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Writer's pictureCameron Gale

British Touring Car Championship Thruxton Preview

Updated: Aug 19, 2023

Written by Cameron Gale, Edited by Elisabeth Brown


This weekend, August 27th to 29th, the British Touring Car Championship heads to the most popular track on the calendar, Thruxton Motorsport Centre.


The track has always been renowned for being the fastest track in the UK with cars hitting 140 mph (225 km/h) at Church corner and hitting 150 mph (235 km/h) at other parts of the track.

The track consists of eight rights and three lefts. The best overtaking spots are into Club chicane and the complex of Campbell and Cobb. Some drivers, if they’re feeling brave, will try to go around the outside through Goodwood and Church. The track is 2.36 miles (3.8 kilometres) long, making it one of the longest tracks on the calendar. However, no one seems to notice that as the average lap is a 1:16.6 during the race and a 1:16.3 during qualifying.


Now let’s talk about who I think will get pole position and race wins. Personally, I think Ash Sutton will be trying to carry his momentum into the weekend after coming away with a win last time out at Snetterton, but Thruxton has always been a track that has favoured front-wheel drive cars (Honda, Hyundai, Toyota, Ford).


Credit: Matt Gale

In recent years BTC Racing’s Josh Cook dominated and has been nicknamed the King of the Hill. Last time out in May, Cook dominated in qualifying, race one and race two. The only driver who stopped him was Adam Morgan in race three, but Cook still managed to get fifth.


Credit: Matt Gale

Tom Ingram also has a good chance at getting pole position and some valuable points as he has proved over and over again that he is consistent and is champion material if given the right car.


Credit: Matt Gale

The top 10 drivers in the standings are as follows:


  1. Colin Turkington: 282 Points

  2. Tom Ingram: 267 Points

  3. Jake Hill: 258 Points

  4. Ash Sutton: 257 Points

  5. Josh Cook: 210 Points

  6. Rory Butcher: 184 Points

  7. Gordon Shedden: 169 Points

  8. Daniel Lloyd: 144 Points

  9. Adam Morgan: 142 Points

  10. Stephen Jelley: 129 Points


Who will take the win this time round at Thruxton? Will it be the "King of the Hill" Josh Cook or will someone end his dominance at the track? Find out on Sunday!


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