Image: Sutton seals seventh success in Scotland
Rounds 16, 17 and 18 of the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship produced three different winners from three different teams, but it was Cataclean Plato Racing’s breakthrough weekend that stole the headlines at Knockhill.
Adam Morgan set the pace in qualifying, won Saturday afternoon’s ‘Race to Pole’ contest and then converted that form into victory in Sunday’s opening race.
The celebrations were further enhanced for the Mercedes squad as Dan Rowbottom completed a historic Cataclean Plato Racing one-two, with Team Principal and tin-top legend Jason Plato watching on.
The team’s strong form continued, while the remaining victories went to championship leader Ash Sutton (NAPA Racing UK – Ford) and Tom Chilton (Team VERTU – Hyundai), as the BTCC title battle continued to take shape amid mixed conditions in Scotland.
Sutton is closing in on a potential record-breaking fifth overall drivers’ title and left the tight, twisty circuit with a firm grip on proceedings, while second-placed Tom Ingram lost ground to Dan Cammish.
Four-time champ Sutton holds an 81-point lead at the top of the order, whilst Cammish has closed to within 13 points of second placed Ingram.
Alliance Racing/Ford and its NAPA Racing UK outfit retain a commanding advantage at the top of both the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ and Teams’ standings, while Mikey Doble and LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing remain in control of the Independents’ honours.
Dexter Patterson also enjoyed a standout weekend, pulling clear of James Dorlin in the race for the Jack Sears Trophy.
The BTCC returns to action in two weeks’ time, on 22/23 August, at Donington Park.
Morgan survives the showers for first Cataclean Plato Racing victory
Lancastrian Morgan claimed victory in the Knockhill opener, securing Cataclean Plato Racing’s first win while leading home a one-two finish ahead of teammate Rowbottom.
The success is testament to the hard work put in by the rookie squad, and particularly the progress made with the Mercedes A35 Saloons since the mid-summer break.
Morgan had to contend with wet conditions and a late race safety car intervention, but the multiple race winner was always in control of the contest, as Rowbottom played rear gunner in the closing laps.
Rowbottom had earlier relinquished Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport's Gordon Shedden of second with an impressive move, whilst the Scotsman then had to turn his attentions to his rear mirrors.
Incredibly, there were nine Drivers' titles between the racers battling for third at the finish, as Toyota man Shedden saw off the challenges from the title chasing duo of Sutton (NAPA Racing UK – Ford) and Ingram (Team VERTU – Hyundai).
Sutton had got the better of Ingram in the earlier running with the former charging up through the order from 11th on the grid.
A series of stellar moves in extreme conditions looked set to secure another rostrum finish for the #116 Ford Focus Titanium, but as Ingram’s #80 Hyundai i30N gradually closed in, Sutton’s focus shifted to keeping his old adversary behind.
Seventh heaven for Sutton
NAPA Racing UK's Sutton surged to victory in Round 17, to take his seventh race win of the campaign and extend his advantage at the top of the standings.
Starting from fourth on the grid, Sutton’s Ford made light work of Shedden (Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport – Toyota) and Morgan (Cataclean Plato Racing – Mercedes) ahead of him before he set about attacking Rowbottom (Cataclean Plato Racing – Mercedes) for the lead.
There was disappointment behind for Sutton’s main title rival, Team VERTU’s Ingram, who was already nursing a power issue off the line before being forced into retirement after contact. As the field concertinaed ahead, the #80 Hyundai ran into the rear of Shedden’s Toyota on the first run to the chicane and was immediately forced to pit with radiator damage.
Rowbottom performed extremely well in the #32 Mercedes A35 Saloon out front, particularly considering the lack of boost available while also running the harder Goodyear tyre compound.
There was little Rowbottom could do to stop his former teammate however, as Sutton's #116 Ford Focus Titanium sliced down the inside at the final hairpin.
Two safety car periods interrupted proceedings with the second delay only allowing for a final one-lap shootout at the finish.
Sutton cruised home while Rowbottom fended off the Hyundai of Team VERTU's Ricky Collard, who again continued his impressive BTCC season in style.
Chilton charges to first victory of 2026
Team VERTU's Chilton took his 19th career BTCC triumph and the third of his career at Knockhill.
