Ash Sutton won the first race of the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season at Donington Park this afternoon, fending off pressure from Tom Ingram to seal victory on the National circuit.
Dan Cammish briefly held the lead from pole position in another of NAPA Racing UK’s Ford Focus STs, but Sutton produced a well crafted cutback on the exit to move ahead of his teammate. From there, the two blue and yellow machines circulated first and second during the opening laps with Ingram’s Team Vertu Hyundai keeping watch in third.
Behind them, Daniel Rowbottom occupied fourth in yet another NAPA Ford, with Ronan Pearson fifth on the road, albeit running with a 10-second time penalty for a false start.
On the eighth lap, Ingram made a bid to pass Cammish at Redgate with the latter initially holding on. The Hyundai was past moments later however, with a decisive move up the inside at the Old Hairpin. Ingram then began to chase Sutton ahead, but the race was promptly halted for a safety car period following a puncture for Adam Morgan, whose car was left stricken on the grass.
At the same time, Cammish was forced to dive to the pits also for an issue with his tyre, dropping him right down the order and out of the hunt for a podium finish.
The race resumed at full pace on lap 16, now with an extended distance of 21 laps. Sutton held the lead as before at the front whilst reigning champion Jake Hill began to make a few moves of his own, passing Tom Chilton for fifth through the Craner Curves.
As the race entered its final laps, the focus was on the fight at the head of the order, with Sutton facing ever increasing pressure from Ingram. The Hyundai was right on the Ford’s bumper as they entered Redgate for the final time, but Sutton kept the door firmly shut and held on to the lead down the hill. After that, Sutton held on through the remaining corners to win.
Behind the leading duo, Daniel Rowbottom completed the podium with Pearson crossing the line fourth but dropping down 10 places due to his penalty. This allowed Hill to take fourth place with Tom Chilton completing the top-five.
Next to cross the line were Mikey Doble and Josh Cook, with Cammish eventually rocketing home to eighth following a late rise up the order. Cammish was right towards the tail of the field after pitting to rectify his puncture during the safety car period but made rapid progress late on to salvage a good points haul. Aiden Moffat and Chris Smiley rounded out the top-10.
Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, Donington Park, Race 1
- Ashley Sutton, NAPA Racing UK, Ford Focus ST
- Tom Ingram, Team Vertu, Hyundai i30N, +0.267s
- Daniel Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK, Ford Focus ST, +4.481s
- Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, BMW 330i M Sport, +6.411s
- Tom Chilton, Team Vertu, Hyundai i30N, +7.917s
- Mikey Doble, Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing, Vauxhall Astra, +11.481s
- Josh Cook, One Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R, +12.103s
- Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK, Ford Focus ST, +15.316s
- Aiden Moffat, LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR, BMW 330i M Sport, +15.321s
- Chris Smiley, Restart Racing, Hyundai i30N, +15.391s
Click here for full results and timing.