The Hyundai of Tom Ingram has been in flying form on the opening day of the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, as the 2022 champion topped both practice sessions at Donington Park.

The Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS star set a 1:08.110s in the opening session, before becoming the only driver to dip into the 1:07s bracket in FP2.

As was the case in FP1, Ingram was followed home in the timesheets by the NAPA Racing UK duo of Dan Rowbottom and Dan Cammish, with the Team BMW of Colin Turkington in fourth.

More to follow...

Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS' Tom Ingram has topped the opening 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship Free Practice session, as the new season got underway at Donington Park earlier this morning (27 April).

Ingram set an impressive 1:08.110s benchmark lap time than ended up more than three tenths of a second faster than the chasing pack, amidst cold temperatures around the National Circuit.

"It's good," said Ingram. "The car feels fantastic. It's only practice but it's always a nice feeling to be at the top."

The NAPA Racing UK duo of Dan Cammish and Dan Rowbottom were next in the order, ahead of Team BMW's Colin Turkington, as some the BTCC's big guns hit the front of the field early in the weekend.

Aiden Moffat had an encouraging run to fifth in the LKQ Euro Car Parts with Synetiq Toyota Corolla, whilst the second Team BMW of Adam Morgan was sixth.

Reigning champion Ash Sutton was the fastest driver during the recent Season Launch here earlier in the month, but had to settle for seventh in FP1, with the Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall of Árón Taylor-Smith next on the timesheets.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK's Andrew Watson and NAPA Racing UK's Sam Osborne rounded out the top ten.

The BTCC is back on track for FP2 at 1235, before the all-new 'Quick Six' Qualifying kicks off at 1525. Qualifying will be streamed here LIVE via the ITVSport YouTube channel.

Free Practice 1 - Donington Park - Results

P/	No/	Name/	Entry/	Laps/	Time/	Gap/	Best/	On/
1	80	Tom INGRAM	Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS	16	01:08.110			16
2	27	Dan CAMMISH	NAPA Racing UK	15	01:08.433	0.323		13
3	32	Daniel ROWBOTTOM	NAPA Racing UK	20	01:08.551	0.441		16
4	20	Colin TURKINGTON	Team BMW	20	01:08.589	0.479		14
5	16	Aiden MOFFAT	LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ	15	01:08.645	0.535		13
6	33	Adam MORGAN	Team BMW	17	01:08.689	0.579		12
7	1	Ashley SUTTON	NAPA Racing UK	18	01:08.753	0.643		16
8	40	Árón TAYLOR-SMITH	Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing	20	01:08.853	0.743		16
9	11	Andrew WATSON	TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK	16	01:08.913	0.803		9
10	77	Sam OSBORNE	NAPA Racing UK	21	01:08.959	0.849		13
11	66	Josh COOK	LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ	17	01:08.977	0.867		16
12	24	Jake HILL	Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport	17	01:09.161	1.051		10
13	12	Rob HUFF	TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK	13	01:09.227	1.117		12
14	14	Ronan PEARSON	Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS	15	01:09.308	1.198		11
15	88	Mikey DOBLE	Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing	17	01:09.320	1.21		17
16	222	Chris SMILEY	Restart Racing	17	01:09.985	1.875		16
17	29	Scott SUMPTON	Restart Racing	17	01:10.218	2.108		16
18	22	Nick HALSTEAD	Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS	18	01:10.956	2.846		17
19	18	Daryl DELEON	Duckhams Racing With Bartercard	8	01:13.328	5.218		6
20	3	Tom CHILTON	Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS	10				0

WSR and BMW begin a new British Touring Car Championship season at Donington Park this weekend with another spot in series history the target.
 
An intensive winter development programme for the hybrid BMW 330e M Sport has given fresh hopes of securing a record-breaking 10th Manufacturers’ crown for the German manufacturer and of adding to WSR’s 16 outright titles.
 
With three days of testing at Donington Park and Pembrey last week leaving the team in positive mood, hopes are high as the season-opener approaches in the East Midlands.
 
Four-time series champion Colin Turkington will kick off his 20th season in the BTCC and his eighth in succession as a Team BMW driver. Aiming for a record fifth Drivers’ crown, the Northern Irishman begins the campaign at a track where he has won eight times.
 
