- 21/06/2025
Coverage of race 3 of the 1st round of the 2025 BTCC (British Touring Car Championship) on 27th April 2025.
Round 3 Starts - 12:20
Round 3 Starts - 12:20
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SportsTranscript
00:00The last touring cars have just left the pit lane, the pits and the paddock and the grid are alive with anticipation for its reverse grid race, the climax of our touring car day here at Donington Park and this is why, this is the fantastic grid we've got for the reverse grid race.
00:17A front row of Tom Chilton and Dan Rowbottom and then Jake Hill and Dan Kamish and look at row three, Tom Ingram and Ash Sutton and the great chargers, the great challengers are all at the front of the reverse grid race and Tim Harvey, Paul O'Neill, that doesn't happen very often.
00:33No, it's set for a really humdinger of a race three, isn't it? And it's been so good so far, but this is going to be a tough race.
00:40I mean, Ash Sutton's very cleverly drawn out six for the reverse grid, but he's got three cars, including Tom Ingram, starting on the soft tyre in front of him.
00:48He'll be relishing this race on the structurally a little bit more integral, a little bit stronger medium tyre.
00:54Because this is a lot more than just Tom Ingram against Ash Sutton, isn't it? I mean, you've got Tom Chilton there who's shown some pace right the way through the weekend.
01:02Yeah, definitely. Tom was fast in the practices and then struggled in qualifying with a couple of misfire problems.
01:07But I can see that Tom will want this. But the only thing I have with Tom is I know him from racing against him and Tim does.
01:14He will go flat out straight away. So whether he manages that tyre, he's got enough knowledge, though. He should do.
01:20But it'll all be on him. He might back him up. Let's see.
01:23I think that Tom Ingram would have seen enough potential damage with the soft tyre on today with punctures.
01:29And, I mean, Ash Sutton finished the first race with threads, cords coming through the tyre.
01:34And that was with the safety car. I think he'll be quite prudent in this race.
01:38So we'll see who's right. OK.
01:40So it's not too early in the season to think points instead of race victory.
01:44Yeah, he's the pointsy man, isn't he? He's the pointsy man.
01:48He will know he's at a bit of a disadvantage here.
01:51Yes, he's not had a win this weekend.
01:53But I think he knows he's got to finish this race, which is probably going to be advantage Sutton.
01:58But he's got to finish with good points.
02:00Yeah. In a quiet way, Dan Rowbottom's had a good weekend as well.
02:03He's had a great weekend.
02:04And he needed to have a good start to the year.
02:07I think Dan will tell you himself that, you know, he's always been a little bit on the back foot.
02:12But he's looked quick all weekend.
02:13And I'm made up for him because that operation he's had on his heart in the winter is not a small thing.
02:18So it's good to see that he's firing on all the cylinders and he can get the car up the front.
02:22Yeah, whatever happens in the next half hour, it's been a fantastic start to the season with the rookies doing themselves credit as well.
02:29Yeah, all of them.
02:30I mean, Charles Rainford has slotted into that BMW really well.
02:33He qualified.
02:34Let's not take this away.
02:35He qualified only two tenths away from Jake Hill.
02:37That's a really impressive effort.
02:39And both he, Daryl De Leon.
02:41Well, Daryl's obviously new to the car, but not a rookie.
02:43But they've raced really well, as have James Dawlin and especially Max Hall.
02:47We saw Max Hall trading places with Gordon Shedden, didn't we, many times.
02:51So, yeah, they've excelled.
02:53OK, we'll talk a little bit more after the break.
02:55But what lies in store here?
02:57Could it be an Ash Sutton hat trick?
03:00Could it be a bit of touring car history coming up here at Donington Park?
03:04Join us right after the break.
03:17The reverse grid climax.
03:21Climax to a fantastic opening day in the QuickFit British Touring Car Championship here at Donington.
03:29It's got at least the possibility of Ash Sutton making it three wins out of three.
03:34Let's find out what they're thinking down there on that packed grid.
03:36And we'll join Louise.
03:40Down at the front of the grid.
03:42Nice to see some different faces on the grid here.
03:44That's Mason, who's representing a youth initiative that the Virtue team are supporting this season.
03:49Holding the board for Tom Chilton, who was having a little bit of trouble when you first pulled up a lot of people on this grid.
03:55Trying to see your tape on the other side to get that lined up for your start.
03:57Are you all sorted now?
03:59Yeah, we're all sorted now.
04:00In the old days, we used to have somebody stand in front of us with a pole for first and second place, but not anymore.
04:05So it's very important that we get our line perfect, actually.
04:11But yeah, I'm in a confident position, Louise.
04:14I've got the soft tyre on, starting pole position.
04:17I've had a good couple of scraps for Dan Rowbottom today.
04:20So I know he's got the pace in that car.
04:21So it's not going to be easy.
04:22It's going to be very hard.
04:24But I'm thinking positive.
04:26I want to get the first win for Virtue this year.
04:28That's my target.
04:30That's my aim.
04:30And I want to do that.
04:31I don't want to be negative in any way.
04:32But you've got the soft tyre on, as you say.
04:34But that hasn't always been such an advantage today, has it?
04:37Any concerns there?
04:39I know that it does seem to go off at the end of the race.
04:42I've followed a lot of people on a soft today.
04:44I know it does go off.
04:45And some people have had punctures.
04:47But I think throughout the day, we've learned what we shouldn't do with a tyre.
04:51So I think we've got a bit of an advantage, like me and Tom Ingram, starting on the soft now.
04:55Because we know what we shouldn't do.
04:56Good luck.
04:57Good luck.
04:57My fingers crossed for that first win for the Virtue team.
05:00Let's go and see one of the drivers who will be battling against it.
05:03We've spoken to him a couple of times already.
05:04That is Robo.
05:07I had a quick chat with Robo just ahead of this session.
05:09And you also, you're very mindful of this soft tyre that's on your car, aren't you?
05:14Yeah, we thought we were playing a blinder at the start of the day.
05:16But yeah, I've got my reservations.
05:18I've just got to try and manage it as best I can.
05:23You've kind of been managing the car all day, because I know you were really happy with it at the media day.
05:28But it's not really come alive as it did there across today, has it?
05:32No, I mean, all weekend, since we put it on the floor yesterday morning, it's not been the same car we had last week.
05:36But it's a big temperature change.
05:37I think the circuit's different.
05:38I think it was a particularly strange day on media day.
05:42So we should have read into that more.
05:44But we've managed it okay.
05:45We've got some points on the board.
05:46You know, I think Napa Racing as a whole has had a fantastic day.
05:52You know, everyone's enjoyed some great success across the minis as well, with Jamie winning all three races.
05:56So I think ultimately, just do our best job we can.
06:01Good stuff.
06:02Fingers crossed for you.
06:02Right, final word now with Jake Hill, who actually could be in the, I was going to say the expensive seats here, if you get the gist,
06:10because he's got rid of that soft tyre.
06:13So this could be playing to your strengths a little bit.
06:16Couldn't it?
06:17Yeah, it's going to be an interesting one, this one, Lou.
06:20But yeah, I think we've seen today that the soft tyre, as fast as it is at the start, can be quite a tricky thing come the end.
06:28So we're definitely, I feel, on the right tyre for this race.
06:32I'm just surrounded by extremely fast people.
06:35Which is a source of a bit of frustration, because this car is a great car, but it's not quite as fast as you want it to be.
06:40And it's really become evident across the course of the day, hasn't it?
06:44Yeah, she's just not quite in the window yet.
06:47You know, I'm trying as hard as I can, and I'm driving the socks off it, but we just haven't got the ultimate pace at the moment.
06:54So we're just going to, yeah, still fight, still fight forward and just get what we can, Lou.
06:59So what's the key for this race?
07:01Is it all about the start?
07:02Is it all about picking off drivers as their tyres go off?
07:04What's the strategy?
07:06Yeah, I mean, the start is still, obviously, very, very crucial to this.
07:09And hopefully we'll at least be able to get Robo off the line.
07:13Depends how good a start Tom gets and go from there.
07:16But, you know, it just depends what happens after that, to be honest with you.
07:20We don't know how many safety cars we're going to have.
07:22It is a race three, after all.
07:24And we've just got to, you know, bide our time with it and just take it one lap at a time.
07:28OK, fingers crossed for you.
07:29I hope it all goes well.
07:30Right, so we've had two wins for Ash Sutton today.
07:33Who is going to get that third win?
07:35We're going to find out after this break.
07:36So the last bit of action at Donington and maybe it's going to be the best of the day.
07:58The reverse grid race, Tom Chilton on pole and Tim Harvey and David Addison in the commentary box.
08:04We know that race three is always dramatic and this has the potential not only to be a dramatic race,
08:11but maybe make Ash Sutton only the third driver in history to win all three touring car races in a row
08:17because he's starting sixth on the medium tyre and that might just be the compound to have here.
08:23He starts behind Dan Kamish directly ahead of him.
08:25He will start fourth on the same rubber.
08:27They had a great battle in race one.
08:29Let's see what pans out this time.
08:30Green flag lap them underway.
08:32Cars make their way off the grid.
08:34One or two a bit slow to get going, Aiden Moffat being one of them,
08:37but he's up to speed now as they head down towards Redgate.
