SCHEDULE CONFIRMED BY UK’S PREMIER MOTORSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP
No sooner has this year’s Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship got underway, series organisers TOCA has today (30 April) announced the full calendar for the 2025 season.
The schedule has been released in record time thanks to the close co-operation between TOCA, ITV and the venues.
The Donington Park National circuit will again kick off the action in late April, before the BTCC rolls onto Brands Hatch Indy and Snetterton in May.
Thruxton and Oulton Park are next in the order during June, prior to the championship’s well known annual summer break.
The second half of the campaign commences with trips to Croft, Knockhill and Donington Park GP – all taking place in August – before the penultimate event at Silverstone in September.
As has been the case in recent years, the legendary Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit will host the all-important season finale at the beginning of October.
Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “It’s good news for our partners, stakeholders and fans that we can confirm next season’s BTCC calendar earlier than ever before, allowing for important planning to commence for all parties.
“The schedule has become a tried and tested formula in recent years and is universally backed. We are continuously pushing the boundaries on-track with new-for-2024 qualifying, hybrid and tyre regulations, so I am sure our teams will be happy with the continuity and consistency of our calendar.
“Of course, being able to agree our dates so early with our partners at ITV ensures we have locked in the primary slots for our continued all-day-live and free television coverage on ITV4. It also has a positive benefit for the rest of British motorsport, as other organisers can continue planning and scheduling their own events.
“Last year, I said we were unlikely to release our calendar any earlier than mid-May… I was wrong… and we are delighted to be able to announce this schedule earlier than ever before!”
2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship
Rounds
Date
Venue/Circuit
1, 2, 3
26/27 April
Donington Park (National)
4, 5, 6
10/11 May
Brands Hatch (Indy)
7, 8, 9
24/25 May
Snetterton (300)
10, 11, 12
07/08 June
Thruxton
13, 14, 15
21/22 June
Oulton Park (Island)
16, 17, 18
02/03 August
Croft
19, 20, 21
16/17 August
Knockhill
22, 23, 24
30/31 August
Donington Park (GP)
25, 26, 27
20/21 September
Silverstone (National)
28, 29, 30
04/05 October
Brands Hatch (GP)
BMW head Manufacturers’ title race after Donington podium treble
A treble podium finish at the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season-opener thrust WSR and BMW into an early lead in the race for an unprecedented tenth Manufacturers’/Constructors’ title.
Two third-place finishes for Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport’s Jake Hill and a final-race charge to second spot by Team BMW’s Colin Turkington made for a strong start on a weather-affected day at Donington Park by the BMW 330e M Sport race cars.
Battling the track conditions, Jake ran in the podium positions for most of the first race before coming home third.
The Kent racer sprinted into the lead of a dry Race Two, only for excessive rear tyre wear to lead to him being caught and passed by two rivals late on as he again finished third.
He was fifth in the finale, part of a five-way late-race battle for the win; minor set-up changes having prevented a recurrence of his tyre issue.
Three places further up the order was Team BMW’s four-time champion Colin Turkington, who had earlier finished fourth and fifth.
Keeping his composure during a frantic multi-car battle for the top spots, he made three spots in two corners at mid-distance and kept the pressure on as he fought to the flag in second place.
He’s fourth in the Drivers’ points, one spot behind Jake and 17 ahead of Team BMW team-mate Adam Morgan.
Adam had led the opening stages of Race Three, but locked a front wheel after clipping a kerb on entry to McLean’s at one-third distance and was demoted several spots.
The Lancashire racer finished seventh. He was eighth in Race One, driving superbly in the wet conditions to climb from 16th on the grid, but was later demoted to 14th owing to a time penalty for a jump start. That led to a similar Race Two charge to seventh.
Colin Turkington, Team BMW, said: “It’s been a nice, consistent day with fourth, fifth and second. Without grabbing any headlines I’ve scored a good lot of points. The highlight is obviously the second-place finish in Race Three. I had the BMW in the window where I needed it to attack and feel racey. I’m leaving Donington a lot more confident than I was even after Race Two. I enjoyed that last race so much. It’s been a strong day for Team BMW so I’m leaving quite happy.”
