BTCC Contenders Take to the Track for Official Pre-Season Test
Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship contenders descended on Croft Circuit this week for the official pre-season test days, with running taking place in mainly bright and dry conditions at the technically demanding 2.13-mile circuit.
Renowned for rewarding precision and consistency, Croft provided the perfect proving ground as teams and drivers fine-tuned their machinery ahead of the 2026 campaign.
Circuit Manager Dan Mayo said:
"It was fantastic to welcome the BTCC back to Croft for official testing and was great to see so many fans coming out to get their first glimpse of the 2026 teams and drivers. Croft is a real driver’s circuit, so it’s the perfect place for teams to really put their cars through their paces ahead of the new season.”
Day one of the test (24 March) saw Tom Ingram top the timesheets for Team VERTU, with the reigning champion setting a stunning 1:20.455s lap during the cool, dry morning session, beating his own lap record from last season.
His day ended prematurely in the afternoon after an off in increasingly slippery conditions, but the early benchmark remained unbeaten.
Team-mate Tom Chilton underlined the Hyundai team’s pace by going second fastest, just 0.201s adrift, while NAPA Racing UK duo Ash Sutton and Lewis Selby followed closely behind.
Josh Cook secured fifth for Speedworks Corolla Racing, narrowly ahead of Dan Cammish in his NAPA Ford Focus Saloon.
As heavy rain arrived later in the day, three-time champion Gordon Shedden led the way in wet conditions, posting a 1:28.453s lap for Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport.
There was also significant interest in the debut outing for North East legend Jason Plato’s new team Plato Racing. Jason is the most winning driver in BTCC history with 98 victories to his name. His team premiered new Mercedes AMG A35 Saloons, driven by Dan Rowbottom and Adam Morgan, completing an extended shakedown throughout the day.
Power Maxed Racing also made its first appearance with a striking trio of Audi A3 Saloons, with Aiden Moffat, Mikey Doble and Dexter Patterson carrying out an extended programme.
Day two (25 March) saw lap times tumble further in dry conditions, with Daryl DeLeon topping the overall times for West Surrey Racing. His 1:20.417s lap edged under last season’s pole benchmark in an impressive early statement ahead of the new season.
James Dorlin briefly held the top spot for Restart Racing during the afternoon session but ultimately finished just 0.027s shy of DeLeon’s benchmark.
Across the combined classification, Ingram and Chilton ended third and fifth respectively, split by WSR’s Charles Rainford, highlighting the close competition expected in 2026.
It should be noted that testing times are often treated with caution, with teams running varied fuel loads and tyre strategies throughout the two days.
Elsewhere, NAPA Racing UK completed an extensive programme, racking up an impressive 652 laps across its four-car line-up, while Speedworks Corolla Racing and Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport continued their development work.
In total, 20 drivers completed 2,268 laps of the Croft Circuit, covering more than 4,800 miles. Both reliability and performance already show strong signs ahead of the season opener.
The action now moves to Brands Hatch for the official 2026 BTCC Season Launch on 8 April.
Looking ahead, Croft Circuit will play a pivotal role in the 2026 championship, as the September 5–6 event will see the title battle enter the crucial final part of the season. If you don't want to miss the action tickets are available now at a discounted advance rate:
Images courtesy of BTCC/Jakob Ebrey.