08:40If you can't win race three, then you need to think about banking points, I guess, as well.
08:44And this big, big crowd at Donington have stayed, of course, right to the very end
08:48to watch what promises to be a really dramatic race.
08:51Tom Chilton, then, is the man on pole position, working his way out of Redgate Corner.
08:58And Tom Ingram comes through Redgate.
09:03Before we go racing, let's have a quick word with Tom Ingram.
09:06Are we calling this a pointsy day, Tom, and more points on the board here, maybe?
09:10I hope so.
09:12That would be lovely.
09:14Let's wait and see how this race comes through.
09:16I mean, it's been beautiful, hasn't it?
09:18You can't even reference that it's the opening round of the season when we compare it to last year
09:22when we were gathering two of every animal and building a boat.
09:26So it's a nice contrast.
09:28Hopefully it sets us up quite nicely.
09:31But, yeah, a pointsy day so far, that is for sure.
09:33Let's wait and see what goes on with the chaos of race three.
09:39And also, with this soft tyre, your thoughts about that,
09:42having been seeing what other people have had in the previous races?
09:46What's happened in the previous races?
09:47I don't know anything about that.
09:48We've had the old puncture here and there, haven't we?
09:51I don't know what you're talking about, mate.
09:53All that, we'll see how it goes.
09:54Yeah, look, you've got to nurse the medium, you've got to nurse the soft,
09:58like I said to Louise earlier on.
09:59So it's just, they come with their own challenges.
10:01But, yeah, obviously there's been a few issues with it today,
10:05which is probably with a huge amount of confidence
10:07when you have to bolt a soft tyre on.
10:11We've been told what to do, whether we listen to it,
10:15whether we do it, or there's another method of this.
10:17So let's see how it plays out.
10:19But certainly the Team Virtue car has felt pretty good today.
10:23And usually when we bolt a soft tyre on, it feels quite nice again.
10:25So let's just see how it pans out.
10:27Tom, good luck.
10:29Thank you very much.
10:30Tom Ingram then goes into nurse mode.
10:32Let's quickly run through this grid.
10:34Tom Chilton then is on pole position.
10:35It's Dan Robotson with him at the front,
10:37ahead of Jake Hill and Dan Kamish.
10:39The front row are on the soft, the second row are on the mediums.
10:42Then it's Tom Ingram, soft tyre, medium rubber for Ash Sutton.
10:45Then Aidan Moffat, soft.
10:46And Chris Viley, also on soft.
10:48Dexter Patterson, Adam Morgan, row five,
10:50both on the medium tyres,
10:51ahead of Gordon Shedden on softs and Darren De Leon.
10:54Then it's Max Hall and James Dorland on the soft tyre.
10:56Stephen Gelli next.
10:57He's also on soft, Mikey Doble next.
10:59Michael Kreese is on soft.
11:01Ronan Pearson's on the medium.
11:02Nicholas Hamilton, soft.
11:04Josh Cook, medium.
11:05Then Aaron Taylor-Smith, soft.
11:07Charles Rainford, medium.
11:09And two soft shod cars at the back belong to Dan Lloyd and Sam Osborne,
11:13who had to miss race two, but should be there this time around.
11:16Right, quick prediction.
11:17Can Ash Sutton do it?
11:18Can he do three from three, third driver in history?
11:21Very definitely.
11:22I really think so.
11:23Particularly if this race runs without many safety cars
11:27or any safety cars at all,
11:28because that'll make it much harder for those on soft
11:30to make it cleanly to the end.
11:32But this is race three.
11:33We've got a lot of cars on soft.
11:35There could be punctures, so there could be safety cars,
11:38and that could help those at the front on them,
11:40which is Chilton, Row Bottom, and, of course, Ingram.
11:42So we are good to go, then,
11:44as the field slots into place at the end of the formation lap.
11:48Nick Hamilton comes into view.
11:49They've got Aaron Taylor-Smith, who's had a pretty troubled day.
11:53It was a damaged intercooler in the second race than it did for ATS,
11:57and then the temperatures went off the clock,
11:58so tough day at the office for him.
12:00But elbows out.
12:01Dan Lloyd got damaged in the previous race,
12:03contact from Dexter Patterson,
12:05so he will be there, number 123,
12:07another driver looking to make good, good progress here.
12:10He's on that soft tyre as well.
12:12Late afternoon here, just about half past five,
12:16so the temperature different from the earlier two races.
12:18Round three of the Quick Fit British Touring Car Championship is ready to go at Donington.
12:23Lights go red, lights out, a good getaway this time around.
12:26By the pole, Matt, Tom Chilton, Dan Rowbottom made a decent start as well.
12:29Matt Hall does not, he's a slow away.
12:31Michael Kreese on the grass in avoidance,
12:33and it's going to be Chilton who leads.
12:34Down towards Redgate for the first time,
12:36Rowbottom second, but Jake Hill tries to squeeze up the inside,
12:39and then behind out of the Camish-Sutton battle.
12:42That was Sutton going wide.
12:43That's Hamilton in the gravel.
12:45Nick Hamilton trying to keep his car going,
12:48get up the other side.
12:48I think he will just about do so as they drop downhill for the first time.
12:52Tom Chilton on soft, getting away.
12:54Rowbottom having to go defensive,
12:55and Chilton building a gap.
12:56Yeah, he's using those soft tyres and pushing hard on lap one,
13:01which may or may not be the right course,
13:03but at least it's got him out of trouble from those behind.
13:06Sutton made a great start,
13:07went round the outside of Dan Camish,
13:09teammate into Redgate, who gave him room on the exit.
13:12Right, so Sutton is on the attack.
13:15That's Rowbottom in second place.
13:16Hill, then you've got Ingram,
13:18then it's Sutton already up into fifth place.
13:20So he's cleared, as you say, his teammate,
13:22but Chilton is trying to get away up the road,
13:24and these Hyundai's have been really fast round here this weekend,
13:27but speed is one thing, tyre preservation is another.
13:30It certainly is.
13:31It'll be very interesting to see what Tom Chilton adopts to.
13:35Remember in race one, those on soft tyres,
13:38which was Camish and Sutton,
13:40they were in tyre saving mode by lap two or three.
13:42Let's see what Chilton does.
13:44Down towards Redgate, then.
13:45His gap at the end of the opening tour, 0.9 of a second.
13:48That's the hill, then Ingram, then Sutton, battle pack,
13:52and look, Sutton is on the attack,
13:53trying to find a way past Ingram,
13:54who's up the inside of Hill, two wheels on the dirt.
13:56He keeps on coming.
13:58Tom Ingram forces open the door,
14:00through he goes, really brave pass against the BMW,
14:03and Ash Sutton tries to find a gap on the inside as well,
14:05into the old hairpin, he finds the gap,
14:07stays alongside the BMW,
14:09that's going to put him on the outside line for Schwantz Kerr,
14:11the inside line for McLean.
14:13So Ingram goes up to third,
14:15and Sutton is about to break late,
14:17and commit to fourth place, is he?
14:18Hill gets roughed up a bit on the outside,
14:20but Sutton goes through.
14:22Yeah, they're absolutely mugging that BMW, aren't they?
14:25And don't forget, Sutton's only got one lap of turbo boost to use,
14:29and he'll be saving that for some time later in the race,
14:32I should think.
14:34Down to the chicane they come, then.
14:36Now Cammish comes up to have a go at Hill,
14:38and then behind them, you've got Aidan Moffat,
14:40also trying to join the party in the white BMW,
14:42on the inside, and Chris Smiley is up behind him,
14:45and behind the pair is Gordon Shedden.
14:47So, out of the chicane they come,
14:48up towards the timing line,
14:50and Chilton leads row bottom by eight tenths.
14:52Robo has just done the fastest lap of the race thus far,
14:54but that's the first proper flying lap in Ferdick still,
14:57then Ingram,
14:59Sutton is next,
15:00and here, Smiley looking for a way past Moffat,
15:02Shedden looking for a way past both in the Toyota Corolla.
15:05It's been a bruising return to the touring car championship so far
15:11for Gordon Shedden, hasn't it?
15:12But he's in a good place to maybe make up some places here,
15:16and down the inside goes Cammish on Hill,
15:19they're side by side through the old hairpin,
15:21and they will be all the way up towards,
15:23look at the light flashing in Cammish's car,
15:25he's got boost,
15:26and look how effective that is.
15:27Careful not to get a puncture there though.
15:30They certainly rub,
15:31they make contact,
15:32but Cammish again claims the inside line,
15:34that's at McLean's,
15:35through he goes,
15:36Aidan Moffat now starts to come into the equation as well,
15:38he started race 1 20th,
15:40and here he is,
15:41way up the order in race 2,
15:42and he's going to buy back more places,
15:44Moffat remember is on the soft,
15:46that's contributing to this good pace.
15:48Yeah, it is at this stage of the race,
15:50Cammish is now clear,
15:51but round the outside is coming Moffat,
15:53of his team mate and championship leader,
15:55and he closes the door in front of him,
15:57what a move.
