BTCC Croft Weekend: Ingram, Rowbottom and Sutton Share the Spoils in Thrilling Triple-Header

The BTCC sprang back into action after the mid-season break, greeted by bright Yorkshire sunshine as the championship returned to Croft. Friday’s practice sessions wasted no time delivering drama — Tom Chilton and James Dorlin both went off at Turn 1 in separate incidents, while Jake Hill’s weekend came to an abrupt end after FP1 when an ear infection forced him to withdraw.

Adding an unexpected twist to the narrative, four-time champion and ‘King of Croft’ Colin Turkington made a surprise comeback, stepping into the Laser Tools Racing BMW for FP2. With headlines already being made before qualifying, the stage was perfectly set for a thrilling and eagerly awaited Sunday race day.

Ingram Dominates on Return to Action

The BTCC burst back into life at Croft with Tom Ingram laying down a marker, taking a commanding lights-to-flag victory in Race 1 to kick off the second half of the 2025 season in style. Bathed in glorious North Yorkshire sunshine, the EXCELR8 driver delivered a measured and assured performance to claim maximum points and reclaim the championship lead.

Starting from pole, Ingram launched cleanly and immediately set the pace, with NAPA Racing UK’s Dan Cammish giving chase in the opening laps. The race was briefly neutralised by a safety car after Chris Smiley spun into the gravel at Clervaux, but once racing resumed, Ingram reasserted control. Cammish initially stayed close, but the Hyundai driver gradually edged clear, taking a composed victory as Ash Sutton’s puncture and subsequent pit stop handed him the advantage in the title race.

Behind the leading pair, Senna Proctor delivered one of the standout drives of the day. From eighth on the grid, he rocketed through the pack to third by the end of the opening lap and held firm under pressure to claim a richly deserved podium in front of his home fans.

Daniel Rowbottom finished a solid fourth, just ahead of Tom Chilton, who impressed with a strong recovery after his dramatic Turn 1 crash in Friday practice. Daryl DeLeon continued to underline his growing reputation with a superb run to sixth. Celebrating his 20th birthday, the young WSR driver climbed through the order from tenth, engaging in a lively battle with teammate Charles Rainford along the way.

Árón Taylor-Smith followed in seventh, ahead of Rainford in eighth, with Dan Lloyd and Adam Morgan completing the top ten.

Ingram’s return to form not only delivered a statement win but also swung the title momentum back in his favour — setting up a fascinating fight across the remainder of the Croft weekend.

Race 1 – Final Top 10:

Tom Ingram
Dan Cammish
Senna Proctor
Daniel Rowbottom
Tom Chilton
Daryl DeLeon
Árón Taylor-Smith
Charles Rainford
Dan Lloyd
Adam Morgan

Rowbottom Storms to Third Win of 2025

Daniel Rowbottom strengthened his impressive 2025 campaign with a commanding victory in Race 2 at Croft, taking his third win of the season in style for NAPA Racing UK.

Starting fourth on the grid and armed with the quicker tyre compound, Rowbottom immediately set about making progress. With the Race 1 leaders forced to run the harder tyre, the advantage swung his way from the outset. He wasted little time dispatching Senna Proctor and teammate Dan Cammish before setting his sights on pole-sitter Tom Ingram.

Ingram opted not to defend too hard, clearly focused on managing his tyres and race strategy, which allowed both Rowbottom and Team VERTU’s Tom Chilton to slip through. Chilton initially looked like a serious threat for the lead, keeping Rowbottom under pressure through the middle part of the race. But as the laps ticked by, the NAPA driver gradually edged clear to build a decisive gap and seal a well-earned win.

Behind the leading duo, Daryl DeLeon produced another eye-catching performance. Fresh from finishing sixth in Race 1, the Laser Tools Racing BMW rookie climbed the order to take his second BTCC podium, crossing the line in a superb third place.

Adam Morgan delivered a solid run to fourth for Team VERTU, while Ash Sutton staged one of the drives of the day. Starting deep in the pack after his Race 1 puncture, the defending champion sliced through the field with characteristic aggression, eventually coming home fifth.

Charles Rainford and Gordon Shedden secured sixth and seventh respectively, while Ingram, struggling on the less favourable tyre, could only manage eighth. Aiden Moffat finished ninth and added a twist to the weekend by drawing reverse-grid pole for the final race. Dan Cammish completed the top ten after a quieter outing compared to his Race 1 pace.

Race 2 – Final Top 10:

Daniel Rowbottom
Tom Chilton
Daryl DeLeon
Adam Morgan
Ash Sutton
Charles Rainford
Gordon Shedden
Tom Ingram
Aiden Moffat
Dan Cammish

Sutton Steals the Show with Dazzling Drive in Epic Finale

Ash Sutton produced a spellbinding performance to claim victory in Race 3 at Croft, delivering one of the most thrilling BTCC finales in recent years.

The drama ignited instantly as the lights went out. Reverse-grid pole-sitter Aiden Moffat faced immediate pressure from Tom Ingram heading into the first sequence of corners. The pair made slight contact, allowing Ingram to momentarily nose ahead before Moffat launched a brilliant counterattack to reclaim the lead. Behind them, the pack fanned out in spectacular fashion, with cars running two and three wide in a frantic opening lap.

The intensity only escalated a few corners later. Midway through the opening tour, Charles Rainford clipped Dan Cammish at the Complex, sending the NAPA Ford skating across the grass. Rejoining unsighted, Cammish tangled with both Daryl DeLeon and Chris Smiley, triggering a multi-car incident and bringing out the safety car.

When the race got back underway, Ingram wasted no time in attacking. He slipped past Sutton and went wheel-to-wheel with Moffat once again as the battle for the lead reignited. Gordon Shedden soon joined the fight, turning it into a thrilling four-car scrap for victory in front of the Croft crowd.

Then came the moment that will be replayed for years to come. Running third in the closing stages, Sutton was forced wide at the hairpin after light contact with Shedden. Refusing to yield, the four-time champion held a spectacular powerslide around the outside before cutting back underneath both Ingram and Moffat in a breathtaking double move to seize the lead — a classic Sutton manoeuvre that left the crowd roaring.

Ingram fought hard to stay in touch and managed to fend off Senna Proctor to secure second place, while Proctor wrapped up a superb weekend with his second third-place finish of the day.

Shedden had to settle for fourth after his part in the earlier drama, and Adam Morgan brought his BMW home in fifth. Moffat, who had led the early stages, held on for sixth after a gritty drive. Sam Osborne, Tom Chilton, Árón Taylor-Smith, and Mikey Doble completed the top ten.

Race 3 – Final Top 10: