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 |
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 |
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
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."
Donington Park – Qualifying – Results
Qualifying - Part 1 - Group 1 | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
P/ | No/ | Name/ | Entry/ | Laps/ | Time/ | Gap/ | On/ | |
1 | 80 | Tom INGRAM | Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS | 5 | 1:14.512 | 5 | ||
2 | 40 | Árón TAYLOR-SMITH | Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing | 5 | 1:15.043 | 0.531 | 5 | |
3 | 11 | Andrew WATSON | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK | 6 | 1:16.170 | 1.658 | 5 | |
4 | 14 | Ronan PEARSON | Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS | 4 | 1:17.355 | 2.843 | 4 | |
5 | 88 | Mikey DOBLE | Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing | 6 | 1:17.932 | 3.42 | 6 | |
6 | 77 | Sam OSBORNE | NAPA Racing UK | 6 | 1:18.819 | 4.307 | 6 | |
7 | 33 | Adam MORGAN | Team BMW | 7 | 1:18.895 | 4.383 | 7 | |
8 | 27 | Dan CAMMISH | NAPA Racing UK | 5 | 1:25.645 | 11.133 | 3 | |
9 | 16 | Aiden MOFFAT | LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ | 4 | 1:26.156 | 11.644 | 3 | |
10 | 22 | Nick HALSTEAD | Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS | 1 | 0 |
Qualifying - Part 1 - Group 2 | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
P/ | No/ | Name/ | Entry/ | Laps/ | Time/ | Gap/ | On/ | |
1 | 20 | Colin TURKINGTON | Team BMW | 7 | 1:08.772 | 7 | ||
2 | 24 | Jake HILL | Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport | 7 | 1:09.412 | 0.64 | 7 | |
3 | 18 | Daryl DELEON | Duckhams Racing With Bartercard | 7 | 1:09.469 | 0.697 | 7 | |
4 | 1 | Ashley SUTTON | NAPA Racing UK | 6 | 1:09.579 | 0.807 | 6 | |
5 | 66 | Josh COOK | LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ | 7 | 1:09.710 | 0.938 | 7 | |
6 | 222 | Chris SMILEY | Restart Racing | 6 | 1:10.885 | 2.113 | 6 | |
7 | 3 | Tom CHILTON | Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS | 6 | 1:12.424 | 3.652 | 6 | |
8 | 32 | Daniel ROWBOTTOM | NAPA Racing UK | 7 | 1:15.457 | 6.685 | 5 | |
9 | 29 | Scott SUMPTON | Restart Racing | 8 | 1:15.548 | 6.776 | 2 |
Qualifying - Part 2 | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
P/ | No/ | Name/ | Entry/ | Laps/ | Time/ | Gap/ | On/ | |
1 | 1 | Ashley SUTTON | NAPA Racing UK | 8 | 1:08.020 | 5 | ||
2 | 80 | Tom INGRAM | Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS | 8 | 1:08.099 | 0.079 | 8 | |
3 | 20 | Colin TURKINGTON | Team BMW | 9 | 1:08.417 | 0.397 | 9 | |
4 | 24 | Jake HILL | Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport | 9 | 1:08.456 | 0.436 | 9 | |
5 | 14 | Ronan PEARSON | Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS | 8 | 1:08.802 | 0.782 | 8 | |
6 | 11 | Andrew WATSON | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK | 8 | 1:08.924 | 0.904 | 8 | |
7 | 40 | Árón TAYLOR-SMITH | Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing | 8 | 1:08.927 | 0.907 | 8 | |
8 | 66 | Josh COOK | LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ | 8 | 1:09.085 | 1.065 | 7 | |
9 | 18 | Daryl DELEON | Duckhams Racing With Bartercard | 9 | 1:09.094 | 1.074 | 9 | |
10 | 88 | Mikey DOBLE | Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing | 8 | 1:09.211 | 1.191 | 5 | |
11 | 77 | Sam OSBORNE | NAPA Racing UK | 5 | 1:10.149 | 2.129 | 3 | |
12 | 222 | Chris SMILEY | Restart Racing | 8 | 1:10.753 | 2.733 | 7 |
Qualifying - Quick Six | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
P/ | No/ | Name/ | Entry/ | Laps/ | Time/ | Gap/ | On/ | |
1 | 80 | Tom INGRAM | Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS | 8 | 1:07.845 | 6 | ||
2 | 1 | Ashley SUTTON | NAPA Racing UK | 8 | 1:07.896 | 0.051 | 5 | |
3 | 20 | Colin TURKINGTON | Team BMW | 9 | 1:08.160 | 0.315 | 5 | |
4 | 24 | Jake HILL | Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport | 8 | 1:08.220 | 0.375 | 5 | |
5 | 14 | Ronan PEARSON | Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS | 7 | 1:08.621 | 0.776 | 6 | |
6 | 11 | Andrew WATSON | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK | 7 | 1:08.837 | 0.992 | 7 |
The Hyundai of Tom Ingram has been in flying form on the opening day of the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, as the 2022 champion topped both practice sessions at Donington Park earlier today (27 April).
The Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS star set a 1:08.110s in the opening session, before becoming the only driver to dip into the 1:07s bracket in FP2.
As was the case in FP1, Ingram was followed home on the timesheets by the NAPA Racing UK duo of Dan Rowbottom and Dan Cammish, with the Team BMW car of Colin Turkington in fourth.
Mikey Doble was the highest placed Independents' driver in fifth for Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing, whilst Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport's Jake Hill was sixth.
Adam Morgan (Team BMW) and Rob Huff (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK) were next in order, ahead of another encouraging run from Aiden Moffat (LKQ Euro Car Parts with Synetiq).
Reigning champion Ash Sutton (NAPA Racing UK) rounded out the top ten.
Qualifying for Round 1 of the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship takes place at 1525 and will be streamed LIVE on the ITVSport YouTube channel.
The new 'Quick Six' Qualifying format will make its debut, which will see 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, which also lasts for 10 minutes. The top six from this group will then fight out the ‘Quick Six’ for places 1-6 on the grid for tomorrow's opener.
Free Practice 2 - Donington Park - Results
P/ | No/ | Name/ | Entry/ | Laps/ | Time/ | Gap/ | On/ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 80 | Tom INGRAM | Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS | 14 | 01:07.979 | 14 | |
2 | 32 | Daniel ROWBOTTOM | NAPA Racing UK | 20 | 01:08.255 | 0.276 | 19 |
3 | 27 | Dan CAMMISH | NAPA Racing UK | 18 | 01:08.455 | 0.476 | 17 |
4 | 20 | Colin TURKINGTON | Team BMW | 15 | 01:08.543 | 0.564 | 15 |
5 | 88 | Mikey DOBLE | Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing | 16 | 01:08.642 | 0.663 | 14 |
6 | 24 | Jake HILL | Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport | 20 | 01:08.743 | 0.764 | 6 |
7 | 33 | Adam MORGAN | Team BMW | 13 | 01:08.861 | 0.882 | 8 |
8 | 12 | Rob HUFF | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK | 20 | 01:08.919 | 0.94 | 19 |
9 | 16 | Aiden MOFFAT | LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ | 17 | 01:08.927 | 0.948 | 14 |
10 | 1 | Ashley SUTTON | NAPA Racing UK | 19 | 01:08.969 | 0.99 | 18 |
11 | 11 | Andrew WATSON | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK | 14 | 01:08.978 | 0.999 | 14 |
12 | 66 | Josh COOK | LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ | 15 | 01:09.002 | 1.023 | 13 |
13 | 14 | Ronan PEARSON | Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS | 13 | 01:09.071 | 1.092 | 8 |
14 | 18 | Daryl DELEON | Duckhams Racing With Bartercard | 14 | 01:09.346 | 1.367 | 12 |
15 | 40 | Árón TAYLOR-SMITH | Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing | 9 | 01:09.714 | 1.735 | 6 |
16 | 222 | Chris SMILEY | Restart Racing | 15 | 01:09.811 | 1.832 | 13 |
17 | 77 | Sam OSBORNE | NAPA Racing UK | 18 | 01:09.974 | 1.995 | 18 |
18 | 29 | Scott SUMPTON | Restart Racing | 15 | 01:10.007 | 2.028 | 15 |
19 | 22 | Nick HALSTEAD | Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS | 15 | 01:10.348 | 2.369 | 9 |
20 | 3 | Tom CHILTON | Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS | 1 | 0 |
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS' Tom Ingram has topped the opening 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship Free Practice session, as the new season got underway at Donington Park earlier this morning (27 April).
