ITV has announced Nicki Shields will lead all coverage of the British Touring Car Championship.

Nicki will make her first show debut at Knockhill on the 17th August, followed by the final three shows of the season. Nicki will continue to be the face of ITV’s BTCC coverage across the whole of next year’s season.

Nicki takes up the role following Steve Rider’s retirement after his illustrious nearly 50 year career, with Oli Bell guest presenting on 3rd August at Croft.

Nicki Shields, said: "I’m absolutely delighted to step into the role of lead presenter for the BTCC. It’s a real honour to follow in the footsteps of Steve Rider, whose remarkable career has made such a lasting impact. I look forward to carrying on his legacy and bringing the energy and passion of this fantastic sport to fans everywhere."

Holden Stein, ITV’s Editor of the British Touring Car Championship, said: “We are delighted that Nicki will be taking the reins of our British Touring Car Championship coverage. Nicki is a tremendous broadcaster and we look forward to welcoming her to the fold for UK audiences to enjoy all the BTCC action, free-to-air, live on ITV4 and ITVX.”

Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said: “We welcome the news that Nicki Shields will present ITV Sport’s BTCC coverage and look forward to her joining us over the coming weeks. Nicki has a wealth of presenting and motorsport experience, and we anticipate a long and successful partnership.”

Team VERTU will hope to kickstart the second half of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship in style this weekend when the series heads for Croft - the home circuit for Gateshead-based title sponsor Vertu - for the sixth meeting of the campaign.

The EXCELR8-run team has scored 16 podium finishes so far this year - including wins at Donington Park, Thruxton and Oulton Park - in what is proving to be another hugely successful campaign, with Tom Ingram currently just ten points off the championship lead.

Adam Morgan and Tom Chilton also sit inside the top ten in the standings, with Senna Proctor currently 15th despite the fact that he only joined the line-up ahead of round four at Thruxton in early June.

Ingram has been one of the form drivers at Croft in recent seasons and has only finished lower than sixth on two occasions since joining forces with the team back in 2021, with four podium finishes on his last three visits.

So far this season, Ingram has been a model of consistency with top four finishes in all bar two races and he will be keen to replicate that form in North Yorkshire to maintain his challenge for a second championship title.

Morgan sits second amongst the Team VERTU drivers in sixth place overall having impressed on his return to front-wheel drive following a four-year stint in BMW machinery.

Having scored three podium finishes so far, Morgan will look to strengthen his position in the standings with more silverware this weekend at the only circuit on the schedule where he has yet to stand on the BTCC podium.

Chilton sits just six points further back in the title race having also bagged three podium finishes in the first half of the season, including a win at Donington Park during round one.

The most experienced driver on the grid is a winner at Croft in the past and set a new BTCC lap record in qualifying last season, showing he has the pace to challenge for top honours again this time round.

Proctor meanwhile had only been set to join the line-up at Croft before a change in plans saw him step into a race seat ahead of schedule, with the multiple race winner picking up six successive top ten finishes on his return to action for the first time since 2021.

On home soil, Proctor will seek to maintain that run of results with his ultimate focus being to try to join his team-mates in making it onto the podium to secure his first silverware of the year.

Qualifying this weekend is scheduled to take place at 15:30 on Saturday and will air live on YouTube, with Sunday’s three races set for 12:10, 14:30 and 17:10.

All three races will be shown on ITV4 and ITVX in the UK and will be available to a global audience on YouTube.

Tom Chilton, #3 Team VERTU Hyundai i30 Fastback N, said: “Croft was a strong circuit for me last season and I’m hoping for more of the same when we return this weekend to kick off the second half of the campaign. It is a real driver’s circuit and one where you need a good car underneath you if you want to be successful.

“The first half of the season had its highs and its lows, but we’re still well placed inside the top ten and I’m looking for three strong results to try and strengthen my position in the standings. A repeat of the win from 2024 is the ultimate target, and I’m confident that we will be in the mix for silverware.”

Senna Proctor, #18 Team VERTU Hyundai i30 Fastback N, said: “Thruxton and Oulton Park proved to be really productive weekends for me before the summer break, and it means I’m in a stronger position than I expected to be going into my home event.

