After what has felt like a lengthy off-season followed by a rain delay at Donington Park earlier today, the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship finally got underway with the opening race of the new season.

Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS’ Tom Ingram claimed a lights-to-flag triumph, from NAPA Racing UK’s Ash Sutton and Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport’s Jake Hill.

Ingram held the lead from the start as he defended well from the fast-starting BMWs of Hill and Colin Turkington, the latter though was eventually shuffled down to fourth on the opening lap by the recovering Sutton.

The first lap ended under caution following a high speed off for Sam Osborne’s NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus, although he seemingly received a touch from behind as the cars wriggled through the Craner Curves for the first time.

LKQ Euro Car Parts with Synetiq's Josh Cook nipped past the sister car of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK’s Andrew Watson for sixth at the restart, whilst Team BMW’s Adam Morgan was busy making amazing inroads from the back of the grid.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK’s Robb Huff was fired off after NAPA Racing UK’s Dan Rowbottom tapped Mikey Doble’s PMR-run Vauxhall into the Toyota. Huff and Doble recovered while Rowbottom entered the pits with damage to the front of his Ford Focus.

When the rain eventually settled and the chequered flag waved it was Ingram winning from Sutton, with the latter having nipped by Hill’s #24 BMW late on.

Team BMW’s Colin Turkington was fourth, ahead of a great drive from Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS’s young talent Ronan Pearson.

Cook was sixth, with Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing’ Aron Taylor-Smith and the charging Morgan.

NAPA Racing UK's Dan Cammish impressed after a challenging qualifying to claim ninth, whilst LKQ Euro Car Parts with Synetiq Aiden Moffat completed the top ten positions.

Tom Ingram said: “It’s exactly what we need. The circuit was changing every lap, your braking zones and braking points changed. As a starting point it was spot on… pole, win and the fastest lap.”

Ash Sutton said: "It wasn’t the best start. I got jumped by both BMWs so I had to claw my way back. We didn’t quite get the tyre pressures right for that one, but we didn’t expect to be behind the safety car for so long either. I’m pleased though as we got back to where we started."

Jake Hill said: “It’s a great result, I’m happy. I made a slight mistake and lost the rears, they were falling away at the end there but huge thanks to everyone at Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport – it’s a good start to the season.”

Donington Park - Race 1 - Results: