Team VERTU's Tom Chilton took his second victory of the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season, converting his first pole position for 14 years into victory in the opening race at Donington Park GP.

Chilton and team-mate Tom Ingram pulled clear of the chasing pack in the early exchanges – even briefly swapping positions so that championship leader Ingram could lead a lap and take a point – before the duo settled back into their original positions before mid-distance.

Restart Racing's Chris Smiley proved to be the cork in the bottle behind, as the Independents' standings leader used the majority of his available TOCA Turbo Boost in the opening laps, while trying to keep a trio of Ford Focuses behind.

Eventually the pressure told as the NAPA Racing UK gang of Dan Rowbottom, Ash Sutton and Dan Cammish wrestled their way past to secure third, fourth and fifth respectively.

It wasn't a completely smooth teamwork operation, however, as Cammish and Sutton went wheel-to-wheel for position on a number of occasions.

Sutton will now have the benefit of using the Goodyear soft tyre for race two – arguably making him favourite for the win with the three cars ahead of him starting on the harder compound.

Smiley continued to fade late on as Jake Hill (Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport), Adam Morgan and Senna Proctor (both Team VERTU) also got by, whilst Árón Taylor-Smith rounded out the top ten for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA.

It was a spirited drive from Irishman Taylor-Smith as he bounced back from track limit disappointment in qualifying yesterday to rise from 14th to tenth in the opener.

A further two BTCC races will take place later today – at 1415 and 1655 respectively – with the entire race day being broadcast LIVE on ITV4 and to global regions via the BTCC YouTube channel.

Tom Chilton, Team VERTU, said:

Tom Ingram, Team VERTU, said:

Dan Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK, said:

2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Donington Park GP – Race 1 – Classification: