Author: Chris Ashby

Tom Ingram admitted that clinching a maiden Kwik British Touring Car Championship title at Brands Hatch last weekend (October 8/9) as a ‘lifelong dream come true’.

Having previously missed out on the coveted crown on a number of occasions, the Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com driver produced a flawless performance at the Kent to come out on top of a thrilling four-way battle for outright honours.

Ingram went into the final weekend of the season sitting third in the points but pole position in Saturday’s qualifying session put him in the pound seat for race day in front of a packed trackside crowd. 

Converting pole into a brace of lights-to-flag victories in the opening two races, the 29-year-old went into last race with an 11-point advantage where a fine drive to fifth place was enough see him crowned champion.

Commenting on his title success, Ingram said: “I can’t believe it – this is a lifelong dream come true. I’ve been thinking about this moment for literally my entire life. The BTCC is what I always wanted to do. It’s what I always wanted to win. I’ve had a few years of coming into the finale with a chance and it not quite working out, so I honestly can’t put into words what this means and what an incredible feeling it is.

“I felt so relaxed going into the weekend, really chilled and actually more excited than anything else. I also knew I would need to attack – this was not the time to be ‘pointsy’ – and in all my years of driving around in circles, I’ve maybe only once before had a car as good as the Hyundai was at Brands Hatch.

“I said at the start of the weekend that after coming so close on so many occasions, I really didn’t want to be the bridesmaid anymore and it’s insane to think we’ve finally done it. I’ve got an absolutely fantastic team around me at Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com – they’ve worked tirelessly all year to make this happen, and this title is as much theirs as it is mine.

“I honestly cannot thank every single person who has helped me along this journey enough. I fell in love with the BTCC when I was just five-years-old, and when you’ve devoted your whole life to something, as my family and I have done… I simply don’t have the words. This isn’t going to sink in for quite some time.”

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship returns in 2023, with Donington Park providing the backdrop for the season-opener on April 22/23.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship brought the curtain down on its 2022 season at Brands Hatch this past weekend (October 8/9) with Bristol Street Motors with TradePriceCars.com’s Tom Ingram being crowned champion for the first time ever. 

On what proved to be one of the most thrilling finales in the series’ illustrious history, the Hyundai i30N driver produced a flawless performance in front of a bumper crowd to overturn a seven-point deficit and write his name into the history books.

After being in contention for six successive seasons, the 29-year-old finally secured the most coveted prize in UK motorsport with pole position, two victories and a fifth place around the world-famous Grand Prix layout of the Kent circuit. 

Outgoing champion Ashley Sutton settled for runners-up laurels whilst Jake Hill, Colin Turkington and Rory Butcher rounded out the top five in the standings. 

NAPA Racing UK clinched the Teams’ Championship whilst BMW wrapped up the Manufacturer-Constructor Championship for a record-extending seventh consecutive year. 

Josh Cook claimed the Independent Drivers’ Championship for the first time whilst also helping Rich Energy BTC Racing do the same in the Independent Teams’ Championship. Bobby Thompson was the final champion to be crowned after he edged out George Gamble to lift the Jack Sears Trophy. 

Ingram’s pursuit of the title began during Saturday’s final qualifying session of the season where he obliterated the lap record to take pole position ahead of Butcher and Sutton. 

Lining up on the front row for the first of Sunday’s three bouts, the front-wheel-drive ace made a perfect getaway and despite having to deal with two safety car restarts, he didn’t put a wheel wrong to clinch a pivotal win which vaulted him to the standings summit.

Behind, Butcher held firm in second whilst Hill came out on top of an almighty battle for third which saw Sutton – who was suffering from a turbo failure – and Turkington firmly in the thick of the action. 

Race two saw Ingram extend his lead in the points and with it, take a giant leap towards what would be maiden crown, as he made it two out of two. Despite having to contend with immense pressure from Hill, the front-wheel-drive ace was perfection personified in his way to his fifth win of the season.

That result set up a three-way showdown heading into the final race of the season, with Ingram leading Hill by 11 points and Sutton a further three in arrears. 

Starting from tenth virtue of the reverse grid draw – which was made by Jason Plato on what was his final BTCC appearance – Ingram achieved what had been a lifelong dream as he claimed the crown with a superlative drive in the finale.

At the front, Daniel Lloyd ended a rollercoaster season with victory ahead of Cook and Butcher however it was the battle for fourth that had everyone’s attention. Sutton, Hill and Ingram ran nose-to-tail in the closing stages and following a last lap pass on Hill at Paddock Hill Bend, Ingram shadowed Sutton across the line to wrap up an emotional title victory.

To view the full classification of results from all BTCC sessions at Brands Hatch, as well as the final championship standings, CLICK HERE.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will return in 2023, with the start of brand-new season poised to start at Donington Park on April 22/23.

The 2022 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship is set to go down to the wire at Brands Hatch this weekend (October 8/9) with no less than four drivers in contention to lift the most coveted prize in UK motorsport. 

In what has been another blockbuster season for the BTCC, a gripping showdown is set to play out around the legendary Grand Prix layout of the Kent venue in three highly-anticipated encounters.

Seven points separate the top three – the closest margin since 2011 – and at the top of the pile is reigning champion Ashley Sutton. Aiming to clinch what would be a record-equalling fourth crown, the NAPA Racing UK driver is relishing the prospect of writing another piece of history in his already illustrious career.