Ingram set an impressive 1:08.110s benchmark lap time than ended up more than three tenths of a second faster than the chasing pack, amidst cold temperatures around the National Circuit.
"It's good," said Ingram. "The car feels fantastic. It's only practice but it's always a nice feeling to be at the top."
The NAPA Racing UK duo of Dan Cammish and Dan Rowbottom were next in the order, ahead of Team BMW's Colin Turkington, as some the BTCC's big guns hit the front of the field early in the weekend.
Aiden Moffat had an encouraging run to fifth in the LKQ Euro Car Parts with Synetiq Toyota Corolla, whilst the second Team BMW of Adam Morgan was sixth.
Reigning champion Ash Sutton was the fastest driver during the recent Season Launch here earlier in the month, but had to settle for seventh in FP1, with the Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall of Árón Taylor-Smith next on the timesheets.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK's Andrew Watson and NAPA Racing UK's Sam Osborne rounded out the top ten.
The BTCC is back on track for FP2 at 1235, before the all-new 'Quick Six' Qualifying kicks off at 1525. Qualifying will be streamed here LIVE via the ITVSport YouTube channel.
Free Practice 1 - Donington Park - Results
P/ | No/ | Name/ | Entry/ | Laps/ | Time/ | Gap/ | Best/ | On/ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 80 | Tom INGRAM | Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS | 16 | 01:08.110 | 16 | ||
2 | 27 | Dan CAMMISH | NAPA Racing UK | 15 | 01:08.433 | 0.323 | 13 | |
3 | 32 | Daniel ROWBOTTOM | NAPA Racing UK | 20 | 01:08.551 | 0.441 | 16 | |
4 | 20 | Colin TURKINGTON | Team BMW | 20 | 01:08.589 | 0.479 | 14 | |
5 | 16 | Aiden MOFFAT | LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ | 15 | 01:08.645 | 0.535 | 13 | |
6 | 33 | Adam MORGAN | Team BMW | 17 | 01:08.689 | 0.579 | 12 | |
7 | 1 | Ashley SUTTON | NAPA Racing UK | 18 | 01:08.753 | 0.643 | 16 | |
8 | 40 | Árón TAYLOR-SMITH | Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing | 20 | 01:08.853 | 0.743 | 16 | |
9 | 11 | Andrew WATSON | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK | 16 | 01:08.913 | 0.803 | 9 | |
10 | 77 | Sam OSBORNE | NAPA Racing UK | 21 | 01:08.959 | 0.849 | 13 | |
11 | 66 | Josh COOK | LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ | 17 | 01:08.977 | 0.867 | 16 | |
12 | 24 | Jake HILL | Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport | 17 | 01:09.161 | 1.051 | 10 | |
13 | 12 | Rob HUFF | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK | 13 | 01:09.227 | 1.117 | 12 | |
14 | 14 | Ronan PEARSON | Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS | 15 | 01:09.308 | 1.198 | 11 | |
15 | 88 | Mikey DOBLE | Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing | 17 | 01:09.320 | 1.21 | 17 | |
16 | 222 | Chris SMILEY | Restart Racing | 17 | 01:09.985 | 1.875 | 16 | |
17 | 29 | Scott SUMPTON | Restart Racing | 17 | 01:10.218 | 2.108 | 16 | |
18 | 22 | Nick HALSTEAD | Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS | 18 | 01:10.956 | 2.846 | 17 | |
19 | 18 | Daryl DELEON | Duckhams Racing With Bartercard | 8 | 01:13.328 | 5.218 | 6 | |
20 | 3 | Tom CHILTON | Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS | 10 | 0 |
WSR and BMW begin a new British Touring Car Championship season at Donington Park this weekend with another spot in series history the target.
