Team VERTU star claims pole position as BTCC resumes at Croft
Title contender Tom Ingram kicked off the second half of the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship in the best way possible by taking pole position at Croft Circuit earlier today (2 August).
Team VERTU's Ingram set a blistering pace throughout the day, dipping well under the existing fastest lap during both practice sessions, and he duly backed up that potential by setting an all-new qualifying lap record when it really mattered.
NAPA Racing UK's Dan Cammish will lineup on the front row for tomorrow's opener as the Yorkshireman continued his Goodyear Wingfoot Award duel with Ingram.
Both drivers were the best two best qualifiers in the first half of the campaign and the pair continued that form around the 2.13-mile North Yorkshire circuit.
Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing continue to mix it with the main protagonists as Mikey Doble claimed third during qualifying, and having already taken a maiden BTCC victory in 2025 the Vauxhall Astra driver could be one to watch come race day.
Team VERTU's Tom Chilton left it extremely late to take fourth place on the grid as he bounced back brilliantly from a significant shunt during practice. The EXCELR8 Motorsport squad did an excellent job too, as they readied his stricken Hyundai i30N in time for qualifying.
NAPA Racing UK's Dan Rowbottom and Restart Racing's Daniel Lloyd were fifth and sixth respectively as they both made it through to the 'Quick Six' showdown.
Local man Lloyd will be targeting his first podium of 2025 at a venue where he has taken three of his four BTCC victories so far, as the Huddersfield driver also looks to benefit from a passionate home support.
Championship leader Ash Sutton and Team VERTU's Senna Proctor were the surprising omissions from the 'Quick Six', with the latter having been second during both practice sessions. Proctor eventually had to settle for eighth, whilst NAPA Racing UK's Sutton could only manage 11th on the grid.
The top ten order was completed by Árón Taylor-Smith (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA), Charles Rainford (LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR) and Daryl DeLeon (WSR) in seventh, ninth and tenth respectively.
There was earlier disappointment off-track when reigning champion Jake Hill was forced to drop out through illness, and the #1 BMW 330i M Sport was subsequently withdrawn from the remainder of the event.
Rounds 16, 17 and 18 of the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship take place at Croft tomorrow with tickets still available of the gate, whilst those unable to attend can watch all of the action LIVE in the UK on ITV4 from 1130.
Fans around the world can also get their BTCC fix with every race being broadcast LIVE – see the BTCC TV page for the listings in your region.
Tom Ingram, Team VERTU, said: “I’m really really pleased with that, but we know the big points are awarded tomorrow. If you’ve ended up with one of these (a pole position Goodyear Wingfoot Award) at the end of Saturday, then you know you’ve had a good day. The car feels superb as it always does, we’ve refined things over the mid-season break and we’re in a good place. We’ve worked hard on making sure we can be as fast as possible on a Saturday, to give us the best possible chance of a good result on Sunday.”
2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Croft – Qualifying – Classification:
P/ No/ Name/ Entry/ Q1/ Q2/ Q3/
1 80 Tom INGRAM Team VERTU 1:20.856 1:20.873 1:20.522
2 27 Dan CAMMISH NAPA Racing UK 1:20.933 1:21.030 1:20.789
3 88 Mikey DOBLE Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing 1:21.311 1:21.073 1:20.936
4 3 Tom CHILTON Team VERTU 1:21.000 1:21.087 1:20.938
5 32 Daniel ROWBOTTOM NAPA Racing UK 1:21.044 1:20.987 1:21.071
6 123 Daniel LLOYD Restart Racing 1:21.495 1:21.065 1:21.593
7 40 Árón TAYLOR-SMITH TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA 1:21.257 1:21.109
8 18 Senna PROCTOR Team VERTU 1:21.075 1:21.122
9 99 Charles RAINFORD LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR 1:21.612 1:21.164
10 2 Daryl DELEON WSR 1:21.476 1:21.172
11 116 Ashley SUTTON NAPA Racing UK 1:21.317 1:21.204
12 33 Adam MORGAN Team VERTU 1:21.295 1:21.708
13 17 Dexter PATTERSON ROKiT Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport 1:22.171
14 22 Chris SMILEY Restart Racing 1:21.653
15 132 James DORLIN TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA 1:22.173
16 16 Aiden MOFFAT LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR 1:21.693
17 52 Gordon SHEDDEN TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA 1:22.367
18 77 Sam OSBORNE NAPA Racing UK 1:21.731
19 12 Stephen JELLEY ROKiT Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport 1:22.537
20 28 Nicolas HAMILTON Powder Monkey Brewing Co with Esidock 1:22.882
21 19 Max BUXTON TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA 1:36.888
22 50 Nick HALSTEAD Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing 1:24.396