Adam Morgan, Team BMW, said: “It’s been a pretty turbulent day up and down the grid with a lot of close battles. Race One was good and I went from 16th to eighth, but then I got a ten-second penalty for a jump-start so had to do it all again in Race Two, but the pace has been pretty strong and I could make the kind of passing moves I wasn’t able to last year with the BMW, which is really encouraging. I’m frustrated with myself for Race Three. I saved five laps of hybrid and had it under control, but then I locked-up into McLeans, which hurt the front left and I was a sitting duck.”
Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, said: “It was quite a successful day for me with third-place finishes in Races One and Two in totally different weather conditions. It was raining and very tricky in Race One and then totally dry in Race Two, which was pretty good for seeing where we are in those types of conditions. Race Three was extremely frantic with lots going on and my team-mates getting into all sorts of battles, but we kept clear of it and got another good points finish.”
Dick Bennetts, Team Principal, said: “Overall it’s been a very good day for us at Donington. Three races, three podiums, nine finishes in total from the three cars to put BMW in the lead of the Manufacturers’ Championship. We’ve been playing with the set-up of the cars because they’re so different to last year and we’ve made some very good progress across the weekend. Now we’re looking forward to Brands Hatch. I’m a lot happier than I was after qualifying.”
Tom Ingram does the Donington Park double
AIDEN MOFFAT ALSO WINS A THRILLER DURING BTCC SEASON OPENER
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS’ Tom Ingram enjoyed a stellar opening 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship weekend, as the former champion claimed a double triumph at Donington Park (27/28 April).
The race of the day, however, came in the final encounter as LKQ Euro Car Parts with Synetiq's Aiden Moffat held off a quartet of last year’s title contenders to take one of the best victories of his career so far.
Persistent rain delayed race day by more than two hours as the BTCC’s loyal fanbase braved the great British weather at the Leicestershire circuit.
When the action eventually got underway it was little surprise to see the likes of Ingram, Ash Sutton, Jake Hill and Colin Turkington fighting for the podium positions, with 2023’s top four already occupying the same championship positions after the opening event of the new campaign.
BMW hold an early lead in the Constructors’/Manufacturers’ standings, whilst NAPA Racing UK is the top team after Donington Park.
Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing enjoyed a great weekend as the top independent outfit, whilst drivers Aron Taylor-Smith and Mikey Doble lead the Independent Drivers’ and Jack Sears Trophy respectively.
The BTCC returns for the second event of the season at Brands Hatch on 11/12 May.
Tom Ingram wins season opener
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS’ Ingram claimed a lights-to-flag victory, from NAPA Racing UK’s Sutton and Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport’s Hill.
Ingram held the lead from the start as he defended well from the fast-starting BMWs of Hill and Turkington, the latter though was eventually shuffled down to fourth on the opening lap by the recovering Sutton.
The first lap ended under caution following a high speed off for Sam Osborne’s NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus, although he looked to have received a touch from behind as the cars wriggled through the Craner Curves for the first time.
LKQ Euro Car Parts with Synetiq's Josh Cook nipped past the sister car of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK’s Andrew Watson for sixth at the restart, whilst Team BMW’s Adam Morgan was busy making amazing inroads from the back of the grid.
When the rain eventually settled and the chequered flag waved it was Ingram winning from Sutton, with the latter having nipped by Hill’s #24 BMW late on.
Team BMW’s Colin Turkington was fourth, ahead of a great drive from Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS’ young talent Ronan Pearson.
Ingram at the double
Former champ Ingram then scored his second successive win as his dream weekend continued.
Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport’s Hill surged into the lead on the run down to Redgate for first time, as the BMW got another fast start. Pole-sitter Ingram thought about defending but backed out as the duo edged through the opening turns.
A sluggish start for Team BMW’s Turkington was further compounded by a late braking lock-up, which allowed the Toyota of Cook to nip through into fourth on the first lap.
Ingram would be embroiled in a tussle with NAPA Racing UK's Sutton for second soon after, fending off his old adversary despite both cars going side-by-side.
It was all eyes on the leading trio in the latter stages of the race and another gaggle of three cars fighting for fourth, fifth and sixth.
The moment of truth came on lap 14 as Ingram scythed his Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS Hyundai down the inside of Hill’s #24 BMW and Sutton also eyed his opportunity by moving into second.
A stunned Hill fought back on the next lap, nipping through into second briefly before again being relegated to third at the end of the start/finish straight.
The lead three places remained unchanged until the finish, as did the next three places with LKQ Euro Car Parts with Synetiq's Cook holding off the recovering Turkington and a charging Dan Cammish in his #27 NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus.
Victory for Aiden Moffat in final thriller
Aiden Moffat produced a brilliant performance to take victory in the final BTCC race at Donington, as he held off a trio of champions in the closing stages of a fantastic and frenetic race.
LKQ Euro Car Parts with Synetiq's Moffat won his first BTCC race at the same venue back in 2017 but was made to work extremely hard for this one, as he initially fought with Toyota stablemate Rob Huff and Team BMW's Morgan.
Morgan blasted his BMW into the lead off the line, but then relinquished his advantage to TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK's Huff when running wide following a brief safety car period.
Moffat began reeling in the sister car of Huff and made an eye-catching move by mid-distance, with the latter getting shuffled down the pack.
Team BMW's Turkington was the first to haul his car towards Moffat’s and he was eventually joined by NAPA Racing UK's Sutton, after he had muscled his way by Hill’s BMW.
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS' Ingram – double race winner earlier in the day – also edged past Hill, and last year's quartet of title challengers were now all over the back of Moffat for the final few laps.
Moffat would not be denied, however, as he defended brilliantly in what may arguably be the finest display of his BTCC career so far.
Turkington and Sutton completed the podium ahead of Ingram and Hill, with the fading Huff closing out the top six.
Tom Ingram (Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS) said: “What an absolutely perfect weekend for Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS, we couldn't have asked for anything more from qualifying, to race one, to race two, it's been fantastic. It's so hard to know when to keep your powder dry as to when to use your hybrid. We were discussing before the various race scenarios and options and permutations for when you would or wouldn't. Sometimes it's got to be a spur of the moment, and that felt like the opportune moment to use my only shot.
“I know where Ash (Sutton) is going to place his car as we've been racing each other for a number of years now. He can see what I'm about to do probably two laps before as I can probably predict what Ash is going to do. The Hybrid is obviously making a big difference with the battle with Jake (Hill) and the battle with Ash and I am sure with the battles further down the field as well.”
Aiden Moffat (LKQ Euro Car Parts with Synetic) said: “The car has felt great all weekend. We started at the back of the grid for the first race but that wasn’t the pace of our car. The aim was the podium and I had to be aggressive early on. I was trying to be clever with hybrid – I knew we were weaker in the second half of the lap so I was trying to deploy there when I could.
“Everyone at Speedworks has done such a great job, it has been a really hard few weeks, lots of long hours ahead of the season. After two top tens finishes earlier today, it would have been great just to fight for a podium, never mind standing on the top step.
“It has been a few hard seasons for me, and it's important this year for me to show my pace and win again, so to do that at the first weekend means so much.”
2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 1 – Donington Park
1. Tom Ingram, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS 21 Laps 2. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK +2.485s 3. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +4.239s 4. Colin Turkington, Team BMW +8.148s 5. Ronan Pearson, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS +9.153s 6. Josh Cook, LKQ Euro Parts with SYNETIQ +11.511s 7. Árón Taylor-Smith, Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing +13.249s 8. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +14.382s 9. Aiden Moffat, LKQ Euro Parts with SYNETIQ +19.036s 10. Andrew Watson, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK +19.488s
2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 2 – Donington Park
1. Tom Ingram, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS 18 Laps 2. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK +0.917s 3. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +1.845s 4. Josh Cook, LKQ Euro Parts with SYNETIQ +5.725s 5. Colin Turkington, Team BMW +6.775s 6. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +8.378s 7. Adam Morgan, Team BMW +9.004s 8. Aiden Moffat, LKQ Euro Parts with SYNETIQ +11.653s 9. Rob Huff, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK +12.697s 10. Dan Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK +13.294s
2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 3 – Donington Park
1. Aiden Moffat, LKQ Euro Parts with SYNETIQ 20 Laps 2. Colin Turkington, Team BMW +0.520s 3. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK +1.625s 4. Tom Ingram, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS +1.981s 5. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +2.284s 6. Rob Huff, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK +4.041s 7. Adam Morgan, Team BMW +6.158s 8. Dan Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK +6.304s 9. Josh Cook, LKQ Euro Parts with SYNETIQ +9.322s 10. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +9.819s
Penalties:
Race One
Dan Rowbottom was officially reprimanded and received two penalty points during Round 1 of the Championship, for an incident with Mikey Doble and Rob Huff.