15:59Hill has got Smiley behind him,
16:01Shedden is on the attack as well,
16:02with Adam Morgan there,
16:04Morgan is just ahead,
16:05as they come across the line,
16:06so that's a change of place,
16:07Morgan up to 9th,
16:08Shedden down to 10th,
16:09there's James Dawlin next up,
16:10he's on the soft,
16:11Smiley dives out of the draft,
16:12goes up the inside of Jake Hill,
16:14Smiley winning independent in race 2,
16:16for the restart racing team,
16:17and he's on the attack here,
16:19through he goes,
16:20nicely done.
16:21Yeah,
16:22well the soft tired runners are using that advantage,
16:24at the start of the race,
16:26but Jake Hill's deciding not to fight them,
16:29whilst they've got a tire advantage,
16:30if they're going to use it,
16:31but it may well be,
16:33that they come back to him later in the race,
16:34as Josh Cook gets down the ins,
16:36oh,
16:37bit of splitter there,
16:38or some damage,
16:39from one of the cars flying up,
16:41but Cook is through.
16:42He is indeed,
16:43Josh Cook remember,
16:44started 20th on the grid,
16:46he's now in the mid-teens,
16:47as the cars climb the hill towards Coppies,
16:49Jake Hill's about to come under attack,
16:50from Adam Morgan,
16:52and Adam is on the medium tyre,
16:54as is Jake,
16:55so that's going to be an interesting comparison,
16:56of the pace of the Hyundai,
16:57the BMW,
16:58Hyundai goes through,
17:00Shedden's Toyota goes through,
17:01that's on the soft,
17:02and then you've got James Dawlin's Toyota,
17:04on the soft,
17:04right up behind,
17:05and James is really flying here,
17:06whoops,
17:07he gets into the back of Shedden,
17:08and Gordon has a big,
17:09big moment,
17:09into the chicane,
17:11is he going to survive?
17:12He is,
17:12others have to scatter,
17:13including one of his teammates there,
17:16and he just gets away with it,
17:17as up the inside for second place,
17:19goes Ingram,
17:20moves himself through,
17:21on the inside of Rowbottom,
17:23well,
17:24oh and he waves a thank you there,
17:26you saw a wave of thank you,
17:27because Rowbottom didn't make it hard,
17:29but I think Rowbottom's deciding,
17:31to try and stroke this car home,
17:34on the soft tyres,
17:35rather than attack,
17:36whereas Ingram has decided to attack,
17:39yeah Ingram is on the soft compound as well,
17:41and so is the man in the lead,
17:42Tom Chilton,
17:43but these Hyundai's have got good pace,
17:45so let's have another look,
17:46at this drama for Shedden,
17:47I think it was drawn into the back of him,
17:49he came across the front of Hill,
17:50it's a big,
17:50big tank slapper,
17:52people have to scatter in avoidance,
17:54Dan Lloyd on the outside,
17:55Aaron Taylor-Smith went through the gravel,
17:57and this was Ingram's move,
17:58yeah,
17:59just,
18:00telegraphed the move,
18:01down the inside,
18:03brakes late,
18:03doesn't get any opposition,
18:05from Rowbottom,
18:06he doesn't want to,
18:07use his tyres,
18:08any more than he has to,
18:08I think in fairness,
18:10Shedden might have actually,
18:11made contact with the BMW,
18:12and the braking,
18:13rather than it being,
18:14a push from behind,
18:16but,
18:16difficult to tell from that camera,
18:18sure,
18:19and it dropped him to 16th place,
18:20so it was certainly a moment,
18:21it was a pretty decent save though,
18:22it was a huge,
18:23huge save,
18:24yeah,
18:25whoops,
18:25Aidan Moffat,
18:26so Charles Rainford,
18:27getting up the inside,
18:28of Stephen Jellie,
18:29so current BMW driver,
18:30versus former BMW driver,
18:32Stephen Jellie didn't like that,
18:33makes life difficult,
18:34for the Porsche Carrera Cup graduate,
18:36they've raced together,
18:37in Porsches,
18:37now in touring cars,
18:38and they both lose outlook,
18:39coming over the line,
18:41because past the pair,
18:42there goes Rodan Pearson,
18:43yeah,
18:43and Michael Kreese,
18:45round the outside as well,
18:47Matt Hall's view,
18:48onto the top of the Grainer Curves,
18:49Charles Rainford,
18:50he's being lent on a little bit,
18:51he gets knocked one way,
18:53and then the other,
18:54Jellie is through,
18:54Hall goes round the outside,
18:57welcome to touring cars Charles,
18:58now Hall tries to attack Jellie,
19:00that doesn't work,
19:01well Charles Rainford,
19:02definitely didn't want to be,
19:03the meat and the sandwich there,
19:04he backed out that,
19:05probably very sensibly,
19:07now up front,
19:07as Michael Kreese goes through,
19:09ahead of Moffat,
19:10sorry,
19:10ahead of Rainford,
19:11the fastest lap,
19:12has been done by Chilton,
19:13he leads by 1.4 seconds,
19:15it's a team virtue 1-2,
19:17and we're going to have,
19:17a phone call I think,
19:18to Rowbottom in a minute,
19:19to let Sutton by,
19:20because Ash,
19:21charging along,
19:22getting closer to his teammate,
19:23all the while,
19:24as they come down,
19:25on the chicane then,
19:26there is Rowbottom,
19:27but look how close Sutton is behind,
19:29and to get him up the order,
19:31Rowbottom might,
19:32not have to put up,
19:32too much of a battle,
19:33let's see,
19:34Shedden's still in the mix,
19:35fighting there,
19:36with Dexter Patterson,
19:37who's had a really good day,
19:39for unlimited motorsport,
19:40really has,
19:41yes, I don't think,
19:42I don't think Rowbottom's,
19:42going to put up,
19:43any opposition,
19:45whatsoever to Sutton though,
19:46because he knows,
19:47the score here,
19:48and he'll let his teammate through,
19:52here we go,
19:53here's the switch,
19:53up the inside goes Sutton,
19:55nice and easy,
19:56nice and neat,
19:57no one running wide,
19:58excellent,
19:59right,
19:59so Sutton,
20:00was 2.8 seconds,
20:01back from Chilton,
20:02at the start of this lap,
20:03he's only got one lap of boost,
20:06to use as he said early on,
20:07he's got to be careful,
20:08when he uses it,
20:09yeah,
20:09lap times wise,
20:11on the last lap,
20:13Chilton was a 9.6,
20:14Ingram was a 9.5,
20:16and Sutton was,
20:19a 9.6,
20:20in fact,
20:21the fastest round out,
20:22that front group,
20:22was Kamish on a 9.4,
20:25although Sutton was catching,
20:26wasn't he,
20:27and getting himself up,
20:27with Robots,
20:28but the chicane,
20:29so now he's in clear air,
20:30let's see what this lap,
20:31is going to do for him,
20:31as the Maxwell Charles,
20:33Rainford battle,
20:33carries on up towards Coppice,
20:35two touring car rookies,
20:36they both looked good today,
20:38and will get better and better,
20:39as the season goes on,
20:40Cooper versus BMW,
20:41Maxwell goes ahead,
20:43Charles Rainford got,
20:44battered about,
20:45at the chicane in race two,
20:46and it was down at the old hairpin,
20:48that the tar finally went back,
20:49so a combination of that,
20:50and the damage,
20:51did for him in the second race,
20:53but here he is,
20:54fighting with Maxwell,
20:55and from minis,
20:56from Porsches,
20:57they find themselves,
20:58on a touring car grid,
20:59and they're still,
20:59scrapping for position,
21:0121st it is,
21:01as they go down to Redgate,
21:02but it's as fierce a fight,
21:03as you'll find anywhere else,
21:05Nick Hamilton is behind,
21:06having got out of the gravel,
21:07after that first lap drama,
21:08side by side,
21:09haul on the inside,
21:10take that Rainford he says,
21:11and Charles gets with,
21:12a bit of hip and shoulder,
21:13forced out wide,
21:14and the triple seven of Michael Kreese,
21:16trying to buy into this round,
21:18the outside of Rainford,
21:19but not getting there,
21:20back to the front,
21:21Team Virtu 1-2,
21:23at the moment,
21:24with Chilton,
21:25keeping that gap,
21:26ahead of Ingram,
21:27but it looks to have closed,
21:28a little bit to me,
21:29and it's also the pace of Sutton,
21:31to keep an eye on,
21:322.8 seconds then,
21:33first to third,
21:34here,
21:35a Hyundai battle,
21:36Smiley versus Morgan,
21:37you get the feeling,
21:38Adams in quite a happy place,
21:39back in a front wheel drive car,
21:40yeah,
21:41I think so,
21:41you remember the day,
21:42some of his greatest successes,
21:44came in that Mercedes,
21:45the A-class Mercedes,
21:46and he loved it,
21:47so this is,
21:48this is probably a comfort zone,
21:50he said,
21:50I want to try going back,
21:51to front wheel drive again,
21:53and it seems to have,
21:54been a great success,
21:56so,
21:57as he comes over the line,
