2024 BTCC Silverstone | 6 talking points

Ingram inherits pole following Taylor-Smith exclusion

The first major drama came long before Sunday morning, as Aron Taylor-Smith’s weekend went from hero to zero in one fell swoop. The Irishman had produced one of the laps of his career in a qualifying session governed by the weather gods. From lap records being set in Q1, the rain came down just in time for the start of Q2, throwing all previous strategy out of the window.

Taylor-Smith would guide his Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra to the top of the time sheets, despite suffering a snapped gear stick, by less than a tenth of a second ahead of overall title protagonist Tom Ingram. Unfortunately for the Independent drivers’ leader, damage obtained during the session meant his Astra would fail its ride height check, sending him out of qualifying and to the back of the grid in the process.

It was not the first high profile qualifying dilemma either, as reigning champion Ash Sutton failed to make it out of the first session. Setting the 17th best time, Sutton inherited three positions following disqualifications for Taylor-Smith, his PMR teammate Mikey Doble and Hyundai’s Dan Zelos. As a result the NAPA Racing UK leader would have to start down in 14th place for the opening race of the weekend.

Ingram sails to victory while Sutton completes damage limitation charge

Moving up to pole position after the qualifying disqualifications, Tom Ingram shot to the lead on the sodden Silverstone tarmac. The Hyundai driver appeared in control of the race for the vast majority, but was subject to a late race challenge from championship leader Jake Hill. The latter’s BMW closed right up and attempted a move at Brooklands three laps from the finish, narrowly avoiding Ingram’s rear bumper. Unable to find a way through, Hill sat back and settled for second, seeing his points gap cut to just four with five races left in the year.

Behind the leading duo, Ash Sutton provided one of the drives he’s become well known for as he gained 10 positions from start to finish. Starting from 14th - somewhat flattered by Taylor-Smith, Mikey Doble and Dan Zelos having to start from the back - the reigning champion carved through the field to finish fourth at the line. A fastest lap bonus point was hugely welcome, too, keeping the Ford driver in touch and just 23 points behind Hill.

A notable mention also goes to the Team Bristol Street Motors Hyundai of Dan Zelos. Competing in only his second weekend in a BTCC car, a spanner was thrown into the works having to start from the last on the grid following a ride height transgression in qualifying. A Sutton-esque drive from the multiple time MINI champion saw his i30 tenth at the finish, a first top ten of his BTCC career. He would follow the performance up with a pair of eighth place finishes in races two and three, and now sits on 34 points - nearly double that of Scott Sumpton and just two behind Daryl DeLeon.

Hill leads BMW dominance in unfavourable conditions; Sutton penalised

Although the rain had stopped ahead of race two, there was still plenty of moisture on the circuit and the field was once again fully shod with wet weather tyres. The BMW contingent were quick to dampen their own expectations on the grid, with the circuit conditions known to be the least likely to be enjoyed by a rear-wheel-drive BMW. Off the line it seemed like their concerns were correct as Hill suffered a sluggish start.

From that point on, though, both Hill and Turkington began to go against the grain with regards to the expected pace. Both BMWs worked their way past the Hyundai of race one winner Tom Ingram, who would eventually fall out of the podium places courtesy of Josh Cook and have to settle for fourth at the chequered flag.

The biggest loser of race two, though, was Ash Sutton, whose title challenge took yet another hit around the Northamptonshire circuit. The NAPA Racing UK team were caught working on the car beyond the three minute warning, resulting in the reigning champion having to complete a drive through penalty in the opening phase of the race. The penalty dropped Sutton down to plum last, and while he was able to claw his way back up to 12th at the finish line, he still took a hefty 13-point hit to Hill in the points standings.

Rain can’t stop the BTCC in extended finale

Everyone was gearing up for a traditional flat-out race three to set up another thrilling season finale in two weeks' time as the cars rolled their way onto the grid. The weather then had other ideas as the rain became more of a deluge at the start of the warmup lap. Such was the difference in rain severity, you could see the dry patches left by the cars as they rolled around.

