Tag: BTCC

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.

Four drivers will head into the final three races of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season in contention to be crowned champion next month following an action-packed weekend (September 24/25) at Silverstone. 

Brands Hatch will provide the setting for the 2022 finale in less than two weeks’ time and it will see Ashley Sutton, Jake Hill, Tom Ingram and Colin Turkington all arrive with a mathematical shot at lifting the biggest prize in UK motorsport – with a maximum of 67 points set to be on offer at the famous Kent venue.

The penultimate event of the season at Silverstone saw its fair share of thrills and spills as both Hill and Ingram, along with Rory Butcher, enjoyed a share of the spoils around the 1.64-mile National circuit.

Qualifying at the Home of British Motor Racing on Saturday underlined how competitive the BTCC currently is with no less than 26 drivers being covered by less than second. At the top of the times, nobody could stop Toyota Gazoo Racing UK’s Butcher as he clinched pole position by the narrowest of margins. 

Just 0.037s separated the Scotsman and title contender Hill, who secured his sixth front-row start of the season. Hot on their heels was the duo of Adam Morgan and Ingram who locked out row two whilst Dan Cammish completed the top five.

Butcher converted his front-row start into a superb first win of the season in the opening contest after he soaked up immense pressure from the BMW duo of Hill and Morgan. Storming clear in the early running, the Toyota man was forced to deal with a safety car period but he ultimately didn’t put a wheel wrong to triumph. 

Further back, action was rife throughout the field with the likes of Ingram, Sutton, Cammish and Gordon Shedden in the midst of many wheel-to-wheel battles. Notably, Turkington endured a torrid time as a spin and further contact saw him non-score. 

Race two saw Hill stamp his authority on proceedings with a commanding victory. In what was a carbon copy of the day’s earlier bout, the MB Motorsport driver shadowed Butcher up until mid-distance before, after a brief safety car period, he hit the front following a fine move at Copse. 

Once out front, the rear-wheel-drive ace got his head down and pulled clear of the chasing pack, which was led by Butcher and three-time champion Shedden. Title rivals Sutton and Ingram rounded out the top five after a captivating cat-and-mouse battle down the three long straights of Silverstone.

The weekend’s third and final race saw Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com’s Ingram come to the fore as he cruised to a comfortable victory. Starting fourth, the Hyundai driver was in the right place at the right time as drama kicked off in front of him on lap one, with Morgan, Cammish and Josh Cook all in strife.

Despite having to contend with several safety car periods, Ingram remained relatively unchallenged out front to clinch his fourth victory of the season ahead of series leader Sutton and race one winner Butcher. 

With just one final race meeting left to run, Sutton holds a slender five-point lead at the summit of the Drivers’ Championship over Hill, with Ingram a further two markers adrift. Four-time champion Turkington will head into the event with the most ground to make up as he trails Sutton by 27 points.

Cook has provisionally wrapped up the Independent Drivers’ Championship whilst Rich Energy BTC Racing have edged closer to clinching the Independent Teams’ crown. 

BMW remain on course to win a seventh successive Manufacturer-Constructor title however they will need things to fall their way if they want to lift the Teams’ Championship, as NAPA Racing UK hold a commanding lead. 

In the Jack Sears Trophy, Bobby Thompson sits on the cusp of lifting the coveted title as he holds a 49-point lead over George Gamble in the category. 

To view the full classification of results from all BTCC sessions at Silverstone, CLICK HERE.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will bring the curtain down on its 2022 season on October 8/9, with three races scheduled to play out around the Grand Prix layout of Brands Hatch.

Dan Cammish, Ash Sutton and Josh Cook scored victory on what proved to be a blockbuster race day in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Thruxton this past weekend (August 27/28) to set up what promises to be a grandstand finish to the season.

Entering the business end of the 2022 campaign, the UK’s premier motor sport series put on  a show around the fastest circuit in the country for the bumper crowd that had flocked trackside. 

With every point proving to be crucial in deciding the destiny of the title, the battle for pole position in qualifying was as important as ever on Saturday afternoon; with NAPA Racing UK’s Cammish ultimately claiming bragging rights by a mere 0.017s.

Leaving it late in the session, Cammish powered his Ford Focus ST to the top of the times to pip Thruxton specialist Cook, who had held provisional pole for a majority of qualifying. Title contenders Jake Hill and Sutton locked out the second row whist Gordon Shedden rounded out the top five.