21:58his next target,
21:59is a former teammate,
22:00Aidan Moffat,
22:00the order,
22:01Chilton,
22:01Ingram,
22:02Sutton,
22:02Rowbottom,
22:03Camish,
22:04Moffat,
22:04as they go through,
22:05and actually,
22:05the gap first to third,
22:06has crept up,
22:072.9,
22:08rather than coming down,
22:09so Chilton to Ingram,
22:10is 1.3,
22:11last time around,
22:13only by hundreds,
22:14but Sutton was not as quick,
22:15as either of those,
22:16two Team Virtu Hyundai,
22:18so the soft is still working,
22:19it's still at the moment,
22:20only a tenth of a second,
22:21between them,
22:22but we've still got,
22:23a long way to go in this race,
22:25and no safety car yet,
22:28Ash Sutton,
22:29third,
22:30turns out of McLean's,
22:31we're talking about,
22:32the possibility,
22:33of him doing the triple,
22:34it's only been done twice before,
22:36Dan Eves,
22:37doing it back,
22:37in 2005,
22:39Jason Plato,
22:39at the end of 2009,
22:41and winning three,
22:42in a day these days,
22:43with part of the opposition,
22:44but also the tyre regulations,
22:46the boost regulations,
22:47very,
22:48very difficult indeed,
22:49but it could possibly,
22:50just maybe,
22:51be done,
22:52Chilton leads,
22:52coming up now,
22:53to the end of lap number nine,
22:55but if it is,
22:56indeed the medium tyre,
22:58which is the tyre,
22:58to be on,
22:59at the latter half,
23:00of this race,
23:00then Sutton is in the pound seat,
23:03because he is the leading runner,
23:04on the medium tyre,
23:06right,
23:06the lead gap,
23:07has come down to one second,
23:08and first to third,
23:09he's back down to 2.8,
23:11that's where we started,
23:12in fourth place,
23:13Robots,
23:13and fifth Camish,
23:14this is six,
23:15this is Moffat,
23:15and Morgan,
23:16rounding Redgate together,
23:17then in eighth place,
23:18it's Chris Smiley,
23:19in ninth place,
23:20is James Dorlin,
23:21having the race of the day,
23:22as far as he is concerned,
23:24and then in tenth,
23:25it is Mikey Doble,
23:26who's also worked his way up,
23:27nicely,
23:28a retirement,
23:28and a 14th,
23:29for James Dorlin so far,
23:31and here he is,
23:32first weekend in touring cars,
23:33running ninth,
23:34yeah running very well,
23:35probably enjoying the grip,
23:36at this stage,
23:37of those soft tyres,
23:39but Mikey Doble,
23:40coming through,
23:41on the inside,
23:42on the approach to McLean's,
23:43Michael Doble,
23:44is on the medium tyre though,
23:46so maybe,
23:47Dorlin's soft tyres,
23:48just starting to fade away,
23:50great battle,
23:51between Moffat and Morgan,
23:52here as they head up,
23:53towards the right of Coppice,
23:55as far as Moffat's concerned,
23:56it's soft tyres,
23:57it's the medium for Morgan,
23:59and the Hyundai,
24:00with Chris Smiley's,
24:01similar car from the restart,
24:02stable behind,
24:03Morgan just drives,
24:04past the BMW,
24:05in a straight line,
24:05on the boost,
24:06goes through,
24:07secures the place,
24:08down towards the chicane,
24:10Jake Hill by the way,
24:11has dropped back,
24:11into 11th place,
24:12and remember,
24:13he's on the medium,
24:14he's having a really tough race,
24:15yeah,
24:15should be able to push harder,
24:17on this tyre,
24:18but clearly,
24:19lacking pace,
24:21there he is,
24:22look he's behind,
24:23James Dorlin,
24:23as they come across the line,
24:24Aaron Taylor Smith,
24:2512th after a tough day,
24:26and Josh Cook 13th,
24:28so he's going to be looking,
24:29to gain more places,
24:30before the end,
24:31Cook's on the medium tyre,
24:32as well,
24:32so he is pushing,
24:34a little bit of damage,
24:35on the front of Hill's car,
24:36but nothing that you would expect,
24:37maybe it comes here,
24:39or clips those tyres,
24:41yeah,
24:41that does,
24:41that's exactly,
24:42what did the damage,
24:43he was,
24:44obviously slightly unsighted,
24:45following,
24:46James Dorlin,
24:47but nevertheless,
24:48he seems to have,
24:49got away with that,
24:50that's Morgan,
24:54that's Moffat,
24:55and now they're in that order,
24:56Hyundai ahead of BMW,
24:57Adam is going after,
24:58another former teammate,
24:59Dan Rowbottom,
25:00and came into the touring cars,
25:02with the,
25:02Sicily Motorsport,
25:04Mercedes team,
25:04that's Hill,
25:05still squabbling,
25:06with Dorlin,
25:07and as he turns his way,
25:08through the corner,
25:09you've got,
25:10in the pack as well,
25:11Aaron Taylor Smith,
25:12and then Josh Cook,
25:14yeah Hill's actually,
25:15past Dorlin on this lap,
25:17so I think Dorlin's,
25:18tyre troubles are,
25:19starting to hit him,
25:21will others follow,
25:23into the chicane,
25:24they can't be looking back,
25:25from the BMW,
25:26up towards the line,
25:27lead gap,
25:27a second and a half,
25:28that time around,
25:30Tom Ingram,
25:31a little bit closer again,
25:32but Sutton's 3.3 seconds back,
25:34he's just not being able,
25:35to match the pace,
25:36of those cars,
25:36on the softs ahead,
25:37no that was 2.8 seconds,
25:39wasn't it before,
25:40and still seven laps to go,
25:42so it's now,
25:45getting towards,
25:46quarter to six at Donington,
25:47temperature's a little bit cooler,
25:48is that helping the soft tyre?
25:50Must be,
25:50I mean,
25:51plus what they've learnt,
25:52so far from watching,
25:53others struggle,
25:54you know,
25:55when Ingram said,
25:56we've learnt a little bit,
25:57what he meant was,
25:58or when he said,
25:59what we've been told,
26:00what to do,
26:00what that means is,
26:01don't run five degrees,
26:03of negative camber,
26:04on your left front tyre,
26:05don't run low tyre pressures,
26:07and look after,
26:08oh,
26:09look up there,
26:10that was Gordon Shedden,
26:11the Toyotas seem to be,
26:13running together a lot today,
26:15don't they?
26:15Yeah,
26:16Shedden behind Cook,
26:17and that is for 13th,
26:18and 14th places then,
26:20as Sam Okspoor,
26:21and up from the back of the grid,
26:22now he's going really nicely,
26:23I know he's on the soft,
26:24but even so,
26:25he's there in 15th place,
26:26squabbling with Dexter Patterson,
26:28so Sam getting racier and racier,
26:30year on year in the championship,
26:32but of course,
26:33there's a bit of brotherly rivalry now,
26:34after what Jamie has done,
26:35in the mini challenge,
26:36three wins this weekend,
26:37well,
26:38I think Sam wants to come home,
26:39with a good race result,
26:40because otherwise,
26:41the dinner conversation,
26:42is all going to be about,
26:43Jamie's three wins,
26:44isn't it,
26:44in the Osborne household,
26:46a bit one-sided,
26:47but poor Sam,
26:49didn't get out in race two,
26:50because of the clutch change,
26:51on the car,
26:53so he's having a good go,
26:56at this time,
26:56but he is also,
26:57on the soft tyre,
26:59so he's got to try,
27:00and nurse that a little bit,
27:02Tom Chilton,
27:02has been a winner,
27:03here in the past,
27:04and he is still the race leader,
27:06by over a second,
27:07from Tom Ingram,
27:08and they are both,
27:09on that soft tyre,
27:10so Chilton now,
27:11heads up towards Coppice,
27:12there's Ingram,
27:13and Sutton is still,
27:14barrelling along behind,
27:16in the sectors though,
27:17he is fractionally faster,
27:18on this lap,
27:19but it's a very small fraction,
27:21what they have done though,
27:22is drop Dan Camish,
27:23haven't we,
27:24who is also,
27:24on the medium tyre,
27:25but he's dropped away,
27:26a fair bit from,
27:28from the lead three,
27:30anyway,
27:32further back,
27:33you've got the,
27:34squabble going on here,
27:35between Moffat,
27:36Smiley,
27:36Doble,
27:37BMW,
27:38Hyundai,
27:38Vauxhall,
27:39as they head now,
27:40into,
27:41the chicane,
27:43and Aidan Moffat,
27:44will be under attack,
27:45from Chris Smiley then,
27:46heading into,
27:46Redgate this time,
27:47the net battle pack,
27:48Osborne,
27:49Patterson,
27:50Daryl De Leon,
27:51is in there,
27:52and so is Dan Lloyd,
27:53up from the rear,
27:54of the grid,
27:54and then,
27:56Ronan Pearson behind him,
27:57Moffat,
27:57Smiley,
27:58into Redgate,
27:58Smiley way up the curve,
27:59on the inside,
28:00Moffat a little bit wide,
28:01there may have been a brush,
28:02between them going,
28:02into the corner,
28:03but Smiley goes through,
28:05Chris Smiley up,
28:05into seventh place,
28:06in the restart race,
28:07in Hyundai,
28:07that's definitely,