Team-mate Adam Morgan was a podium-finisher on his Team BMW debut at Donington last year and the Lancashire racer returns for a second campaign as he bids to add to his 11 career wins and to improve on his ninth place in the 2023 standings.
 
Spending his third year with WSR is Jake Hill, who will race the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport BMW. After scoring a career-best six wins in 2023 and finishing third in the Drivers’ points, the Kent ace has also targeted championship glory this year.
 
Unfortunately, despite the team’s best efforts, the fourth WSR-entered BMW, tested by Bobby Thompson at Brands Hatch, will not race at Donington. Discussions remain ongoing to hopefully ensure its participation at future rounds.
 
Colin, Adam and Jake will all race an upgraded BMW 330e M Sport, which is derived from the award-winning 330e production model and which now sports the latest LCI updates.
 
Under the skin there have been further enhancements with a new two-litre turbocharged BMW engine produced, for the first time, in the UK at BMW’s Hams Hall engine facility and providing improved performance during pre-season testing.
 
Several other revisions to the BMWs to enable greater performance, have been instigated and tested during the past month.

Colin Turkington said: “It’s hard to believe I’m going into my 20th season in the BTCC, but I’ve used all the experience I’ve gained in that time to make sure I’m as prepared as I can be for Donington and the year as a whole. The target is always to win the Drivers’, Teams’ and Manufacturers’ titles and I’m sure that the improvements that WSR have made to the BMW will give me a better chance of going to the final round in contention for the big prize than in 2023.”
 
Adam Morgan said: “I’m so ready for the new season and after testing for three days last week I feel like I’m ‘in the zone’. The BMW is a faster car because of all the work the team’s done over the winter and we’ve already turned some of the improvements into laptime. A big target is to get my first win as a Team BMW driver and after finishing on the podium at Donington on my WSR debut last year, I don’t see why it couldn’t be this weekend.”
 
Jake Hill said: “Heading into my third year with WSR and Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport I feel stronger than ever. The competition looks like it might be even more intense than last year, but we’re ready for battle. The ‘Laser Beamer’ has felt really good in testing in both the wet and dry conditions, so whatever happens, we’ll give it our all to make sure it’s a weekend and a season to remember.”
 
Dick Bennetts, Team Principal, said: “The new season is here and, as always, we’re aiming high and want to make BMW the first 10-time Manufacturers’ champions. It’s been a very busy winter at WSR as we’ve gone over almost every part of our BMW race cars with a new engine, produced in the UK for the first time, changes to the bodywork, cooling and under the skin. We’re pleased with the progress in testing, but we won’t know where we are until we arrive at Donington and see everyone’s true performance levels.”

Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS will kick off its challenge for top honours in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship this weekend when the 2024 season gets underway at Donington Park.

The EXCELR8 Motorsport-run team heads into the new campaign fielding an unchanged, four-car line-up led by 2022 champion Tom Ingram, with experienced racer Tom Chilton and second-year drivers Ronan Pearson and Nick Halstead all returning at the wheel of their Hyundai i30 Fastback N machines.

Having run Ash Sutton and NAPA Racing UK close last year in the race for the title, the team has left no stone unturned over the winter when it comes to refining the Hyundai, which has been widely regarded as one of the best all-round packages on the grid in recent seasons.

Ongoing development work on the car has been carried out at EXCELR8’s new base in the Midlands after the creation of a new partnership with multiple BTCC champions Team Dynamics, with the new-look team now hoping to replicate past successes during the year ahead.

Ingram’s quest to reclaim his title will begin on the weekend where he celebrates his 300th start, with the final race also being the 150th for the team since it debuted in the championship back in 2019.

As the man who pushed Sutton closest in the standings last year, Ingram heads into 2024 amongst the championship favourites and in confident mood after a productive pre-season testing programme - despite mixed weather conditions,

Chilton - who will make his 500th BTCC start later in the season - was amongst the winners at Donington Park last season as he returned to the top step of the podium for the first time since 2019.