“I’ve had the opportunity to get back up to speed after spending so long away from the series, and I’m pleased with the results we’ve been able to pick up so far - particularly when you consider I’d not tested prior to my first race back.

“The last time I raced a touring car at Croft back in 2021, I managed to finish on the podium and having already gone close in the last two rounds, my target is to try and grab a trophy on home soil.”

Adam Morgan, #33 Team VERTU Hyundai i30 Fastback N, said: “Croft is the only circuit on the BTCC calendar where I’ve not finished on the podium, so it would be great if I could break my duck this weekend. It’s certainly something that is realistic given the pace we have shown so far this season, and I’m heading over to Yorkshire in confident mood.

“From the first meeting of the year I’ve felt comfortable in the Hyundai and we’ve only got stronger as the season has gone on. The car has gone well at Croft with three wins in the last two years, and I see no reason why we can’t hope to show that kind of form again this weekend.”

Tom Ingram, #80 Team VERTU Hyundai i30 Fastback N, said: “It’s been a fantastic season for us so far and we head into the second half of the year in a really strong position, but we can’t afford to rest on our laurels. We have to keep pushing hard as the margins at the front are so tight, and it’s vital that we maximise every race in order to maintain our title challenge.

“Croft this weekend promises to be an interesting place to get things back underway as it’s a circuit where we’ve gone well in the past, having only finished outside the top six twice in four years with the Hyundai.

“The car now is the best it has ever been and I’m confident that we can have a really strong weekend, with my focus firmly on fighting for more trophies - ideally on the top step of the podium.”

Justina Williams, Team VERTU Team Owner, said: “Croft has been a strong for us in recent seasons and is a great place to kick off the second half of the campaign. All of our drivers have shown that they are able to run at the front of the field and we can go into the weekend feeling confident about our chances on track.

“It’s a particularly important weekend for us given its the home event for Vertu, so it would be good to come away from it with some silverware.”

There has been much interest since TOCA – organiser of the BTCC – recently released details of its technical regulations for the next five-year cycle, and the championship has today provided further information and answers to some of the key changes and frequently asked questions…

Continuity of Investment

Will current cars and components remain eligible? - Yes, the current cars continue within their normal homologation cycle. These regulations are an evolution, not a reset – thereby protecting teams’ existing investments in their major componentry through 2031.

Is this the end of NGTC? - No. The NGTC regulations remain as the foundation, but with the expanded flexibility and functionality given within this evolution from 2027.

Vehicle Eligibility

Will teams be able to use any car model from a brand sold globally? - Yes, provided that the brand is sold within the UK through a manufacturer’s normal dealer network and that the vehicle meets the (unchanged) homologation requirements relating to body type/size/minimum quantities produced etc. As well, it must have an internal combustion engine as its primary means of propulsion; so, a hybrid-based vehicle would be eligible, but a pure EV-based vehicle would not.

What is different about this compared to previous regulations? - Previously, only car models sold by a manufacturer within the UK were eligible for competition. Therefore, these regulations now open the door for a wider range of vehicles that meet the requirements, but are not sold in the UK. All other regulations regarding the homologation requirements for the base vehicle remain the same.

Will this lead to more variety on the grid? - That’s the intention. Teams will now have far greater scope in choosing from a larger range of eligible vehicles, whilst spectators may also experience seeing new cars compete for the first time.

Are Estates, Crossovers or SUV type vehicles eligible under the new regulations? - Yes – just as they are currently. The BTCC NGTC regulations have always allowed these types to be eligible, within the normal homologation requirements.

Engine Regulations

Can teams mix and match engines and car models? - Yes. Engines are no longer tied to the car’s original manufacturer. So from 2027, any BTCC-homologated engine can be used in any BTCC-homologated car.

Will engine suppliers be required to support multiple teams? - Yes. An engine supplier must make their homologated engine available to any registered team on their normal commercial terms. However, no engine (except the official TOCA engine) can power more than 50% of the grid. This is to ensure the BTCC teams have a variety of available engines and also prevents the Championship from effectively becoming a ‘single make engine’ formula.

Is the TOCA engine still available to all teams? - Absolutely. Its use remains uncapped, is universally available and is the cornerstone of the BTCC engine regulations.