Cammish cruised to a commanding lights-to-flag victory in the opening contest whilst drama kicked off behind him. Sailing off into the distance as soon as the lights went out, contact between three of the chasing pack had everyone on the edge of their seats. 

Hill, Sutton and Cook came to blows through the Complex however they all emerged unscathed, although the latter was sent plummeting down the field. As the dust settled, Shedden picked his way through to second with Sutton hot on his heels in third; that would be where they’d finish. 

Race two saw NAPA Racing UK’s dream day continue as they recorded their first-ever 1-2 finish, with Sutton marking his 200th race in the BTCC with victory. 

Like he had done earlier in the day, Cammish dominated proceedings and had looked on-course to double his tally before the team made the decision to let Sutton through with two laps to go, allowing him to secure those extra few points in the fight for the title.

After dropping to third on the opening lap, Shedden – who in-turn was celebrating his 400th start in the series – enjoyed a relatively trouble-free run to third whilst Hill was fourth once again.

The third and final race of the weekend saw the ‘King of Thruxton’ Cook charge to a tenth career victory around the circuit. Starting fourth, the Rich Energy BTC Racing driver produced a superb opening two laps to fight his way to the front.

Once there, the Honda Civic Type R racer punched in a string of scintillating laps to pull clear of the chasing pack which was led by four-time champion Turkington. Cook would ultimately romp to a comfortable victory ahead the Northern Irishman and his BMW team-mate Stephen Jelley, who rounded out the rostrum.

Just two events and six races now remain in the 2022 season with Turkington sitting at the summit of the BTCC Drivers’ Championship. Elsewhere, Team BMW lead the way in the BTCC Teams’ Championship standings. 

Cook and Rich Energy BTC Racing continue to top the Independent Drivers’ and Independent Teams’ categories, with BMW setting the pace on the Manufacturer-Constructors’ leaderboard. In the Jack Sears Trophy, Bobby Thompson remains out front having further extended his lead. 

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

The penultimate event of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will see Rounds 25, 26 & 27 play out around the Home of British Motor Racing, Silverstone, on September 24/25.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship returns to Thruxton this weekend (August 27/28) for three blockbuster races that could prove pivotal in deciding who walks away as champion come the end of the season.

Now on the home stretch of what has been an action-packed campaign, the UK’s premier motor sport series returns to the fastest circuit in the country for the second time in 2022 and it’s all very much still to play for. 

Team BMW’s Colin Turkington arrives in Hampshire as the driver they’re all vying to catch after enjoying a weekend to remember last time out at Snetterton. Pole position, two wins and two fastest laps allowed the four-time champion to open up a 15-point advantage over his rivals.

Having seemingly found his groove in recent rounds, the Northern Irishman will be keen to extend his lead this weekend, however he’ll be well aware he needs to be at his brilliant best as a long list of contenders are hot on his heels. 

Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com’s Tom Ingram leads the chase for Turkington ahead of Jake Hill and reigning champion Ash Sutton; all three of them having been in fine form since the get-go – in particular since the turn of the summer.

Back in May Rich Energy BTC Racing’s Josh Cook made history as he became the most successful ever driver at Thruxton in the BTCC, winning for the eighth and ninth time. The Bath racer left with the championship lead but he now returns sitting fifth, 72 points shy of Turkington.

Engine performance has hampered the Honda Civic Type R driver recently however if there was anywhere Cook would want to get things back on-track then his home circuit Thruxton would undoubtedly be his first pick.

Other drivers that will be banking on local support include Toyota Gazoo Racing UK’s Ricky Collard and Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com’s Jack Butel. Collard will be keen to make his mark after he came oh-so close to a podium two weeks ago. 

Jason Plato moved to the county in recent years so Thruxton can be regarded as his local track during what is being touted as his final season in the series. At Snetterton, the double champion showed his class as he clinched a podium in what was his 650th BTCC race. 

Headline names continue to roll off the tongue as you look further down the championship standings with Rory Butcher, three-time champion Gordon Shedden, Daniel Lloyd, Adam Morgan and Stephen Jelley rounding out the top ten.

Throw into the mix the likes of Dan Cammish, Dan Rowbottom, George Gamble and Bobby Thompson, amongst many others, and you begin to see why the BTCC continues to be as competitive as ever.

As always it won’t just be the BTCC that takes centre stage over the course of the weekend, with a bumper supporting cast revved up and ready to dazzle the thousands of fans that are expected to flock trackside.

The Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship, ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA, Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup, Quaife MINI CHALLENGE Trophy and Porsche Carrera Cup GB will all be in action and putting on a show.

Away from the on-track entertainment there will be plenty to see and do around the venue with a bustling trade village, supercar display, skid pan rides, food stalls, live music, mini karts, face painting and an interactive kids show, all providing fun for all the family.

Fans will also be able to meet the stars and their cars of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship during the Pit Lane Autograph Session on Sunday morning between 10:00 – 10:30. 

Tickets for this weekend’s spectacle are available to purchase on the main gate across both days with children 12 and under admitted for free when accompanied by a paying adult. Programmes and FM receivers will also be on-sale at vendors around the venue.

The battle for supremacy in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship reached boiling point – much like the weather – at Snetterton this past weekend (August 13/14) as Colin Turkington and Ashley Sutton charged to victory. 

On what proved to be a scorching seventh event of the season at Norfolk track, Turkington – who was celebrating his 500th BTCC start on Sunday – stamped his authority on the title fight with a dominant double before reigning champion Sutton struck back in race three.

Qualifying on Saturday arguably belonged to West Surrey Racing as Turkington led home a front-row BMW lockout, snatching pole position from team-mate Jake Hill in the latter stages.

The four-time champion lit up the timesheets in the closing minutes to edge out Hill, who had been on course to improve his time before catching traffic at Coram. Tom Ingram netted third whilst Stephen Jelly and Adam Morgan rounded out the top five.

Race one on Sunday saw Turkington keep stablemate Hill at bay to claim a commanding lights-to-flag victory. Holding the lead off the line, the Northern Irishman was never headed despite having to deal with two safety car periods and Hill, who was threatening to make a move throughout the contest.

Ingram remained within striking distance of the top two however the Hyundai man was never able to launch a proper attack and ultimately settled for third place. 

Turkington and Hill then produced a carbon copy performance in the second encounter. Blasting off the line, the BMW duo ran side-by-side for much of the opening lap before the pole sitter pulled clear as they filed through Brundle and Nelson.

Once out front Turkington didn’t put a wheel wrong to lead home the second successive WSR 1-2 of the day, with Ingram once again completing the podium in third. 

NAPA Racing UK’s Sutton then came to the fore in the reverse grid encounter as he scored his second win in as many race weekends. Drawn onto pole position after two ninth place finishes earlier in the day, the Ford Focus ST driver fought back from a sluggish start to dominate proceedings.

Behind, Jason Plato marked his 650th series start with a welcome return to the podium. The double title winner dispatched Dan Rowbottom early on and from there enjoyed a trouble-free run to the flag to clinch this first podium of the season.

The final spot on the rostrum had everyone on the edge of their seats as Ricky Collard and Ingram went door-to-door on the final lap. Collard would prevail on the road however he would later be hit with a one-second time penalty for an incident, promoting Ingram up a position to give him a hat-trick of third-place drives.

With three events remaining, Turkington holds the advantage at the summit of the BTCC Drivers’ Championship whilst Team BMW lead the way in the BTCC Teams’ Championship standings. 

Josh Cook and Rich Energy BTC Racing continue to top the Independent Drivers’ and Independent Teams’ categories, with BMW setting the pace on the Manufacturer-Constructors’ leaderboard. In the Jack Sears Trophy, Bobby Thompson remains out front. 

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Snetterton, CLICK HERE.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship continues in less than two weeks’ time as Rounds 22, 23 & 24 take place at Thruxton on August 27/28.

Tickets for the series’ second visit to the fastest circuit in the UK are available to purchase at advance prices via https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/btcc-august. 

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship blasted back into life in spectacular fashion at Knockhill this past weekend (July 30/31) as Jake Hill, Ashley Sutton and George Gamble each scored victory.

Kicking off the second half of the season with its annual trip north of the border, the UK’s premier motor sport series served up three pulsating races for the bumper crowd that had flocked trackside. 

