Ingram and Chilton also star in BTCC curtain raiser
The 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship kicked off at Donington Park this weekend (26/27 April) as Ash Sutton secured a double success before the experienced Tom Chilton claimed victory in the finale.
Glorious sunshine and a huge crowd greeted the cars and stars of the UK’s most popular motorsport championship, with the opening rounds kicking off at the famous East Midlands circuit.
NAPA Racing UK’s Dan Cammish impressively took pole position in the first qualifying session of the season on Saturday afternoon, but the talented Yorkshireman was unable to convert that result into race victory.
It was Sutton and Ingram that duelled it out for the first two bouts with the former beating the latter to victory in both encounters, whilst Dan Rowbottom and Cammish took a podium apiece.
Chilton dominated the final race, as Ingram and Sutton fought their way into second and third respectively.
As the huge crowd made its way out of the famous venue it was Sutton leading the early Drivers’ standings by seven points from Ingram, with Chilton just behind.
EXCELR8 Motorsport/Hyundai head the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ table, whilst Team Vertu and NAPA Racing UK are tied at the top in the Teams’ order.
Chris Smiley holds a one-point advantage over Mikey Doble in the Independent Drivers’ Championship, whilst Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing lead the Independent’ Teams title race. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK’s Ronan Pearson tops the Jack Sears Trophy.
The BTCC returns in two weeks’ time (10/11 May) at Brands Hatch.
Sutton secured victory in season opener
NAPA Racing UK's Sutton won the opener, having got the better of a few old rivals in the first bout of the new campaign.
Sutton's first challenge was to get by pole-sitting team-mate Cammish on the opening tour, which the four-time champion lined up straight off the line. The #116 nipped by the sister Ford Focus having ran side-by-side with Cammish's car through Redgate and Hollywood, before concluding the move at the Craner Curves.
Team Vertu's Ingram also passed Cammish a few laps later, and the latter faced more frustration with a front left puncture shortly after.
The front two pulled clear as a game of cat and mouse ensued with Sutton on the Goodyear soft tyre while Ingram was on the medium compound.
When the dust settled it was NAPA Racing UK's Rowbottom securing the final spot on the podium, ahead of reigning champion Hill in the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport BMW, with Chilton and Doble rounding out the top six order.
It was all eyes on the scrap at the front for the final two laps as the duel swayed one way and then the other. Ingram hauled his Hyundai onto the rear bumper of Sutton's machine and made one attempt at the start of the final tour, but the latter held on to secure a fantastic win.
Status quo as Sutton holds off Ingram in second duel
Sutton made it two out of two as the NAPA Racing UK star once again held off Team Vertu's Ingram.
The leading duo had played the same game in the earlier curtain raiser, but they were initially joined by a gaggle of contenders in the second encounter.
It was Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport's Hill leading a train of cars for third place in the early running as the soft-shod Goodyear runner held firm in the #1 BMW.
Ingram's best opportunity seemed to come in the opening exchanges, but Sutton defended valiantly while saving what little boost he had available, by virtue of his earlier race victory.
Hill began to fade as the hard-charging Cammish was busy making his way through the pack from eighth on the grid, whilst One Motorsport's Josh Cook's initial surge was scuppered by a puncture. The switch came on the penultimate lap as Cammish's #27 Ford Focus scythed his way by Hill at Coppice.
Sutton saved his boost until the final lap as he impressively set his fastest lap on his final tour, as the four-time champ claimed another triumph ahead of Ingram.
Tom Chilton takes commanding triumph
Team Vertu's Chilton claimed a commanding triumph in the finale around the 1.98-mile Donington Park National Circuit, just reward for the experienced racer having shown fantastic pace during pre-season and throughout the weekend.
Chilton – starting from pole position by virtue of the reverse grid draw – made a solid getaway from the grid, as a stream of cars bulked up behind second placed Rowbottom in his NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus.
Hill had today's two main protagonists – Ingram and Sutton – immediately behind him and the duo soon relinquished the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport BMW driver of third position.
Next on the hitlist was Rowbottom with Ingram's #80 Hyundai i30N slicing by, whilst Sutton was also through soon enough. Another battle royale commenced between the duo, as Sutton waited until the final few laps to attack old adversary Ingram.
Ultimately, it wasn't enough as Chilton led home team-mate Ingram and Sutton to complete a popular podium.
Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK, said: “Splendid day at the office, phenomenal. Two race wins and a podium, we couldn’t have asked for much more. I was going for Tom (Ingram) in the final race to try and make it three up on him, but to be fair they did a fantastic job. It was just a mega weekend. I can’t wait to get to Brands, I’m just not looking forward to not having any boost deployment.”
Tom Ingram, Team Vertu, said: “That was a fairly successful weekend all-in-all – very ‘pointsy’ and a lot of enjoyable, tough racing – and we were really strong throughout. Overall, three second-place finishes was a really strong way to kick the season off. Now, we’ll see how the rest of it unfolds from hereon in. It’s shaping up to be pretty spicy...”
Tom Chilton, Team Vertu, said: “It’s lovely. My 505th race start and we’re really getting there aren’t we. This is the first time in quite a few years, now that we’ve got the weight out of the car, that I feel like I’ve got the old me back. The car is nimble, it’s alive, and I feel like I’m fast again. It’s been a long while coming so it’s nice to start this season with a win for the team and great results for Tom (Ingram) too.”
2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 1 – Donington Park
1. Ashley Sutton, NAPA Racing UK 18 Laps
2. Tom Ingram, Team Vertu +0.207s
3. Daniel Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK +4.481s
4. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +6.411s
5. Mikey Doble, Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing +11.481s
6. Josh Cook, One Motorsport +12.103s
7. Tom Chilton, Team Vertu +12.917s
8. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +15.316s
9. Aiden Moffat, LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR +15.321s
10. Chris Smiley, Restart Racing +15.391s
2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 2 – Donington Park
1. Ashley Sutton, NAPA Racing UK 18 Laps
2. Tom Ingram, Team Vertu +1.052s
3. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +7.460s
4. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +8.293s
5. Daniel Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK +10.150s
6. Tom Chilton, Team Vertu +10.666s
7. Aiden Moffat, LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR +15.379s
8. Chris Smiley, Restart Racing +16.636s
9. Dexter Patterson, ROKiT Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport +17.709s
10. Adam Morgan, Team Vertu +20.872s
2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 3 – Donington Park
1. Tom Chilton, Team Vertu 18 Laps
2. Tom Ingram, Team Vertu +3.485s
3. Ashley Sutton, NAPA Racing UK +3.627s
4. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +7.928s
5. Adam Morgan, Team Vertu +11.089s
6. Daniel Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK +14.804s
7. Mikey Doble, Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing +15.611s
8. Chris Smiley, Restart Racing +15.799s
9. Aiden Moffat, LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR +16.333s
10. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +16.511s
Penalties:
Race One
Tom Chilton received a five second penalty in Round 1 of the championship, for obtaining an unfair advantage (whether inadvertently or not) by gaining a position on Josh Cook
Sam Osborne received an official reprimand in Round 1 of the championship, for causing a collision with Dan Lloyd
Sam Osborne received a one second penalty in Round 1 of the championship, for obtaining an unfair advantage on Daryl DeLeon
Race Two
Max Hall received a verbal warning in Round 2 of the championship, for causing a collision with Gordon Shedden
Race Three
Daryl DeLeon received an official reprimand in Round 3 of the championship, for forcing Dan Lloyd off of the circuit