Adam Morgan received a 10-second time penalty during Round 1 of the Championship, for jumping the start.
Race Three
Dan Rowbottom was verbally warned during Round 3 of the Championship, for an incident with Andrew Watson.
Victory for Aiden Moffat in final thriller
Aiden Moffat produced a brilliant performance to take victory in the final Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Donington Park, as he held off a trio of champions in the closing stages of a fantastic and frenetic race.
LKQ Euro Car Parts with Synetiq's Moffat won his first BTCC race at the same venue back in 2017, but was made to work extremely hard for this one, as he initially fought with Toyota stablemate Rob Huff and Team BMW's Adam Morgan.
Morgan blasted his BMW into the lead off the line, but then relinquished his advantage to TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK's Huff when running wide following a brief safety car period.
Moffat began reeling in the sister car of Huff and made a stellar move by mid-distance, with the latter getting shuffled down the pack by the now perennial title contenders.
Team BMW's Colin Turkington was the first to haul himself towards Moffat and he was eventually joined by NAPA Racing UK's Ash Sutton, after he had muscled his way by the likes of Jake Hill in the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport BMW.
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS' Tom Ingram – double race winner earlier in the day – also edged his way by Hill, and last year's quartet of challengers were now all over the back of Moffat for the final few laps.
Moffat would not be denied, however, as he defended brilliantly in what may arguably be the finest display of his BTCC career so far.
Turkington and Sutton completed the podium ahead of Ingram and Hill, with the fading Huff completing the top six.
Morgan had to settle for seventh ahead of a resurgent Dan Rowbotton in the #27 NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus, a car that had been through the wars throughout the day.
LKQ Euro Car Parts with Synetiq's Josh Cook and NAPA Racing UK's Dan Cammish, the latter having fallen down the order early in the encounter.
Aiden Moffat said: “The car has felt great all weekend. We started at the back of the grid for the first race but that wasn’t the pace of our car. The aim was the podium and I had to be aggressive early on. I was trying to be clever with hybrid – I knew we were weaker in the second half of the lap so I was trying to deploy there when I could.
“Everyone at Speedworks has done such a great job, it has been a really hard few weeks, lots of long hours ahead of the season. After two top tens finishes earlier today, it would have been great just to fight for a podium, never mind standing on the top step.
"It has been a few hard seasons for me, and it's important this year for me to show my pace and win again, so to do that at the first weekend means so much."
Donington Park - Race 3 - Result
P/
No/
Name/
Entry/
Laps/
Time/
Gap/
Best/
On/
1
16
Aiden MOFFAT
LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ
20
24:57.046
1:09.536
12
2
20
Colin TURKINGTON
Team BMW
20
24:57.566
0.52
1:09.336
14
3
1
Ashley SUTTON
NAPA Racing UK
20
24:58.671
1.625
1:09.477
14
4
80
Tom INGRAM
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS
20
24:59.027
1.981
1:09.257
16
5
24
Jake HILL
Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport
20
24:59.330
2.284
1:09.334
16
6
12
Rob HUFF
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK
20
25:01.087
4.041
1:09.338
7
7
33
Adam MORGAN
Team BMW
20
25:03.204
6.158
1:09.755
17
8
32
Daniel ROWBOTTOM
NAPA Racing UK
20
25:03.350
6.304
1:09.616
7
9
66
Josh COOK
LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ
20
25:06.368
9.322
1:09.833
8
10
27
Dan CAMMISH
NAPA Racing UK
20
25:06.865
9.819
1:09.790
11
11
3
Tom CHILTON
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS
20
25:07.916
10.87
1:09.583
12
12
11
Andrew WATSON
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK
20
25:08.465
11.419
1:09.747
12
13
88
Mikey DOBLE
Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing
20
25:09.016
11.97
1:10.048
12
14
40
Árón TAYLOR-SMITH
Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing
20
25:09.649
12.603
1:09.948
9
15
77
Sam OSBORNE
NAPA Racing UK
20
25:15.715
18.669
1:10.049
16
16
29
Scott SUMPTON
Restart Racing
20
25:21.977
24.931
1:10.367
7
17
22
Nick HALSTEAD
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS
20
25:23.428
26.382
1:10.736
11
DNF
222
Chris SMILEY
Restart Racing
8
11:06.941
12 Laps
1:10.771
7
DNF
14
Ronan PEARSON
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS
4
6:20.938
16 Laps
1:21.843
2
DNF
18
Daryl DELEON
Duckhams Racing With Bartercard
2
2:33.515
18 Laps
1:11.985
2
Photo Gallery: Donington Park - Sunday
Ingram lays down early marker with Donington double
Tom Ingram has enjoyed an incredible opening BTCC weekend so far as the 2022 champion scored a double at Donington Park.
Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport’s Jake Hill surged into the lead on the run down to Redgate for first time, as the BMW got another fast start. Pole-sitter Ingram thought about defending but backed out slightly as the duo edged through the opening turns.
An uncharacteristic sluggish start for Team BMW’s Colin Turkington was further compounded by a late braking lock-up, which allowed the Toyota of Josh Cook to nip through into fourth on the first lap.
Ingram would be embroiled in a tussle with NAPA Racing UK's Ash Sutton for second soon after, fending off his old adversary despite both cars going side-by-side.
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS' Ronan Pearson – fresh from a brilliant top five finish in the opener – was soon spiralling down the order after the Hyundai ran onto the grass while tussling with Turkington.
It was all eyes on the leading trio in the latter stages of the race and another gaggle of three cars fighting for fourth, fifth and sixth.
The moment of truth came on lap 14 as Ingram scythed his Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS Hyundai down the inside of Hill’s #24 BMW and Sutton also eyed his opportunity by moving into second.
A stunned Hill fought back on the next lap, fighting through into second before again being relegated to third before the end of the start/finish straight.
The lead three places remained unchanged until the finish, as did the next three places with LKQ Euro Car Parts with Synetiq's Josh Cook holding off the recovering Turkington and a charging Dan Cammish in his #27 NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus.
Adam Morgan (Team BMW), Aiden Moffat (LKQ Euro Car Parts with Synetiq's), Rob Huff (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK) and Dan Rowbottom (NAPA Racing UK) completed the top ten positions. Huff's afternoon took another boost post-race when his number was picked for the reverse grid draw – the series returnee will start the final bout at Donington on pole later today.
Tom Ingram said: "What an absolutely perfect weekend for Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS, we couldn't have asked for anything more from qualifying, to race one, to race two, it's been fantastic. It's so hard to know when to keep your powder dry as to when to use your hybrid. We were discussing before the various race scenarios and options and permutations for when you would or wouldn't. Sometimes it's got to be a spur of the moment, and that felt like the opportune moment to use my only shot.
"I know where Ash (Sutton) is going to place his car as we've been racing each other for a number of years now. He can see what I'm about to do probably two laps before as I can probably predict what Ash is going to do. The Hybrid is obviously making a big difference with the battle with Jake (Hill) and the battle with Ash and I am sure with the battles further down the field as well."