An intensive winter development programme for the hybrid BMW 330e M Sport has given fresh hopes of securing a record-breaking 10th Manufacturers’ crown for the German manufacturer and of adding to WSR’s 16 outright titles.
With three days of testing at Donington Park and Pembrey last week leaving the team in positive mood, hopes are high as the season-opener approaches in the East Midlands.
Four-time series champion Colin Turkington will kick off his 20th season in the BTCC and his eighth in succession as a Team BMW driver. Aiming for a record fifth Drivers’ crown, the Northern Irishman begins the campaign at a track where he has won eight times.
Team-mate Adam Morgan was a podium-finisher on his Team BMW debut at Donington last year and the Lancashire racer returns for a second campaign as he bids to add to his 11 career wins and to improve on his ninth place in the 2023 standings.
Spending his third year with WSR is Jake Hill, who will race the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport BMW. After scoring a career-best six wins in 2023 and finishing third in the Drivers’ points, the Kent ace has also targeted championship glory this year.
Unfortunately, despite the team’s best efforts, the fourth WSR-entered BMW, tested by Bobby Thompson at Brands Hatch, will not race at Donington. Discussions remain ongoing to hopefully ensure its participation at future rounds.
Colin, Adam and Jake will all race an upgraded BMW 330e M Sport, which is derived from the award-winning 330e production model and which now sports the latest LCI updates.
Under the skin there have been further enhancements with a new two-litre turbocharged BMW engine produced, for the first time, in the UK at BMW’s Hams Hall engine facility and providing improved performance during pre-season testing.
Several other revisions to the BMWs to enable greater performance, have been instigated and tested during the past month.
Colin Turkington said: “It’s hard to believe I’m going into my 20th season in the BTCC, but I’ve used all the experience I’ve gained in that time to make sure I’m as prepared as I can be for Donington and the year as a whole. The target is always to win the Drivers’, Teams’ and Manufacturers’ titles and I’m sure that the improvements that WSR have made to the BMW will give me a better chance of going to the final round in contention for the big prize than in 2023.”
Adam Morgan said: “I’m so ready for the new season and after testing for three days last week I feel like I’m ‘in the zone’. The BMW is a faster car because of all the work the team’s done over the winter and we’ve already turned some of the improvements into laptime. A big target is to get my first win as a Team BMW driver and after finishing on the podium at Donington on my WSR debut last year, I don’t see why it couldn’t be this weekend.”
Jake Hill said: “Heading into my third year with WSR and Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport I feel stronger than ever. The competition looks like it might be even more intense than last year, but we’re ready for battle. The ‘Laser Beamer’ has felt really good in testing in both the wet and dry conditions, so whatever happens, we’ll give it our all to make sure it’s a weekend and a season to remember.”
Dick Bennetts, Team Principal, said: “The new season is here and, as always, we’re aiming high and want to make BMW the first 10-time Manufacturers’ champions. It’s been a very busy winter at WSR as we’ve gone over almost every part of our BMW race cars with a new engine, produced in the UK for the first time, changes to the bodywork, cooling and under the skin. We’re pleased with the progress in testing, but we won’t know where we are until we arrive at Donington and see everyone’s true performance levels.”
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS will kick off its challenge for top honours in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship this weekend when the 2024 season gets underway at Donington Park.
The EXCELR8 Motorsport-run team heads into the new campaign fielding an unchanged, four-car line-up led by 2022 champion Tom Ingram, with experienced racer Tom Chilton and second-year drivers Ronan Pearson and Nick Halstead all returning at the wheel of their Hyundai i30 Fastback N machines.
Having run Ash Sutton and NAPA Racing UK close last year in the race for the title, the team has left no stone unturned over the winter when it comes to refining the Hyundai, which has been widely regarded as one of the best all-round packages on the grid in recent seasons.
Ongoing development work on the car has been carried out at EXCELR8’s new base in the Midlands after the creation of a new partnership with multiple BTCC champions Team Dynamics, with the new-look team now hoping to replicate past successes during the year ahead.
Ingram’s quest to reclaim his title will begin on the weekend where he celebrates his 300th start, with the final race also being the 150th for the team since it debuted in the championship back in 2019.