28:08become his favourite,
28:09overtaking place,
28:10hasn't it,
28:11on the exit,
28:11of Redgate,
28:12he tees it up,
28:13very nicely,
28:14whether he's using,
28:15the boost,
28:15or not on this lap,
28:16I don't know,
28:16remember the maximum,
28:18number of laps,
28:19that anyone could use,
28:19the boost,
28:20is eight out,
28:21of the 18 laps,
28:22but it certainly,
28:23works well for him,
28:25change here,
28:25Morgan is up to fifth,
28:26Rowbottom is down to sixth,
28:27that's medium tyre,
28:28going ahead of soft,
28:30interesting how,
28:30Rowbottom soft's really,
28:32he's either been nursing,
28:33or losing places,
28:35with regularity,
28:36whereas the Hyundai's,
28:37up front on the soft,
28:38are still really pushing,
28:39they are,
28:40and I mean,
28:40don't forget,
28:41it's the,
28:41the Napa Ford's have,
28:43I won't say traditionally,
28:44but they have struggled,
28:45on the soft tyre,
28:46we've seen a lot of,
28:47of tyre punctures,
28:48on the Napa Ford's,
28:50we're seeing now,
28:51whether the Hyundai,
28:51can carry that tyre better,
28:55getting a replay,
28:55on board the,
28:57Drake Hill BMW,
28:58of Mikey Doble,
28:59making the run up,
28:59the inside of Aidan Moffat,
29:01going into Coppice,
29:01Doble goes through,
29:02into eighth place,
29:04Mikey just gets on,
29:05with the job doesn't he,
29:05he doesn't draw,
29:06a huge amount of attention,
29:07to himself,
29:07but behind the wheel,
29:08he can drive,
29:09yeah he's sort of,
29:10quietly,
29:10almost softly spoken,
29:12but he's a great,
29:13little driver,
29:14good golf player as well,
29:15plays off scratch,
29:15at goal at,
29:17comes from a good,
29:18racing family as well,
29:19his dad,
29:20and brothers race also,
29:21and down towards,
29:23the old hairpin,
29:23now comes Hill,
29:24now the gap,
29:25between the top two,
29:26is down to 1.4 seconds,
29:28and first to third,
29:30is 2.2,
29:31second to third,
29:32at the start of the lap,
29:33was only seven tenths,
29:34of a second,
29:34now Sutton,
29:35is coming into the ballpark,
29:37but he's running out of time,
29:37because when they come over the line,
29:39this time,
29:39there'll be three,
29:41laps to go,
29:42yeah but they're the hardest,
29:43three to finish,
29:44they are the hardest,
29:45they'll seem,
29:46it'll seem not like,
29:47a short lap,
29:48it'll seem like a very long lap,
29:49all those three laps,
29:51nurse the cars home,
29:52but you're right,
29:53Sutton is really getting himself,
29:55into position,
29:56to attack Ingram,
29:57he'd love to,
29:58to beat him in this race,
29:59so over the line,
30:01they go,
30:01first to third,
30:02is still 2.6 seconds,
30:03Tom Chilton,
30:04is driving a really good race,
30:06on that soft tyre,
30:07Ingram being caught,
30:08as you can see,
30:09further back,
30:10deep breath,
30:11Osborne,
30:11ahead of Passerson,
30:12as they come into the chicane,
30:13still lots of squabbling going on,
30:15and there,
30:15Charles Rainford,
30:16and Stephen Jelly,
30:17have not done yet,
30:18Jelly over the gravel,
30:19Mikey Dobles,
30:19got past Chris Smiley,
30:20at Redgate,
30:21Smiley fights back,
30:22gets up the inside,
30:23as he switches lanes,
30:24this is for seventh place,
30:25Smiley goes back through,
30:27just,
30:28yeah,
30:28got that,
30:29he's got that,
30:30cut back,
30:31absolutely timed to perfection,
30:33as Chris Smiley,
30:34coming out of Redgate,
30:36and it shows,
30:37doesn't it,
30:38a more competitive car,
30:39and he's racing,
30:40in a different way,
30:41you know,
30:41because he's got the speed,
30:42he's got the car,
30:42doing what he wants,
30:43he's further up the order anyway,
30:45and Chris Smiley,
30:46has had a really impressive day,
30:47here,
30:48going up now,
30:48through McLean's,
30:50and currently running,
30:51in seventh place,
30:52as for second,
30:53it's game on,
30:54Sutton has spent the lap,
30:55behind Ingram,
30:56he's not made the move yet,
30:57remember,
30:57that he's got only,
30:58one lap of turbo boost to use,
31:00has Ash Sutton,
31:01so all of this hard work,
31:03is,
31:03oh,
31:03that's off the road,
31:04Patterson,
31:05I was going to say,
31:05it's all being done on pure pace,
31:07no assistance from extra boost,
31:08Patterson off the road,
31:09can he rejoin,
31:10or would we get an interruption,
31:12two laps to go,
31:13down to Redgate,
31:14Sutton now,
31:15thinking about when to make the move,
31:16well,
31:17Ingram had two laps,
31:18of hybrid left,
31:20and he only had two,
31:21to start with,
31:22but he's got,
31:22he hasn't used any,
31:23and neither had Sutton,
31:25with one to go,
31:26so they've both got,
31:27got it to use,
31:28the risk of being pedantic,
31:29I think you mean boost,
31:30not hybrid,
31:31Governor,
31:31I knew that was going to catch up,
31:33I've been correcting everybody,
31:35all day saying boost,
31:36and then I've gone and sent hybrid,
31:38but it is the boost,
31:39and he is being sparing,
31:40the point he makes,
31:41is absolutely valid,
31:42and Ash Sutton,
31:43stays in the wheel tracks,
31:45but,
31:46now that Ingram is defending,
31:47that's given Tom Chilton,
31:48a free ride,
31:49he's now 2.2 seconds,
31:50up the road,
31:51so Sutton,
31:52yeah,
31:52he wants to get second place,
31:54but Chilton has a big gap,
31:55that he's had for a few laps,
31:56and Sutton tries to switch sides,
31:57up the inside,
31:58curve and all,
31:59he's got to be on the boost,
32:00now coming out of the corner,
32:02let's see,
32:03he doesn't use the boost,
32:04that means Ingram stays ahead,
32:06and that shows you,
32:06how rapid the Hyundai can be,
32:08yes,
32:08with a bit of boost,
32:09but in a straight line,
32:10it's advantage Ingram,
32:11yeah,
32:11I think that one extra lap,
32:13of boost that Ingram had,
32:14has probably saved him there,
32:16because they're both,
32:17going to have it,
32:17on this final lap,
32:18so it'll be situation the same,
32:21but Chilton,
32:21I can't give enough praise,
32:23he's driven beautifully,
32:24I mean,
32:24he pushed hard on lap one,
32:26to get a little gap,
32:27but he's absolutely,
32:28been majestic,
32:29in his drive,
32:30for the rest of the race,
32:31not working the car too hard,
32:32beautifully hitting his apexes,
32:35absolute,
32:36splendid drive,
32:37he's now three seconds,
32:39clear,
32:40and,
32:41to echo what Tim says,
32:42it's been a faultless performance,
32:44on the time,
32:44and other people are struggling to make work,
32:46look at the way,
32:47some are dropping back,
32:48he's just pulling away,
32:49right,
32:49Sutton versus Ingram,
32:51Ash Sutton,
32:51he's on the podium,
32:52provisionally,
32:53but which step,
32:54let's see,
32:54at the inside he goes then,
32:55dives into McLean's,
32:56goes second,
32:57but if he goes wide,
32:58Ingram can get back up the inside,
33:00which he does,
33:01Sutton on the outside,
33:02Ingram on the inside,
33:03and back ahead goes the Hyundai,
33:05so,
33:05the drag race,
33:06down to the chicane,
33:08Tom Chilton's ahead of them,
33:09let's not forget,
33:10that little dot in the distance,
33:11is on target to win the race,
33:13they're both on the boost,
33:14coming out of Coppice,
33:15Sutton has had to save it for the last lap,
33:17down to the chicane,
33:18they come,
33:19but Tom Chilton turns through the chicane,
33:21checkered flag is at the ready,
33:23there he is,
33:23Tom Chilton,
33:24takes race three,
33:25at Donington,
33:26Tom Chilton it is,
33:27who wins a 17th career win,
33:30second place,
33:30the drag race goes the way of Tom Ingram,
33:32Ash Sutton is third,
33:34fourth will be Dan Kamish,
33:36Adam Morgan fifth,
33:37a great rebuild of the weekend,
33:39off Troubles yesterday,
33:40Dan Rowbottom is on target,
33:42for sixth place,
33:43ahead of Mikey Doble,
33:44who just gets the jump,
33:46on Chris Smiley,
33:47then it's Aidan Moffat,
33:49Jake Hill is 10th,
33:50Josh Cook 11th,
33:51Aaron Taylor-Smith 12th,
33:53from Gordon Shedham,
33:55and then behind it's going to be,
33:57Ronan Pearson,
33:57and the last point goes to,
34:00Darrell De Leon,
34:00just ahead of Charles Rainford,
34:02Stephen Jellie 17th,
34:03and then Sam Osborne,
34:05another cracking race,
34:08but Tom Chilton's winning,
34:14margin three,
34:15three point four seconds,
34:17and it's a delight,
