Wet weather heroics for Taylor-Smith and milestone success for Sutton define BTCC weekend

The second weekend of BTCC action at Brands Hatch delivered three varied and drama-filled races across Rounds 4, 5 and 6 on the Indy Circuit, continuing the early shape of the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship. Changeable conditions, reverse grid intensity and decisive strategy calls ensured constant movement across the order, with victories shared between established title contenders and standout performers. Ash Sutton reached a major milestone with his 50th career win, Árón Taylor-Smith ended a decade long wait for victory in treacherous conditions, and Tom Ingram added a crucial win to his title defence, underlining the unpredictable and highly competitive nature of the season so far.

Round 4

NAPA Racing UK’s Ash Sutton secured his 50th career British Touring Car Championship victory with a composed drive to win Round 4 of the 2026 season at Brands Hatch.

The four-time champion converted pole position into victory in challenging and slippery conditions around the Kent circuit, adding another milestone to his BTCC career in just his 301st championship start.

Ash Sutton - NAPA Racing UK Leading the Pack into Paddock Hill Bend | Image by *Olly Goodall*

At the start, Sutton made a clean getaway and initially controlled proceedings at the head of the field while chaos unfolded behind. Cataclean Plato Racing’s Adam Morgan slid into the gravel at Paddock Hill Bend following contact during the opening exchanges, bringing an early interruption to the race.

Adam Morgan - Cataclean with Plato Racing | Images by *Myles Dell*

Further back, WSR’s Daryl DeLeon lost ground in the opening laps after being overtaken by the Team VERTU pairing of Ricky Collard and Tom Ingram, as well as Sutton’s NAPA Racing UK teammate Dan Cammish before the safety car was deployed.

When racing resumed, the battle at the front intensified immediately. Collard mounted sustained pressure on Sutton and eventually found a way through on lap 12 after several laps of close racing. Sutton responded instantly, reclaiming the lead one lap later in a clean and hard-fought exchange that proved to be the defining battle of the race.

Ricky Collard - Team VERTU | Image by *Olly Goodall*

Behind them, Ingram and Cammish were engaged in an equally competitive fight over third position. The pair exchanged places multiple times before the reigning champion eventually secured the position later in the contest, allowing the Hyundai driver to complete the podium.

Cammish crossed the line in fourth after another strong showing for NAPA Racing UK, while Team VERTU’s Tom Chilton and Sam Osborne completed the top six after consistent drives through difficult conditions.

Mikey Doble finished seventh for LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing, a result that also secured the Independents’ victory. With Ford and Hyundai machinery occupying the top six positions, Doble’s Audi S3 Saloon emerged as the leading non-Ford or Hyundai package in the race.

Restart Racing’s Chris Smiley claimed eighth, while WSR teammates Charles Rainford and DeLeon rounded out the top ten positions.

There was further drama late in the race when Lewis Selby made contact with Aiden Moffat exiting Druids. The incident sent the LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing Audi into the barriers and resulted in a ten-second post-race penalty for the NAPA-backed Ford Focus Titanium driver.

Aiden Moffat - LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing | Image by *Olly Goodall*

Additional penalties were also handed out after the race. Chilton received a five-second penalty for reversing on the grid, while both DeLeon and Cammish were penalised for separate incidents earlier in the contest.

Brabham Straight | Image by *Olly Goodall*

Despite the interruptions and changing conditions, Sutton remained calm throughout to secure another landmark victory and continue his strong start to the 2026 BTCC campaign.

Ash Sutton - NAPA Racing UK | Image by Jamie Nash

Round 4 Top Ten

Ashley Sutton – NAPA Racing UK
Ricky Collard – Team VERTU
Tom Ingram – Team VERTU
Dan Cammish – NAPA Racing UK
Tom Chilton – Team VERTU
Sam Osborne – NAPA Racing UK
Mikey Doble – LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing
Chris Smiley – Restart Racing
Charles Rainford – WSR
Josh Cook – Speedworks Corolla Racing

Round 5

Árón Taylor-Smith produced one of the standout drives of the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season so far to win Round 5 at Brands Hatch, securing his first BTCC victory in a decade.

The Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport driver mastered worsening weather conditions around the Indy Circuit to take a hugely popular triumph, with his previous victory having come at Rockingham back in 2016.

Árón Taylor-Smith - Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport | Images by *Olly Goodall*

The race began in slightly damp conditions before rain intensified steadily throughout the contest, creating an increasingly treacherous circuit. Despite the changing weather, the majority of the field opted to remain on Goodyear dry tyres, setting up a dramatic and unpredictable battle for victory.

Early on, both Ash Sutton and Ricky Collard spent time at the front as grip levels deteriorated corner by corner. However, it soon became clear that Taylor-Smith was emerging as the fastest driver on circuit.

Starting from 13th on the grid, the Irishman carved his way through the pack with a series of confident overtakes in his Toyota Corolla. While several drivers struggled for traction and stability on the soaked surface, Taylor-Smith appeared fully in control, with the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport machine looking exceptionally composed around the 1.2 mile layout.