As expected, qualifying proved to be an ultra-competitive affair with the top 24 being covered by less than a second. At the top of the times, ROKiT MB Motorsport’s Hill proved to be the benchmark as he secured his second pole position of the season in style.

The BMW driver punched in no fewer than three laps that were quicker than all of his rivals and under the existing race lap record to clinch top spot. Reigning champion Ash Sutton meanwhile hauled his Ford Focus onto the front row ahead of a quartet of rear-wheel-drive cars.

Race one proved to be a modern-day classic as Hill got the better of Sutton to clinch his second win of the year. Holding the lead off the line, Hill held on for much of the opening tour before Sutton made a stunning move around the outside of Duffus Dip to take the lead.

Inseparable throughout the opening exchanges, Hill ramped up his pursuit of the three-time title winner and made a move stick for first approaching mid-distance. Once out front there was no stopping the WSR man as he pulled clear to win ahead of Sutton and Colin Turkington. 

Sutton wasn’t to be denied his first win of the season in a pulsating second contest. In a repeat of the day’s earlier race, the NAPA Racing UK driver filled the mirrors of Hill in the early exchanges and charged past on lap five exiting the chicane as the race one victor made a slight mistake.

Once out front the 28-year-old was pinpoint perfect, withstanding waves of pressure from both Hill and Turkington to secure his maiden win in the hybrid era. 

Former two-time champion John Cleland drew Gamble onto pole for the reverse grid bout, a race that had everyone in attendance on the edge of their seats once again.

Getting a perfect launch as the lights went out, the Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport driver didn’t put a wheel wrong for the entirety of the 24-lap contest to claim his first-ever win in the BTCC.

Behind, Butcher – who launched an early challenge to Gamble during the opening laps – could do nothing to stop Hill who claimed second however the Scotsman was able to fend off the late advances of Turkington and Sutton to net a podium on home soil. 

Leaving Knockhill, Turkington holds the advantage at the summit of the BTCC Drivers’ Championship whilst Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com lead the way in the BTCC Teams’ Championship standings. 

Josh Cook and Rich Energy BTC Racing continue to top the Independent Drivers’ and Independent Teams’ categories, with BMW setting the pace in the Manufacturer-Constructors’ leaderboard. Gamble’s dream day also saw him to close to within five points of Bobby Thompson in the Jack Sears Trophy.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Knockhill, CLICK HERE.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship continues in less than two weeks’ time as Rounds 19, 20 & 21 take place at Snetterton on August 13/14.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship was back in action this week as a majority of the field took part in the two-day Goodyear Tyre Test at Snetterton.

In scorching conditions, NAPA Racing UK ultimately set the pace around the Norfolk venue with reigning champion Ashley Sutton and team-mate Dan Cammish occupying the top spots on the combined times at the conclusion of running. 

Sutton – who currently sits fourth in the standings at the midpoint in the season – completed a total of 155 laps around the 300 configuration in his Ford Focus ST, more than anyone else.

His best lap came on Wednesday morning where he shaved more than six tenths of a second off the current race lap record, setting a best time of 1:55.121.

“We were selected to do some Goodyear tyre testing,” explained Sutton. “So pretty much our whole day was based around testing out the option tyre and a few other things. I kind of took the limelight away from Dan [Cammish] who had raw pace on the right tyre if I’m honest. We were just running a completely different programme, as requested by Goodyear.

“We still made good progress with the car over the two days. We feel like we’ve had a lot of potential and that potential seemed to be showing in Dan’s pace too, but I’m pleased with the two-day tyre test and am looking forward to going to Knockhill and trying out some of the things we’ve learnt.”

Cammish finished a mere 0.015 seconds behind the three-time champion whilst Jake Hill, current series leader Tom Ingram and Gordon Shedden – the pace-setter throughout Tuesday – rounded out the top five. 

Toyota’s Ricky Collard finished up sixth on the timesheets with Michael Crees, Dan Rowbottom, Jason Plato and Stephen Jelley completed the top ten. 

In total, 30 drivers hit the track over the course of the two days to for over 14 hours of testing, accruing almost 2,500 laps of the 2.97-mile layout. 

Alongside teams and drivers testing various strategies, a selection of drivers also undertook Goodyear’s own testing programme, as the tyre company evaluates making adaptations ahead of next season.

