After the first event in the new hybrid era for the BTCC, the paddock moves to Brands Hatch next for the first visit of two this season. We have seen the Indy circuit used for the opening rounds regularly in the past, but (as with 2021) the layout is hosting a later round having hosted the third meeting of 2021.
Brands has been a popular circuit for BTCC/BSCC meetings hosting no less than eight rounds and twelve championship races in the inaugural season. Given the association with series, it seems fitting that one of the class winners in the very first BSCC race was Jack Sears, with John Sprinzel the other class winner. That same day, Tommy Sopwith was also a class winner, and the two were tied at the end of the very first finals day, again at Brands Hatch before the shootout.
The layout back then would be very familiar to those racing this season, although with different corner names to those currently used. The design utilising the natural amphitheatre to create a layout that offers great viewing opportunities and significant elevation changes to challenge all types of racer.
The first time we saw NGTC machines running as constructor entries on the Indy circuit, the race wins were taken by Collard in a BMW, Neal in a Civic and Plato in an MG. The results were shared between RWD and FWD cars, and across a range of manufacturers. There appeared to be no specific advantage to any particular setup.
In 2021, Tom Oliphant, Tom Ingram and Adam Morgan claimed a win apiece around the tight and twisty 1.2-mile Indy layout, whilst consistency proved key for reigning champion Ash Sutton as the Laser Tools Racing star cemented his position at the top of the standings. Team BMW’s Oliphant took a hugely impressive victory in the opening race, having made a stellar getaway from the second row of the grid, before going on to fend off three-time champion Gordon Shedden. It was a richly deserved victory for Oliphant, the second of his BTCC career.
A second win of the season for Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com’s Ingram followed. The Hyundai man produced a last-lap lunge to secure victory in the second bout, as long-time leader Oliphant eventually lost out during a pulsating contest.
Adam Morgan then claimed the ninth victory of his BTCC career and the first for the new Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport BMW 330i M Sport, as the Lancastrian led from start-to-finish in the final race at the famous Kent venue. Team HARD. with Autobrite Direct’s Jack Goff – securing a maiden rostrum for the all-new Cupra – and Laser Tools Racing’s Aiden Moffat completed the podium with the pair having swapped positions twice during the contest.
The short circuit should mean that qualifying is tight, and fractions of a second could make a significant difference. This will be interesting when it comes to the first qualifying season with HEMS applied. Ingram will go into the weekend with no hybrid available for qualifying, and 15 laps without hybrid for race one. The nature of the circuit though may mean that a full 15 secs of hybrid a lap is not achievable.
With only 28 cars running at Donington Park, HARD. are due to announce a replacement driver for Goff, and the pressure will be on them to match the performance of Thompson and Taylor-Smith.
Other teams up and down the grid will be hoping to put the early season reliability issues behind them, and start to mount their challenges fully.
Qualifying is expected to be on the ITV Hub at
www.itv.com/btcc, with the Sunday coverage on ITV4. The full timetable is as follows:
| Time | Activity | Championship | Laps |
| Saturday, May 14 | | | |
| 09.00 – 09.20 | Qualifying | F4 British Championship | |
| 09.30 – 10.10 | Free Practice | Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship | |
| 10.30 – 10.45 | Qualifying | Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship | |
| 10.55 – 11.25 | Qualifying | The Quaife MINI CHALLENGE | |
| 11.35 – 11.55 | Qualifying | Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 SuperCup Championship | |
| 12.05 – 12.45 | Free Practice | Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship | |
| 12.45 – 13.25 | Lunch Break | | |
| 13.25 | Race | F4 British Championship | 20 mins |
| 14.00 | Race | Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship | 15 mins |
| 14.35 – 15.05 | Qualifying | Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain | |
| 15.15 | Race | The Quaife MINI CHALLENGE | 20 mins |
| 15.50 – 16.20 | Qualifying | Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship | |
| 16.35 | Race | Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 SuperCup Championship | 15 mins |
| 17.10 | Race | F4 British Championship | 20 mins |
| 17.45 | Race | Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship | 20 mins |
| | | | |
| Sunday, May 15 | | | |
| 09.00 – 09.30 | Pit Lane Walkabout / Autograph Session | | |
| 10.00 | Race | Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain | 34 |
| 10.40 | Race | Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 SuperCup Championship | 20 mins |
| 11.15 | BTCC Pit Lane Opens | | |
| 11.30 | Race | Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship | 24 |
| 12.10 | Race | The Quaife MINI CHALLENGE | 20 mins |
| 12.35 – 13.20 | Lunch Break | | |
| 13.20 | Race | F4 British Championship | 20 mins |
| 13.55 | Race | Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship | 20 mins |
| 14.30 | BTCC Pit Lane Opens | | |
| 14.45 | Race | Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship | 24 |
| 15.25 | Race | Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain | 34 |
| 16.05 | Race | Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 SuperCup Championship | 20 mins |
| 16.40 | Race | The Quaife MINI CHALLENGE | 20 mins |
| 17.15 | BTCC Pit Lane Opens | | |
| 17.30 | Race | Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship | 24 |
Early weather forecast shows that Saturday is forecast to be 14deg with a 0% chance of rain and fair.
Sunday 13deg with a 0% chance of rain and fair.