Author: Chris Ashby

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship has announced that its new-for-2022 hybrid system will likely makes its race debut at Silverstone on September 25/26.

Driven by 2013 champion Andrew Jordan – who will compete in the series for the first time since the 2019 finale – the Toyota Corolla will take part in both free practice sessions, qualifying and all three races.

As such, the outing will mark the maiden event for the new 2022 customer TOCA engine – developed by M-Sport – which has been run in the hybrid car throughout its testing programme this year.

Jordan is no stranger to the car having conducted a majority of the testing behind the wheel. Although scheduled to compete in all six sessions, the car will take each start from the pit-lane at Silverstone so as not to interfere with the ongoing championship.

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “It’s not set in stone – it depends on how we’re getting along in the development cycle, but the plan is to run at Silverstone in free practice, qualifying and the three races.

“It will be invisible as far as points go; it will qualify, but wherever it qualifies it won’t start there. It’s more of a demonstration than a race – it won’t get involved in any dicing with anyone else.

“Competing at our Silverstone event is part of its full development cycle; although the hybrid components and engine have done far in excess of a seasons worth of running, we want it to also go through a normal race weekend procedure.

“So whilst it won’t get involved in any real dicing with other cars, it’s important that our fans and partners have the opportunity of seeing the hybrid car in action ahead of 2022.”

Daniel Rowbottom, Rory Butcher and Senna Proctor scored a win apiece during what was an action-packed fourth Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship event of the season at Oulton Park this past weekend (July 31/August 1).

The trio emerged as the leading lights from a truncated meeting as they became the latest winners this year, taking the number of different victors to nine from 12 races.

Prior to triumphing in race three, Proctor signalled his intent during an ultra-competitive qualifying session on Saturday as he stormed to a career-first pole position in his Honda Civic Type R.

Unfortunately, the BTC Racing driver couldn’t convert his front row start into victory as he was swamped by the Halfords Racing with Cataclean duo of Gordon Shedden and Rowbottom, amongst others, as the lights went out for the opening contest.

Shedden and Rowbottom went on to control proceedings until the red flag was brought out following a multi-car incident involving Tom Oliphant, Chris Smiley and Rick Parfitt at mid-distance.

On the restart, Rowbottom made the better start to take the lead and produce a superlative drive during the six-lap shootout to claim his first-ever win in Britain’s premier motorsport series. Shedden made it a Team Dynamics 1-2 whilst Adam Morgan rounded out the podium in his BMW.

Race two would see Toyota Gazoo Racing UK’s Butcher come to the fore as he claimed a commanding victory in his Corolla. Hitting the front on the first lap, the Scotsman soon put daylight between himself and the rest of the field to comfortably streak home.

Behind, Rowbottom delivered another sensational drive – despite being ladened with 66kgs of ballast – to fend off the race-long charge of Morgan as they finished second and third respectively.

Proctor eventually took the result his pace had deserved in race three as he dominated a truncated reverse grid encounter, upon which he had been drawn onto pole position for.

Drama ensued immediately – a theme that ran throughout the weekend – when the race was red flagged on the first of two occasions, with the latter incident ending the race early.

A number of drivers found themselves in strife as Sam Osborne pirouetted down Cascades and sent many into the gravel trap and needing recovering. Following a lengthy red flag period, the action proved to be just as dramatic on the restart.

Reigning champion Ashley Sutton was sent spinning coming out of turn one as he fought for the lead and despite recovering, further contact at Cascades ended his race on the spot.

When the dust settled, Proctor remained out front and began to build up a comfortable lead over the chasing Stephen Jelley and Shedden before the red flag ended the race early after an incident between Butcher and Carl Boardley.

At the end of a blockbuster weekend at Oulton Park, Sutton remains at the summit of the BTCC Drivers’ Championship with Ingram and the emerging Rowbottom his nearest challengers.

Sutton continues to lead the Independent Drivers’ too whilst Laser Tools Racing control the Teams’ and Independent Teams’ categories. BMW head up the Manufacturer standings, with Rowbottom the runaway leader in the Jack Sears Trophy.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship now heads north of the border to Knockhill on August 14/15 for Rounds 13, 14 and 15.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship blasts back into action at Oulton Park this weekend (July 31/August 1) and the annual visit to Cheshire will mark a major milestone as the series’ first sizeable attendance flock trackside.

Coming off the back of a five-week summer break, Britain’s premier motorsport series is set to return to its brilliant best as it welcomes an unrestricted number of spectators through the gates for the first time since the 2019 season finale at Brands Hatch.

Whilst spectators soaked up the action in June in restricted numbers, this weekend’s fourth event of the campaign will undoubtedly be special for a variety of reasons.

Those attending will have plenty to be excited about too with the ultra-competitive battle for supremacy at the summit of the standings set to continue around the tight and twisting Island layout.

Reigning champion Ashley Sutton currently edges proceedings as he aims to clinch a third crown. The Laser Tools Racing driver has been one of the categories leading lights so far with two wins and points in every race being the backbone of his charge.

Trailing Sutton by three points is Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com ace Tom Ingram. Making the switch to Hyundai has proven to be an inspired move for Ingram who has chalked up two wins and he has a wave of momentum on his side currently.

Josh Cook is another double winner, doing so at the Thruxton season-opener, and he arrives at Oulton sitting third in the points ahead of four-time champion Colin Turkington and the hugely impressive Jake Hill.

Team BMW’s Tom Oliphant enjoyed a dream weekend last time out at Brands Hatch, netting his first win of the year, and he will be keen for more success as he bids to make home advantage count in his rear-wheel-drive machine.

Another driver to have impressed so far has been the Daniel Rowbottom in the Halfords Racing with Cataclean Honda Civic Type R. Powering to a first pole and podium last month, Rowbottom has emerged as serial front-runner and will be eager to net a maiden win.

Jason Plato, Jack Goff and Rory Butcher round out the top ten in the points and having enjoyed varying top results, they will all be eyeing another visit to the podium.

Other notable drivers to look out for across Rounds 10, 11 & 12 include Brands Hatch winner Adam Morgan, triple champion Gordon Shedden, Aiden Moffat, Daniel Lloyd and Stephen Jelley – amongst a number of others.

To find out more information on this weekend’s event at Oulton Park, including links to live timing and the timetable, CLICK HERE.

Coverage for this weekend will see Saturday qualifying aired on www.itv.com/btcc at 15:00 before Sunday’s race day broadcast will be on ITV4 from 11:50.