BTCC 2025: Donington Delivers a Thrilling Season Opener

The season has started off with a bang! The first BTCC race weekend of the year got off to an exciting start in the blistering sun, with so much action across all three races and qualifying. 

Ash Sutton took home two wins, while Tom Ingram made that second spot on the podium his home in every race. While Napa seemed to have nailed their set-up with multiple driver podiums, in racing conditions the Vertu cars were a great match - and the weather made the soft tyres degrade faster than normal, making it very entertaining for the fans.

Missed the action? Keep reading to find out what happened.

Qualifying

If you are unsure on the new format, they initially split into two groups by number, then the fastest 12 qualify for Q2. From here, the fastest six go into Q3, which determines who gets pole position.

Reigning champion Jake Hill didn’t make it into the top six after his team had a mixed weekend, however his rivals, three of four Napa cars, Ingram, his teammate Chilton, and Pearson, all made it into Q3.

The result came down to the wire, with Dan Cammish beating out his teammate Sutton for pole position by just 0.011 seconds. Tom Ingram completed the top three, setting the stage for a competitive race day. Both Sutton and Ingram felt they had pace left as a mid-Q3 red flag caused by an issue with Chilton’s car, but this is the way they would line up for Race 1.

Race 1: Sutton triumphs in season opener

Launching cleanly from the front row, Sutton applied early pressure on teammate Cammish, and made a decisive move for the lead at Redgate (turn 1) on Lap 1. Ingram was keeping up with them, and it wasn’t long before he was on the back of the pair. As the race started to build there was plenty to watch, which made it difficult to decide which battle to focus on! 

Nearly half way through the race Ingram made his move on Cammish on the inside of Old Harpin (turn 4) into second. The Vertu car was on harder tyres, which by this point were becoming the faster tyre.

After a short safety car for the stricken Adam Morgan and a broken tyre stack at the chicane, Sutton controlled the race superbly. He expertly managed his tyres to fend off a charging Ingram, who kept the pressure on throughout. Daniel Rowbottom capped a strong outing for NAPA Racing UK by securing third place, making it a double podium for the team.

Race 2: Sutton doubles up with another win

There was simply no stopping Sutton in Race 2. After a textbook start, he once again held off Ingram in an intense battle that saw the pair trading fastest laps throughout the 18-lap contest.

Just five laps in we had a queue of seven cars in a battle for the lead. The drivers were certainly back, and ready to push the limits on these cars. Ingram faced a mid-race challenge from Cook, who had carved his way up into third after an early dice with Hill. But Sutton’s superior tyre management — combined with smart use of boosts — allowed him to stay just out of reach.

Behind the top three, there was chaos further down the order. Michael Crees, Stephen Jelley and rookie Charles Rainford were three-wide into turn 1 and down through Craner Curves. Unfortunately Rainford had to stop the car after another clash within that group, but the race was able to carry on - and Sutton took the victory. Ingram took his spot in second, with Cammish rounding out the podium.

Race 3: Chilton seizes victory in a dramatic finale

With the top finishers reversed for Race 3, it was Tom Chilton who took full advantage using his soft tyres, delivering a masterclass in defensive driving to secure a hugely popular victory.

Tom Ingram, starting sixth, carved his way through the pack with a series of bold overtakes on the first lap. He was close up behind Hill by turn 1 of the second lap, and had Sutton closing in on him. An impressive move down the inside through the Craner Curves pushed up to third, but Hill dropped a few positions as Sutton and Rowbottom followed suit. Ingram eventually climbed into second place, just fighting off the Napa cars.

Sutton, despite carrying maximum ballast from his earlier double win, still managed to slice through to third with a gutsy drive - a fitting end to a weekend where he proved exactly why he's a four-time champion.

Gordon Shedden saw a lot of action through all the races, but in Race 3 the legend had a scary moment where he had to drift around the chicane with several cars putting pressure on him. The Scotsman recovered to finish 13th.

Next stop: Brands Hatch Indy

Donington Park delivered everything BTCC fans love: wheel-to-wheel battles, strategic gambles, and a fair share of drama. Ash Sutton leaves Donington with an early points lead, but with stars like Ingram and Cammish showing strong pace, the 2025 season looks set to be one of the most competitive yet.

Don’t miss any of the action - follow our social media channels and our blog for the latest updates, or come and say hello at our stand if you are attending a race. Be prepared for your next journey to the BTCC with a Free Vehicle Health Check at your local Kwik Fit Centre today.