Rounds 13, 14 and 15 of the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship took place at Oulton Park last Sunday (22 June) as the cars and stars of the country’s most popular motorsport series reached its midway point of the season.
A typically huge crowd descended on the picturesque Cheshire venue and the BTCC’s loyal fanbase also experienced a typically British summer weekend in terms of weather, as scorching conditions were combined with on and off showers, which spiced up the action even further on-track.
The two main title protagonists – Tom Ingram and Ash Sutton – won a race apiece as their titanic tussle continues to take shape, but it was Gordon Shedden that wowed the crowd with a brilliant triumph in the finale.
Not only was it Shedden’s first BTCC victory since 2022, but he also became the tenth different race winner from just the 15 races so far this season – again underlining the incredible competitiveness and unparalleled drama of the BTCC.
If the sporting spectacle wasn’t enough then the emotional theatre off-track almost proved too much as broadcasting legend Steve Rider brought the curtain down on an incredible career spanning nearly 50 years.
Best known for his work with ITV and BBC, Steve became an iconic figure across the likes of football, Formula 1, golf and many many more sports.
And of course, Steve has been the face of the British Touring Car Championship coverage across some four decades and leaves his role as one of the most popular and important figures in the championship’s illustrious history.
Steve’s phenomenal career was celebrated throughout this emotional weekend as everyone involved in the BTCC honoured Steve for his unwavering support, service, professionalism and brilliance.
Once the jam packed action had concluded it was Sutton still leading the overall Drivers’ standings by ten points from Ingram, whilst Alliance Racing/Ford and its NAPA Racing UK outfit hold sway in the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ and Teams’ tables.
Chris Smiley and his Restart Racing Hyundai squad top the Independents’ titles, whilst WSR BMW’s Daryl DeLeon leads the Jack Sears Trophy.
The BTCC will resume after its traditional mid-season break at Croft Circuit on 2/3 August.
