Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing celebrated a triumphant return to Donington Park in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship over the weekend of August 24-25. Drivers Árón Taylor-Smith and Mikey Doble secured a significant collection of trophies, showcasing their impressive performances on the track.
Traveling to the Leicestershire circuit for the season's eighth round, the Vauxhall Astra pair played leading roles. Taylor-Smith achieved his second top-three finish of the year and a clean sweep of the Independents’ honors, while Doble claimed victory in the Jack Sears Trophy.
These results have placed the team and Taylor-Smith within striking distance of securing the Independent Teams’ and Drivers’ Championship titles. Doble, too, is closing in on the prestigious Jack Sears Trophy.
Qualifying on Saturday set the stage for a strong weekend, with both drivers shining in the ‘Quick Six’ shootout. Doble led the way with a season-best third place, followed closely by Taylor-Smith in sixth.
The first race was a challenging battle for both drivers as they were immediately caught up in the action. Despite an early setback due to contact with Tom Ingram, Doble fought back to finish 15th. Meanwhile, Taylor-Smith displayed determination, crossing the line in ninth.
In the second race, both drivers continued to be in the thick of the action. Doble climbed up the order to finish right behind Taylor-Smith, who secured eighth place, with Doble close behind in ninth.
For the final race, a reverse grid draw placed both drivers on the second row, leading to a fierce battle for podium positions. Taylor-Smith and Doble ran second and third for much of the race. Although they were eventually overtaken by the charging Ingram, Taylor-Smith held off intense pressure from Josh Cook and Jake Hill to secure third place. Doble finished a commendable sixth.
Árón Taylor-Smith: “It’s hard to believe we’re already eight weekends into the season, and our team just keeps getting stronger. I’m incredibly proud of everyone’s hard work; we’re operating at a high level. Weekends like this make all the preparation worthwhile. The car was phenomenal, and to leave with another podium and three Independent wins is huge. I’m really excited to see what we can achieve at Silverstone, another track where we’ve historically been strong.”
Mikey Doble: “This weekend was a bit bittersweet because we had the pace to challenge for an overall podium. Still, I’m happy with another Jack Sears Trophy win, which brings us closer to clinching that title. I felt good in practice, and it was great to show our pace by making it into the ‘Quick Six’ for the first time this year. Despite a tough first race, we bounced back strong in the final two. I’m looking forward to Silverstone with high expectations.”
Martin Broadhurst, Team Manager: “Donington Park GP has been a successful venue for us in the past, and I’m pleased it delivered more positive results this time around. What’s even more satisfying is seeing the progress we’ve made in performance over the last 12 months. Both Árón and Mikey were on form all weekend, and while the results don’t fully reflect our strength, we’re leaving with a great haul of points and silverware, which strengthens our championship standing.”
Adam Weaver, Team Principal: “It’s fantastic to be back on the overall podium! We knew we had a strong package going into the weekend, and despite the typical touring car challenges, we proved ourselves at the front. To end a busy month with a third-place finish, three more Independent wins, and the Jack Sears Trophy is a great reward for the team. We’re looking forward to another strong outing at Silverstone next month.”
The next round of the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will take place at Silverstone, the Home of British Motor Racing, on September 21-22.
Victories for Turkington, Sutton, and Cammish Keep Their Championship Hopes Alive
Jake Hill gained a crucial edge in the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship after an eventful day of racing in Rounds 22, 23, and 24 at Donington Park on August 25th.
Colin Turkington (Team BMW), Ash Sutton (NAPA Racing UK), and Dan Cammish (NAPA Racing UK) each secured wins on the iconic Grand Prix circuit, keeping their championship aspirations intact. However, it was Hill's pair of podium finishes for Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport that could prove decisive in the title race.
Tom Ingram from Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS also made headlines by storming from 19th on the grid to finish second in the final race, showcasing an impressive performance.
As the standings now stand, Hill leads Ingram by a mere nine points, with Sutton trailing by an additional 11 points. Turkington and Cammish remain in close pursuit, while Josh Cook of LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ, who achieved three top-four finishes, ensures that the championship battle remains wide open with six contenders still in the mix.
In the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ Championship, Alliance Racing/Ford holds a slim two-point lead over BMW, while NAPA Racing UK enjoys a significant lead in the Teams’ standings.
Árón Taylor-Smith and Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing continue to dominate the Independents’ category, with teammate Mikey Doble leading the Jack Sears Trophy.
The BTCC now moves to its penultimate event at Silverstone on September 21-22, with the highly anticipated season finale at Brands Hatch scheduled for October 5-6.
Turkington Leads Title Challengers in Thrilling Donington Opener
The championship race intensified as Turkington led a group of title contenders in a dramatic opening race.
In what felt like a fitting climax to the season, four-time champion Turkington maintained his composure around the 2.49-mile Grand Prix circuit. He launched his #20 BMW 330e M Sport off the line, overtaking pole-sitter Cook, and maintained his lead throughout the race.
Despite pressure from Sutton, who overtook Cook’s LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ Toyota, Turkington held on to secure his fifth win of the season—a tally he has surpassed only twice before in his career. Hill rounded out the podium, reclaiming the championship lead after also overtaking Cook, who had another tense moment through the Fogarty Esses.
Sutton Secures His Second Win of the Season
Ash Sutton of NAPA Racing UK closed the gap at the top of the standings with his second victory of the season.
In a race that could be pivotal to the championship, the top five contenders occupied the leading positions for much of the contest. Sutton and Ingram quickly passed Turkington, who started on pole, and the trio, boasting nine BTCC titles between them, raced closely throughout.
However, Ingram’s hopes were dashed when his Hyundai’s engine temperature spiked due to a stone damaging the radiator. This forced him to retire, handing the advantage to the BMW duo of Turkington and Hill. Sutton went on to secure victory, with Turkington and Hill following behind.
Cammish Wins Donington Finale in a Thrilling Race
Dan Cammish from NAPA Racing UK led from start to finish in the Donington finale, while Ingram delivered a stunning drive from 19th to second.
Title contenders Sutton and Turkington faced challenges early on, with Sutton being forced out of contention and Turkington making a strong recovery to finish seventh. Cammish’s teammate, Sam Osborne, initially held off the competition, but as the race progressed and multiple safety cars disrupted the flow, Cammish had to remain focused to secure his first win of 2024.
However, it was Ingram’s remarkable charge through the field that captivated the crowd. After overtaking Taylor-Smith for second, Ingram delivered one of the most memorable performances of his career.
Cook held off Hill for fourth, leaving Hill in the championship lead—a remarkable achievement given he had been unwell throughout the weekend.
Driver Reactions:
Colin Turkington, Team BMW: “It’s been a fantastic weekend, with the first race win being the highlight. The podium in race two was also great, especially in challenging conditions. My BMW 3 Series just kept getting better, and by race three, it felt the best all weekend.”
Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK: "In the BTCC, you have to seize every opportunity. We had our share of bad luck at Oulton Park, so seeing rivals struggle made things a bit easier for us. The season is reaching its peak, and it’s getting very interesting."
Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK: "We’ve been close before, but finally secured the win. The conditions were tough, especially being the first to find the limits, but I’m thrilled with the victory."
Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport: “I’m delighted to be leading the championship again. We have a nine-point lead, and finishing with two thirds and a fifth is great, especially after starting seventh in race one.”
Tom Ingram, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS: "It was tough. After the second race, we knew it would be a struggle to get back into the fight. The team’s effort between races was incredible, and performances like this are truly special.”
2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 1 – Donington Park GP:
2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 2 – Donington Park GP:
2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 3 – Donington Park GP:
Penalties:
Race One
Mikey Doble received an official reprimand and two penalty points in Round 22 for causing a collision with Tom Ingram.
Race Two
Andrew Watson received a verbal warning in Round 23 for gaining an unfair advantage in an incident involving Daryl DeLeon.
Race Three
Andrew Watson received an official reprimand and two penalty points in Round 24 for causing a collision involving Aiden Moffat, resulting in a three-place grid penalty.
Daniel Rowbottom was reprimanded and given two penalty points in Round 24 for causing a collision involving Rob Huff and Colin Turkington.
Dan Zelos received a reprimand and two penalty points in Round 24 for causing a collision involving Chris Smiley and Aiden Moffat.