The experienced tin top star has endured a mixed 2026 campaign so far with a solitary podium at Snetterton being a high point, but those misfortunes are now a thing of the past as the #3 Hyundai driver dominated the finale in Scotland.
If Chilton was pleased with his pillar-to-post triumph then Morgan was overjoyed with his weekend's work as he ended the day with a second place, following on from his 'Race to Pole' win, race one victory and another top five finish – comfortably the Cataclean Plato Racing driver's best weekend of the season so far.
The podium was completed by NAPA Racing UK’s Dan Cammish as the Ford driver closed in on Ingram in the overall standings.
Patterson was another to round off a fantastic weekend at his home circuit as the Steel Seal with Power Maxed Racing Audi driver claimed fourth and with it the Jack Sears Trophy honours, following two top eight results earlier in the day.
The WSR duo of Charles Rainford and Daryl De Leon finished proceedings north of the border in solid form with fifth and sixth respectively, whilst Rowbottom completed a great weekend for Cataclean Plato Racing with seventh.
Adam Morgan, Cataclean Plato Racing, said: “I am completely blown away. A pole position, a race win, a second and a fifth. That has got to be up there with the biggest points haul I’ve ever had. I’ve been doing this for a long time so just to get a pole position was amazing but to top it off with a win and a second is just mind-blowing. It’s a huge credit to the team, the sponsors and everybody involved – a huge thank you.”
2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 1 – Knockhill
1. Adam Morgan, Cataclean Plato Racing - Mercedes 27 Laps
2. Daniel Rowbottom, Cataclean Plato Racing - Mercedes +0.923s
3. Gordon Shedden, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport - Toyota +1.825s
4. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK - Ford +2.471s
5. Tom Ingram, Team VERTU - Hyundai +2.616s
6. Ricky Collard, Team VERTU - Hyundai +4.093s
7. Dexter Patterson, Steel Seal with Power Maxed Racing - Audi +4.740s
8. Mikey Doble, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing - Audi +5.420s
9. Aiden Moffat, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing - Audi +6.632s
10. Sam Osborne, NAPA Racing UK - Ford +7.481s
2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 2 – Knockhill
1. Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK - Ford 27 Laps
2. Daniel Rowbottom, Cataclean Plato Racing - Mercedes +1.277s
3. Ricky Collard, Team VERTU - Hyundai +1.563s
4. Mikey Doble, LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing - Audi +1.990s
5. Adam Morgan, Cataclean Plato Racing - Mercedes +2.409s
6. Charles Rainford, WSR - BMW +2.621s
7. Gordon Shedden, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport - Toyota +3.405s
8. Dexter Patterson, Steel Seal with Power Maxed Racing - Audi +3.697s
9. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK - Ford +4.440s
10. Sam Osborne, NAPA Racing UK - Ford +4.856s
2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 3 – Knockhill
1. Tom Chilton, Team VERTU - Hyundai 24 Laps
2. Adam Morgan, Cataclean Plato Racing - Mercedes +3.054s
3. Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK - Ford +7.643s
4. Dexter Patterson, Steel Seal with Power Maxed Racing - Audi +8.942s
5. Charles Rainford, WSR - BMW +9.208s
6. Daryl De Leon, WSR - BMW +10.471s
7. Daniel Rowbottom, Cataclean Plato Racing - Mercedes +11.739s
8. Josh Cook, Speedworks Corolla Racing - Toyota +12.043s
9. Ricky Collard, Team VERTU - Hyundai +19.988s
10. Tom Ingram, Team VERTU - Hyundai +20.806s
Penalties:
Race 1
Chris Smiley received a verbal warning in Round 16 of the championship, for an incident involving Charles Rainford - Click here for the penalty report.
Lewis Gilbert and Josh Cook were investigated in Round 16 of the championship, for causing a collision. The Clerk deemed that no further action was required - Click here for the penalty report.
Charles Rainford received a 30-second time penalty in Round 16 of the championship, for spinning the wheels of the car when leaving the pit box. The Clerk also deemed that the team, WSR, received a written warning for failing to correctly angle park the car or sufficiently pushing it back - Click here for the penalty report.
Race 2
Dan Cammish received a verbal warning in Round 17 of the championship, for an incident involving Josh Cook.
Lewis Gilbert received a verbal warning in Round 17 of the championship, for an incident involving Josh Cook
