Team VERTU will look to make it onto the top step of the Thruxton podium for the first time this weekend when the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship visits the fastest circuit on the calendar for the fourth meeting of the season.

The Hampshire venue is the only one where the EXCELR8-run has yet to secure victory since joining the BTCC grid back in 2019, but confidence is high after another solid weekend at Snetterton resulted in three more podium finishes.

Between them, Tom Ingram, Tom Chilton and Adam Morgan have already scored ten podium finishes - including a win for Chilton at Donington Park - whilst the driver line-up is bolstered this weekend by the return to competition of Senna Proctor.

With Proctor being a proven race winner with multiple podium finishes himself, it means Team VERTU heads into event four with a stronger line-up than ever before - with the quartet having a combined record of 219 BTCC podiums, 63 of which have been victories.

Ingram heads the team’s challenge in the championship standings having scored six podium finishes in nine starts this season, leaving him 15 points off top spot heading into the weekend.

The 2022 title winner scored pole position at Thruxton last year on a weekend where he made his 100th start for the team - picking up a pair of podium finishes to make it ten in total at the fastest circuit on the schedule.

Although he will once again carry limited turbo boost into the weekend as a result of his championship, Ingram will hope to make the most of the pace in the Hyundai i30 Fastback N to fight for a place in the Quick Six on Saturday, and three strong results on Sunday.

Morgan is second of the Team VERTU drivers in the standings having picked up his second podium finish of the year at Snetterton last time out - where he went close to victory in race two.

On his return to front-wheel drive, Morgan has wasted little time in getting up to speed in the Hyundai and will hope to maintain his strong form at a venue where he has bagged five victories in the past - a record that leaves him inside the top ten in the all-time winners list at the circuit.

Like Ingram, Morgan’s first goal will be to try and once again make it into the Quick Six in qualifying before seeking to add to his impressive win record on race day.

Chilton sits just a single point behind Morgan in the standings having also picked up his second podium of the season in Norfolk last time out.

The most experienced driver on the grid scored the 17th win of his BTCC career at Donington Park in the opening round, and heads into round four chasing a first Thruxton victory - with the high-speed circuit being the only current venue where he has yet to make it onto the top step.

Proctor meanwhile makes his return to the series for the first time since the 2021 season finale at Brands Hatch, with his deal to rejoin the team for the second half of the year having been expanded to include the events at both Thruxton and Oulton Park

Proctor will be reunited with the same chassis he competed in during the 2020 season, where he picked up a podium finish at Knockhill, and scored a points total that has been beaten by only three drivers to have raced the Hyundai in the years that have followed.

With the car having undergone extensive changes since the last time he got behind the wheel, the weekend will be something of a learning curve for Proctor as he gets back up to speed, whilst he will also be taking a step into the unknown in qualifying having not previously taken part in a session under the current three-part format.

Three solid race finishes are the first target this weekend, although Proctor is very much focused on adding to his career silverware during his comeback in Britain’s premier racing series.

Qualifying will take place on Saturday at 15:00 and will be shown live on YouTube, with Sunday’s three races airing on ITV4 and ITVX at 11:45, 14:35 and 17:05.

Tom Chilton, #3 Team VERTU Hyundai i30 Fastback N, said: “Thruxton is one of my favourite circuits on the calendar, even if it’s the only venue we currently visit where I’ve not made it onto the top step. Hopefully I can put that right this weekend!

“I certainly feel in confident mood going into the weekend, as we’ve consistently shown strong pace across the opening three rounds at three very different circuits. The car is in a fantastic place at the moment and I have so much confidence in it, which is arguably more important at Thruxton than anywhere else.

“It’s so close in the standings that a strong showing this weekend could move me right up into the top three as we move towards the half-way stage of the season - and that has to be the main focus.”

Senna Proctor, #18 Team VERTU Hyundai i30 Fastback N, said: “I’m delighted to be back on the BTCC grid this weekend and can’t wait to get going at Thruxton. There’s no doubting the fact that it’s a challenging circuit on which to make my return to the series, but it’s one where I’ve had some good results in the past - including my last outing back in 2021 when I finished on the podium!

“As I said when my deal with the team was announced, this season is all about playing the long game and looking to the future as I work towards a full-time return to the grid in 2026 - but I still want to be able to challenge towards the front and fighting for some strong results.

“This will be the first time I’ve tasted the new three-part qualifying format which promises to be interesting, but having seen how well the car has performed in the opening rounds, I’m just really excited about the prospect of getting back behind the wheel. Three solid performances at Thruxton this weekend would be a good way to kick things off.”

Adam Morgan, #33 Team VERTU Hyundai i30 Fastback N, said: “Thruxton is a circuit that’s been kind to me in the past - although I didn’t really realise how successful I’ve been there through the years. It’s where I scored my last BTCC win back in 2022 and it would be fantastic if I could get back onto the top step of the podium again this weekend, particularly after going close at Snetterton last time out.

“I’m really enjoying being part of this team and even though we’re only three rounds into the season, I feel like I’ve been here for so much longer. Being back in front-wheel drive really seems to suit me and with the pace we’ve displayed so far, I’m going into the weekend feeling confidence about bringing home some more strong results.”

Tom Ingram, #80 Team VERTU Hyundai i30 Fastback N, said: “Thruxton is a circuit where we’ve shown really strong pace in recent years, having scored double podium finishes in each of the the past two seasons. It’s a circuit that really plays to the strengths of our car, and where we really benefit from all of the hard work that the engineers have put in to get the chassis in the sweet spot.

“Although it was disappointing to have a DNF at Snetterton, the fact we have been so consistent this season means we head into the weekend right in contention towards the top of the standings - which is where we need to be at this stage.

“My approach going into the weekend will remain the same as ever, with my focus firmly on maximising our performance across the three races and picking up as many points as possible. Of course, I want to get back onto the top step of the podium and this would be the perfect time to help the team to win at Thruxton for the first time.

Justina Williams, Team VERTU Team Owner, said: “Thruxton is the only circuit on the BTCC calendar where we have yet to make it onto the top step of the podium, and hopefully that is something we are able to to put right this season. We are going there in better form that ever before given the results across the opening three rounds, and I’m confident that we’ll be firmly in the fight for silverware.

“With Senna rejoining the line-up alongside Tom, Tom and Adam, we now have four proven race winners in the four cars and I’m looking forward to seeing them all pushing towards the sharp end.”