Ingram Dominates BTCC Croft Practice as Turkington Makes Guest Appearance
Ingram's Unmatched Speed: A Masterclass in Practice
Ingram's Commanding Performance in Croft Practice Sessions
Tom Ingram, the reigning champion from 2022 and a strong contender in the current 2025 standings, delivered a commanding performance at the British Touring Car Championship's Croft event. He successfully topped both free practice sessions, showcasing his superior speed and control. In the first 35-minute period, Ingram outpaced his Excelr8 Motorsport teammate, Senna Proctor, by a notable 0.161 seconds, demonstrating a clear one-two for the Hyundai i30 N Fastback cars. He further solidified his lead in the second practice, extending his advantage over Proctor to a significant 0.575 seconds, with two of his laps being faster than any other competitor's best.
Strategic Tire Use and Early Pace Setting
Ingram's strategy played a crucial role in his dominant showing. He attributed his impressive times to carrying over momentum from the previous Oulton Park round, where his pace was notably superior to his rivals. Emphasizing that the final timing was not entirely indicative of the session's overall flow, Ingram revealed that his team opted for an early new tire run. This tactical decision allowed them to secure competitive lap times before any potential disruptions, a move that proved beneficial as many other drivers were unable to replicate similar conditions later in the session.
Unexpected Driver Change and Track Incidents
The practice sessions were not without their share of drama, marked by two red flag incidents that significantly impacted track time for many participants. Adding to the intrigue was an unusual scenario where two drivers shared a single vehicle. Reigning champion Jake Hill, who recorded the 13th fastest time in the first practice with his West Surrey Racing BMW 330i M Sport, was forced to step down due to illness. Four-time title winner Colin Turkington, currently serving as a coach for Aiden Moffat within the team, temporarily took over Hill's 'Laser Beemer' for the second practice. Remarkably, Hill returned to the car during the initial red flag period, expressing relief that he was feeling better, though still uncertain about his fitness for the upcoming qualifying. He openly praised Turkington, stating that if one had to share a car, there was no better choice than his "good friend and fantastic colleague."
Challenges and Top Performers Beyond the Leaders
The first red flag was triggered by Tom Chilton, whose Excelr8 Hyundai suffered substantial front-end damage after a significant impact at Clervaux. Chilton described the incident as peculiar, noting that his car simply failed to turn as expected. The second stoppage, occurring in the final minute of the session, was also due to an accident at the same location, involving James Dorlin's Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Corolla GR Sport, though his vehicle sustained less severe damage than Chilton's. Beyond the leading duo of Ingram and Proctor, only four-time champion and points leader Ash Sutton and Mikey Doble managed to break the 1m21s barrier. Sutton, driving the Alliance Racing-run NAPA Ford Focus ST, and Doble, in the Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra, both achieved their best times in the first practice. Sutton's eighth-place finish in the second practice means he will compete in the second qualifying group, while title rival Ingram will be in the first. Aron Taylor-Smith and Chris Smiley were tied for third in FP2 and fifth overall, with Taylor-Smith's Speedworks Toyota securing the position due to setting his lap earlier than Smiley's Restart Racing Hyundai. Croft local Dan Lloyd, driving another Restart Hyundai, finished seventh overall, followed by fellow Yorkshireman Dan Cammish in the Alliance Ford. Oulton Park victor Gordon Shedden placed fifth in FP2 and ninth overall in his Speedworks Toyota, with Chilton's FP1 time ensuring his spot in the top ten.