Top two contenders win again during exciting day at Silverstone
The penultimate race weekend (21/22 September) of the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship had absolutely everything as the leading six contenders fought tooth and nail to remain in title contention at Silverstone.
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS’ Tom Ingram took a memorable double triumph amidst extremely wet conditions to haul himself level on points with overall standings leader Jake Hill – still narrowly ahead by virtue of his seven race wins to Ingram’s five so far this season.
Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport’s Hill claimed his own victory in race two around the 1.85-mile National Circuit, which may prove pivotal come the end of the season.
Reigning champion Ash Sutton kept his championship hopes intact – largely thanks to a brilliant second place finish in the finale – whilst Dan Cammish, Josh Cook and Colin Turkington still hold a mathematical, if unlikely, chance of claiming the crown.
Alliance Racing/Ford tops the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ Championship by just four points from BMW, whilst NAPA Racing UK holds an extremely healthy lead in the Teams’ table.
Árón Taylor-Smith and his Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing moved into an unassailable points lead in the Independents’ championships, whilst team-mate Mikey Doble has provisionally clinched the Jack Sears Trophy.
The triple-header showdown for the most coveted prize in British motorsport will take place at Brands Hatch on 5/6 October.
Ingram holds off Hill as title battle intensifies
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS' Ingram held off a late charge from Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport's Hill as the top two title contenders challenged for victory in the opener
Hybrid deployment became a story of the race as Hill eventually ran out of extra boost, whilst Ingram held back some additional power for the final laps to hang on for his fourth victory of the season.
Hill had already relegated BMW stablemate Turkington earlier in the race, and the latter was forced further down the order as the NAPA Racing UK duo of Cammish and Sutton blasted by the 330e M Sport on hybrid power at the end of the Wellington Straight.
Cammish completed the podium and was arguably the fastest car on-track in the closing laps, as he hauled his #27 Ford Focus onto the rear bumper of Hill's Bavarian machine as the pair took the chequered flag.
Hill reverses fortunes to win race two
Championship leader Hill again fought it out with title rival Ingram in the second bout, with the BMW star getting the better of the Hyundai man before mid-distance.
Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS' Ingram couldn't hang on to second or third either as Team BMW's Turkington made it a double WSR podium celebration.
LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ's Cook completed the rostrum positions as the Toyota driver continues to hold slender hopes of a title challenge.
Ingram was able to nullify the gap to Hill at the summit of the standings – then sitting at 11 points – as the #80 claimed fourth position.
NAPA Racing UK's Cammish and Chris Smiley were fifth and sixth respectively, with the latter scoring his best result of the season and the best ever finish for Restart Racing.
Ingram cancels deficit with finale win at Silverstone
Ingram claimed victory in a soaking final race at Silverstone, as he moved level on points with standings leader Hill.
Drama filled the air, as did a bucketload of rain, as the race was red flagged after nine laps with driving conditions deemed impossible.
A lengthy delay followed, before the race was restarted and ran its full distance, as Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS' Ingram and NAPA Racing UK's Sutton clashed on the final corner of the final lap.
Ingram had worked himself into an early lead while Sutton was busy blasting his way forward from 12th on the grid. The duo eventually pulled away from the chasing pack, with Sutton desperate for victory to boost his own championship hopes.
LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ's Cook claimed third to remain in mathematical title contention going into Brands Hatch, as does NAPA Racing UK's Cammish who took fourth.
Turkington is now the rank outsider of the leading sextet after the tin-top legend slid into the gravel and out of race three.
Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, said: “It’s been a very good day for me. I started fifth in race one and came through to finish second; a great result for me and the team that could perhaps have been even better if I’d had more hybrid available. In race two I stayed behind Tom Ingram for a few laps, spotted where he was weak and then made the move and got the win, which again was brilliant.
“I didn’t expect the results to be so good here, but the weather played a big part in it. In race three we started sixth and finished fifth; not too bad but the weather conditions were horrendous. We’ve had three good results and I’m super-pleased.”
Tom Ingram, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS, said: “This is obviously an important stage of the season. I said at the beginning of the weekend that Silverstone would be the starter ahead of the main course at Brands Hatch. Silverstone always tends to deliver hype and buzz and excitement ahead of the finale – and it has done it again!
“We needed that. It was exactly the right time of year to do it. It’s certainly going to make Brands Hatch pretty spicy. I think we’re in a strong place and in good shape, and I feel stronger than I did in 2022. The car has felt utterly phenomenal all year, in the wet and the dry. Historically, Brands Hatch has been a circuit that has suited us well. I’m feeling it – I’m really up for this!”
2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 1 – Silverstone
1. Tom Ingram, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS 22 Laps
2. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport +0.641s
3. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +0.771s
4. Ashley Sutton, NAPA Racing UK +14.655s +3.520s
5. Colin Turkington, Team BMW +8.199s
6. Josh Cook, LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ +15.854s
7. Tom Chilton, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS
8. Sam Osborne, NAPA Racing UK +23.412s
9. Andrew Watson, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK +24.691s
10. Dan Zelos, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS +24.857s
2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 2 – Silverstone
1. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport 22 Laps
2. Colin Turkington, Team BMW +0.822s
3. Josh Cook, LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ +4.562s
4. Tom Ingram, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS +7.010s
5. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +8.439s
6. Chris Smiley, Restart Racing +17.620s
7. Adam Morgan, Team BMW +17.959s
8. Dan Zelos, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS +22.649s
9. Árón Taylor-Smith, Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing +23.752s
10. Sam Osborne, NAPA Racing UK +24.541s
2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 3 – Silverstone
1. Tom Ingram, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS 25 Laps
2. Ashley Sutton, NAPA Racing UK +14.655s +0.293s
3. Josh Cook, LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ +6.234s
4. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK +13.541s
5. Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport
6. Adam Morgan, Team BMW +17.341s
7. Rob Huff, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK +19.014s
8. Dan Zelos, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS
9. Árón Taylor-Smith, Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing +19.366s
10. Sam Osborne, NAPA Racing UK +20.986s
Penalties:
Race One
Dan Rowbottom received an official reprimand and two penalty points during Round 25 of the championship, for causing a collision in an incident involving Josh Cook.
Tom Chilton received a one-place penalty during Round 25 of the championship, for obtaining an unfair advantage in an incident involving Josh Cook.
Race Three
Jake Hill received an official reprimand and two penalty points during Round 27 of the championship, for more than one change of direction to defend, failing to leave space to the edge of the track, manoeuvre likely to hinder others in an incident involving Rob Huff.
Jake Hill received a one-place penalty during Round 27 of the championship, for obtaining an unfair advantage in an incident with Dan Cammish.
Dan Zelos received a two-place penalty during Round 27 of the championship, for obtaining an unfair advantage in an incident with Rob Huff.
