Last weekend (17/18 June), the 2023 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship headed to Oulton Park for its fifth event, marking the halfway point of the 2023 campaign.
Rounds 13, 14 and 15 offered plenty of action, however, it was West Surrey Racing who came out on top, as Jake Hill (Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport) and Colin Turkington (Team BMW) helped the squad claim a clean sweep of victories for BMW.
Here is what some of the drivers had to say about the action...
“Right now Oulton Park may be my new favourite track! Super, super proud of everyone at West Surrey Racing and Laser Tools Racing and MB Motorsport – they’ve just done an absolutely mega job” said Hill,
“This one will take a while to sink in, it’s an amazing feeling. I think I’ve driven the best I have all season and it’s something to enjoy and savour.”
Stablemate Turkington began the day at the back of the grid. However, a sensational turnaround throughout the rounds saw him take the top spot during the closing bout.
“Last night I was not expecting to win a race – I really didn’t know what sort of a day I was in for" explained Turkington, "I set myself a target of P15 in race one as that seemed realistic or even a bit difficult, but I think I got up to P9.
“The key thing was we are just making the car better in each race and I just felt confident I could go forward and make the moves. It’s always that bit more difficult when you are racing your teammates because they have the same strengths as you have, so the move on Adam [Morgan] had to be something different and quite brave.
“I’m really pleased with that race three win – I don’t think I’ve ever had to work as hard to win a race!”
Ash Sutton (NAPA Racing UK) remains in the lead for the Drivers' Championship, after securing pole position and two second place finishes across in Rounds 13 and 14. The BTCC media team caught up with the 29-year-old after race one...
"Well done to BMW, Jake [Hill] and the team. I’m still happy – ultimately we are not fighting them at this stage, we are fighting Tom [Ingram], so we are in a good place collecting those points," said Sutton.
“Obviously I’m not going to settle, so I did have a little look round the outside of Cascades and turn three. But you do just have to assess the situation…it’s alright, we have a to make a few changes and come back fighting.”
BRISTOL STREET MOTORS with EXCELR8's Tom Ingram is now just six points behind Sutton in the standings, after rounding out the rostrum in races one and two, as well as a fourth place finish in Round 15.
Ingram reflected: "Another one we just ended up scoring points in but nothing too crazy. We just been consistently there or thereabouts all weekend. I think we should have been further forwards after the issue I had with the tyres in the Top Ten Showdown. But given that we started sixth this morning, to end up with two thirds and a fourth is something I’m fairly chuffed with.'
For more quotes and insight from the whole first half of the season, check out the BTCC audio page here. The second half of the campaign will resume at Croft in North Yorkshire on 29/30 July.