“I’m absolutely buzzing and can’t wait to get to Brands Hatch this weekend!” Sutton stated. “If you’d have told me early on in the season that we’d be heading into Finals Day leading then I’d have bit your hand off. 

“Seven points between three of us is nothing; you really couldn’t script it. Anything can and usually does happen at the final round but I’m feeling very comfortable with the situation I’m in as I know the demands that come with the finale, both in and out of the car. 

“I love the Grand Prix circuit and I’m confident the car will be really strong. I’m just ready to go now!”

Sitting second in the standings is ROKiT MB Motorsport’s Jake Hill. Having been one of the standout performers this year, the West Surrey Racing driver enters the weekend riding a wave of momentum and full of confidence he can capture what would be a maiden title.

Looking ahead to the weekend, the BMW driver said: “I’m immensely proud to be in the position I’m in and have the team I have around me. I’ve chipped away during the second half of the season and now we’re within a few points of the top now.

“I’ve got to be open-minded and be prepared for all eventualities, it is the BTCC after all. Qualifying – like it has been all year – is going to be so important. Hopefully we can be up near the front on Saturday and then go from there on Sunday.”

Two points adrift of Hill is the Bristol Street Motors with TradePriceCars.com entry of Tom Ingram. Making history by becoming the first race-winner of the hybrid era, the Hyundai i30N racer has been a force to be reckoned with throughout the year and heading into the weekend, he’s feeling relaxed. 

“I feel really well placed and excited going into the weekend,” Ingram said. “I’ll be going there off the back of a win and with a decent amount of hybrid too. I’ve been in the position of going into the finale in contention before so it’s nice and familiar.

“There’s seven points with three races to go – I don’t know a year like it. This is going to the last lap of the last race. I don’t think you can rule any of us out from lifting that title come Sunday night.”

Colin Turkington is the fourth and final driver to enter the weekend with a mathematical chance of being crowned BTCC champion for what would be a record-breaking fifth time. 

After enduring a frustrating three races at Silverstone last month, the Team BMW trails Sutton by 27 points and the contender with the most to do – however he can’t be discounted at all. 

“I’ve got to just get my head down and make the most of what I’ve got,” Turkington stated.  “At this stage that’s a chance at winning, but that’s all I need to keep me focused on delivering my best.

“The strategy for me as 4th in the standings is really simple – drive as hard and as fast as I can – let’s aim towards the 67 points and see where it gets me.  I’ve got nothing to lose!”

With a total of 67 points on offer across the weekend at Brands Hatch, the battle for supremacy is likely to throw up plenty of thrills and spills; and go all the way to the 30th and final round of the campaign. 

It won’t just be the BTCC Drivers’ Championship that will be settled either as champions will be crowned in the BTCC Teams’, Manufacturer/Constructors’, Independent Drivers’, Independent Teams’ Championship’s, as well as the Jack Sears Trophy.

To find out more information on this weekend’s season finale, CLICK HERE.

British Touring Car Championship Chief Executive Alan Gow has reiterated plans for a significant new junior series to join the TOCA package from the 2024 season onwards.

Following confirmation that Ginetta will switch across to the British GT support bill on a full-time basis next year, a vacancy on the bill of the country’s most high-profile motorsport package has been left.

Despite only planning to fill one slot for the 2023 season in order to alleviate some stress on the timetable, Gow has confirmed that he aims to bring a top-level junior championship to the TOCA stable for 2024.

“We want to introduce a top-level junior series to the TOCA package from 2024 onwards,” said Gow. “I should note that we are not talking about an already existing series. We are looking for something fresh, new and exciting to bring to the most popular and high-profile motorsport package in the UK.

“Not only will this be fantastic news for the tens of thousands of fans trackside and the millions more watching on our live ITV network coverage, but I strongly believe this is an important step and a vital injection for the racing pyramid in this country and beyond.

“Young drivers – and indeed their teams, sponsors and all stakeholders – who are looking to reach the pinnacle of their respective fields really do need to flourish and develop within a high-profile environment and only the BTCC support race package provides the kind of season-long exposure that developing drivers should have.

“The process has already begun and whether this championship comes entirely from a third-party manufacturer or organisation, or indeed whether TOCA plays a role in the introduction of a new series, is yet to be determined. Although the end result is quite simple; I want to have the best junior series that this country can produce, in order to help develop and generate our finest and most complete drivers for the future.

“We will obviously carefully assess any applications for a new junior series from 2024 and award the slot to the most appropriate and impressive – it’s a fantastic opportunity for the development of junior drivers in the UK and one we’re all excited about.”

“The emails keep arriving ,” Gow concluded. “With regard to the full support series for 2023, we will only be filling one slot so as to take some strain off our race weekend timetables.

“We will take this opportunity to have different guest series’ joining the bill during the course of the 2023 season. So, it will likely be two, three or even four different championships filling the vacant slots at various times during the year, which will provide more variety for the fan base as well as giving those championships unprecedented levels of exposure.”

The chosen series’ will join Porsche Carrera Cup GB, British Formula 4 and the MINI Challenge on the BTCC support bill and any further announcement will be made by TOCA in due course.