2024 BTCC Brands Hatch Grand Prix | 6 talking points

Ingram takes advantage in qualifying as Hill struggles

Heading into the final weekend of the year tied on points, both Tom Ingram and Jake Hill would have been acutely aware of the potential importance of the pole position bonus point. Throughout the course of the season the new Quick Six qualifying format has thrown up countless upsets, with all title protagonists failing to reach the final shootout at least once.

There would be no such dramas on this occasion, however. Both Hill and Ingram safely navigated their two knockout sessions, but neither could claim that enticing bonus point. Ingram took the early advantage in their head-to-head, slotting himself in second behind the pole-sitting BMW of Colin Turkington. Hill, in contrast, could only manage the sixth fastest time, but appeared unconcerned after the session. The Laser Tools BMW driver simply stated “I'll just have to pass them all” when asked of his thoughts on qualifying, but also pointed out how having Turkington on pole could prove pivotal in holding Ingram back once the lights go out.

Outside bet for the crown Ash Sutton also impressed in qualifying, knowing a minor miracle was needed to become a five time champion. The time Sutton wrung out of his Ford Focus to top the first part of qualifying would have been enough to secure pole in the final session, but he would have to settle for third on the grid following the Quick Six. Josh Cook took fourth while Aron Taylor-Smith continued the impressive Saturday form of the Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astras to qualify fifth.

Turkington plays rear gunner as Hill holds on

It took a grand total of two corners to confirm that there would be no fifth championship for Ash Sutton in 2024. A mechanical issue for the Toyota Corolla of Josh Cook meant that his rear locked up the moment he hit the brakes heading into Druids on the first lap. Unfortunately for Sutton, his Ford Focus was right in the firing line and he ended up facing the wrong way and beached in the gravel trap.

More dramatically, Tom Ingram also got caught up in the incident. While he narrowly avoided any serious damage, his Hyundai had dropped down to ninth by the time that the Safety Car had been deployed to recover Sutton’s stricken Focus.

Jake Hill, meanwhile, must have felt as if Christmas had come early as he ran around in second behind his team-mate Colin Turkington behind the safety car. Once the race got back going, West Surrey Racing deployed the obvious switch to allow Hill the opportunity to gain as many points as possible. As the BMWs attempted to control the race from the front, Ingram was carving his way through the field. While he experienced little to no hefty defence from most, things were different when he reached the rear bumper of Turkington’s 3-Series.

The four-time champion made his BMW as wide as possible, forcing Ingram to settle for third at the line. A fastest lap bonus point for Ingram ensured that he remained just five points behind the race-winning Hill with just two races to go.

Ingram shows his hand to set up mouthwatering finale

There would be no prizes for predicting Tom Ingram’s strategy going into race two. Starting behind the BMW pair of Jake Hill and Colin Turkington, the Hyundai man knew that he needed to strike early while the rear-wheel-drive BMWs worked to get heat into their front tyres.

Having eased back the margin gained from the legendary good launches of the WSR BMWs, Ingram pulled off two of the moves of the season to work his way into the lead. A stunning move around the outside of Hawthorn dispatched Turkington, before a perfectly timed divebomb on Hill at Paddock Hill bend handed Ingram the lead.

From then, there would be no looking back for the Team Bristol Street Motors lead driver as attention turned to Ash Sutton’s Ford. Starting from 19^th and plum last, Sutton put on a display that he has shown on many occasions – carving his way through the field. The outgoing champion was fifth by the end of lap two, before setting about hunting down his Ford teammate Dan Cammish.

Meanwhile, it was a near perfect day for Ingram at the head of the field, cruising to the win while also gaining the bonus point for setting the fastest lap. The only thing that would have made things better for the 2022 champion would have been fewer points for title rival Hill. With rear gunner Turkington firmly in place once again, Hill followed Ingram home, setting up the biggest of box office finales. After 29 races, just one point separated the pair, with 15 laps of the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit left to decide it all.

Hill shines in damp final chapter 

The weather has been a key supporting character across the 2024 BTCC season, and it wasn’t going to allow the series finale to go by without throwing some variables into the mix. Dark clouds loomed over the Brands Hatch circuit, and while they may not have turned on the proverbial taps, the steady drizzle they did produce was more than enough to leave the tarmac suitably greasy.

For Jake Hill, it was exactly what he’d wished for. Having seen that Tom Ingram’s Hyundai was faster in dry conditions, the BMW team were hoping for some moisture to try and gain an advantage. The pair started from 6^th and 7^th thanks to the reverse grid draw, meaning things weren’t quite as tricky as they may have been had they transposed their battle firmly into the midfield.

For the first few laps, it seemed like the greasy conditions weren’t quite wet enough for the rear-wheel-drive 3-Series, as Hill and Ingram locked horns and fought door-to-door for outright honours. However, once Hill worked his way past the Hyundai, it never seemed in question as to which way the title pendulum was going to swing. A couple of moments saw Hill putting his Laser Tools BMW in potentially dangerous positions while trying to pass the Toyota of Josh Cook, but ultimately a slide for the pole-sitter allowed Hill to ease his way into second.

Meanwhile, struggling in the damp conditions, Ingram had to settle for sixth – including losing a position to Hill’s teammate Colin Turkington around the outside of Hawthorns. As a result, Hill came home to take his first BTCC title by a slender seven-point margin.

Emotional Hill struggles to find the words

As is customary for ITV4’s coverage, commentators David Addison and Tim Harvey attempted an in-car interview with the new champion on the cool down lap. Even before they’d opened the microphone you could tell that Hill was already in floods of tears talking to the team. Once the commentary team had managed to get in touch with him, the usually eloquent Hill found himself lost for words.

“I just can’t believe it,” exclaimed Hill. “Thank you, Dad, so much for never giving up, he never gave up on me once. Thank you Mark [Blundell], thank you MB, thank you BMW, thank you everyone. I’m literally so proud of you all, I couldn’t think of being in a better team.”

Asked whether he was able to put it into any more words in parc ferme by Louise Goodman, Hill said: “It’s literally everything we’ve worked for. It was super fast in those opening laps and I knew I had a fantastic car again. It was like Silverstone. We’ve just been a super team today and showed what we can do. I’m out of words. It hasn’t hit yet, thank you so much for the support. It means the world. I don’t know what else to say."

Hill’s triumph secures double for BMW

The only other championship left to decide aside from the drivers’ crown going into Brands Hatch was the manufacturers’ honours, with Ford and BMW going head-to-head. The Blue Oval’s win in 2023 ended a run of seven straight titles for BMW, with Dick Bennets’ West Surrey Racing desperate to wrestle its crown back in 2024.

With Colin Turkington playing the perfect support role for Hill throughout the day and Ash Sutton’s non-score in race one, the dominos fell firmly in the favour of BMW. An eighth title in nine years for the German marque completed the list of 2024 champions, which included another teams’ title for NAPA Racing UK, an Independents clean sweep for Aron Taylor-Smith and Power Maxed Racing and a Jack Sears Trophy triumph for Mikey Doble.