Cost and Accessibility

Will these changes reduce costs for teams? - Flexibility and availability are the clear objectives, whilst reducing costs is also the goal. By opening-up the engine and car options, both the teams and the engine-builders can further share and amortise development costs as well as avoiding brand-specific limitations.

Are these changes aimed at also attracting new entrants? - Yes. The flexibility is designed to make BTCC more accessible to independent teams and new manufacturers, as well as safeguarding the investment, interest and participation of our existing teams.

Any other major changes? - No. These are the significant changes. The rest of the fundamentals of the highly successful BTCC technical regulations remain unchanged, other than the usual minor tweaks and tidy-ups that happen annually. By keeping the fundamental regulations unchanged, it provides significant asset-protection for both current and future teams right through until at least the end of 2031.

The 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship returns at Croft this weekend (2/3 August) for the first race weekend after the mid-season break. Here’s all the information you need to know to keep up with the action on TV and online for the fifth event of the year, wherever you are in the world…

This weekend’s race day action will feature on the home of the BTCC in the UK, ITV4, from 1130 on Sunday (3 August), while the ITV YouTube Channel will host qualifying on Saturday (2 August) from 1530.

TOCA – organisers of the BTCC – also announced that each race day of the 2025 season – including all support series’ races – will be streamed LIVE around the globe on the BTCC YouTube channel, with the exception of the UK and North America which have existing broadcast arrangements.

Furthermore, the BTCC will be aired LIVE in North America (US and Canada) for the first time ever thanks to a new multi-year agreement with the RACER Network, streaming live and on demand as part of a long-term agreement with the championship.

All 30 races are scheduled to air on the main RACER channel, whilst support series' and extended BTCC highlights will be available to watch via the RACER+ App, the network’s premium motorsports streaming platform. Race 1 will begin at 07:10 Eastern Time (ET) with Race 2 following at 09:30 ET and Race 3 closing out the day’s racing at 12:10 ET.

Click here for the full TV guide for Croft.

As we continue our celebration of 2025’s BTCC winners so far — the Perfect Ten — we now turn to one of the championship’s all-time greats, Gordon Shedden of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA.

The three-time champion returned to winning ways at Oulton Park, taking his first BTCC victory since 2022 and becoming the tenth different winner in just 15 races this season.

Here is how the Scotsman sealed his long-awaited triumph…

Oulton Park – Race 3

Rain showers earlier in the day left the grid on wet tyres for a track that was drying lap by lap, demanding a master’s touch to stay ahead. Starting from pole in his #52 Toyota Corolla, Shedden resisted relentless pressure from Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport’s Jake Hill, with the NAPA Racing UK duo of Dan Rowbottom and Ash Sutton tucked closely behind.

Though he led from lights to flag, it was a true test of defensive driving. Hill looked the biggest threat, shadowing Shedden throughout as the three-time champion kept the pace high despite the tricky conditions.

With just two laps remaining, Hill made a bold attempt at Cascades, but the slippery surface proved unforgiving. His BMW slid wide onto the damp grass and rejoined down the order, giving Shedden the breathing room he needed to seal the deal.

After 52 laps of racing across the day, the man in the #52 machine finally ended a wait of 1,092 days to claim his 53rd BTCC victory. It was also his first since 2022 — a result that felt like the spark of a resurgence for the Scotsman.

Championship Outlook

Currently sitting 16th in the Drivers’ Standings, Shedden has work to do if he’s to climb back into the championship conversation. But with experience, pace, and renewed momentum, the Oulton Park triumph could be the spark that reignites his 2025 campaign.

The season resumes at Croft (2-3 August), where the Scotsman will be aiming to build on his breakthrough and continue his journey back toward the sharp end of the standings.

TOCA has today (31 July) confirmed it has set aside its contract with the organisers of the previously proposed TOCA Junior Championship.

David Beecroft and his organisation were appointed to produce, regulate and manage the new series, with an initial competition start date set for 2025. The championship was later postponed by a further year.

Subsequently TOCA has taken this decision to terminate the contract.

TOCA will now be reviewing expressions of interest for a potential Junior Championship for 2026 onwards.

Max Buxton is set to embark on the biggest moment of his fledgling career this weekend (2-3 August) as he prepares to make his debut in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Croft Circuit.

