Three different marques win at Brands Hatch
Rounds 4, 5 and 6 of the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship took place at Brands Hatch this past weekend (9/10 May) with a drama-filled trio of races wowing the crowds at the famous Kent circuit.
Four-time champion Ash Sutton extended his advantage at the top of the standings with his second victory of the season and successive triple podiums, following his blistering performances in the curtain raiser at Donington Park.
The biggest applause arguably went to Árón Taylor-Smith as the Irishman claimed his first victory in nearly ten years, as he stormed through the field during a dry-wet second race.
Last but by no means least was the reverse grid triumph for Tom Ingram, as the reigning champion scored a first victory of 2026 to kickstart his title defence.
Five of the six marques have already won races this season – with Mercedes machinery winning the first ever Qualifying Race – while Audi, Ford, Toyota and Hyundai have reached the top step of the rostrum during the opening two weekends of action.
Sutton – following his 50th career triumph – leads the overall Drivers’ standings from old adversary Ingram, with former Jack Sears Trophy winner Mikey Doble in third. Three podiums so far for series returnee Ricky Collard see him flying along in fourth.
Alliance Racing/Ford and NAPA Racing UK top both the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ and Teams’ tables.
Doble and the LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing squad top the Independents’, whilst James Dorlin holds sway in the Jack Sears Trophy.
The next event on the BTCC calendar takes place at Snetterton on 23/24 May.
Sutton speeds to half century of victories
NAPA Racing UK's Sutton (Ford) took victory in the Brands Hatch Indy opener, notching up an incredible 50th career triumph in just 301 starts.
Calm and collected from pole position, Sutton initially kept the rest at bay while Adam Morgan's Cataclean Plato Racing Mercedes A35 Saloon slid off at Paddock Hill Bend following contact amidst slippery conditions.
The WSR BMW of Daryl De Leon had been jumped by the Team VERTU Hyundai pairing of Collard and Ingram in the early exchanges, as well as the Ford of NAPA Racing UK's Dan Cammish, before a safety car intervention paused proceedings.
A nip and tuck battle between the lead four ensued at the restart with Collard attacking Sutton before eventually passing the four-time champion on lap 12. Sutton would not be denied, however, as he returned the favour one lap later in what proved to be a top-class scrap for the win.
Ingram and Cammish were having a similar tussle as they swapped positions for third on a few occasions before the #80 Hyundai made his move stick later in the contest.
Taylor-Smith takes first victory in nearly a decade
Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport’s Taylor-Smith (Toyota Corolla) battled the weather to take his first victory in almost ten years (Rockingham, 2016) during Round 5 of the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch.
One of the more dramatic BTCC races in recent memory commenced in slight damp conditions before the rain began to fall heavier as the race progressed.
The vast majority of drivers decided to brave it out on Goodyear dry rubber and a quite phenomenal battle for victory commenced.
The likes of Sutton (Ford) and Collard (Hyundai) each held the lead at one stage but it was the charging Taylor-Smith from 13th on the grid that had the crowd on its feet.
Move after move was made by the Irishman, with the #50 Toyota Corolla looking like it was on rails around the 1.2-mile Indy Circuit, whilst others jittered around on the tricky track surface.
In truth, the move for victory was fairly routine as Taylor-Smith dived down the inside of Collard's #11 Hyundai on the entry to Paddock Hill Bend, before the experienced tin top peddler pulled away from the pack.
It proved a popular triumph with a huge roar greeting the multiple race winner as he crossed the line, whilst Sutton and Collard completed the podium.
Ingram ends Brands Hatch with maiden BTCC victory
Team VERTU’s Ingram (Hyundai) took victory in the reverse grid bout, closing out an exciting day of racing.
Somehow, championship leader Sutton (Ford) stormed from seventh on the grid to be fighting for the lead through Paddock Hill Bend for the first time, as he went around the outside of pole-sitter James Dorlin in the Restart Racing Hyundai.
NAPA Racing UK's Sutton eventually had to settle into second as Dorlin backed him into a gaggle of contenders - led by the Team VERTU Hyundai duo of Collard and Ingram.
After moving into second, Ingram hunted down and dispatched of Dorlin before romping home to his first win of the season.
The LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing Audi of Doble briefly moved into third but couldn't hold off the fast-starting Sutton, who recovered from a mid-race shuffle to finish fourth.
That soon became second and third for Sutton and Doble when Dorlin was further relegated to the lower end of the top ten as the battles intensified.
2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 1 – Brands Hatch Indy
1. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK 27 Laps
2. Ricky Collard, Team VERTU +0.974s
3. Tom Ingram, Team VERTU +3.298s
4. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +8.953s
5. Tom Chilton, Team VERTU +9.290s
6. Sam Osborne, NAPA Racing UK +11.120s
7. Mikey Doble, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing +12.490s
8. Chris Smiley, Restart Racing +12.795s
9. Charles Rainford, WSR +13.079s
10. Josh Cook, Speedworks Corolla Racing +17.107s
2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 2 – Brands Hatch Indy
1. Árón Taylor-Smith, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport 20 Laps
2. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK +3.409s
3. Ricky Collard, Team VERTU +3.830s
4. Tom Ingram, Team VERTU +4.460s
5. Aiden Moffat, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing +5.304s
6. Mikey Doble, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing +5.571s
7. Josh Cook, Speedworks Corolla Racing +9.027s
8. James Dorlin, Restart Racing +9.720s
9. Dexter Patterson, Steel Seal with Power Maxed Racing +9.958s
10. Daryl De Leon, WSR +12.111s
2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 3 – Brands Hatch Indy
1. Tom Ingram, Team VERTU 24 Laps
2. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK +3.848s
3. Mikey Doble, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing +4.426s
4. Daryl De Leon, WSR +5.131s
5. Josh Cook, Speedworks Corolla Racing +8.054s
6. Adam Morgan, Cataclean Plato Racing +9.816s
7. Gordon Shedden, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +16.642s
8. James Dorlin, Restart Racing +17.080s
9. Árón Taylor-Smith, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +17.241s
10. Aiden Moffat, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing +17.644s
Penalties:
Qualifying Race
James Dorlin received a five-second time penalty in the Qualifying Race at Brands Hatch Indy, for an overboost infringement
Race 1
Dan Cammish received a five-second time penalty and three penalty points on his license in Round 4 of the championship, for causing a collision in an incident involving Adam Morgan
Daryl De Leon received a five-second time penalty in Round 4 of the championship for obtaining an unfair advantage in an incident involving Gordon Shedden
Tom Chilton received a five-second time penalty in Round 4 of the championship, for being out of position at the start of the race
Lewis Selby received a ten-second time penalty and three penalty points on his license in Round 4 of the championship, for causing a collision in an incident involving Aiden Moffat