“Snetterton gives us all we need,” said Mickey Butler, Goodyear Motorsport Event Manager. “It’s a mixture of corners, low speed, high speed and great visibility around the track. We can understand where we currently are from previous years’ testing and the data we’ve built up. 

“It works really well for us. Obviously, we’re in the new hybrid world and we’re still developing our understanding of that, like everybody else, and then also adapt a new tyre for 2023 to make the racing even more exciting.”

To view the full classification of times from the BTCC Goodyear Tyre Test at Snetterton, CLICK HERE. 

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship recommences on July 30/31 when the series makes its annual trip north of the border to Knockhill for Rounds 16, 17 & 18. 

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship series organiser, TOCA, has confirmed that Technical Director Peter Riches will retire from the position at the end of the 2022 campaign. 

Having enjoyed an illustrious career in Britain’s premier motorsport series which has spanned four decades, Peter’s expertise have been paramount in relation to the technical developments the championship has made over the years. 

Come the end of the year, he will have worked at more than 320 race events, 820 races and 30 seasons. 

While throughout 2023 Peter will be retained as a consultant in order to assist the TOCA Technical team, his retirement will see Sam Riches step into the role, having also worked within the BTCC for more than 20 seasons himself, importantly providing a seamless transition moving forwards.

“This is something we’ve been preparing for, and I feel ready to retire, the world is so different now to where we started,” said Peter. “I had a set of scales in the pit lane and a boost control system and that was it basically, and now we’ve got a 40-foot trailer full of kit, the world has moved on!

“[As a consultant] next year, I’ll be in more of a guiding role, maintaining the things we’ve done in the past and ensuring the wheel doesn’t get reinvented and become square in order to have a smooth transition. What we don’t want to do is change the direction we’ve been going in, so my knowledge will still be there if required.”

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, added: “Peter’s retirement will mark a significant change for the championship but I’m confident that it will be a successful transition as Sam takes the reins. 

“Having been an integral part of the BTCC since 1993, Peter’s departure will be felt throughout the TOCA paddock, but we’re pleased to be retaining his services as a consultant throughout the 2023 season and wish him all the best in his retirement.”

Daniel Lloyd enjoyed a day to remember in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship this past weekend (June 25/26) as the home hero produced a dominant double at Croft Circuit. 

Marking the halfway point in what has been an action-packed 2022 season so far, a bumper crowd flocked to the North Yorkshire venue to witness the Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com driver bounce back from his Oulton Park crash to win races one and two. 

Gordon Shedden signed off the weekend in style with victory in race three, with Lloyd’s team-mate Tom Ingram now leading the championship standings after scoring a trio of points finishes.

Saturday’s qualifying session saw a brand-new lap record set as the ‘King of Croft’ Colin Turkington lived up to his title to clinch pole position. 

The Team BMW driver – who was driving his 2019 title-winning 3 Series due to the amount of damage his latest car sustained in the aforementioned crash at Oulton Park – reigned supreme in commanding fashion.

Punching in a best time of 1:21.468 late in the session, the four-time champion headed Dan Rowbottom, Lloyd, Tom Ingram and Shedden to clinch a sixth pole at the circuit.

Race one saw Lloyd complete his fairytale turnaround of a crash to silverware as he charged to victory ahead of Turkington after producing a blistering opening lap. 

From third on the grid, the front-wheel-drive ace launched past Rowbottom into Clervaux for the first time and then passed Turkington heading into the Jim Clark Esses. 

Once out front, the Hyundai driver had to contend with two safety car periods and persistent pressure from Turkington but he didn’t put a wheel wrong to charge to a popular victory in front of a bumper home crowd. 

Turkington ultimately settled for second in his 330e M Sport whilst Rowbottom rounded out the podium positions in third. 

Lloyd’s dream day continued in race two as he doubled up with an emphatic lights-to-flag victory. Holding the lead off the line, the Yorkshireman soaked up an abundance of pressure to fend off team-mate Tom Ingram to clinch a third career win.

Despite his best efforts, Turkington found himself glued to the back of a Hyundai once again however he was unable to find a way past, leaving him to settle for third overall.

Halfords Racing with Cataclean’s Gordon Shedden brought the curtain down on the weekend’s action with a commanding victory in the reverse grid encounter, his second triumph of the current campaign. 