34:20delighted team,
34:21that is for sure,
34:22and a one-two,
34:24for Team Virtue,
34:25wow,
34:25that's going to be fascinating to see,
34:26now what that does,
34:27to the championship,
34:28the last win,
34:28that Tom Chilton had,
34:30was not that long ago,
34:31it was Croft,
34:31last year,
34:32but he and Tom Ingram,
34:34have certainly looked quick all weekend,
34:36as has Adam Morgan,
34:37as indeed all the Hyundai's,
34:38have the restart cars as well,
34:40but a one-two for Team Virtue,
34:42to round out the day,
34:42is a really good result,
34:45and those cars,
34:46certainly have a knack,
34:46of working the soft tyre,
34:47well they've proved that,
34:49haven't they,
34:50they've proved they're slightly,
34:51kinder to the tyre,
34:52than perhaps the Ford,
34:54or that they've come up,
34:55with a better set up,
34:57oh that's Dan Lloyd,
34:58that's Dan Lloyd,
34:59yeah,
34:59on the last lap,
35:00he hasn't got to the line,
35:01no he hasn't,
35:02oh what a shame,
35:03and the car looking,
35:04a bit hot and bothered,
35:05I think Dan's trying,
35:05to attract the attention,
35:06of somebody with a fire extinguisher,
35:08what happened,
35:08he got squeezed,
35:09onto the grass,
35:11and that clogs up everything,
35:12he avoids,
35:14pretty much everything solid,
35:15but I suspect after that,
35:16the temperatures,
35:17would have gone off the clog,
35:18well or he may have,
35:19ripped off some lines,
35:21or something like that,
35:22when he's bounced,
35:23yeah,
35:23he's something's come off,
35:25underneath the front,
35:26in the engine bay,
35:27really tough day for Dan,
35:28who worked so so hard,
35:30to find the money to go racing,
35:31but he'll bounce back,
35:33he's an irrepressible,
35:34little Huddersfield character,
35:36as Dan Lloyd,
35:36Tom Chilton though,
35:37is another irrepressible fellow,
35:39the winner's interview,
35:40with Louise,
35:41will go on for a while,
35:42I suspect,
35:43because Tom,
35:44isn't a happy bedfellow,
35:46with short sentences,
35:47is he,
35:47he's a great character,
35:48and he's great to have,
35:49in the championship,
35:50so now they have to go,
35:51through the post race,
35:53technical checks,
35:54the new for 2025,
35:57roller will go under the car,
35:58to check the ride heights,
35:59both at the side,
36:01and at the front,
36:02and the fans now,
36:05starting to make their way,
36:06to the car parks,
36:08Tom Chilton wins round three,
36:09of the quick fit,
36:10British touring car championship,
36:11from Tom Ingram,
36:12and Ash Sutton in third,
36:13fourth place,
36:14to Dan Camish,
36:15ahead of Adam Morgan,
36:16and Dan Rowbottom,
36:17in sixth,
36:17seventh,
36:18Mikey Doble,
36:19he's the winning independent driver,
36:20this time from Chris Smiley,
36:21with Aidan Moffat,
36:22and Jake Hill,
36:23rounding out the top ten,
36:2411th to Josh Cook,
36:26ahead of Aaron Taylor-Smith,
36:27and Gordon Shedden,
36:28Ronan Pearson takes 14th,
36:30and the last point,
36:30is that claimed,
36:32by Daryl DeLeon,
36:33Charles Rainford,
36:33he's ahead of Stephen Jelly,
36:3516th and 17th,
36:36with Sam Osborne next,
36:37then Michael Grease,
36:38and Matt Hall,
36:3920th from James Dorland,
36:40who in the end,
36:41fell to 21st,
36:42and Nick Hamilton,
36:43behind him,
36:44with Dan Lloyd,
36:44retiring on the last lap,
36:46and Dexter Patterson,
36:47in strife,
36:47three laps from home,
36:48so two wins,
36:52to Ash Sutton,
36:53and another Donington success,
36:55for Tom Chilton,
36:56means that at the end of the day,
36:57Ash Sutton is the championship leader,
36:59by seven points,
37:00from Tom Ingram,
37:01Tom Chilton third,
37:02Dan Camish fourth,
37:03Dan Rowbottom is fifth,
37:04ahead of Jake Hill,
37:05then Aidan Moffat,
37:06and Chris Smiley,
37:07with Mikey Doble ninth,
37:08and the top ten completed,
37:10by Adam Morgan.
37:15So it is a very happy,
37:17from Tom Chilton,
37:18who steps out of the car,
37:21and is a race winner,
37:24for the 17th time,
37:25in his British Touring Car,
37:26championship career,
37:28embracing the team,
37:29and Barry Plowman there,
37:31the engineer,
37:31with the headset around his neck,
37:32also being congratulated,
37:34by Mickey Butler,
37:35from Goodyear,
37:37but as far as,
37:38Tom Chilton is concerned,
37:40perfect way,
37:41to round out the day,
37:42right,
37:42stand by,
37:43for a typically long,
37:45winners interview,
37:45from Tom Chilton,
37:46that's coming up,
37:47after the break,
37:48Tom Chilton's drive,
37:54winning margin,
37:54of 3.4 seconds,
37:56and there's,
37:57the championship,
37:58standings,
37:59with Ash Sutton,
38:00with a seven point lead,
38:01over Tom Ingram,
38:02Tom Chilton,
38:03Dan Camish,
38:04in fourth,
38:05let's get the reaction,
38:06might be quite lengthy,
38:08from our race winner,
38:09Tom Chilton,
38:09well not surprisingly,
38:11he's a very happy boy,
38:12and he's very proud,
38:13of his new bottle,
38:14aren't you?
38:14Winner,
38:15I've got the winner bottle,
38:17oh my gosh,
38:18look at that,
38:19isn't it nice,
38:19when you get the winner,
38:21and look at this,
38:21he's got second,
38:22what a great weekend,
38:23for Team Virtue,
38:24Tom with his triple podium,
38:26and I'm just happy,
38:27to get the first win,
38:27for the team,
38:28but we've,
38:29everyone has worked so hard,
38:31like behind the scenes,
38:32over the winter,
38:34and everyone always says it,
38:35but I really do think,
38:36we've worked the hardest,
38:37and it shows off,
38:39doesn't it?
38:39That was a sublime drive,
38:41as well,
38:41I mean the guys,
38:41were calling out in the box,
38:42you just had it all,
38:43under control,
38:44or it looked that way anyway.
38:46When I am on pole,
38:47I usually just go off,
38:48like a thoroughbred racehorse,
38:51I don't like to be caught,
38:52I like to just keep my gap,
38:53and keep going,
38:54and I just got every inch perfect,
38:56I did notice the last five laps,
38:58and started getting a vibration,
38:59I wasn't sure,
39:00if it's because I damaged,
39:01the alloy wheel on a kerb,
39:02or if it was the soft tyre going off,
39:03so I was just being,
39:05extra careful at the end,
39:06but still can maintain the gaps,
39:08obviously Tom started having,
39:09a little bit of a,
39:09a tussle of ash,
39:10which was rather handy,
39:11so I could look after the tyres,
39:13so.
39:13What were you thinking at that point,
39:14were you watching that,
39:15and breathing a sigh of relief,
39:17because it took the pressure off,
39:18nicely didn't it?
39:18I was watching yeah,
39:19and I saved my hybrid for the end,
39:21and I was going around the corners,
39:22as slowly as possible,
39:23and then using the hybrid,
39:24in a straight line,
39:25so I could just give the tyre,
39:26the easiest time,
39:27and maintain the gap,
39:28which was,
39:29which was perfect,
39:30and it was a sigh of relief,
39:31watching those two,
39:32have a little bit of a tangle.
39:33You've had sort of frustrations,
39:35the past couple of years,
39:37this has got your season,
39:38off to a really good start,
39:39I mean it's been a good day,
39:40hasn't it,
39:41and finishing up with the win,
39:42I think your P3,
39:42in the standings,
39:44early days,
39:44but hey,
39:45it's showing promise,
39:46isn't it?
39:47I think the old Tom Chilton's back,
39:48I think the problem,
39:49the last few years,
39:50with the weight of the hybrid,
39:52and me being,
39:52obviously one of the heavier drivers,
39:53it's really hurt me,
39:55massively.
39:56Now I've lost weight,
39:57the car's had the 50 kilos out of it,
39:59I now remember how to drive these cars,
40:01and Barry,
40:02my engineer,
40:03has obviously done this,
40:04for thousands of years as well,
40:05and he knows how to engineer these cars as well,
40:07and I feel like as a combination,
40:09we know what we're doing again,
40:10so now we've gone from,
40:11struggling a little bit,
40:12the last few years,
40:13to now back where I should be,
40:14so I'm very confident for this year.
40:16Lean,
40:16mean racing machine,
40:17well done you.
40:18Thank you very much.
40:18Let's bring in your teammate Tom,
40:21who,
40:21I mean first of all,
40:23I know you'd have liked the win,
40:25but if it's going to go to anybody else,
40:26you're very happy for Tother Tom,
40:27aren't you?
