BTCC 2025 season so far: Sutton and Ingram reignite epic rivalry

The 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season has been nothing short of electric. 

With eight race weekends and 24 rounds complete, the series is shaping up to deliver another thrilling title duel in the final three events and nine races.

From dramatic wheel-to-wheel action to first-time winners, and technical shake-ups, here’s everything you need to know about the season so far, and what’s still to come.

Sutton vs Ingram: A championship rivalry for the ages

Having gone toe-to-toe for the 2022 and 2023 titles, Ash Sutton and Tom Ingram are at it again in 2025, with the pair locked in a thrilling battle at the top of the standings, with just 32 points separating them with two rounds remaining. 

Four-time champion Sutton has notched five victories so far – Donington X2, Thruxton, Oulton Park and Croft – which made him the only driver to win more than once this season, before he was joined by Dan Rowbottom, reigning champion Jake Hill and Ingram later in the season.

Ingram has shown his trademark consistency and composure under pressure, racking up a string of podiums coming on song in the last five events, taking a win at each and a further five podiums. 

Cammish and Rowbottom are also in the mix, showcasing their title credentials with strong performances across multiple weekends. Cammish, Sutton’s NAPA Racing UK team-mate, secured a win at Snetterton, while Rowbottom has emerged as a dark horse with a pair of victories in Norfolk and Hampshire.

Storylines from the first 24 rounds

Donington Park: A fast and frenetic start

The season roared into life at Donington Park under sunny skies, and Sutton was to make his intentions known at the first opportunity. 

He took victories in Rounds 1 and 2 with Ingram close behind both times. Tom Chilton stole the headlines in Round 3 with a popular win, while Rowbottom and Dan Cammish also featured on the podium in Rounds 1 and 2, respectively.

Sutton left Donington with an early championship advantage, but Ingram had made it clear he wasn’t going to have it all his own way in 2025.

Brands Hatch Indy: BMW do the triple

Brands Hatch delivered shock results and breakout performances from Daryl DeLeon and Charles Rainford, both claiming their maiden BTCC victories, taking full advantage of Safety Cars and race day chaos. 

Jake Hill, Ingram and Rowbottom were in the mix across the three races, but it was DeLeon’s bold overtake on Hill in Round 5 that lit up the paddock. 

Reigning champion Hill would be the one to notch the first of BMW’s triple win at Brands, and a second in Round 6 got his title defence properly underway after a difficult Donington.

Snetterton: Mixed fortunes, turning tides

Snetterton saw the title race tighten as Cammish and Rowbottom each took a win to close in at the top of the standings, while Ingram and Sutton added yet more podium finishes to their tallies. 

Mikey Doble joined the growing list of new winners in Round 9, surviving late-race pressure from Sutton to seal a landmark victory.

Thruxton: High speed, high stakes

The championship fight took centre stage at the UK's fastest circuit with Ingram finally claiming his first win of the season in Round 10, while Sutton countered with a commanding drive in Round 11. 

Rowbottom then doubled his 2025 win count, establishing himself as a bona fide contender in a dramatic Round 12, capitalising on contact between Sutton and Hill to snatch victory ahead of Ingram and Cammish.

Oulton Park: Tactical drives in tricky conditions

Technical and treacherous, Oulton Park saw the protagonists of Sutton and Ingram continue their back-and-forth. 

Ingram claimed the opening race of the weekend ahead of Cammish and Chris Smiley, before Sutton surged to another victory in Round 14 and a strong second place in the final rain-soaked race of the day. 

BTCC veteran Gordon Shedden returned to the top step in treacherous conditions, showing his class to win from Sutton and Rowbottom in Round 15.

Croft: Ingram seizes momentum, Sutton fights back

Croft marked an important weekend in the title battle as Ingram seized control at the top of the standings, controlling Race 1 to secure his second pole-to-victory conversion in as many events, while a late puncture cost Sutton dearly.

Race 2 saw Dan Rowbottom charge through the pack to take a commanding victory, while Sutton staged a remarkable recovery drive from 20th to fifth. 

He completed the comeback in Race 3, battling from fifth to secure his fifth win of the season. Ingram followed him home in second to retain his advantage in the championship.

Knockhill: Ingram holds his nerve

The weekend opened with reigning champion Jake Hill back on form, taking his second victory of the year in Race 1 ahead of Rainford and Ingram. Sutton could only manage seventh, slipping further behind his title rival in the standings.

In Race 2, Ingram delivered a composed drive to his fourth win of the season. Sutton mounted another strong comeback, slicing through the field before finishing second – aided by team-mate Cammish, who moved aside to gift Sutton extra points. 

Hill doubled up with another victory in Race 3, while Sutton fended off Ingram for much of the race before charging to third. Ingram had to settle for fourth behind Proctor.
The result meant Ingram’s lead stands at 17 points as the series made its way to Donington Park.

Donington Park: Disaster for Sutton

Sutton would’ve been hoping for a repeat of his results at the first 2025 visit to Donington Park, but it wasn’t to be. Championship leader Ingram secured second in the first race of the weekend behind team-mate Chilton, while Rowbottom completed the podium and Sutton came home fourth. 

In Race 2, Sutton was the nailed-on favourite lining up third behind the pair of Hard tyre-clad VERTU cars. It all looked good when he got past Rowbottom off the start, but when his team-mate nudged him sideways on a Safety Car restart, Sutton tumbled down the order. Cammish seized the lead from Ingram just before the heavens opened and the race finished under the Safety Car. 

Having finished eighth, Sutton started on pole for Race 3, but on the Hard tyres, his days were numbered. It was Ingram who surged through the pack to take his fifth win of the season ahead of Sutton and Rowbottom, opening the gap at the top of the standings to 32. 

BTCC Standings after Donington Park

BTCC 2025: A season of change

This year marks a significant shift in BTCC technology. For the first time, the series is running on 100% sustainable, renewable fuel, underlining its commitment to greener motorsport. 

Additionally, the hybrid boost system has been retired for 2025, replaced by a new turbo boost allocation, adding a fresh layer of strategy and excitement to qualifying and race day.

What’s next?

With two weekends and six rounds still to go, there’s everything left to play for. The final two events comprise Silverstone and Brands Hatch, where title campaigns can be fortified, or unravel in the blink of an eye. 

As the BTCC gears up for its Silverstone showdown this autumn, fans can expect the title battle to reach boiling point. 

Will Sutton add a record-breaking fifth crown to his collection? Or will it be Ingram taking his second? Only time will tell.

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