Like Ingram, Chilton has enjoyed a productive pre-season working alongside new race engineer Barry Plowman, and is eager to now replicate his testing pace to start the new campaign strongly.

After a solid rookie season, Scottish youngster Pearson heads into 2024 amongst the favourites for the Jack Sears Trophy, but with his eyes also fixed on pushing for overall podiums and race wins.

Pearson topped the times during the second of three official tests at Croft and readily admits that Donington Park is his favourite circuit on the calendar - something he will seek to use to his benefit this weekend.

Halstead meanwhile secured his best result of the 2023 season at Donington Park twelve months ago, mastering tricky wet conditions to bring his car home seventh in race two.

With a year of experience now under his belt, the former British GT race winner will be looking for improved consistency during the year ahead and will hope to start his season with a trip to the points during the opening three races.

Tom Chilton, #3 Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS Hyundai, said:

“Last year, it was nice to get a win at Donington Park and I feel that we are returning to start the new season in a good place. We’ve had a strong pre-season testing programme, particularly at Donington and Brands Hatch, and with those being the first two events on the calendar, I’m confident that we can start the year strongly.

“The team has been working hard on the car over the winter, and with the experience of Barry and the rest of the team on my car - many of whom I’ve worked with before - I feel in a really good place. 

“The fact that we have brought together the best parts of EXCELR8 and the best parts of Team Dynamics makes me even more confident that we are going to be the strongest competition for NAPA Racing this year, and I can’t wait to get started.”

Ronan Pearson, #14 Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS Hyundai, said:

“I’m feeling in a really strong position ahead of round one, and I’m excited to get going after what feels like a really long winter! There is a lot of hard work that has gone in over the off-season and it’s been good to see how that work has translated into performance during testing.

“We’ve had a good pre-season although obviously you don’t know exactly what everyone else is doing. We have just made sure to focus on ourselves, and with that in mind, I think we can be confident as we head for Donington Park.

“It’s a circuit that I enjoy and where I have gone well in the past, and the focus this weekend is to try and pick up three strong points-scoring results and push for the Jack Sears Trophy win. That title is my main goal for the season, so if we could outscore our rivals and secure some early success, it would be the perfect start.”

Nick Halstead, #22 Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS Hyundai, said:

“On the whole, pre-season testing has been positive and the car has felt amazing with the work that the team has put in across the winter. Towards the end of last year, I felt I made a lot of progress as a driver and showed a lot more pace, and as we head into round one, I want to try and build on that and come out of the blocks well.

“I’m under no illusions about the fact that the grid this season is arguably one of the strongest that has been assembled in BTCC history, with so many drivers who are capable of fighting for wins and podiums. I’m looking forward to seeing how I measure up against them and am focused on doing the best job I can.

“Over the season as a whole, I’d love to come away with a Jack Sears Trophy win but looking to round one, there is the prospect of rain and if it arrives, then a repeat of the results last year would be a fantastic start.”

Tom Ingram, #80 Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS Hyundai, said:

“The Hyundai was a really strong package last year, and with the improvements we’ve made over the winter and the way the car has performed in testing, I feel we’re in a good position as we head in to 2024. 

“Of course, everyone else will tell a similar story at this stage but the whole team is focussed on the job at hand, and personally I’d say I’m in better shape both mentally and physically than I have been before.

“Last year we were the only ones to really take it to Ash every weekend and the only goal this season is to take the title back from him. Donington is a circuit where I’ve gone well in the past and is a good place to kick things off, and I’m ready for the challenge.”

Justina Williams, Team Owner, said:

“We go into the opening rounds of the new season in a good place on the back of a productive winter developing the car followed by some solid running in pre-season testing, despite the weather conditions not always being as favourable as they could be.

“All four drivers are fired up to deliver results in what looks set to be a highly-competitive year and I think we can head to Donington Park optimistic about picking up some strong results to kick-start our championship challenge.”

Goodyear is ready to kick start the 2024 British Touring Car Championship at the opening rounds at Donington Park this weekend, where it will debut its new tyre specification for the thrilling championship.

