BTCC, Silverstone: Transmission's Top 20: Storm Rising

Not even torrents of rain and shrouds of spray could dampen the intensity of seasoned rivalries at Silverstone last weekend.

Thanks to a combination of remarkable talent and impactful success penalties, the race for this year’s British Touring Car Championship crown remains as close and unpredictable as ever. Two wins for Tom Ingram and one for Jake Hill sends both to the Brands Hatch finale tied on points. But the BTCC is seldom a two-car race and true to form, there are still six who mathematically could race to glory when the 30-race series concludes.

Nevertheless, whilst points permutations will occupy much of the chatter between Saturday’s qualifying and the chequered flag after Sunday’s first race, a quick look at the advantage that Hill and Ingram jointly hold (including over reigning four-time champion Ash Sutton) suggests that championship honours will be determined by the outcome of a much anticipated duel.

Here are 20 of our top images that help to tell the story of the weekend.

All images by Steve Hindle

The Final Six: Tom Ingram leads fellow title contenders, Jake Hill, Ash Sutton, Dan Cammish, Josh Cook, and Colin Turkington through the Silverstone Spray.

Pole sitter Tom Ingram resists the challenge of championship leader Jake Hill to earn victory in Race 1. A further win (against a charging Ash Sutton) in Race 3, and P4 in Race 2 delivered the points needed to return the 2022 champion back to the top of the standings.

After an uncommonly poor Part 2 qualifying session (finishing P9, but then starting P5 after penalties for others), Jake Hill immediately set about racing hard and true as he pushed to catch the leaders. Finishing P2 to Ingram in Race 1, and then overcoming his rival to win Race 2, the Laser Tools Racing man showed that he possesses all the self belief needed to race the best on equal terms and win his biggest prize yet.

It was a 'make or break' weekend for Dan Cammish, and with true Yorkshire grit, the NAPA Racing man dug deep to earn a place in the final showdown. It was also a fitting tribute to sponsors Valvoline, whose livery takeover turned heads both on and off the track.

After a season of dogged determination and skilful acquisition of points, there was little to smile about for four-time champion Ash Sutton. An uncharacteristic lack of pace resulted in him being eliminated from the first qualifying session. In Race 1, despite making good progress, he was unable to pass teammate (and fellow title contender) Dan Cammish. Then, in Race 2, what could have been a title-saving performance was scuppered by a drive-through penalty due to a work by the team to rectify a radio issue on the grid overrunning by just one second. Of course, Sutton is the one man you would never bet against, and his Race 3 wheel-to-wheel battle with Ingram in atrocious conditions signifying that he might be down, but he is never out.

Of course he's 'kwik'. Árón Taylor-Smith deservedly raced to Saturday's pole position, only for a damaged sill to halt the roller's travel during the post-session ride height check. Nevertheless, two class wins saw the Power Maxed Racing man crowned Independent Drivers' champion with three rounds still remaining.

And there was more silverware for the PMR squad, Taylor-Smith's teammate Mikey Doble winning the Jack Sears Trophy title, again, with three rounds still to go.

One former Independent's champion now racing as a works squad driver is Josh Cook. Still (just) in contention for the overall Drivers' crown, Cook further cemented his status as the leading Toyota entry with a brace of podiums whilst the three remaining Speedworks cars could only manage two top ten finishes between them.

Completing the list of final six contenders is the BTCC's other four-time champion, Colin Turkington. However, despite starting the weekend by lining-up P2 for Race 1, and finishing P2 in Race 2, the Northern Irishman fell victim to the late afternoon downpour that flooded the track, sending his Team BMW 330e M Sport aquaplaning into the gravel. Having caused the red flag, Turkington was ineligible to take the restart and so saw his points deficit ultimately extend.

Making a name for himself, as well as the strongest case for earning a full-season drive with Team Bristol Street Motors, is Dan Zelos. That's now six points finishes from six for the Mini champion, this time each in the top ten.

Also enjoying a strong weekend was Restart Racing's Chris Smiley, earning his best finish (so far) of the season, racing to P6 in Race 2 (and taking his second Independent's win).

Also proving that consistency counts was Sam Osborne. As with teammate Dan Cammish, the NAPA Racing man not only enjoyed a change of livery but also appeared to revel in the conditions, returning three top ten finishes for the second weekend in succession and earning another Jack Sears Trophy win in the process.

Not everyone found reason to celebrate though. Toyota's Andrew Watson endured three hard-fought battles for low-scoring points. It's been a doubly difficult year for the reigning Jack Sears Trophy champion, not only struggling to find pace and performance from his Corolla but also seeing his former Power Maxed Racing teammates go from strength to strength.

In Porsche Carrera Cup GB, Rebelleo Motorsport's Abbie Eaton made championship history by becoming the first-ever female race winner; a feat even more accomplished considering that she races in the second-tier Pro-Am category.

But a win and a second saw former touring car racer George Gamble leap up the Pro-standings to take a two-point lead into the championship finale at Brands Hatch.

Indeed, there were winners and losers all round in the Pro class; Charles Rainford (l) showing exceptional pace to muscle past former points leader Hugo Ellis to take his second win of the year and set-up the prospect of a thrilling title showdown, just five points now the difference between the championship's top four.

'Champion': Deagen Fairclough confirmed what we already knew; the Hitech racer is one of the most dominant champions yet seen in British F4. Pole position, then two wins from two (one in the dry with an eight-second margin, and one through the rain) takes the former sim racer to a tally of 12 victories from the season with three rounds remaining.

Just one week after his older brother made his first F1 start for Haas, Thomas Bearman swapped karts for cars, making his British F4 debut with Hitech.

In Porsche Sprint Challenge, Will Jenkins and Tom. Bradshaw took a win apiece, chasing title contenders Max Coates and. Seb Hopkins in the hunt for points and that all-important race to championship glory.

And though now no longer a title contender, Rhys Hurd proved that he's still the man to beat, becoming the most-winning driver (this year) in Mini Challenge (Cooper Class).

Written By

Steve Hindle

Steve has lived his life with motor sport; from childhood years as a fan, to racing around the greatest tracks in Europe, first as a driver and later as a team principal. Today he's a familiar sight trackside and in the pit lane, notebook in one hand, camera in another, capturing moments and contributing to some of the leading titles in motor sport and automotive media.

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May 5, 2025

BTCC, Silverstone: Transmission's Top 20: Storm Rising

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BTCC, Silverstone: Transmission's Top 20: Storm Rising

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Like this:

Written By

Steve Hindle

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