Starting under terrible conditions, pole sitter Chris Smiley lost his advantage through Copse on lap one as Tom Ingram leapt to the lead from the second row. Dan Cammish swiftly followed suit, consolidating his second position on the grid and looking for a solid points score to stay in the title picture. Sadly for Cammish, his attraction to bad luck continued as he was unable to get the anchor down and his Focus spun off at Becketts. Ash Sutton, meanwhile, proved why he’s regarded as one of the best wet weather drivers, working his way up to third from 12th on the grid in just two laps.

Four laps of aquaplaning caught out even some of the most experienced drivers as Colin Turkington speared off the circuit, which was the final call for the race stewards. The safety car was deployed at the end of lap four, and five laps later the red flag was thrown. A lot of hanging around followed, before finally the decision was made to bring the cars out under the safety car just five minutes before Silverstone’s 6pm curfew.

For whatever reason, the curfew wasn’t adhered to as the field continued through until 6:15 with the full 25 lap distance reached. It wasn’t a parade to get laps in, either. Sutton latched himself onto the rear bumper of Ingram in a desperate attempt to keep his title hopes alive going to Brands Hatch. Try as he might, the Ford man could not work his way past Ingram, and a last corner coming together almost saw the Hyundai jettisoned into the gravel trap. Ingram held on and secured his fifth win of the season. Josh Cook held firm to take the final podium position while Hill secured fourth to go into Brands Hatch as joint points leader.

Power Maxed Racing, Taylor-Smith and Doble secure first titles of 2024 

It was all but a done deal much earlier in the season, but the first championship crowns of 2024 were mathematically secured at Silverstone as the Vauxhall Astras of Power Maxed Racing secured both the Independent Drivers’ and Teams’ titles. Following the heartbreak of losing pole position on Saturday, Aron Taylor-Smith’s performances were enough to gain a famous double for the Vauxhall squad.

An independent victory in race one and finishing runner up to Chris Smiley in race two was enough to secure the Teams’ crown, before his 19th Independent triumph of the season provided the points to become provisional Drivers’ champion. Taylor-Smith is known for having one of the biggest smiles in the paddock and you could see the sense of relief on his face as he secured his first BTCC trophy.

It was a near perfect Sunday for PMR, as Mikey Doble also became mathematically uncatchable in the Jack Sears Trophy standings. With 60 points left on the table, Doble now sits 69 points clear of NAPA Racing UK’s Sam Osborne, meaning there will be a trifecta of Power Maxed Racing representatives receiving trophies from Alan Gow at Brands Hatch in two weeks time.

All square heading to Brands Hatch with Sutton clinging on

While the Independent and Jack Sears titles may have been decided already, the fight for the overall title is alive and kicking. Jake Hill and Tom Ingram continue to have one of the closest fights in recent years as they both head to Brands Hatch having earned 365 points across the 27 races so far. Hill sits ahead of Ingram in the table thanks only to his seven wins compared to Ingram’s five. Four other drivers have a mathematical chance at the crown, but the reality is that either Hill or Ingram will be victorious come the evening of October 6th.

Their closest challenger is Ash Sutton - who you’d always have to be very brave to discount. The four-time champion will need a lot of things to fall in his favour, though, as he sits 35 points behind Hill. With 67 points up for grabs, Dan Cammish, Josh Cook and Colin Turkington are technically still in the fight, but it’d take a miracle (and a nightmare for all those ahead of them) to come away with the trophy as they sit 60, 65 and 66 points back respectively.

In terms of the Teams’ championship, NAPA Racing UK now sit an unassailable 103 points clear of Team Bristol Street Motors, but the Manufacturers’ standings paints a similar picture to that of the Drivers’. Both Ford and BMW go into the final round neck and neck, with BMW sitting in the top spot courtesy of their greater win tally across the year. 

The teams now have just two weeks to dry out and get themselves prepared for one of the closest title fights in recent memories. Both Ingram and Hill have enjoyed great results at the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit in recent years, so it’s perfectly poised to be an instant classic. 

Main image courtesy of Tom Ingram via Instagram.