The 30-round season takes place over ten weekends and sees the championship visit eight of the most iconic venues in British motorsport. After the first three rounds at Donington, the championship will visit the likes of Knockhill, with its undulating layout that demands driver focus and commitment, and later to Thruxton, with its high-speed and relentless layout that poses perhaps the ultimate BTCC challenge.

Goodyear has been the exclusive supplier to the championship since 2020. Before that, Dunlop, belonging to the Goodyear group, was the sole tyre supplier to the championship between 2003 and 2019. Both brands have histories in the series going back to its inception in 1958.

New tyre spec to play a major role this season

All but two weekends this season will feature a mix of tyre compounds to spice up the action. Tweaked tyre regulations mean the driver who wins the first race must choose the hardest compound available for the following race. This will force teams to play the weekends strategically on tyre usage,and opens the door for a wide variety of race results.

Rounds 4, 5 and 6 at Brands Hatch Indy will feature a single set of softs for drivers to use in one of the races, which will inject another layer of strategy that teams must use wisely.

Only the season opener at Donington (medium) and June date at Thruxton (hard) will use a single specification of Goodyear’s slick tyre.

Michael Butler, Goodyear’s BTCC Event Leader, explains the changes to the Goodyear tyre construction: “We’ve worked together with a number of teams to develop the latest Goodyear tyre specification. This season, the new tyres have increased lateral performance using slightly different materials to meet the demands of the more powerful hybrid powertrains.

“Following driver feedback, we’re very confident these will give the grid greater confidence to push, particularly with changes to the hybrid boost that will have a major impact on races.

“The step in performance between the hard and soft tyre construction will be greater this season, up to 1.2 seconds per lap, so we’re excited to see how that mixes up races and how teams approach the weekends. It’ll emphasise strategy and also allow drivers to give 100% when it matters.”

A full season of Crazy Cart madness begins at Donington Park’s BTCC season opener.

The Crazy Cart Championship is back in action at this weekend’s first 2024 BTCC meeting at Donington Park. The thrilling opener takes place on Saturday 27th April following the BTCC Qualifying session. Crazy Carts brings spectators the unique combination of thrilling racing and the joy of drifting all in one, hilarious package. See your favourite BTCC drivers let loose and fight to be crowned the winner of this live-action version of ‘Wacky Races’.

This year’s grid features BTCC drivers old and new including; Mr Crazy Cart; Nick Halstead, fellow Team Bristol Street Motors teammate Tom Chilton, NAPA driver Dan Rowbottom, newcomer Scott Sumpton, his Restart Racing teammate Chris Smiley, and Ex-BTCC driver and Crazy Carts fan favourite Jack Butel. There is more excitement than ever as our racing line-up go head-to-head at every BTCC meeting, bringing more excitement to Saturday's activities than ever before.

The new season sees a lot of new developments including new obstacles, ever changing course layouts, and the opportunity for spectators to win their very own Crazy Cart - the buzz has never been bigger.

The first round will take place on Donington’s interior paddock, and the Crazy Carts team look forward to welcoming more spectators than ever. Ensuring a rollercoaster of fun not just on the track, but off it with various freebies and fan interactions.

Join us what is sure to be a rip-roaring season-opener, and follow all the fun throughout the 2024 season right through to our nail biting finish at Brands Hatch in October.

With the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship due to into action this weekend at Donington Park (27/28 April), here’s all the information you need to know to keep up with the action…

Just over one week ago, the 2024 grid headed to Donington Park for the final of the three official pre-season tests. Despite mixed weather, teams hit the track and gathered as much data as possible in preparation for the looming first event of the campaign.

With some line-up changes for teams and drivers during the off-season, it’s all to play for in 2024. To see all of this year’s line-up, click here.

This weekend’s race day action will feature on the home of the BTCC, ITV4, from 1040 on Sunday (28 April) while the ITV YouTube page will host qualifying on Saturday (27 April) from 1515.

Worldwide, this weekend's races will feature live on the ITV Sport TikTok account, going live 10 minutes before each race begins. Each race start time is currently as follows; 11:30, 14:35 and 17:25.

Check out the full TV schedule below, which includes all the information you need to catch ITV’s highlights programmes from the opening rounds.