The 19-year-old - who will become the youngest driver on the current grid when action resumes in North Yorkshire - will see out the remainder of the 2025 season with race-winning outfit TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA.

Firmly established as a rising star in the sport, Buxton’s highly-anticipated graduation to the UK’s premier motorsport series remarkably comes less than 18 months on from his first competitive outing in a race car.

Since then the Lancashire-based racer has enjoyed a meteoric rise which has been typified by his performances in the Vinyl Detail Fiesta ST150 Championship this year; where he claimed four wins and a further two podium finishes from the opening eight races.

Now making the jump up to Speedworks Motorsport and the Toyota Corolla GR Sport, the talented teenager - who recently completed test days at Snetterton and Pembrey - is relishing the prospect of competing in one of the world’s most competitive tin top categories.

Ironically, Buxton’s BTCC bow will come at the same venue that his father Danny - who is now Speedworks’ Head of Motorsport - also made his debut at back in 2003.

Max Buxton: “I’m extremely excited to be making my BTCC debut with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA at Croft this weekend. This is without doubt a dream come true for me so I intend to grab the opportunity with both hands and make the most of it.

“Everyone at Speedworks Motorsport has been very welcoming which has made me feel really at home. Preparations have been going really well and I feel like I’m in a good place heading to Croft.

“I’m under no illusions that this weekend is going to be a huge learning curve but having the expertise of the team, as well as Gordon [Shedden], Aron [Taylor-Smith] and James [Dorlin], is going to be vital in ensuring I’m heading in the right direction.

“I’m keeping my expectations realistic; the aim is to do the best I can and improve in every session. That in-turn will give me the best chance to learn and develop ahead of the remaining rounds, building towards a full campaign in 2026.”

Qualifying at Croft is scheduled to commence at 15:30 on Saturday before the first of three blockbuster BTCC races kicks off at 12:10 on Sunday. Races two and three are timetabled to begin at 14:30 and 17:10 later that afternoon.

As we edge closer to the return of BTCC action at Croft, we continue our celebration of the 2025 campaign’s Perfect Ten race winners — and next up is one of the championship’s most prolific names.

Our ninth victor of the season is none other than the 2022 Champion, Tom Ingram, who secured back-to-back victories at Thruxton and Oulton Park, reminding everyone exactly why he remains a title contender in 2025.

Here’s how the Team VERTU star added to his BTCC legacy…

Thruxton – Race 1

Lining up second on the grid, Ingram wasted no time in launching an early assault on pole-sitter and title rival Ash Sutton. A momentary lead came undone after an overtake under safety car conditions forced the Hyundai i30 N pilot to give the place back.

As the race resumed, Ingram dived around the outside of Sutton into the final chicane. Both championship protagonists overshot the corner, but crucially, it was Ingram who was in front before the off-track excursion. From there, the High Wycombe native held firm under pressure to claim his 34th career BTCC win — moving within one of the all-time top ten.

Oulton Park – Race 1

If Saturday’s qualifying masterclass wasn’t enough, Sunday brought a performance to match.

Blasting off from pole, Ingram was untouchable — building a gap of over five seconds en route to a dominant lights-to-flag victory. The win not only secured his second triumph in as many race weekends but also delivered a new race lap record for the Team VERTU driver.

The result brought him level with the legendary Frank Gardner for tenth in the BTCC’s all-time winners’ list, marking a landmark moment in Ingram’s 12-year career.

Championship Outlook

With two wins and the most podiums of any driver in 2025, Ingram continues to quietly — and effectively — rack up the points in his signature ‘pointsy’ style.

Now just ten points behind four-time Champion Sutton heading into the second half of the season, the #80 will return to action at Croft (2–3 August) as one of the in-form men in the field.

If the first half is anything to go by, the fight for a second crown is well and truly on.

Un-Limited Motorsport has today (28 July) announced the signing of Stephen Jelley for the remainder of the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, joining Dexter Patterson and Nic Hamilton in the team’s three-car lineup.

With approaching 300 BTCC races, four overall victories and 16 podiums to his name, Jelley made his debut in the championship back in 2008. Much of his time behind the wheel in the BTCC has been spent in BMW machinery, plus shorter stints in a Ford and more recently the Honda Civic Type R, with the experienced racer now making the switch to the Cupra.