Josh Cook - Speedworks Corolla Racing | Image by *Olly Goodall*

The decisive move came when Taylor-Smith dived down the inside of Collard’s Hyundai into Paddock Hill Bend to take the lead. Once ahead, the experienced touring car racer quickly built a gap and controlled the remainder of the race despite the worsening conditions.

As he crossed the line, the victory was met with a huge reaction from the Brands Hatch crowd, marking an emotional return to the top step of the podium after a ten-year wait.

Championship leader Ash Sutton finished second for NAPA Racing UK after another strong points-scoring drive, while Team VERTU’s Ricky Collard completed the podium following a competitive run at the front throughout much of the race.

Árón Taylor-Smith - Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport | Image by *Olly Goodall*

Tom Ingram added further points for Team VERTU in fourth place, while LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing enjoyed another impressive showing with Aiden Moffat and Mikey Doble finishing fifth and sixth respectively.

Moffat in particular delivered one of the drives of the race. Starting 17th on the grid, the Scotsman surged through the field in the wet conditions and eventually battled side-by-side with teammate Doble before securing fifth in the closing stages.

Josh Cook experienced one of the most eventful races of the afternoon. The Speedworks Corolla Racing driver initially fought within the podium positions before a trip through the gravel at Paddock Hill dropped him down the order. He recovered well in the latter stages to finish seventh.

James Dorlin claimed eighth for Restart Racing, with Dexter Patterson and Daryl DeLeon completing the top ten.

Dexter Patterson - Steel Seal with Power Maxed Racing | Image by *Olly Goodall*

There was also a notable performance from Nic Hamilton, who narrowly missed out on the top ten in 11th place for Team VERTU. Hamilton produced one of the strongest wet-weather drives of his BTCC career, earning one of his best championship finishes since his memorable top-six result at Donington Park in 2023.

Nic Hamilton - Team VERTU | Image by *Olly Goodall*

In a race defined by changing conditions, bold overtaking and tyre management, Taylor-Smith’s victory stood out as a masterclass in wet weather touring car driving and marked a significant moment in his BTCC career.

Round 5 Top Ten

Árón Taylor-Smith – Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport
Ashley Sutton – NAPA Racing UK
Ricky Collard – Team VERTU
Tom Ingram – Team VERTU
Aiden Moffat – LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing
Mikey Doble – LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing
Josh Cook – Speedworks Corolla Racing
James Dorlin – Restart Racing
Dexter Patterson – Steel Seal with Power Maxed Racing
Daryl De Leon – WSR

Round 6

Tom Ingram secured his first victory of the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season with a controlled drive in Round 6 at Brands Hatch, bringing the curtain down on an action-packed day around the Indy Circuit.

The Team VERTU driver capitalised on another dramatic reverse-grid contest to claim victory and kickstart the defence of his BTCC Drivers’ title in style.

Tom Ingram - Team VERTU | Images by *Myles Dell*

Tom Ingram - Team VERTU and Ash Sutton - NAPA Racing UK | Image by *Jamie Nash*

The race began with Restart Racing’s James Dorlin starting from pole position, but attention quickly turned to championship leader Ash Sutton, who launched an immediate charge from eighth on the grid. By the first visit to Paddock Hill Bend, Sutton was already attacking Dorlin around the outside in an ambitious attempt to seize the lead.

Although Sutton’s early momentum was impressive, Dorlin managed to hold on at the front during the opening laps while backing the chasing pack up behind him. That queue soon included Team VERTU teammates Ricky Collard and Ingram, both looking increasingly threatening as the race developed.

After moving into second place, Ingram quickly began to pressure Dorlin before eventually making the decisive move for the lead. Once ahead, the reigning champion controlled the race comfortably and steadily extended his advantage to secure his first win of the campaign.

Behind the leading pair, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing’s Mikey Doble briefly held third position after another strong start for the Audi squad. However, Sutton’s pace eventually brought him back into contention despite losing momentum during a busy midfield phase in the middle of the race.

Pilgrims Rise into Druids | Image by *Myles Dell*

As the contest progressed, Sutton recovered to finish second behind Ingram, while Doble completed the podium with another impressive result for the Power Maxed Racing stable.

Dorlin, who had spent much of the race defending at the front, gradually slipped back through the order in the closing stages and ultimately finished toward the lower end of the top ten after initially looking capable of a breakthrough podium.

WSR’s Daryl DeLeon finished fourth after a consistent drive, while Josh Cook and Adam Morgan secured valuable results for Speedworks Corolla Racing and Cataclean Plato Racing respectively.

One of the standout recovery drives came from Gordon Shedden. The three-time champion started from the back row of the grid but carved his way through the field to finish seventh for Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, continuing the experienced Scot’s strong start to the season.

The final race of the weekend once again highlighted the competitiveness of the 2026 BTCC field, with overtaking battles throughout the order and another reshuffle in the championship picture as Ingram finally opened his winning account for the year.

Round 6 Top Ten