Former champion hails 'unbelievable' and 'outrageous' lap at Oulton Park
Team VERTU's Tom Ingram obliterated the competition to claim pole position for Round 13 of the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Oulton Park.
The 2022 champion kept his powder during the early segments of qualifying before unleashing the full potential of the #80 Hyundai i30N in the 'Quick Six' finale, with his 1:23.856s lap time being the fastest ever qualifying lap around the 2.33-mile circuit and more than four tenths faster than any of his rivals.
Restart Racing's Chris Smiley had his best qualifying result for more than six years as both and his fledging squad continue to develop their own Hyundais.
Smiley topped part one and two of qualifying and was only outshone by Ingram's outrageous effort, but the #22 will be happy to be starting tomorrow's opener from the outside of the front row.
NAPA Racing UK star Dan Cammish has qualified inside the top five in every qualifying session so far this season, and the multiple race winner rounded out his mid-season results with third place here in Cheshire. He will start alongside teammate and championship leader Ash Sutton.
James Dorlin provided TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA with a spirited result in fifth, whilst Team VERTU's Adam Morgan completed the top six, having spun early in the 'Quick Six' segment.
As is often the case, the surprises came almost immediately in the opening part of qualifying as FP1 pace-setter Dan Rowbottom exited proceedings, whilst WSR nearly lost all four of its BMWs with only Charles Rainford sneaking through in the closing seconds.
Rainford eventually wound up ninth, whilst Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport's Jake Hill had to make do with 13th. Daryl DeLeon (WSR) was 16th and Aiden Moffat was 18th.
Three-time champion Gordon Shedden continued his challenging campaign with the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA starting from the back of the grid after losing his efforts due to track limit infringements.
Tom Ingram, Team VERTU, said: "That was unbelievable, quite frankly. It was just the most hooked up car I've ever had, we seemed to have limitless grip, we bolted on the new soft tyre and it was just absolutely outrageous. The corner speed and momentum we were carrying, the braking performance, just hooked up beyond all reasonable doubt. As Team VERTU we've done an unbelievable job there and it's a big big thanks to these guys."
2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Oulton Park – Qualifying – Classification:
P/ No/ Name/ Entry/ Q1/ Q2/ Q3/
1 80 Tom INGRAM Team VERTU 01:24.282 01:24.409 01:23.856
2 22 Chris SMILEY Restart Racing 01:24.166 01:24.132 01:24.329
3 27 Dan CAMMISH NAPA Racing UK 01:24.468 01:24.481 01:24.345
4 116 Ashley SUTTON NAPA Racing UK 01:24.753 01:24.346 01:24.406
5 132 James DORLIN TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA 01:24.761 01:24.503 01:24.454
6 33 Adam MORGAN Team VERTU 01:24.303 01:24.352 01:24.553
7 3 Tom CHILTON Team VERTU 01:24.752 01:24.586
8 66 Josh COOK One Motorsport 01:24.688 01:24.677
9 99 Charles RAINFORD LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR 01:25.002 01:24.729
10 18 Senna PROCTOR Team VERTU 01:25.019 01:24.737
11 88 Mikey DOBLE Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing 01:24.744 01:24.830
12 40 Árón TAYLOR-SMITH TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA 01:24.859 01:25.034
13 1 Jake HILL Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport 01:24.871
14 77 Sam OSBORNE NAPA Racing UK 01:25.023
15 32 Daniel ROWBOTTOM NAPA Racing UK 01:24.926
16 2 Daryl DELEON WSR 01:25.126
17 17 Dexter PATTERSON ROKiT Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport 01:25.126
18 16 Aiden MOFFAT LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR 01:25.252
19 12 Stephen JELLEY One Motorsport 01:25.678
20 93 Max HALL ROKiT Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport 01:25.724
21 26 Finn LESLIE TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA 01:25.977
22 50 Nick HALSTEAD Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing 01:26.567
23 28 Nicolas HAMILTON Powder Monkey Brewing Co with Esidock 01:26.191
24 123 Daniel LLOYD Restart Racing
25 52 Gordon SHEDDEN TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA 01:33.930
it infringements.