Jelley will make his Un-Limited Motorsport debut at the next BTCC event, which is taking place at Croft this coming weekend (2/3 August).

Stephen Jelley said: “Obviously, it came as a complete surprise to be joining Un-Limited Motorsport, but I’m thankful to be given the opportunity at very short notice.

“In speaking with the team owners, Bob and Matt, it’s clear they are hard workers who want the very best for their team and to move forwards competitively. The BTCC is incredibly competitive, and this team is relatively young, but I’m confident we can make big strides with the work ethic they are showing.

“If I can use my experience to guide their effort in the correct direction then anything is possible. I have not driven the car yet so don’t know where the starting point is, but I’ll be looking to progress quickly.”

Bob Sharpless, Un-Limited Motorsport, said: “We are delighted to welcome Stephen to our team, and hope we can all move forward together. Stephen is a proven driver in this championship and many others; we wish him all the best for the rest of the season and hope for a long-lasting team and driver relationship”

Tin top stars head to North Yorkshire in early August

The 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship roars back into action at Croft next weekend (2/3 August), resuming its campaign following the annual mid-season break.

If the first half of the year is anything to go by, then the BTCC looks to be heading towards another classic campaign with multiple race winners and a number of contenders vying for the most coveted prize in British motorsport.

Ash Sutton (NAPA Racing UK – Ford) currently leads the way as he aims for a record fifth BTCC title, with 2022 champion Tom Ingram (Team VERTU – Hyundai) close behind. Dan Cammish, Dan Rowbottom (both NAPA Racing UK – Ford), and current champion Jake Hill (Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport – BMW) are all seeking to boost their title prospects by closing the gap at Croft.

The lead duo of Sutton and Ingram are separated by just ten points in a season that has seen an incredible ten different race winners across the opening 15 races, a feat that has only been bettered once in the championship’s history.

A shake-up going into the summer break saw the likes of three-time BTCC Champion Gordon Shedden (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA) add his name to the list of winners in 2025, whilst we've also had three maiden victors during the first half of the campaign.

With 335 points still on offer, it’s anyone’s guess as to where the title will end up come the season finale at Brands Hatch in October.

For now, however, attention turns to Croft with drivers and teams looking to lay down a marker ahead of the run-in. Read on for more details on the upcoming Croft Curveball, TV times, circuit timetable and the all-important ticket information…

The Croft Curveball

Historically, Croft had been known for favouring rear-wheel drive machinery, demonstrated by Colin Turkington's impressive record as the most successful driver around the 2.13-mile layout. However, results in recent seasons suggest the North Yorkshire circuit is one of the most unpredictable on the calendar.

Last year, it was the rear-wheel drive BMWs that took two victories, but it was the front-wheel drive Fords that dominated in 2023 – locking out the podium in the opening two bouts after holding those very same positions in qualifying. 

The season before that, it was Daniel Lloyd (Restart Racing – Hyundai) who took to the fore with a double victory in an EXCELR8 Motorsport-run Hyundai i30 N, a feat in which the local racer will be looking to repeat next weekend.

Lloyd is not the only driver gunning for glory on home soil as Dan Cammish (NAPA Racing UK – Ford), Senna Proctor (Team VERTU – Hyundai), Sam Osborne (NAPA Racing UK – Ford) and rookie James Dorlin (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA) make it a quintet of Yorkshire lads looking for silverware.

TV, Timetables and Tickets 

Rounds 16, 17 and 18 of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will headline the action at Croft next weekend (2/3 August), but there’s a host of support races and entertainment also on offer.

The Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain and VERTU MINI CHALLENGE will be on-track, as will a guest appearance from the Legends Cars Elite Cup, with the latter holding an incredible six fast and furious races to wow the crowds.

To purchase your tickets, simply click here for more information.

Those unable to make it can watch BTCC qualifying streamed live via ITV Sport’s YouTube channel from 1520 on Saturday, before ITV4’s all-day race day broadcast gets underway at 1130 on Sunday. 

Fans around the world can also get their BTCC fix with every race being broadcast LIVE – see the BTCC TV page for the listings in your region.