Team VERTU's Tom Ingram has topped the opening Free Practice of the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship as the #80 Hyundai clocked a 1:07.842s around the Donington Park National circuit.

Speedworks Corolla Racing's Josh Cook was second as his Toyota-run squad look to mount a consistent championship challenge in 2026, whilst third and fourth went to the debutant Cataclean Plato Racing team.

Daniel Rowbottom was third in his #32 Mercedes A35 Saloon, whilst team-mate Adam Morgan led the times at one stage before having to settle for fourth.

Tom Chilton backed-up his Team VERTU stablemate Ingram by setting the fifth fastest time, ahead of the first of the new NAPA Racing UK Ford Titaniums.

The two blue ovals of Dan Cammish and Ash Sutton had the new LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing Audi of Aiden Moffat wedged between them on the timesheets, whilst Charles Rainford (WSR) and Mikey Doble (LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing) rounded out the top ten.

The action not only marked the start of the 2026 BTCC campaign but it also kicked off what will be an historic day for the championship.

After this one 40-minute Free Practice, the finishing order will be split into two groups, odd-finishing-numbers (Group 1) and even-finishing-numbers (Group 2). Each group will get a 15-minute qualifying session to set their fastest times. The group with the fastest qualifying time will occupy the odd-numbered grid positions for the Qualifying Race, ordered by their respective qualifying times. The other group will occupy the even-numbered grid positions, also ordered by qualifying times.

15 minutes after the qualifying session for Group 2 has concluded, the standard grid procedure for a race start begins, and the pit lane opens. The finishing order of the shorter 13-lap ‘Race to Pole’ will determine the grid for the first of Sunday’s traditional trio of races.

Half-points are awarded for the Qualifying Race. There are no bonus points for leading a lap, the fastest lap, or for pole position for the Qualifying Race, whereas the bonus points for leading a lap and the fastest lap are still available on Sunday. Making 76 the highest score across a race weekend, more than the 67 of recent years.

Qualifying and the Qualifying Race can be found LIVE on the ITV Sport YouTube Channel worldwide for the very first time from 13:50 later today. You won't want to miss it!

Free Practice – Donington Park

P/No/Name/Entry/Laps/Time/Gap/On/180Tom INGRAMTeam VERTU161:07.84214266Josh COOKSpeedworks Corolla Racing211:08.0480.20618332Daniel ROWBOTTOMCataclean Plato Racing161:08.0760.23415433Adam MORGANCataclean Plato Racing191:08.1540.312953Tom CHILTONTeam VERTU211:08.2410.39912627Dan CAMMISHNAPA Racing UK191:08.2880.44610716Aiden MOFFATLKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing211:08.3190.477218116Ashley SUTTONNAPA Racing UK211:08.4130.57111999Charles RAINFORDWSR161:08.4270.585101088Mikey DOBLELKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing161:08.4510.609141152Gordon SHEDDENLaser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport221:08.5980.75613122Daryl DELEONWSR211:08.6570.815111377Sam OSBORNENAPA Racing UK231:08.6990.857151417Dexter PATTERSONSteel Seal with Power Maxed Racing171:08.7120.870131515Lewis SELBYNAPA Racing UK251:08.7230.881241650Árón TAYLOR-SMITHLaser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport201:08.7340.89281722Chris SMILEYRestart Racing221:08.8210.9791418132James DORLINRestart Racing211:08.8521.010181911Ricky COLLARDTeam VERTU251:09.1871.345132028Nicolas HAMILTONTeam VERTU251:09.2041.362162119Max BUXTONSpeedworks Corolla Racing181:10.4722.63013