I attended the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship Rounds 16, 17 & 18 at Thruxton Circuit on the 28th and 29th of August. For those that don't know, the BTCC has provided a competition for current production cars since the late 1950's. It was Ken Gregory who convinced the British Racing and Sports Car Club that a national championship for saloon cars should run alongside the 500cc Formula 3 and Sports car classes of the day. The first race of the British Saloon Car Championship was held at Brands Hatch on Boxing Day 1957, these points would be added to the 1958 season. This would be a hard fought battle between Tommy Sopwith and Jack Sears. Jack Sears would go on to claim the title.
Over time rules of this championship have changed when needed to follow production trends.
The same goes for the manufacturers and teams that have come and gone over the last 63 years.
Alan Gow made this championship a household name during the 1990's as one of many changes he was able to get coverage on BBC's Grandstand, Since 2002, TV coverage has been on the ITV network. On a race day full coverage can be found on ITV 4.
So to 2021, this season has seen some of the closest racing I've come across, there are hard fought battles all the way through the field.
This season, manufacturers represented are BMW, Ford, Honda, Infinity, Cupra, Toyota, Hyundai and Vauxhall.
After a drama fuelled rounds 13, 14 and 15 at Knockhill in Fife, Ash Sutton was still at the top of the table. Would it stay that way after Thruxton as Tom Ingram and Colin Turkington also did well there.
All would be revealed as rounds 16, 17 and 18 played out in front of us.
As well as the cars from the Kwik Fit BTCC, the support races were the F4 British Championship, the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship, The Quaife Mini Challenge Trophy, The Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup and the Porsche Visit Cayman Islands Sprint Challenge GB. As you can see, it's an action packed race filled weekend.
Below are my photo's from the event.
F4 British Championship.
Kai Askey makes his way to the assembly area.
Matias Zagazeta.
James Hedley.
Dougie Bolger #5 (not in photo) collided with Joseph Loake #84 who in turn made contact with James Headley #67. Dougie Bolger would continue the race but would be given a 5 second penalty for causing the collision.
Aiden Neate.
Joseph Loake's car being lifted onto a flatbed before being retuned to the pit lane.
Abbi Pulling heading towards the barrier while Eduardo Coseteng and McKenzy Cresswell stay on track.
The cars on the start finish straight under yellow flags.
Racing again with Joel Granfors leading the pack.
Marcos Flack and David Morales race down the start finish straight.
Results
Round 16
1st Oliver Gray
2nd Matias Zagazeta
3rd Abbi Pulling
Round 17
1st Joel Granfors
2nd David Morales
3rd James Hedley
Round 18
1st Oliver Gray
2nd Matias Zagazeta
3rd Joel Granfors
Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship and The Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup.
Max Dodds.
Josh Rowledge spins and almost hits the barrier around Club chicane.
Josh spins back and carries on racing
Seb Hopkins.
Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship results
1st Race
1st Robert De Haan
2nd Will Jenkins
3rd Liam McNeilly
2nd Race
1st Callum Vosin
2nd Seb Hopkins
3rd Josh Rowledge
3rd Race
1st Robert De Haan
2nd Callum Vosin
3rd Seb Hopkins
The Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup results
Round 12
1st Adam Smalley
2nd Josh Rattican
3rd Carlito Miracco
Round 13
1st Adam Smalley
2nd Josh Rattican
3rd Carlito Miracco
Round 14
1st James Blake-Baldwin
2nd Adam Smalley
3rd Tom Emson
Porsche Visit Cayman Islands Sprint Challenge GB.
Jack Bartholomew.
Theo Edgerton and Charles Clark.
Ian Humprhis.
Peter Chambers, Kurt Leimer and Stuart Gibson
Kurt Leimer.
Theo Edgerton leads the field around Club.
Stuart Gibson making his debut in this championship at Thruxton.
Theo Edgerton, Jack Bartholomew and Charles Clark
Matthew Armstrong and Carl Cavers
Tim Harvey in his first race for 10 years
Thanks to Rob Durrant at Porsche for his help finding some of the information about the drivers.
Overall results:
Round 9
1st Theo Edgerton
2nd Charles Clark
3rd Matt Armstrong
Round 10
1st Theo Edgerton (Provisional Champion)
2nd Matthew Armstrong
3rd Tim Harvey
The Quaife Mini Challenge Trophy.
Dominic Wheatley.
Ben Jenkins.
Results
Race 1
1st Louie Capozzoli
2nd Harry Nunn
3rd Nelson King
Race 2
1st Louie Capozzoli
2nd Alex Jay
3rd Tom Ovenden
Race 3
1st Lee Pearce
2nd Nelson King
3rd Alex Jay
BTCC
Colin Turkington.
Ash Sutton.
Chris Smiley.
Daniel Lloyd.
Jake Hill.
Rory Butcher.
Sam Osborne.
Daniel Rowbottom.
'Flash' Gordon Shedden.
Stephen Jelley.
Nic Hamilton.
Rick Parfitt.
Jack Butel.
Sam Smelt.
Paul Rivett.
Senna Proctor.
Drivers Parade.
Cars on the grid.
Carl Boardley deep in though pre race on the grid.
Waiting for the lights to go out.
And they're off as Josh Cook leads the field away from the start line.
Rory Butcher and Ash Sutton racing for position.
Jake Hill, followed by Rory Butcher, Tom Ingram, Senna Proctor and Colin Turkington.
Chris Smiley followed by Aiden Moffat, Stephen Jelley, Tom Chilton and Jack Butel.
Ash Sutton on the start finish straight with Tom Oliphant chasing.
Tom Ingram going for an overtake on Rory Butcher with the rest of the field following.
Matt Neal looking on from the pit wall.
Jack Mitchell with Carl Boardley racing for position.
Sam Osborne cut the corner as he chases Jack Mitchell. Carl Boardley is in the background.
Ash Sutton with two wheels off the ground chasing Rory Butcher.
Tom Ingram looking for a way to pass Jason Plato but cut the corner to avoid the barrier. Colin Turkington in the BMW looking to pounce on this.
Jake hill chasing Josh Cook around the Club chicane.
Jack Butel leading Jack Mitchell and Jade Edwards.
Nic Hamilton.
Ash Sutton lifts a front wheel around the Club chicane.
Ash Sutton giving a post race interview with Louise Goodman for ITV 4.
Round 16
1st Josh Cook
2nd Jake Hill
3rd Tom Oliphant
Round 17
1st Ash Sutton
2nd Josh Cook
3rd Tom Oliphant
Round 18
1st Adam Morgan
2nd Colin Turkington
3rd Senna Proctor
To answer my question earlier, Ash Sutton left Thruxton still the head of the title race with an increased lead, now on 210 points following Ash is Tom Ingram on 180 points while in third is Josh Cook on 173 points.
With 12 races left this season, the race for the title is far from over and anything can happen.
This has been an action packed weekend of great racing and drama. If you can get to a BTCC weekend it's well worth it there is always something going on from the racing to the trade stands and the paddock.
I met a lot of the drivers over the weekend, they all took time to sign my book and give a quick insight into how they thought there weekend could go and I was very grateful to them as they are very busy people.
The next event is at Croft in Yorkshire on 18-19th of September. I will be watching ITV4's coverage.
Below are links to the BTCC and support races:
