Author: Chris Ashby

Series organisers of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, TOCA, have today (May 31) released the official calendar for the 2023 season.

Firmly established as the UK’s flagship motor sport series, the championship will once again comprise of 30 races across ten events at eight of the country’s top venues – with Donington Park most notably being handed a second event.

The Leicestershire venue will lift the curtain on the new campaign in late April before staging a second round in August on the Grand Prix circuit, a layout that the BTCC hasn’t used in more than two decades. 

Brands Hatch Indy, Snetterton, Thruxton and Oulton Park occupy dates during May and June before the annual summer break.

Croft is then scheduled to kick off the second half of the season before the series makes its annual visit to north of the border Knockhill. A second visit to Donington Park follows that before the penultimate weekend at Silverstone in late September and the finale on the legendary Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit in early October.

BTCC Chief Executive, Alan Gow, said: “I’m very pleased to be able to confirm our 2023 British Touring Car Championship calendar. We’ve never announced a following season schedule as early as May before, which provides great forward planning for our teams, partners, fans and all stakeholders.”

2023 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship Calendar

Rounds 1/2/3 – Donington Park (National) – April 22/23

Rounds 4/5/6 – Brands Hatch (Indy) – May 6/7

Rounds 7/8/9 – Snetterton 300 – May 20/21

Rounds 10/11/12 – Thruxton – June 3/4

Rounds 13/14/15 – Oulton Park (Island) – June 17/18

Rounds 16/17/18 – Croft – July 29/30

Rounds 19/20/21 – Knockhill – August 12/13

Rounds 22/23/24 – Donington Park (Grand Prix) – August 26/27

Rounds 25/26/27 – Silverstone (National) – September 23/24

Rounds 28/29/30 – Brands Hatch (Grand Prix) – October 7/8

Josh Cook and Adam Morgan enjoyed a share of the spoils at Thruxton Circuit this past weekend (May 28/29) as the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship produced a blockbuster three races around the fastest track in the country.

Making the first of two visits to the home of the British Automobile Racing Club this season, the UK’s premier motorsport series saw history made as Cook became the most successful BTCC driver at the circuit after he scored two commanding wins. 

As had been the case at Donington Park and Brands Hatch, qualifying proved to be an ultra-competitive affair on Saturday as drivers guided their hybrid-powered-cars around the infamous 2.36-mile layout.

Rich Energy BTC Racing’s Cook – who arrived with an enviable record – produced the goods once again as he piloted his Honda Civic Type R to pole position, just 0.077s ahead of ROKiT MB Motorsport’s Jake Hill – who had topped the times until the latter stages.

Dan Cammish hustled his NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus to within 0.081s of pole however he ultimately settled for third, with Team BMW’s Colin Turkington and reigning champion Ash Sutton fourth and fifth respectively. 

Cook secured his place in the Thruxton history books as he charged to victory – a record eighth around the Hampshire venue – in race one. Briefly losing the lead to Hill off the line, the Honda ace fought back through the Complex to reclaim first place and then began to pull clear.

Despite coming under pressure from the BMW in the latter stages, the Bath racer held firm to become the undisputed King of Thruxton. Further back, the battle for the final step on the podium was hotly contested with Sutton producing a masterful defensive drive to fend off the chasing pack. 

Race two proved to be a carbon copy of the opener as Cook continued to reign supreme, chalking up a second win of the day. As was the case in the opening bout, the 30-year-old briefly lost the lead to Hill at the start but produced a sensational move at the Complex to regain control at the front.

Maintaining a steady gap to the rear-wheel-drive machine, Cook charged to the ninth win of his career at Thruxton whilst Hill and Sutton filled the remaining spots on the rostrum once again.

Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport’s Morgan then signed off the weekend in style with a commanding victory in the reverse grid encounter. Starting from the outside of the front row, the BMW driver jumped pole sitter Jason Plato off the line and never looked back.

Despite having Turkington and Sutton fill his mirrors throughout, Morgan didn’t put a wheel wrong to claim his first win of the season. The aforementioned multiple champions battled until the final corner but remained second and third respectively over the line. 

Leaving Thruxton, Cook leads Sutton in the BTCC Drivers’ Championship whilst he and Rich Energy BTC Racing also hold the advantage in the Independent Drivers’ and Independent Teams’ Championship as well. 

BMW hold the advantage in the BTCC Manufacturer-Constructors Championship having moved to the standings summit this past weekend. Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com continue to head the Teams’ category with Bobby Thompson maintaining the upper hand in the Jack Sears Trophy.

To view the full classification of results from all BTCC sessions around Thruxton, CLICK HERE.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship continues to gather pace on June 11/12 at Oulton Park, as the Cheshire venue plays host to Rounds 10, 11 & 12 of the 2022 season. 

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship continued its 2022 season in style at Brands Hatch this past weekend (May 14/15) as Josh Cook and Colin Turkington splashed their way to victory. 

Coming off the back of a sensational curtain-raiser at Donington Park last month, the UK’s premier motorsport series took centre stage at the Kent venue in contrasting conditions to produce three blockbuster races. 

Basking in bright sunshine on Saturday, qualifying around the 1.2-mile circuit proved to be a record-breaking affair as Turkington stormed to pole position, leading a West Surrey Racing 1-2-3. 

At the wheel of his BMW 330e M Sport, the four-time champion set a blistering time of 47.539 to clinch top spot ahead of his team-mates Jake Hill and Stephen Jelley. Adam Morgan made it four BMWs on the front two rows whilst Tom Ingram rounded out the top five – despite having no hybrid deployment available. 

Teams and drivers were greeted by overcast on Sunday with the heavens ultimately opening prior to race one. With a majority of the grid opting to go for wet weather tyres, Turkington held the lead in the early stages as he tip-toed his way round the first few laps, with Hill hot on his heels.

As the race progressed, Rich Energy with BTC Racing’s Cook soon became the driver to watch as he charged to the front of the field in his Honda Civic Type R. Making a number of moves at Paddock Hill Bend, Cook took the lead on lap 17 and didn’t look back – going on to claim his first win of the season.

Ingram produced a superlative performance to finish second whilst Dan Cammish enjoyed an under the radar drive to finish third, clinching his first piece of silverware with NAPA Racing UK.

Race two would see Cook double his tally for the day after he withstood a torrent of attacks. Hill would be the first to challenge the Honda ace before Cammish then staged a late charge however neither of them could unseat the wily campaigner from top spot.

Cammish would settle for second whilst Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Rory Butcher rounded out the podium in his rapid Corolla.

Having started the day at the front of the field, Turkington ended his weekend on a high as he clinched his first win of the season. Lining up third virtue of the reverse grid draw, the Team BMW driver wasted no time in moving into the lead and from there, he controlled proceedings until the end. 

Hill made it a BMW 1-2 as he shadowed his stablemate to the finish whilst Bobby Thompson bagged his maiden podium in the series after guiding his Team HARD. Cupra to third place; which in-turn netted him Jack Sears Trophy honours for a second successive event.

Leaving Brands Hatch it is Ingram that remains at the summit of the BTCC Drivers’ Championship, eight points ahead of Cook who has moved up to second. 

Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com lead both the BTCC Manufacturer-Constructors Championship and the BTCC Teams’ Championship whilst Cook and Rich Energy with BTC Racing do the same in the Independent rankings.

To view the full classification of results from the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, click here. 

Thruxton Circuit provides the next stop on the calendar with Rounds 7, 8 & 9 set t take place on May 28/29.