Leading six stars have six rounds to battle for BTCC glory
The 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship continues towards its dramatic climax with the penultimate event of the season set to take place at Silverstone this weekend (21/22 September).
Only once in the previous 21 years have the top six drivers – and ultimately championship contenders – been separated by so few points at this stage of the season, highlighting what continues to be one of the most exciting BTCC title battles in recent history.
The leading half dozen contenders are blanketed by just 54 points – with 134 still on offer – as Jake Hill, Tom Ingram, Ash Sutton, Dan Cammish, Colin Turkington and Josh Cook all still hold a genuine hope of claiming the most coveted prize in British motorsport.
Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport’s Hill began the last event at Donington Park three points behind Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS’ Ingram in the overall Drivers’ standings, but a double podium for the former helped the BMW talent wrestle back title supremacy.
Turkington would launch from second on the grid to take his fifth win of the season in the first race of the day. The Team BMW driver would close in on Hill by nine points, on course to becoming the highest scoring driver across the weekend.
Race two would be a second win of the year for NAPA Racing UK’s Sutton – a stark contrast to the record-equalling 2023 season where he took 12 victories over the 30-race season – but the four-time champion is showing a different side to his title challenge this time around.
Closing out the weekend, the Alliance Racing-run outfit would triple the wins they had before arriving at the Leicestershire-based circuit as Cammish claimed his first triumph of the campaign. The latest winner in 2024 would mean that all six title contenders have stood on the top step of the rostrum this season.
Read on for more details on the Silverstone souvenirs, TV times, circuit timetable and the all-important ticket information…
Silverstone souvenirs
The Northamptonshire circuit has proved pivotal and influential to many of the 2024 title contenders in previous years. No one has benefitted more than current second place driver Ingram with six victories on the National circuit.
Ingram returns to Silverstone, having the same combined number of wins as both of his BMW 330e M Sport driving rivals, Hill and Turkington, with three each. Sutton and Cammish both have one win at the circuit, whilst LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ’s Cook is the only protagonist not to stand on the top step of the podium.
The UK’s premier motorsport series’ last visit to the Northamptonshire circuit saw more influential moments that would help decide the championship. Hill was on the outside looking in before a masterstroke in strategy saw the Kent racer take victory in race one, whilst Ingram and Sutton both had non-score finishes.
Starting race two from pole and with title rivals starting outside the top 20, Hill was primed to sit right in the title hunt as the championship would go on to Brands Hatch, the finale. Despite leading from the off, an electrical issue saw the #24 fall down the order to finish out of the points.
To add to the pain, Sutton would win and Ingram would finish third, combining to gain 41 places in one race. The Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport driver would go on to be out of contention after the Silverstone visit sitting 68 points behind Sutton with 67 on offer.
Silverstone, as we found out as recently as 2023, can throw up many surprises. We are ready and set for the penultimate weekend in what is shaping up to be a classic championship battle.
TV Timetable and Tickets
Rounds 25, 26 and 27 of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship are anticipated to deliver thrilling races at Silverstone, along with myriad additional contests and entertainment options.
A variety of motorsport disciplines descend upon the historical circuit, including the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain and the future of single-seater talent in the shape of the British F4 Championship. The MINI CHALLENGE will also be on-track, whilst the Porsche Sprint Cup Great Britain also returns to the bill.
There’s no denying the headline act of course and that is the BTCC and its triple-header of races. To be there, visit https://www.silverstone.co.uk/events/british-touring-car-championship
Those unable to make it can watch BTCC qualifying streamed live via ITV Sport’s YouTube channel from 1520 on Saturday, before ITV4’s all-day race day broadcast gets underway at 1045 on Sunday.
Remember, for the first time in the championship’s history the BTCC is being broadcast globally this season with every race being streamed live via ITV Sport’s TikTok channel.