40:28He's a teammate,
40:30but he's a really good mate as well,
40:32and that's the lovely thing,
40:33is we have a lot of fun,
40:35we have a lot of fun together,
40:36so it was only right he got a result,
40:39because what happened to him in qualifying,
40:41was so unlucky,
40:43and Tom's had that seemingly every year,
40:45for the last couple of years,
40:45just something not quite going his way,
40:47in the first one,
40:48so it was so nice to see him get a result,
40:50and he played an absolute blinder,
40:52drove it perfectly,
40:53and I was on the radio,
40:54trying to go back to Barry,
40:55saying I'm not racing Tom,
40:57let him save his tyre,
40:58because what I didn't want to happen,
40:59was Tom to think that I'm trying to come at him,
41:02and try to push,
41:03and get this left front puncture,
41:05or left front issue,
41:06shouldn't say puncture,
41:07get told off,
41:08issue that we've been having today,
41:12and Ash getting both of us,
41:14and getting more points,
41:15so he's driven really, really well,
41:17and I'm really, really pleased with him.
41:18As you say, you weren't racing him,
41:19but you were racing Ash,
41:20and very hard,
41:21how glad were you,
41:22of that one extra lap of boost that you had?
41:25God, it was horrible,
41:27it was just disgusting, frankly.
41:32It was definitely a nice thing to have,
41:34I could see what Ash was obviously doing,
41:36is going just,
41:37you know,
41:37I'll try to get him at the end,
41:40like a wounded gazelle,
41:43and he was coming at me fast,
41:46you see.
41:47You've got a vivid imagination.
41:50So, I knew I had to try and save something,
41:53so I wasn't going to get eaten,
41:57which I don't like being eaten.
41:58So, yeah,
41:59really, really pleased with it.
42:00Look, we've had,
42:00we've had,
42:02we've had,
42:03from my side,
42:04three second places,
42:05really, really good way
42:06just to kick the season off.
42:08Ash has obviously been very strong
42:09this weekend as well.
42:11We'll start to see how the season
42:12starts to unfold from here on in,
42:14because it's,
42:14it's looking like it's going to be
42:16quite a spicy one.
42:17Well, following your analogy,
42:18let's bring in the lion,
42:19the man who was doing the chasing there,
42:21the man who's now leading the championship.
42:22I mean,
42:23what a great day you've had,
42:24two wins,
42:24and you'll kind of take that P3
42:26at the end,
42:26won't you?
42:27Yeah,
42:27100%.
42:28Small error from my part
42:29on the last lap,
42:30the yellow flag didn't come up
42:31on the dash,
42:31so I put a move on
42:32and realised very quickly
42:33I need to give that one back.
42:34So, yeah,
42:35really good.
42:36Tom kind of hit nail on the head.
42:37We were just waiting
42:37for the last few laps,
42:38so I thought I'd turn the wick up
42:39and have a stab.
42:40But, yeah,
42:41just not enough laps left.
42:43But, ultimately,
42:44phenomenal day.
42:45Great for Napa Racing UK.
42:46We've come away
42:47with some strong points,
42:48not just from my side,
42:49but as a team.
42:50Has this exceeded
42:52your expectations
42:52coming into this weekend?
42:54Did you think you were going
42:54to have a bit of a tougher
42:56fight on your hands?
42:58I've had a tough fight.
42:59I was about to say,
42:59I've had a tough fight all day
43:01and Tom just got a taste
43:02of what it felt like
43:02for race one and two.
43:03So, yeah,
43:04it has been tough all day.
43:06The cars are so close.
43:08They seem to be over a lap.
43:09We've got our strengths
43:10and weaknesses.
43:11They're more aerodynamically
43:13faster in a straight line.
43:14We're slightly better
43:15in a corner.
43:16So, yeah,
43:16it's been really,
43:17really good.
43:17Obviously,
43:18let's see how that rolls
43:19into brands
43:19and see what happens there.
43:20But if I woke up this morning
43:22and said two wins
43:23and a third,
43:24I would have bit
43:24someone's arm off for it.
43:25And overall,
43:26I have to say,
43:27I mean,
43:27you obviously were watching
43:28the mini racing going on.
43:29What a day for Napa Racing.
43:31Yeah,
43:31for Jamie Osborne,
43:32what he's been doing today
43:33is phenomenal.
43:34Three out of three
43:35is a great achievement.
43:37And he cheekily come up
43:39and said,
43:39it's your turn now.
43:40So,
43:40I had a good go,
43:41just not enough in the tank.
43:42Wasn't quite to be,
43:43but nonetheless,
43:44a fantastic day.
43:44Well done.
43:45Congratulations.
43:46And back to you,
43:46Steve.
43:47Thanks very much indeed,
43:48Lou.
43:49We expected the championship
43:51to turn into many things,
43:52but not the jungle book.
43:53But it's become a bit like that.
43:56But great day for Napa Racing.
43:58Great day for Team Virtue as well.
44:00And Tom Chilton,
44:02well,
44:02his old self
44:03never really went away,
44:04did it?
44:04No,
44:04I think I said at the start of the day
44:05that Charles Rainford's
44:06the happiest man on the grid,
44:07but I think Chilton's now
44:08come back at him
44:09and beaten that there.
44:11So,
44:11yeah,
44:11Tom got away very,
44:13very well.
44:14And he went off,
44:15we're going to quote David Addison here,
44:16like a stabbed rat.
44:17And I did worry about
44:19the usage of the soft tyre.
44:21I did think he would
44:22drop back a little bit,
44:23but he didn't.
44:24He just kept it
44:25smooth and tidy.
44:26And like he said,
44:26he used the boost
44:27on the straights only
44:28and fair play to him.
44:29It was a very good win.
44:30Yeah.
44:31And those last couple of laps,
44:33I mean,
44:33Ash Sutton character
44:34summarised it.
44:34Tom Ingram tried to
44:35describe it as well.
44:37Epic.
44:38And it suggests so much
44:39to come in this
44:40championship campaign.
44:42Definitely.
44:42Massively impressive
44:45racing today.
44:46I think Ash Sutton,
44:48to be fair to Ash,
44:49was very honest
44:50with about,
44:51you know,
44:52the era of the Hyundai,
44:54you know,
44:55them being a bit stronger
44:56in the corners.
44:57I do think,
44:58I mean,
44:59this was a great battle
45:00and it was,
45:01you know,
45:01no quarter given,
45:02none taken.
45:03And it was not,
45:04I thought that
45:04that place went back
45:06really quickly.
45:06So,
45:07gets the job done
45:07at McLean's,
45:08but the yellers
45:08are out behind him,
45:10aren't they?
45:10So,
45:11he's seen that
45:11on his dash,
45:12like he said,
45:12and he's given it back
45:13because I thought,
45:14why has he done,
45:14how has he got that
45:15all wrong?
45:16But anyway,
45:17they got through it
45:18and it was,
45:19for me,
45:20more impressive to see
45:21how the Hyundai
45:22worked better
45:24with its softer tyres
45:25than the actual
45:26Ford Focus.
45:27But you can see
45:28the Euro here.
45:28I know there's a little
45:29bit of boost,
45:30maybe indiscretion,
45:31but that Team Virtu car
45:33does look,
45:35I'll admit,
45:35very good in a straight line,
45:37but that's just
45:38the strengths and weaknesses
45:39of, you know,
45:40different cars.
45:41And that winning margin,
45:423.4 seconds
45:43from Tom Chilton.
45:44He was totally
45:45in control.
45:46Absolutely, yeah.
45:47We said it,
45:48didn't we?
45:48You know,
45:49we were a bit worried
45:50about him,
45:51you know,
45:53going off like a
45:53scolded rat,
45:54the scolded rat,
45:56stabbed rat, isn't it?
45:57You know,
45:57going off flat out.
45:58He's done it before.
45:59Me and Tim have driven
46:00against him.
46:00Jade's driven against him.
46:02We know when he's got
46:03an opportunity,
46:04you kind of put,
46:05you'll put your money
46:06on him because he will,
46:07if he's got a sniff,
46:09he will go flat out.
46:10And I'm really pleased
46:11for Tom, you know,
46:12because he's been
46:13an epic person
46:15in this championship.
46:17And he's just
46:17very relatable
46:18to a lot of people.
46:19He's just a nice person.
46:20It's hard to dislike him
46:21like half the grid
46:23I don't like.
46:23I'm joking.
46:24That was a joke.
46:25I think Tim Harvey
46:26and David Addison
46:27are still standing by
46:28in the commentary box
46:29and they'll have
46:29some final thoughts
46:30on what we've seen today.
46:34Well,
46:35where to start
46:35in a sense
46:36because the racing
46:37has been exemplary.
46:38We've had some
46:39proper touring car battles
46:40and lots of good stories.
46:42The guys have covered
46:42some of them,
46:43but we've had some
46:43great drives
46:44after bad qualifying
46:45from people like
46:46Aidan Moffat
46:46and Adam Morgan.
46:48Good efforts by
46:49Chris Miley as well
46:49having an independent win.
46:51Mikey Doble
46:51showing good pace.
46:52So there's an awful lot
46:53to take away from today.
46:54Yeah,
46:54you know,
46:55the rookies have excelled,
46:56Charles Rainsford,
46:58Max Hall,
46:59James Dolan,
46:59they've been fantastic
47:00and, you know,
47:01we watch their progress.
