Victories in Hampshire for Josh Cook, Ash Sutton and Tom Ingram
The 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship blasted back into action following its mid-summer break with a stellar trio of races at Thruxton today (26 July).
A huge crowd descended on the Hampshire venue as 22 tin-top stars took on the fastest circuit in the UK for Rounds 13, 14 and 15 of this year’s campaign.
Josh Cook became the eighth different race winner of the season so far before title protagonists Ash Sutton and Tom Ingram added to their respective tallies.
Speedworks Corolla Racing’s Cook has long been hailed the ‘King of Thruxton’, having previously taken ten career BTCC victories around the 2.36-mile circuit, although he had been waiting since 2022 for a further success.
Sutton’s record-breaking start to the season continued in yet more exemplary fashion, maintaining his championship challenge with an impressive win and two second places.
Team VERTU’s Ingram claimed two top five finishes before a vital win in the finale, keeping Sutton within sight in the fight for the title.
Alliance Racing/Ford and NAPA Racing UK top both the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ and Teams’ tables.
Mikey Doble remains at the head of the Independent Drivers’ order, whilst LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing hold sway in the Indy Teams’ table.
A brilliant day for James Dorlin – with two top six finishes overall – elevated him to the summit of the Jack Sears Trophy standings.
The BTCC returns in two weeks’ time for its annual trip north of the border, at Knockhill on the 8/9 August.
Cook extends winning record at Thruxton
Speedworks Corolla Racing's Cook took victory in the Thruxton opener, extending his winning record at the Hampshire venue with 11 overall victories.
Having set the pace during Qualifying, before going on to win the 'Race to Pole' on Saturday afternoon, the #66 Toyota Corolla claimed a commanding lights-to-flag triumph.
It was far from easy, however, with four-time BTCC champion Sutton keeping Cook honest throughout the contest. Whilst their pace on-track looked comparable, a lack of boost available for the #116 Ford Focus Titanium meant that second place was just reward for the current standings’ leader.
There was more joy behind as Dan Rowbottom secured the first ever podium for Cataclean Plato Racing, with the Mercedes squad showing improved pace this weekend. The result also confirmed that each of the six marques have now scored at least one podium so far this season.
Rowbottom got a great start, as well as benefiting from an early scuffle between Dan Cammish (NAPA Racing UK – Ford) and Ingram (Team VERTU – Hyundai), and the #32 Mercedes A35 Saloon slipped into third – a position he held until the finish.
Series returnee Senna Proctor – substituting for the unwell Sam Osborne this weekend – drove brilliantly to take fourth, fending off the attentions from former teammate Ingram in the #80 Team VERTU Hyundai.
Sutton surges to sixth triumph of 2026
NAPA Racing UK's Sutton stood victorious in Round 14, extending his championship lead in the process.
Sutton got the better of good friend and opening race winner Cook, when the latter’s Toyota ran wide in the opening exchanges nd the #116 Ford Focus nipped by.
The four-time champion kept the rest at bay while Speedworks Corolla Racing's Cook fell back into the clutches of Ingram (Team VERTU – Hyundai) and later Cammish (NAPA Racing UK – Ford) in the final laps.
The battle between Cook and Ingram intensified, gradually building to a critical moment through the final chicane as the two cars went side-by-side while completely on the limit.
In truth, neither car made the corner with Ingram getting the better of it, as Cook's #66 Toyota Corolla endured a half spin before continuing.
This left Cook in the grasp of Cammish's Ford Focus in the latter stages as the pair swapped positions twice, with the latter eventually gaining the position.
There was even better news for Cammish and Cook on the final tour when a ten second penalty was confirmed for Ingram following excessive track limit infringements, meaning the pair completed the podium.
Ingram takes top spot in Thruxton finale
Team VERTU's Ingram took the chequered flag in the Thruxton finale, as the 2025 Champion stood triumphant for the second time in his title defence campaign.
A robust early move past pole-sitter Dorlin was enough to secure the deal as the young talented Restart Racing Hyundai driver fought valiantly to keep a gaggle of contenders behind.
The NAPA Racing UK Ford pairing of Sutton and Cammish were next through, but both were unable to make inroads into Ingram's early advantage as the experienced trio settled in to secure the all-important podium positions.
Team VERTU's Ricky Collard drove brilliantly from 11th on the grid to take fourth after a number of eye-catching moves – ending an often-frustrating weekend on a high for the #11 Hyundai i30N driver.
Proctor rounded off a great day with another top five finish, having been thrown into the #18 Ford Focus Titanium race seat at the final minute.
Dorlin eventually came home sixth but undoubtedly proved to be one of the stars of the Thruxton event as he scooped yet more Independents' and Jack Sears Trophy honours.
2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 1 – Thruxton
1. Josh Cook, Speedworks Corolla Racing - Toyota 16 Laps
2. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK - Ford +0.653s
3. Daniel Rowbottom, Cataclean Plato Racing - Mercedes +3.422s
4. Senna Proctor, NAPA Racing UK - Ford +6.334s
5. Tom Ingram, Team VERTU - Hyundai +7.005s
6. Adam Morgan, Cataclean Plato Racing - Mercedes +8.451s
7. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK - Ford +13.797s
8. Mikey Doble, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing - Audi +14.533s
9. James Dorlin, Restart Racing - Hyundai +15.925s
10. Árón Taylor-Smith, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport - Toyota +23.102s
2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 2 – Thruxton
1. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK - Ford 16 Laps
2. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK - Ford +9.305s
3. Josh Cook, Speedworks Corolla Racing - Toyota
4. Daniel Rowbottom, Cataclean Plato Racing - Mercedes +10.761s
5. Tom Ingram, Team VERTU - Hyundai +11.826s
6. James Dorlin, Restart Racing - Hyundai +14.532s
7. Adam Morgan, Cataclean Plato Racing - Mercedes +14.633s
8. Mikey Doble, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing - Audi +18.740s
9. Árón Taylor-Smith, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport - Toyota +18.900s
10. Gordon Shedden, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport - Toyota +19.322s
2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 3 – Thruxton
1. Tom Ingram, Team VERTU - Hyundai 19 Laps
2. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK - Ford +0.663s
3. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK - Ford +4.603s
4. Ricky Collard, Team VERTU - Hyundai +5.167s
5. Senna Proctor, NAPA Racing UK - Ford +7.261s
6. James Dorlin, Restart Racing - Hyundai +11.857s
7. Gordon Shedden, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport - Toyota +14.473s
8. Tom Chilton, Team VERTU - Hyundai +15.149s
9. Dexter Patterson, Steel Seal with Power Maxed Racing - Audi +16.268s
10. Mikey Doble, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing - Audi +16.584s
Penalties:
Race 1
Chris Smiley received a one-place penalty in Round 13 of the championship, for an incident involving Árón Taylor-Smith - click here for the penalty report.
Ricky Collard originally received a 10-second time penalty in Round 13 of the championship, for repeated track limits offences. The Clerk subsequently rescinded the time penalty for mitigating circumstances - click here for the penalty report.
Race 2
Daryl De Leon received a one-place penalty in Round 14 of the championship, for leaving the track and gaining an advantage in an incident involving Charles Rainford - click here for the penalty report.
Josh Cook received a one-place penalty in Round 14 of the championship, for leaving the track and gaining an advantage in an incident involving Dan Cammish - click here for the penalty report.
Ash Sutton was investigated in Round 14 of the championship, for a potential start infringement. The Clerk deemed that no infringement had occurred - click here for the penalty report.
Race 3
Tom Ingram received a five-second time penalty in Round 15 of the championship, for a start infringement - click here for the penalty report.