Qualifying LIVE: Saturday 27 April

ITV Sport YouTube from 1515

Raceday LIVE: Sunday 28 April
ITV4 & ITV4 HD 1040-1845
ITV4 +1 1140-1945
ITVX 1040-1845

TikTok (UK times listed) Race 1: 11:20 - Race 2: 14:25 - Race 3: 17:15

Highlights: Friday 3 May

ITV4 1830-2000 (ITV4) - Further highlights scheduling TBC

Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing are targeting a strong start to their 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship campaign this weekend (27-28 April) as the series descends on Donington Park for the annual curtain-raiser.

Ready to launch what will be their tenth full-throttle season in the UK’s premier motorsport series, spirits are high inside the Worcestershire-based team as they look to target title glory in both the Independent Teams’ and Drivers’ categories.

Despite slimming down its presence to two cars this year, the outfit has retained its spine in the shape of multiple race winner Árón Taylor-Smith, Jack Sears Trophy runner-up Mikey Doble and its trusty Vauxhall Astras.

Armed with a years worth of experience with the squad, Taylor-Smith and Doble will be looking to build on what was a memorable 2023 where the Irishman netted a handful of outright podiums and Doble scored a sensational pole position at Silverstone.

With a number of upgrades having been made to the front-wheel-drive Astras over the winter, both drivers - as well as the rest of the team - are now eager to make their mark as regular front-runners.

Árón Taylor-Smith: “I think everyone at the PMR can go into the first round full of confidence following on from everything that we’ve achieved in pre-season testing. We’ve stuck to our plan, worked through our programme and that should put us in good stead for the year ahead.

“Personally, I am more confident than I’ve ever been going into a new season. The continuity of staying with the team, knowing the mechanics and engineers and having Mikey alongside me can’t be stated enough.

“I’m excited to get to Donington so that we can put on a show and see where we stack up.”

Mikey Doble: “I really can’t wait to get the season underway at Donington Park this weekend. A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes to ensure we’re in the best possible place for the new season.

“Pre-season testing has been largely positive so I’m looking forward to seeing where we will slot in against our rivals come qualifying on Saturday afternoon.

“My aim this season is to go and contend for both the Jack Sears Trophy and the Independent Drivers’ Championship, simple as that. I’m feeling confident that we can kick the season off on the right foot.”

Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager: “Given how busy the whole team has been since the end of last season it sort of feels like the start of the new campaign has come round in no time at all.

“As we all know, you can’t stand still in the BTCC and that’s why we’ve been meticulous in our preparations for this season; with a clear and concise plan of what changes we wanted to make to the car.

“Having the benefit of retaining Árón and Mikey has been huge and its underlined that the improvements we’ve made have worked. We’re in good shape and should be able to enjoy a strong start to the season.”

Adam Weaver, Team Principal: “This is set to be our tenth season competing in the BTCC and the feeling among the team is that this has the potential to be one of our strongest seasons to-date.

“The off-season has been really strong for us. Away from the track we’ve built upon a number of long-standing partnerships whilst also forging some new relationships too.

“Testing has been really productive as well with a number of changes being made to the car which both Árón and Mikey have been happy with. Everything feels like it is in a good place so we can’t wait to get going now.”

Three action-packed races will lift the curtain on the new 30-race BTCC season, with live and free-to-air coverage broadcast across ITV4 and TikTok. 

The BTCC Media Team has been busy giving the official website an update over the winter months and has today launched the newly refreshed website – ahead of the Donington Park season opener!

The new responsive and high-speed website is all-device friendly with a look to suit this modern era of the BTCC, whilst it will contain all the favourite content enjoyed by our visitors, plus an ever-growing portfolio of new media content.

Latest news, photos, calendars, timetables, ticket information, drivers’/teams’ pages, video, social media, plus live TV, timing and audio interviews are all present, whilst further new features, such as the Championship’s Sustainability Strategy, will follow over the coming weeks and months.

As part of our new-for-2024 media and broadcasting strategy, which has included the recent announcement that the BTCC will be streamed live across the globe via TikTok, the new website is also a major part of this ongoing and improved approach.