Donington Park - Race 2 - Results:
P/
No/
Name/
Entry/
Laps/
Time/
Gap/
Best/
On/
1
80
Tom INGRAM
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS
18
21:03.154
1:09.675
8
2
1
Ashley SUTTON
NAPA Racing UK
18
21:04.071
0.917
1:09.379
16
3
24
Jake HILL
Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport
18
21:05.008
1.854
1:09.595
3
4
66
Josh COOK
LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ
18
21:08.879
5.725
1:09.582
10
5
20
Colin TURKINGTON
Team BMW
18
21:09.929
6.775
1:09.459
7
6
27
Dan CAMMISH
NAPA Racing UK
18
21:11.532
8.378
1:09.264
12
7
33
Adam MORGAN
Team BMW
18
21:12.158
9.004
1:09.582
18
8
16
Aiden MOFFAT
LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ
18
21:14.807
11.653
1:09.936
3
9
12
Rob HUFF
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK
18
21:15.851
12.697
1:09.705
17
10
32
Daniel ROWBOTTOM
NAPA Racing UK
18
21:16.448
13.294
1:09.247
18
11
40
Árón TAYLOR-SMITH
Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing
18
21:20.271
17.117
1:09.687
4
12
11
Andrew WATSON
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK
18
21:21.187
18.033
1:10.053
5
13
88
Mikey DOBLE
Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing
18
21:21.688
18.534
1:09.928
5
14
222
Chris SMILEY
Restart Racing
18
21:26.024
22.87
1:10.377
5
15
18
Daryl DELEON
Duckhams Racing With Bartercard
18
21:29.092
25.938
1:10.438
5
16
22
Nick HALSTEAD
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS
18
22:04.978
1:01.824
1:10.798
6
17
14
Ronan PEARSON
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS
17
21:49.156
1 Lap
1:09.134
11
DNF
29
Scott SUMPTON
Restart Racing
12
14:29.923
6 Laps
1:10.705
10
DNF
3
Tom CHILTON
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS
11
13:37.159
7 Laps
1:09.963
6
Tom Ingram wins season opener at Donington Park
After what has felt like a lengthy off-season followed by a rain delay at Donington Park earlier today, the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship finally got underway with the opening race of the new season.
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS’ Tom Ingram claimed a lights-to-flag triumph, from NAPA Racing UK’s Ash Sutton and Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport’s Jake Hill.
Ingram held the lead from the start as he defended well from the fast-starting BMWs of Hill and Colin Turkington, the latter though was eventually shuffled down to fourth on the opening lap by the recovering Sutton.
The first lap ended under caution following a high speed off for Sam Osborne’s NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus, although he seemingly received a touch from behind as the cars wriggled through the Craner Curves for the first time.
LKQ Euro Car Parts with Synetiq's Josh Cook nipped past the sister car of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK’s Andrew Watson for sixth at the restart, whilst Team BMW’s Adam Morgan was busy making amazing inroads from the back of the grid.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK’s Robb Huff was fired off after NAPA Racing UK’s Dan Rowbottom tapped Mikey Doble’s PMR-run Vauxhall into the Toyota. Huff and Doble recovered while Rowbottom entered the pits with damage to the front of his Ford Focus.
When the rain eventually settled and the chequered flag waved it was Ingram winning from Sutton, with the latter having nipped by Hill’s #24 BMW late on.
Team BMW’s Colin Turkington was fourth, ahead of a great drive from Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS’s young talent Ronan Pearson.
Cook was sixth, with Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing’ Aron Taylor-Smith and the charging Morgan.
NAPA Racing UK's Dan Cammish impressed after a challenging qualifying to claim ninth, whilst LKQ Euro Car Parts with Synetiq Aiden Moffat completed the top ten positions.
Tom Ingram said: “It’s exactly what we need. The circuit was changing every lap, your braking zones and braking points changed. As a starting point it was spot on… pole, win and the fastest lap.”
Ash Sutton said: "It wasn’t the best start. I got jumped by both BMWs so I had to claw my way back. We didn’t quite get the tyre pressures right for that one, but we didn’t expect to be behind the safety car for so long either. I’m pleased though as we got back to where we started."
Jake Hill said: “It’s a great result, I’m happy. I made a slight mistake and lost the rears, they were falling away at the end there but huge thanks to everyone at Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport – it’s a good start to the season.”