Launching his Honda Civic Type R off the front row, the three-time champion built a significant lead on the chasing pack on lap one and from there the Scotsman continued to pull clear to win by more than three seconds. 

The battle for second place had everyone on the edge of their seats as Josh Cook fended off both Rory Butcher and Stephen Jelley from start-to-finish. Cook would go on to clinch second – giving his championship challenge a much-needed boost – whilst Butcher netted third.

Heading into the annual summer break, Ingram holds a three-point advantage over Cook at the top of the BTCC Drivers’ Championship whilst Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com currently lead the way in the BTCC Teams’ Championship. 

Cook and Rich Energy BTC Racing top the standings in both the Independent Drivers’ and Independent Teams’ categories, with BMW setting the pace in the Manufacturer-Constructors’ leaderboard. Bobby Thompson is the driver to beat in the Jack Sears Trophy after five events. 

To view the full classification of results from all BTCC sessions at Croft, CLICK HERE.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship recommences on the weekend of July 30/31, where Rounds 16, 17 and 18 will take place north of the border around Knockhill. 

Tom Ingram and Stephen Jelley shared the spoils on what was an action-packed weekend (June 11/12) in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Oulton Park. 

Ingram was perfection personified as he scored victory in races one and two before Jelley came to the fore in a blockbuster reverse grid contest around the Cheshire venue; however it is Josh Cook that remains at the top of the points. 

One of the most exciting qualifying sessions of the season built towards a breathtaking climax on Saturday, as a number of the BTCC’s big hitters battled for the right to start at the head of the field the following day. 

Despite there being a brief red flag stoppage, nobody could stop Ingram from claiming pole position. At the wheel of his Hyundai i30N, the Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com driver set a best time of 1:25.468 to not only claim top spot but also set a brand new lap record around the 2.22-mile circuit. 

Rory Butcher emerged as the closest challenger to Ingram as he guided his Toyota Corolla to the outside of the front row, whilst Dan Lloyd, Adam Morgan and Ash Sutton rounded out the top five. 

Despite being one of the most successful drivers on the grid, Ingram had never previously scored a podium at Oulton Park; that was until Sunday’s first race where he broke his duck in style.

Defending his lead off the line and through turn one, Ingram soon pulled clear of the chasing pack to score a commanding victory. Behind, Sutton produced a string of sensational overtakes to claim second, with Butcher following him to round out the podium. 

Ingram doubled his win tally for the day as he produced a carbon copy drive in race two. Holding the lead as the lights went out, the Hyundai ace didn’t put a wheel wrong as he chalked up his third win of the year ahead of the ever-consistent Sutton, who finished in second once again.

The battle for the final step on the podium had plenty on the edge of their seats with Butcher initially fending off the charging Colin Turkington. As the laps ticked by, the WSR driver ramped up the pressure on the Scotsman and finally took third at mid-distance.

Team BMW’s Stephen Jelley then scored his first win of the season in an action-packed reverse grid race, delivering a measured drive whilst it all kicked off behind him.

Contact between Lloyd and Ricky Collard sent the former spinning on the run towards Hislops and when he re-entered the track he was collected by Turkington, with a number of others including Ingram and Sutton getting caught up in the incident. Thankfully both Lloyd and Turkington walked away from the incident without injury, just soreness and bruising. 

After a number of laps behind the safety car the race restarted with Jelley breaking clear of Aiden Moffat and Collard, who had been hit with a five-second time penalty for a false start. Cook would become the main beneficiary of Collard’s demise in the end, inheriting third to maintain his series lead.

Approaching the halfway point in the season, Cook holds a 15-point advantage at the summit of the BTCC Drivers’ Championship whilst he and Rich Energy BTC Racing continue to lead the way in the Independent Drivers’ and Teams’ categories.

Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com remain in control of the Teams’ standings, with Motorbase/Ford having now moved into the lead of the Manufacturers’ battle.

Jade Edwards was the winner of the Jack Sears Trophy for the weekend however it is Bobby Thompson that continues to head the standings. 

To view the full classification of results from all BTCC sessions at Oulton Park, CLICK HERE.

Rounds 13, 14 and 15 of the 2022 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will take place at Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire on June 25/26, with tickets currently available to purchase online HERE.

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.