This weekend (24/25 September) will see the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship continue to build towards a thrilling crescendo as Silverstone Circuit hosts the penultimate event of the 2022 campaign.
With the National Circuit's long straights and tight turns making for several overtaking opportunities on every lap, fans both trackside and at home can enjoy the thrills and spills as the title contenders tussle to come out on top.
Tens of thousands of fans are set to descend on the Northamptonshire circuit, while those not in attendance can catch all of the action on ITV4, live and free-to-air over a seven-hour race-day programme, with qualifying also streamed live on itv.com/btcc.
Chasing pack poised
Colin Turkington (Team BMW) occupies the spot at the top of the standings as Britain’s premier motorsport series approaches its climax, with the four-time champion six points ahead of nearest rival Ash Sutton (NAPA Racing UK) and having held the position since the season resumed after its annual mid-summer break.
With fate having denied him a victory during the first half of the 2022 campaign, reigning champion Sutton chipped away at his rivals’ advantages before securing a win at each of the previous three events. The three-time titleholder will be looking for a significant points haul this weekend at a circuit where he’s yet to clinch a first-place finish in his BTCC career.
Tom Ingram (Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com) sits 12 points adrift of Sutton, but the local racer has an impressive record at the Northamptonshire circuit, having secured 11 podium finishes there in the last six visits.
ROKiT MB Motorsport’s Jake Hill is next up in the standings after a trio of points finishes at Thruxton last month, while Josh Cook (Rich Energy BTC Racing) is also in the hunt, with his quintet of victories in 2022 marking the most wins of any driver this year so far.
Local lights
Alongside the pressure to perform in order to keep their title tilts on track, a host of drivers and teams will also be looking to deliver on home soil this weekend.
Jade Edwards and her Rich Energy BTC Racing squad regard Silverstone as a local track, while Nic Hamilton (Yazoo with Safuu.com Racing) and CarStore Power Maxed Racing will also be eager to shine at their nearby racing venue.
In the thick of the championship battle, Coventry-based Ingram has a strong record at the 1.64-mile circuit, being one of only two drivers on the grid to secure more than one victory in the past five years, while standings leader Turkington makes the short trip from Milton Keynes to Silverstone buoyed off his rostrum result last time out and prepared to retain his advantage as he seeks a record fifth crown.
Tickets, TV and Support Races
This year’s pivotal penultimate Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship event takes place at Silverstone on 24/25 September, with the entire grid out to entertain and enthral.
Tickets are available to purchase here, with prices starting from £20, while children aged 15 and under go free. This weekend’s event will utilise online-only ticketing, with purchases not available on the gate.
Saturday will see BTCC qualifying kick off at 1515 – in the midst of a myriad of captivating support series action – with the session streamed live at itv.com/btcc from 1510. ITV4’s race-day programme begins at 1100 on Sunday – ahead of the BTCC opener at 1140 – as seven hours of coverage ensues.
The aforementioned support series thrills will be provided by a stellar line-up, as the Ginetta Junior Championship, F4 British Championship, Ginetta GT4 SuperCup, MINI CHALLENGE and Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain similarly approach crunch time in their various championships.