Donington Park - Race 1 - Results:
P/
No/
Name/
Entry/
Laps/
Time/
Gap/
Best/
On/
1
80
Tom INGRAM
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS
21
32:23.071
1:15.177
16
2
1
Ashley SUTTON
NAPA Racing UK
21
32:25.556
2.485
1:15.642
21
3
24
Jake HILL
Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport
21
32:27.310
4.239
1:15.492
16
4
20
Colin TURKINGTON
Team BMW
21
32:31.219
8.148
1:16.066
16
5
14
Ronan PEARSON
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS
21
32:32.224
9.153
1:16.518
16
6
66
Josh COOK
LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ
21
32:34.582
11.511
1:16.771
17
7
40
Árón TAYLOR-SMITH
Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing
21
32:36.320
13.249
1:17.085
21
8
27
Dan CAMMISH
NAPA Racing UK
21
32:37.453
14.382
1:16.315
20
9
16
Aiden MOFFAT
LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ
21
32:42.107
19.036
1:17.457
20
10
11
Andrew WATSON
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK
21
32:42.559
19.488
1:17.689
16
11
3
Tom CHILTON
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS
21
32:43.821
20.75
1:17.163
21
12
88
Mikey DOBLE
Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing
21
32:46.269
23.198
1:17.646
19
13
18
Daryl DELEON
Duckhams Racing With Bartercard
21
32:46.737
23.666
1:18.392
18
14
33
Adam MORGAN
Team BMW
21
32:46.947
23.876
1:16.845
20
15
222
Chris SMILEY
Restart Racing
21
32:47.700
24.629
1:18.484
20
16
22
Nick HALSTEAD
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS
21
32:49.459
26.388
1:18.426
16
17
29
Scott SUMPTON
Restart Racing
21
32:50.118
27.047
1:18.499
16
18
12
Rob HUFF
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK
21
32:50.330
27.259
1:17.201
21
Qualifying in quotes
The first-ever BTCC 'Quick Six' qualifying took place at Donington Park yesterday, which saw Tom Ingram claim pole position, ahead of Ash Sutton and Colin Turkington.
The BTCC audio team caught up with all three drivers...
Tom Ingram
Ash Sutton
Colin Turkington
Tom Ingram takes pole in first ever 'Quick Six' Qualifying
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS' Tom Ingram kicked off his 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship campaign in fantastic fashion, as he grabbed pole position for tomorrow's season opener at Donington Park.
Ingram topped both free practice sessions earlier in the day and he duly confirmed his potential by grabbing pole position in the BTCC's first ever 'Quick Six' qualifying.
The new 'Quick Six' format proved hugely entertaining, with the field initially split into two groups for a pair of ten-minute qualifying sessions, with the fastest six from each group progressing to the second segment.
With a combination of wet and dry tyre choices being made due to a light shower descending on the Leicestershire circuit, a number of leading lights were caught out by the conditions. NAPA Racing UK's Dan Cammish and Team BMW's Adam Morgan were among those exiting from the opening session, giving the opportunity for drivers like Daryl DeLeon (Duckhams Racing with Bartercard) and Chris Smiley (Restart Racing) a chance to shine in their all-new BTCC teams.
The top 12 battle proved equally as exciting as the BTCC's big guns made it through to the final 'Quick Six' with Ash Sutton (NAPA Racing UK), Colin Turkington (Team BMW) and Jake Hill (Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport) all joining Ingram, whilst young talents Andrew Watson (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK) and Ronan Pearson (Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS) also progressed.
The 'Quick Six' belonged to Ingram and he pipped 2023 nemesis Sutton by just 0.051s, with the BMW duo of Turkington and Hill in third and fourth respectively – the latter scuppering one of his flying laps with a huge lock-up at the final chicane. Pearson was fifth, ahead of Watson.
Rounds 1, 2 and 3 of the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship take place at Donington Park tomorrow. Action gets underway on ITV4 at 1040 with every race also being streamed LIVE globally via ITV Sport's TikTok channel with the first contest getting underway at 1130.
Tom Ingram (Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS) said: "It's really great. It has been a winter of hard work to try and improve the car and everyone in the team has done an incredible job. We've left no stone unturned to make sure we can be as fast as we possibly can, we've come out fighting and started as we mean to go on. I've felt good about this weekend, excited and confident, the winter has gone extremely well and everything has gone to plan so far."
Ash Sutton (NAPA Racing UK) said: "It was mega. It was awesome for the spectators too and it's ('Quick Six' qualifying) exactly what we need. I am really happy with where we are. It's a new year and we have to forget last season – everyone has upped their game – but it's a good result and we can race from there. I'm over the moon with that and I'm delighted for NAPA Racing UK and everyone else involved."
Colin Turkington (Team BMW) said: "It feels like a day's work just doing qualifying. I really enjoyed the new qualifying format, it was exciting but we've got the usual suspects in front of me. The weather conditions really threw a curve ball. I did a banker on wets initially, and then we quickly had to change to the dry tyre, so it brought an extra element to it. As I say, I really enjoyed it and I hope everybody at home did too."
