11 | 10 - Mikey Doble - 6 | 15 - Scott Sumpton - 1 |
Brands Hatch Indy - Qualifying for Round 4
Qualifying for the second event of the year could not have been more different than the first as the BTCC paddock took to the sun-soaked Kent circuit. As with being at the shortest circuit on the calendar, the gaps could not be tighter.
From first to 18th across both groups in Part One the gap was 0.724 seconds. A session that was topped by eventual front-row starter Adam Morgan. Part Two of qualifying was where the shocks came to light.
New for 2024, hybrid deployment in both qualifying and in the race has been doubled, with those at the top end of the championship receiving minimal deployment when compared to those further down the order.
This took its toll on championship leader Ingram and Hill as they qualified eighth and 12th respectively. It was not an issue for Turkington as he took pole, solidifying a Team BMW front row lock out.
2024 Goodyear Wingfoot Award Standings - Event 2
1 - Colin Turkington - 35 | 6 - Ronan Pearson - 18 | 11 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 11 | 16 - Rob Huff - 5 |
2 - Ash Sutton - 30 | 7 - Jake Hill - 17 | 12 - Tom Chilton - 9 | 17 - Chris Smiley - 4 |
3 - Tom Ingram - 28 | 8 - Adam Morgan - 17 | 13 - Mikey Doble - 9 | 18 - Scott Sumpton - 1 |
4 - Josh Cook - 19 | 9 - Dan Cammish - 15 | 14 - Daryl DeLeon - 7 | 19 - Aiden Moffat - 1 |
5 - Andrew Watson - 19 | 10 - Dan Rowbottom - 12 | 15 - Sam Osborne - 5 |
Snetterton 300 - Qualifying for Round 7
After two contrasting weekends of weather, it was a return to the first as the Norfolk-based circuit saw torrential rain throughout. Ingram was the biggest hitter out first for the second weekend running after an exit in Part One. From pole at Donington, to out in Part Two at Brands Hatch to out in Part One at Snetterton.
Other early fallers were Árón Taylor-Smith and Tom Chilton who sit inside the top 12 in the Wingfoot standings yet did not make it to Part Two. Bobby Thompson would advance in what would be his only qualifying session of the season to date.
Part Two saw Turkington stumble after getting pole last time out, exactly how Ingram did after his pole at the first event. The Wingfoot leader, starting from ninth, would see him lose his lead one round after gaining it.
The second BMW to take pole of 2024 fell to Hill with an impressive lap at the longest circuit on the calendar. Sutton made it three from three in terms of 'Quick Six' appearances. putting his Ford on the front row alongside Hill.
2024 Goodyear Wingfoot Award Standings - Event 3
1 - Ash Sutton - 47 | 6 - Josh Cook - 29 | 11 - Rob Huff - 13 | 16 - Mikey Doble - 9 |
2 - Colin Turkington - 42 | 7 - Andrew Watson - 28 | 12 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 12 | 17 - Daryl DeLeon - 7 |
3 - Jake Hill - 37 | 8 - Dan Cammish - 28 | 13 - Tom Chilton - 11 | 18 - Sam Osborne - 5 |
4 - Adam Morgan - 32 | 9 - Ronan Pearson - 22 | 14 - Bobby Thompson - 11 | 19 - Scott Sumpton - 1 |
5 - Tom Ingram - 31 | 10 - Dan Rowbottom - 18 | 15 - Chris Smiley - 9 | 20 - Aiden Moffat - 1 |
Thruxton - Qualifying for Round 10
A problem for Ronan Pearson from the off at Thruxton as a throttle issue meant the Scotsman, who was in the top ten in the Wingfoot standings, would qualify last. An unfortunate turn of events also meant that the fast charging Taylor-Smith crashed at Goodwood, giving his Vauxhall Astra significant damage despite holding on to 12th place.
The fastest circuit in the UK saw the fastest drivers battle it out in the 'Quick Six' as Ingram rose to the top once more. This gave the Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS driver pole 100% of the time he featured in the 'Quick Six' session.
Sutton once again championed consistency over raw pace as the round saw him feature in all four 'Quick Six' sessions this season, qualifying fifth. Team-mate Cammish parked his Ford alongside Ingram on the front row whilst the third of the three NAPA Racing UK cars in the session, Dan Rowbottom, qualified fourth.
Hill was the highest performing BMW, placing the #24 in third place whilst Turkington could only qualify in tenth.
2024 Goodyear Wingfoot Award Standings - Event 4
1 - Ash Sutton - 58 | 6 - Adam Morgan - 41 | 11 - Tom Chilton - 21 | 16 - Chris Smiley - 9 |
2 - Jake Hill - 53 | 7 - Josh Cook - 37 | 12 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 16 | 17 - Daryl DeLeon - 7 |
3 - Tom Ingram - 51 | 8 - Andrew Watson - 35 | 13 - Rob Huff - 16 | 18 - Sam Osborne - 6 |
4 - Colin Turkington - 48 | 9 - Dan Rowbottom - 31 | 14 - Mikey Doble - 14 | 19 - Aiden Moffat - 3 |
5 - Dan Cammish - 45 | 10 - Ronan Pearson - 22 | 15 - Bobby Thompson - 11 | 20 - Scott Sumpton - 1 |
Oulton Park - Qualifying for Round 13
Reigning champion Sutton would once again remain at the top of the Wingfoot standings despite having zero pole positions as the three behind him would share all five poles.
One of those being the #80 of Ingram who made Oulton Park his third pole of the year, yet sits second in the standings due to Sutton appearing in all 'Quick Six' sessions.
The BMW pair of Turkington and Hill once again faltered in the Part Two of qualifying, ending up in ninth and seventh. Despite this the third WSR-run BMW driven by Morgan managed to reach the 'Quick Six' qualifying in sixth.
NAPA Racing UK kept their speed from Thruxton getting three Fords to the summit of qualifying. The #1 of Sutton partnered 2023 rival Ingram on the front row, with Cammish slotting behind in third.
2024 Goodyear Wingfoot Award Standings - Event 5
1 - Ash Sutton - 75 | 6 - Adam Morgan - 51 | 11 - Árón Taylor-Smith - 24 | 16 - Chris Smiley - 9 |
2 - Tom Ingram - 71 | 7 - Josh Cook - 43 | 12 - Ronan Pearson - 23 | 17 - Daryl DeLeon - 7 |
3 - Jake Hill - 62 | 8 - Dan Rowbottom - 42 | 13 - Rob Huff - 21 | 18 - Aiden Moffat - 7 |
4 - Dan Cammish - 60 | 9 - Andrew Watson - 37 | 14 - Mikey Doble - 17 | 19 - Sam Osborne - 6 |
5 - Colin Turkington - 55 | 10 - Tom Chilton - 34 | 15 - Bobby Thompson - 11 | 20 - Scott Sumpton - 1 |
The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship returns to action at Croft on 27/28 July