TEAM VERTU BAGS DOUBLE PODIUM FROM DONINGTON PARK OPENER

Team VERTU kicked off the new Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season at Donington Park with a double podium finish, showing strong pace despite a weekend filled with drama and bad luck.

The EXCELR8-run squad arrived looking to defend the titles won last season, with reigning champion Tom Ingram joined by Tom Chilton, Ricky Collard and Nicolas Hamilton. Ingram immediately set the tone by topping practice and qualifying strongly under the BTCC’s new weekend format, before taking victory on the road in Saturday’s ‘Race for Pole’. However, a five-second penalty dropped him to second.

Sunday brought more mixed fortunes. Ingram once again crossed the line first in race one, only to be excluded due to an overboost issue. Race two proved equally frustrating, with Ingram sidelined by an alternator problem and Hamilton also retiring early after being spun into the gravel. Chilton recovered from early trouble to score points, while Collard produced an impressive charge through the field to finish eighth.

The final race of the weekend provided a major boost for the team. Collard started from pole and delivered a battling drive to the front, while Ingram stormed through from the back of the grid to finish second after gaining 19 places. Collard crossed the line fourth but was promoted to third after a penalty for Dan Cammish, securing a podium on his return to the series.

Although the weekend did not deliver the points haul Team VERTU had hoped for, the team leaves Donington encouraged by its pace, competitiveness and the clear potential of its driver line-up ahead of the next round at Brands Hatch on 9–10 May.