The 2022 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship arrives in Norfolk this weekend (13/14 August) with the action reaching boiling point at Snetterton – just like the Great British weather.
Last time out at Knockhill was undoubtedly the best race weekend of the season so far, as the series blasted back into action following its annual mid-season break.
While the first half of the season saw a number of top drivers strategically position themselves for a championship challenge, the gloves really came off in Scotland as a number of contenders went toe-to-toe.
An exciting duel between Jake Hill (ROKiT MB Motorsport) and Ash Sutton (NAPA Racing UK) was the main talking point from the first two races as the tussling duo scored a win apiece, whilst four-time champion Colin Turkington (Team BMW) serenely moved to the summit of the standings with a podium double.
The strength in depth of the BTCC still came to the fore, however, as Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport’s George Gamble became the series’ newest race winner by claiming victory in the finale.
With Knockhill being one of the shortest tracks on the calendar, the popular Snetterton 300 layout now represents a completely different challenge as the longest circuit in the BTCC.
Snetterton is a circuit that the drivers know extremely well, having recently visited for the two-day Goodyear tyre test during the summer break.
A total of 30 drivers headed out over 14 hours of testing in July, accruing almost 2,500 laps of the 2.97-mile circuit and notching more than 7,200 miles.
Rather ominously for those looking to wrestle the title away from reigning champion Ash Sutton, it was the NAPA Racing UK star that topped the times during that particular test, followed by his Ford Focus team-mate Dan Cammish.
Since that impressive run at Snetterton, Sutton has also claimed his first race win of the season at Knockhill last month, suggesting the triple champ is mounting his championship charge at just the right time.
“We've made some real progress with the car over the break and it's now to my liking,” enthused Sutton. “I'm able to make it dance and move how I want. We're in a good place so, hopefully, we can carry this momentum and form into Snetterton, where we should be just as strong.”
In summary, there are a number of contenders ready to strike at Snetterton this weekend with Turkington currently leading the way by just five points from Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com’s Tom Ingram, with Sutton, Hill and Rich Energy BTC Racing’s Josh Cook nicely poised behind them.
TV, Timetables and Tickets
The BTCC’s new hybrid era in 2022 has also received unprecedented coverage from its television partners at ITV and will continue to do so this weekend.
Sunday’s race coverage will see the BTCC broadcasting on ITV’s main channel for the fourth time this year, with a three-hour programme scheduled from 1200, before the action switches over to ITV4 from 1500, whilst itv.com/btcc will host Saturday’s qualifying session, as always, from 1515.
The BTCC triple-header will be complemented by an invariably spectacular line-up of support series, as the F4 British Championship, Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain, MINI CHALLENGE, Ginetta Junior Championship and Ginetta GT4 SuperCup also join the fray.
Raceday tickets for the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Snetterton on 13/14 August are available from £33 in advance until 1600 on Thursday (11 August) with free entry for under 13s.
