Win apiece for Chilton, Cammish and Ingram around fantastic GP circuit
Rounds 22, 23 and 24 of the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship took place at Donington Park today (31 August) with Tom Ingram extending the gap to Ash Sutton in the title race.
Ingram’s Team VERTU stablemate Tom Chilton had been the star of Saturday as the veteran claimed his first BTCC pole position since 2011, and he duly converted that into victory in the opener around the 2.49-mile Grand Prix circuit.
Dan Cammish triumphed in the second bout for NAPA Racing UK, in a race that included an incredible downpour, but it was the finale that arguably held the biggest sway in the championship fight.
Ingram got the better of Sutton in the reverse grid contest as he increased his advantage in the overall Drivers’ standings to 32 points, whilst Cammish’s successful day helped him consolidate third overall.
Alliance Racing/Ford hold a slender one-point lead in the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ table, whilst rivals Team VERTU top the Teams’ order.
Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing’s Mikey Doble returned to the head of the Independent Drivers’ competition, whilst Restart Racing still maintain a commanding lead in the Independent Teams’ battle.
Daryl DeLeon claimed Jack Sears Trophy honours as the young BMW rookie continues to hold off WSR stablemate Charles Rainford.
The BTCC now moves onto its penultimate event of the season at Silverstone on the 20/21 September.
Tom Chilton tops Team VERTU one-two
Team VERTU's Chilton took his second victory of the season, converting his first pole position for 14 years into victory in the opening race around the Donington Park GP layout.
Chilton and team-mate 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 by mid-distance.
Restart Racing's Chris Smiley proved to be the cork in the bottle behind, as the Hyundai driver 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, Sutton and 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.
Cammish conquers in sensational milestone race
NAPA Racing UK's Cammish took home a fantastic victory in Round 23 of the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, as he celebrated his 200th BTCC race in style!
The contest produced one of the most bizarre moments of the season as a flash downpour late on sent the #27 and many others sailing through the gravel.
The rain slowed almost as quickly as it started with more than half a dozen cars scrambling back onto the Tarmac. Cammish held onto his lead, a position he had gained earlier in the race after passing championship leader Ingram.
A Safety Car was scrambled and when the cars crossed the finish line it was Cammish winning from Adam Morgan (Team VERTU) and Gordon Shedden (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA), following the many changes of position during the rain.
It had already proved a dramatic race when contact between NAPA Racing UK team-mates Rowbottom and Sutton sent them both tumbling down the order, with immediate and significant implications to the title battle.
Ingram wins duel with Sutton to extend standings lead
Team VERTU's Ingram took his fifth victory of the campaign, coming out on top of a duel with title rival Sutton in the finale at Donington Park.
Ingram surged from fifth on the grid and was soon on the rear bumper of pole-sitter Sutton's Ford Focus, with the latter running the harder compound Goodyear tyre.
Sutton defended valiantly and paint was swapped as the duo battled tooth and nail for position. In truth, it seemed only a matter of time and Ingram eventually got the job done through the Melbourne Hairpin.
Four-time champion Sutton tried to respond and had a further opportunity following a late safety car period, but the #80 Hyundai i30N of Ingram remained in control until the finish to extend his lead in the Drivers' standings to 32 points.
NAPA Racing UK's Rowbottom drove brilliantly to complete the podium positions as he flew from 12th on the grid to third.
Tom Chilton, Team VERTU, said:
“All those years on, and it feels just as good as my first win in 2004. Obviously, this weekend we’ve got the perfect set-up on the car, and me and Tom [Ingram] had some nice fun and games out there. Second win of the year for me and it’s fantastic. From lights to flag, it was perfect.”
Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK, said:
“200 starts… there was a time when I didn’t think I’d even start one! What a win, I’m really proud of that. Difficult race in the end… why does it always rain when I’m in the lead? That was the biggest downpour I’ve ever seen. Boy, do we deserve it after an up and down year. In my 200th race, this one feels great.”
Tom Ingram, Team VERTU, said:
“It’s been a stonker of a day; it really really has. Ash [Sutton] and I are always close on points but often we’re not on track together. He didn’t make it easy, but he fought really well on the hard tyre. We have raced hard over the years, we’ve fallen out sometimes over the years, but the nice thing when you’re racing someone like Ash, is that we know the respect is there.”
2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 1 – Donington Park GP
1. Tom Chilton, Team VERTU 14 Laps
2. Tom Ingram, Team VERTU +0.599s
3. Daniel Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK +1.784s
4. Ashley Sutton, NAPA Racing UK +5.525s
5. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +8.346s
6. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +9.120s
7. Adam Morgan, Team VERTU +12.028s
8. Senna Proctor, Team VERTU +14.319s
9. Chris Smiley, Restart Racing +14.598s
10. Árón Taylor-Smith, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA +15.038s
2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 2 – Donington Park GP
1. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK 17 Laps
2. Adam Morgan, Team VERTU +2.583s
3. Gordon Shedden, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA +3.748s
4. Tom Ingram, Team VERTU +5.232s
5. Daryl DeLeon, WSR +6.904s
6. Josh Cook, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA +7.976s
7. Árón Taylor-Smith, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA +10.185
8. Ashley Sutton, NAPA Racing UK +11.549s
9. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +12.818s
10. Daniel Lloyd, Restart Racing +13.513s
2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 3 – Donington Park GP
1. Tom Ingram, Team VERTU 17 Laps
2. Ashley Sutton, NAPA Racing UK +0.847s
3. Daniel Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK +2.658
4. Árón Taylor-Smith, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA +6.502s
5. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +6.680s
6. Tom Chilton, Team VERTU +7.426s
7. Gordon Shedden, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA +7.740s
8. Daniel Lloyd, Restart Racing +9.186s
9. Daryl DeLeon, WSR +10.086s
10. Charles Rainford, LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR +12.023s
Penalties:
General
Josh Cook was deducted five points from the Drivers’ Championship for having an engine changed above the permitted number.
Árón Taylor-Smith and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA were deducted 10 points in the Drivers’ Championship and either the Manufacturers/Constructors or Teams Championship for having changed an engine above the permitted number.
Qualifying
Mikey Doble was disqualified from the results of qualifying for Round 22 of the championship after failing the post-session ride height check.
Race Two
Chris Smiley was disqualified from the results of Round 23 of the championship after failing the post-session ride height check.
Nick Halstead received a 30-second penalty in Round 23 of the championship for pit lane speeding.
Race Three
Chris Smiley received a verbal warning in Round 24 of the championship for causing a collision and gaining a position in an incident involving Mikey Doble.