47:02It's easy to get swept up
47:04in the fight for the lead
47:06and, you know,
47:07the cars that have come out
47:08on top are clearly
47:09the Hyundai
47:10and the Napa 4,
47:11but there are some
47:12great stories down the grid
47:15and that's going to excite us
47:16for the rest of the year.
47:17Tough day, though,
47:18for Gordon Shedden,
47:18for example,
47:19as one of those drivers
47:20that will go away
47:20thinking,
47:21that wasn't what I wanted.
47:22Yeah,
47:22I think when he was battling
47:24with Max Hall
47:24and they were swapping places
47:26and he was thinking,
47:27I've never heard of Max Hall
47:28and he's in his debut.
47:30I didn't think
47:31I'd be quite here,
47:32but they've got work to do
47:33and there's four cars
47:34running with the
47:35Toyota Gazoo team,
47:37so I'm sure they'll get
47:38a setup that suits them.
47:39That car fundamentally
47:40is very similar
47:41in terms of characteristics
47:43aerodynamically
47:44and anything else
47:45to, say,
47:45the Ford Focus,
47:46so no reason why
47:47that can't be up at the front
47:48if they get the setup right.
47:49And of the rookies,
47:50Max Hall,
47:51Charles Rainsford,
47:52for example,
47:52they've looked good,
47:53all right,
47:53they've had disappointments
47:55and Max,
47:56perhaps after good efforts
47:57in testing,
47:57has come away
47:58without the results
47:58he might have wanted,
47:59but he's just realised
48:01how tough the BTCC is.
48:03Yeah,
48:03and also they've had
48:03to learn some racecraft.
48:05Max,
48:05coming from many JCWs,
48:07is used to the cut and thruns
48:08of close racing.
48:10Charles Rainsford's come
48:11from Porsche Carrera Cup
48:12where it's a little bit
48:13more civilised.
48:14It certainly isn't
48:15like touring car racing,
48:17so they're having to learn
48:18that process as well.
48:19So,
48:20great day of racing
48:21at Donington.
48:22Lots of good news stories,
48:23quite a few drivers,
48:24as we say,
48:24with a bit of head scratching
48:26or what if
48:27before they get back on track
48:29at Brands Hatch.
48:30But one thing is for sure,
48:31British Touring Cars
48:31for 2025
48:32is off to a great start.
48:34Roll on,
48:35Brands Hatch.
48:36Yeah,
48:36it's back
48:36and it's buzzing.
48:38We mentioned
48:39Mikey Doble there,
48:40a great drive
48:41to seventh.
48:42I think we've got time
48:43to hear swiftly
48:43from Mikey,
48:44who's been talking
48:45with Louise.
48:47Mikey,
48:47good day.
48:48Good day.
48:49Two independent wins.
48:50You'll definitely
48:50take that,
48:51won't you?
48:52Oh,
48:52absolutely.
48:53I mean,
48:53it was a gruelling day
48:55out there,
48:56the heat
48:56and the punches
48:57and everything,
48:57but we played a blinder,
48:59I think,
48:59today,
49:00considering we didn't
49:00quite maximise
49:01qualifying yesterday,
49:03but a P5 in race one
49:04and an independence win.
49:06Got unlucky in race two,
49:08had a mechanical problem
49:09on the grid
49:09and eventually got it going,
49:11but then we got a penalty
49:12for the mechanics
49:13being on the car
49:14for too long.
49:14So we got drive-through penalty,
49:15recovered to 16th
49:16and then P16 to P7
49:18and that one
49:19and the independence win.
49:19So absolutely very happy
49:21with that.
49:22This season,
49:22it is,
49:23I guess it's your aim,
49:25isn't it?
49:25It's that independence title
49:27that you're looking
49:27to retain for the team,
49:29but to actually get for yourself
49:30as a driver as well.
49:32Yeah,
49:32I mean,
49:32it's looking really tough
49:33this year.
49:33I mean,
49:33there's some fierce competition
49:34up the pit lane.
49:37Yeah,
49:37I think Josh is probably
49:38going to be our toughest rival
49:39throughout the course
49:40of this year.
49:40So to have three results
49:42ahead of him today
49:43was pretty damn good.
49:45But no,
49:46we just need to be
49:47bagging the points
49:47every time we can
49:48and just making our bad races
49:50as good as they can be as well.
49:51But yeah,
49:52if we can win that independence
49:53and try and get on the top step
49:55of the podium
49:55just once as well,
49:56that'd be really nice.
49:57What are your thoughts
49:58overall on our first day?
49:59We've had all sorts of changes,
50:01different regulations,
50:02obviously much lighter cars,
50:03is it?
50:04Has it been fun?
50:05Is it giving you
50:05what you want as a driver
50:07and the fans
50:07what they want out there
50:08as well,
50:08do you think?
50:09Yeah,
50:10I mean,
50:10the cars are more enjoyable
50:12to drive this year.
50:14Yeah,
50:14they're more agile.
50:15It's easier to make overtakes
50:17because they're stopping quicker.
50:19But yeah,
50:20I mean,
50:20when it's hot like this,
50:21it's really hard to race
50:22because your tyres go off,
50:23your brakes go off.
50:24So we probably didn't see
50:25the best of the new regulations today.
50:27I think if we get a nice
50:28crisp day at Brands Hatch,
50:30some nice dry weather,
50:31we'll see some,
50:32probably some better racing.
50:33But I can't wait to get back
50:35and watch the racing back
50:37with a nice curry,
50:37I think.
50:38That was pretty good racing,
50:39I have to say.
50:39So if we get better at Brands Hatch,
50:40it's a win-win all round.
50:42We'll see you there.
50:43See you there.
50:43Cheers.
50:44Enjoy the carry.
50:44Good day for some
50:45and Mikey Doble
50:46is certainly one of those.
50:48Others leave Donington
50:49with something to reflect on.
50:51Jake Hill and BMW,
50:52where do they go from here?
50:53Yeah,
50:54I mean,
50:54we saw Jake Hill
50:54at the start of the day,
50:55didn't we?
50:55We said,
50:56how's things going?
50:56He was unsure
50:57how the day was going to go.
50:59Initially,
50:59looked like he was on
51:00for a fairly strong day,
51:01all things considered.
51:03But that final race,
51:04he dropped back
51:05and that's not the Jake
51:06we're now used to
51:07that sort of just,
51:08he didn't let people pass at all
51:10but he just knew
51:10he didn't have the car
51:11underneath him
51:12and he sort of allowed himself
51:13to fall back into position
51:14that the car was capable of
51:15and it's a shame to see
51:16but this will only fuel
51:18the fire in his belly
51:19and I'm sure at Brands Hatch,
51:20his home circuit
51:21where he's always gone very well,
51:22he'll come back fighting.
51:23Yeah,
51:24there's already a bit of a sense
51:25of damage limitation there
51:26at BMW.
51:27They've got Colin Turkington
51:28in their corner
51:29and they will sort things out.
51:30Yeah,
51:31they will.
51:31It's a bit weird to see,
51:32isn't it?
51:33You know,
51:33you expect them to hit the ground running
51:35but there was rumblings of it
51:36in the pre-season testing
51:38but listen,
51:39Jay will tell you the same thing.
51:41They've got a lot of knowledge now
51:42and a lot of data
51:43from three cars.
51:44They've got Colin Turkington,
51:45they've got some fantastic engineers.
51:48They will be back
51:48and they will be on top
51:50of what problems they have
51:51but yeah,
51:52it's going to take a while
51:53to catch up the two in front.
51:55They have been super special today.
51:57Yeah,
51:57and the regulations,
51:58they've worked to an extent.
52:00It's given everyone
52:01something to think about.
52:02Yeah,
52:03drivers themselves as well
52:04have probably had to
52:05think tactically
52:06about when they're going to use
52:07the boost and the tyres
52:09and I think I was surprised
52:10along with everyone else
52:11to see the cliff edge
52:12of the soft tyre today.
52:14Whether that transfers
52:14over to the whole season
52:16but it seems like
52:16last year we could run a soft
52:18and then manage it
52:19towards the end
52:19but hold position.
52:20Now it seems like
52:21if you really don't manage
52:22that soft tyre
52:23the cliff edge is quite extreme
52:25so that's something
52:26they'll take away
52:27and then you take that
52:28into the next few rounds as well.
52:29And of course
52:30we're going to have a heat wave
52:31for the entire season
52:32so that's going to characterise
52:33what lies ahead as well.
52:35It's been great.
52:35Let's give you the chance
52:37to relive the best
52:37of today's touring car action.
52:39You can catch our highlight show
52:40on Friday evening
52:42at 6.30 on ITV4.
52:44We'll be back for round two
52:45at the short
52:46Brands Hatch Indie Circuit
52:48that's Sunday the 11th of May
52:49and our build-up begins
52:51at 10.30 on ITV4.
52:54As always,
52:55qualifying live on the ITV Sport
52:57YouTube channel
52:58the day before.
52:58And there's also
53:00a replay of last night's
53:01big fight
53:01Connor Ben
53:02versus Chris Eubank Jr.
53:04That's ITV4
53:05at 10 o'clock tonight.
53:07That's it.
53:08We're up and running
53:08and we will continue
53:09the story at Brands Hatch
53:10in two weeks' time.
53:12Bye for now.
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