BTCC 2025: Back With A Bang At Croft

The summer break is over, but the drivers didn’t need time to ease back into racing. In Yorkshire they were ready to battle - and from the green flag in Race One to the Chequered Flag in Race Three, there was action everywhere.

The British Touring Car Championship rolled into Croft and did not disappoint, but don’t worry if you missed the weekend - we have a full recap for you right here.

Qualifying

Before we started qualifying, Jake Hill had to withdraw from the weekend due to a viral infection and was ruled out by the TOCA medical team. He should be back fighting at Knockhill.

Ingram carried the pace from practice into qualifying and showed class in the Quick Six shootout, topping all three sessions to earn pole for Race 1 with a 1.20.522 lap. Dan Cammish was a solid 0.267s behind in second, while Mikey Doble impressed as the top Independent in third. 

It was not a great day for championship leader Ash Sutton, who fell foul of track limits in Q2 and started from P11. He had it all to do on race day.

Race 1: Ingram sets the pace

Ingram got a great start to stay ahead of Cammish into the first couple of corners, with action happening behind them. Dan Rowbottom was up into P4 before turn one, while the BMW’s of Daryl DeLeon and Charles Rainford capitalised on good pace off the line.

The circuit was slightly damp from early morning rain, which meant damp braking zones and 22 drivers on slick tyres. Senna Proctor was able to make the most of it as he battled Rowbottom during lap one, coming out on top in P3.

Gordon Shedden and Chris Smiley had an intense half a lap battle, both showing their experience. Into the final corner Smiley had the inside line, and it was a drag race into turn one. Smiley hit the curb on the inside of the corner, unsettled the car and ended up across the front of Shedden then into the barrier, bringing out the safety car.

Sutton made his way through the pack at a good rate. He opted for the hard tyre but the track conditions meant the performance difference was not as harsh. However, Sutton suffered a puncture as the safety car went in. He ended up one lap down and started last for Race 2.

No major dramas in the restart, with everyone jostling around but no big movers. Ingram had the pace on Cammish, while Proctor was able to hang on to third ahead of Rowbottom. 

Track limits nearly caused some issues, but Ingram was able to keep it clean until the chequered flag. He takes win no. 46 of his career - and fastest lap of the race. With Sutton out of the points, this was a good race for Ingram’s championship campaign.

Cammish finished in second while Proctor was able to fend off Rowbottom for third, an excellent result for him at his home circuit.

Race 2: Rowbottom takes advantage

With the top three on hard tyres, Rowbottom seized the advantage on his soft tyres. It didn’t take long before Proctor was feeling the effects of those harder tyres, and by the end of lap one he was in P5, having lost positions to Rowbottom, Tom Chilton and DeLeon.

By lap three the NAPA driver surged into the lead ahead of Chilton, who was following Rowbottom to the front. Ingram was unable to hang on for very long, as by lap six, he had tumbled down to P5. 

Sutton meanwhile was using his soft tyres to his own advantage, carving his way through the pack and making up those places he lost due to that unfortunate puncture. It wasn’t long before the black and yellow NAPA car was on the back of race one winner, Ingram. Sutton looked down the inside of the final corner after Ingram was compromised by a move from Rainford, who got past. However, those hard tyres on the Vertu car made a move from the NAPA very simple.

Showing why he is a champion, Sutton lined up a move on Rainford all the way down the main straight and waited to pounce. Rainford went slightly wide on the exit of turn one, leaving the door open enough for Sutton to make his way into P5 from last place by lap 11 of 15.

There was action through the pack but Rowbottom came out on top, taking his third win of the year by a 1.863s margin. Behind him, Chilton took second and DeLeon continued his breakthrough, finishing a strong P3 despite going into door-to-door battles. 

Race 3: Sutton completes his incredible recovery

Aiden Moffat started on reverse-grid pole and made the most of it on hard tyres. He got away well at lights out, while Ingram attempted a bold move around the outside of turn one, ending up sideways and drifting across the track, earning save of the day.

Rainford also launched strongly, climbing to P3 at turn one and capitalising on Ingram’s moment to take second. He became a cork in the bottle as Ingram, Sutton, and Shedden, on softer tyres, queued behind.

Sutton muscled past the BMW while it was defending from Ingram, opening the door for Shedden, who attempted a move around the final corner - but couldn’t make it stick. Ingram’s Vertu car had better traction out of the corner and won a drag race with Rainford into turn one.

The pack bunched up behind Rainford, with Shedden, Adam Morgan, and both NAPA cars in pursuit. The soft tyres quickly made a difference, and Shedden and Morgan slipped through. Cammish tried to follow but contact sent him sliding across the grass, collecting DeLeon and Smiley and triggering a safety car.On the restart, Moffat got away from Sutton, who was battling Ingram side-by-side through several corners. Ingram passed Moffat at the final turn, but Sutton seized a gap on the inside, taking the lead with a small tap on Shedden, who dropped back but continued.

Mid-race, Moffat defended fiercely from Ingram, with Proctor right behind. The train behind them let Sutton pull clear. On lap 11, Proctor passed Ingram for P3 and then targeted Moffat, eventually making contact that sent the BMW onto the grass.

With five laps left, Ingram took P2 and chased Sutton, but couldn’t close the gap. Sutton, despite a poor starting position earlier in the day, recovered brilliantly to claim a dominant race 3 win. Proctor completed the podium, capping off a strong home weekend.

Rainford had an eventful race, he won the weekend Jack Sears Trophy even with a traffic cone lodged in the front of his car!

A weekend at Croft to remember

Croft delivered everything BTCC fans love - bold strategies, midfield scrambles, circuit-defining overtakes, and momentum swings. Ingram’s calm control was met by Sutton’s aggressive recovery, while Rowbottom and Proctor injected freshness into the podium mix.

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