The BTCC testing at Donington Park saw the four-time title winner, Ash Sutton, put on an impressive performance in his NAPA-liveried Alliance Racing Ford Focus ST. He ended the afternoon session 0.098 seconds clear of his team-mate Dan Cammish. The testing day was marked by a mix of weather conditions, with the morning session being dry and the afternoon session being interrupted by a thunderstorm. Despite the challenging conditions, Sutton expressed satisfaction with his progress, stating that they were going through a testing program and focusing on making changes to the car. It’s clear that Sutton’s performance has shown strong pace, even if the times might be considered somewhat irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.
The morning session at Donington Park saw 2022 champion Tom Ingram topping the timesheets in his Excelr8 Motorsport Hyundai i30 N Fastback, with his team-mate Tom Chilton closely following. However, it was Chilton who emerged as the faster driver in the afternoon session, securing the third fastest time of the day. Ingram’s morning time was good enough for fourth overall, showcasing the team’s competitiveness. The alliance Ford of Dan Rowbottom also showed strong pace, finishing in fourth place in the afternoon session. The leading BMW 330e M Sport of Jake Hill was also among the top performers on the day.
The squadron of Speedworks Motorsport-run Toyota Corolla GR Sports impressed with Rob Huff setting the best lap of the day in the morning session. Huff, a former World Touring Car champion, finished seventh overall on the day. Meanwhile, the WSR BMW team, led by Colin Turkington, showcased their potential with a solid performance. Turkington’s BMW improved to eighth overall in the afternoon session, further highlighting the team’s competitiveness. The announcement of the official entry list added to the excitement of the testing day, with teams like Unlimited Motorsport (formerly Team Hard) and Power Maxed Racing making notable appearances.
As the BTCC testing at Donington Park comes to a close, teams and drivers are now focusing on the opening round back at the same circuit on 27-28 April. With the level of competition showcased during the testing day, fans can expect an exciting and competitive start to the season. Teams like WSR and Excelr8 Motorsport have shown strong potential, while individual drivers like Ash Sutton and Tom Chilton have proven their capabilities on the track. As the countdown to the opening round begins, all eyes will be on the BTCC paddock to see who will come out on top in the highly anticipated season opener.
Leave a Reply