As the man who pushed Sutton closest in the standings last year, Ingram heads into 2024 amongst the championship favourites and in confident mood after a productive pre-season testing programme - despite mixed weather conditions,
Chilton - who will make his 500th BTCC start later in the season - was amongst the winners at Donington Park last season as he returned to the top step of the podium for the first time since 2019.
Like Ingram, Chilton has enjoyed a productive pre-season working alongside new race engineer Barry Plowman, and is eager to now replicate his testing pace to start the new campaign strongly.
After a solid rookie season, Scottish youngster Pearson heads into 2024 amongst the favourites for the Jack Sears Trophy, but with his eyes also fixed on pushing for overall podiums and race wins.
Pearson topped the times during the second of three official tests at Croft and readily admits that Donington Park is his favourite circuit on the calendar - something he will seek to use to his benefit this weekend.
Halstead meanwhile secured his best result of the 2023 season at Donington Park twelve months ago, mastering tricky wet conditions to bring his car home seventh in race two.
With a year of experience now under his belt, the former British GT race winner will be looking for improved consistency during the year ahead and will hope to start his season with a trip to the points during the opening three races.
Tom Chilton, #3 Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS Hyundai, said:
“Last year, it was nice to get a win at Donington Park and I feel that we are returning to start the new season in a good place. We’ve had a strong pre-season testing programme, particularly at Donington and Brands Hatch, and with those being the first two events on the calendar, I’m confident that we can start the year strongly.
“The team has been working hard on the car over the winter, and with the experience of Barry and the rest of the team on my car - many of whom I’ve worked with before - I feel in a really good place.
“The fact that we have brought together the best parts of EXCELR8 and the best parts of Team Dynamics makes me even more confident that we are going to be the strongest competition for NAPA Racing this year, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Ronan Pearson, #14 Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS Hyundai, said:
“I’m feeling in a really strong position ahead of round one, and I’m excited to get going after what feels like a really long winter! There is a lot of hard work that has gone in over the off-season and it’s been good to see how that work has translated into performance during testing.
“We’ve had a good pre-season although obviously you don’t know exactly what everyone else is doing. We have just made sure to focus on ourselves, and with that in mind, I think we can be confident as we head for Donington Park.
“It’s a circuit that I enjoy and where I have gone well in the past, and the focus this weekend is to try and pick up three strong points-scoring results and push for the Jack Sears Trophy win. That title is my main goal for the season, so if we could outscore our rivals and secure some early success, it would be the perfect start.”
Nick Halstead, #22 Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS Hyundai, said:
“On the whole, pre-season testing has been positive and the car has felt amazing with the work that the team has put in across the winter. Towards the end of last year, I felt I made a lot of progress as a driver and showed a lot more pace, and as we head into round one, I want to try and build on that and come out of the blocks well.
“I’m under no illusions about the fact that the grid this season is arguably one of the strongest that has been assembled in BTCC history, with so many drivers who are capable of fighting for wins and podiums. I’m looking forward to seeing how I measure up against them and am focused on doing the best job I can.
“Over the season as a whole, I’d love to come away with a Jack Sears Trophy win but looking to round one, there is the prospect of rain and if it arrives, then a repeat of the results last year would be a fantastic start.”
Tom Ingram, #80 Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS Hyundai, said:
“The Hyundai was a really strong package last year, and with the improvements we’ve made over the winter and the way the car has performed in testing, I feel we’re in a good position as we head in to 2024.
“Of course, everyone else will tell a similar story at this stage but the whole team is focussed on the job at hand, and personally I’d say I’m in better shape both mentally and physically than I have been before.
“Last year we were the only ones to really take it to Ash every weekend and the only goal this season is to take the title back from him. Donington is a circuit where I’ve gone well in the past and is a good place to kick things off, and I’m ready for the challenge.”
Justina Williams, Team Owner, said:
“We go into the opening rounds of the new season in a good place on the back of a productive winter developing the car followed by some solid running in pre-season testing, despite the weather conditions not always being as favourable as they could be.
“All four drivers are fired up to deliver results in what looks set to be a highly-competitive year and I think we can head to Donington Park optimistic about picking up some strong results to kick-start our championship challenge.”