The 2024 British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) roared into action at Donington Park's Grand Prix circuit this past weekend, delivering intense racing and memorable moments. Competing at this historic venue, known for its challenging layout and passionate crowds, proved to be a test of both skill and strategy.
Free Practice & Qualifying
The weekend kicked off with two free practice sessions, which were crucial for dialing in the car setup and getting accustomed to the track’s demanding combination of high-speed straights and technical corners. Throughout practice the track was wet, the car felt balanced, and the team worked tirelessly to refine our approach for the critical qualifying session.
With the changing conditions it was really tricky to call what tyre to go on. Qualifying was as competitive as ever, with some over drivers on wet tyres it made qualifying really close. With this, it made it really tricky and we qualified P20 which is not where we wanted to be!
The first race of the weekend saw us make a clean start, avoiding the typical first-lap chaos. The early laps were all about maintaining position and finding a rhythm. The car felt well-balanced, allowing us to consistently post competitive lap times. At the end of the 14 - lap race we managed to make up two positions and finish 18th. Again this is still not where we wanted to be, but valuable lessons have been learnt.
Starting in a better position for Race 2, we aimed to get as far forwards as possible. The race was a battle from start to finish, with door-to-door action on almost every lap. It was another tough race but in the end we finished P16.
The final race of the day proved to be the most dramatic. We started in the P16, setting the stage for an intense race. The opening laps were frenetic, with multiple incidents leading to another safety car period. Unfortunately, we got caught up in the aftermath of a collision, damaging the car’s front end. However this was by far the best racing for us this season getting proper stuck in and finishing 14th.
Donington Park GP once again showcased the highs and lows of BTCC racing. While there were challenges, the weekend was a positive step forward, with a strong showing in Race 3. The team’s effort, both in the garage and on the track, was outstanding, and we leave Donington Park with valuable lessons learnt as we look ahead to the next round.
