The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship undertook an extensive pre-season test at the British Automobile Racing Club owned Croft Circuit in Yorkshire earlier this week (1/2 April) with most of the 2025 challengers in attendance to gain vital mileage and data ahead of the eagerly anticipated season.

The first official pre-season test at Croft was to be an important two days to showcase the reliability of the 2025 machines, and give the fans a potential early form guide as to who to look out for this season. According to BTCC data, 2,800 laps and nearly 6,000 miles were covered across the two days, with glorious sunshine providing plenty of dry running for the teams in North Yorkshire.

BTCC Rookie Max Hall starred on the opening day, as the young driver produced a stunning lap in his Un-Limited Motorsport Cupra Leon. Hall, who graduated out of the BARC supported Verti MINI Challenge, set the benchmark in the second session. The time which was under the BTCC lap record remained unbeaten until the final hour of the last day when Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing’s Mikey Doble leapt to the top of the timesheets with a 1:20.391s which is well over half a second quicker than the existing qualifying lap record.

NAPA Racing UK’s Dan Cammish is a dark horse for a title tilt this season and was at the sharp end during both days – eventually ending up third overall, whilst reigning champion Jake Hill was fourth in his Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport BMW.

Hill’s new West Surrey Racing team-mate – Daryl DeLeon – left it late, as the young charger claimed fifth in the final moments of the two-day test – just pipping a happy former champion Tom Ingram in sixth.

Four-time Champion Ash Sutton was the first driver to dip under the current qualifying lap record on Tuesday, before that time became dated quite quickly, thanks in part to the glorious early spring weather. Sutton, who is eyeing a record breaking fifth title, eventually had to settle for seventh overall.

Returning three-time champion Gordon Shedden was immediately on the pace as the flying Scotsman bagged eighth in his first outing in his new TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK Corolla, whilst LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR’s Charles Rainford and One Motorsport’s Josh Cook rounded out the top ten.

Speaking to BTCC – Mikey Doble, Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing, said: “We have had a fantastic first couple of days to kick off our pre-season testing programme. The car felt amazing, and the team’s hard work in development over the off-season is now shining through. I can’t wait to get back out in the car for Season Launch at Donington in a couple of weeks.”

The BTCC has one further official test day at Donington Park on the 15th April before returning to the Leicestershire venue on the weekend of the 26/27 April for the opening three rounds of the series.