Ingram Dominates BTCC Donington Park Practice, Doble Shines on Medium Tyres
In the highly anticipated free practice session for the seventh round of the 2026 British Touring Car Championship at the Donington Park Grand Prix circuit, reigning champion Tom Ingram showcased his prowess by topping the charts. This performance sets a compelling tone for the weekend, especially as Ingram, currently second in the championship standings, aims to narrow the gap with the formidable leader, Ash Sutton. While Ingram's overall fastest lap utilized soft compound tires, a significant highlight of the session was Mikey Doble's impressive pace on the mandated medium tires, signalling a strong challenge in the competitive elements of the event. The session also revealed promising form from several other teams, including the rebranded CPRL Mercedes and West Surrey Racing BMW, suggesting a weekend filled with intense competition and strategic tire management.
BTCC Donington Park Practice: Ingram Leads, Doble Excels on Medium Tyres
On a balmy Friday, August 22, 2026, at the iconic Donington Park Grand Prix circuit, the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) revved up for its seventh round with an exhilarating free practice session. Reigning champion Tom Ingram, piloting his Excelr8 Motorsport Hyundai i30 N Fastback, set the fastest overall time, clocking an impressive 1m33.490s on soft compound Goodyear tires. However, the true standout performance came from Mikey Doble of Power Maxed Racing, who, in his Audi A3 Saloon, recorded the quickest lap on the mandated medium tires with a time of 1m33.592s as the chequered flag waved. This pivotal result positions Doble as a strong contender for the upcoming qualifying and race sessions, where only medium and hard compounds are permitted.
Ingram initially demonstrated his speed with a 1m33.644s on medium tires before switching to softs to improve his benchmark. Doble's late surge was particularly notable, as he shaved over a second off his previous best to clinch the top spot on competitive rubber.
The rebranded CPRL Mercedes A35 Saloon team, making its debut without founder Jason Plato, also showed formidable form. Dan Rowbottom secured the third-fastest time, while Adam Morgan followed closely in fifth. Nestled between the two Mercedes was Charles Rainford in his West Surrey Racing BMW 330i M Sport, who consistently remained at the sharp end throughout the session, finishing fourth.
Further down the top ten, Aron Taylor-Smith steered his Speedworks Motorsport-run Laser Tools Toyota Corolla GR Sport to sixth. Championship leader Ash Sutton, driving the fastest of the Alliance Racing-run NAPA Ford Focus Titanium cars, finished seventh and also set the fastest time on hard tires with a 1m34.066s towards the session's close. Excelr8 Hyundais continued to impress with Ricky Collard and Tom Chilton securing eighth and ninth places, respectively.
Completing the top ten was Josh Cook in his Speedworks Toyota. Cook experienced the session's only red flag due to a crank sensor issue, but returned to the track for the final laps, eventually setting a competitive time on soft tires.
The practice session also featured new liveries, with the CPRL Mercedes sporting a sleek black design and the Alliance Fords of Dan Cammish and Sam Osborne adorned in Valvoline paintwork, adding a fresh visual element to the grid.
The dynamics observed during this practice session underscore the critical role of tire strategy and driver adaptability in the BTCC. While raw pace is always a factor, Doble's performance on the medium tires serves as a potent reminder that success hinges not just on speed, but on optimizing performance within the regulatory constraints. This highlights the strategic depth of touring car racing, where tire management can often be the decisive factor. For fans and competitors alike, this intricate balance between speed and strategy promises an enthralling race weekend, making every lap a crucial demonstration of skill and tactical acumen.